I was given an offer yesterday for a 1992 Pontiac Trans Am. I'm just really confused as to if this car really is a Trans Am like he says. He's selling a car that his dad had before he passed away. He said all he knows about the car is that it's a Trans Am with a 350 throttle body and it's automatic. It's also a hard top car. I've never heard of a 350 throttle body in a car and I've never seen a hard top Trans Am.
Is this car more likely to have a 305? I'm mainly wanting it for the hard top and the 350. I'm worried it's a 305 and I don't know how to tell. Is this car even a Trans Am?

 

Have him give you the rpo codes. Or better off you can look at the sticker. It should be in the center console or in the drivers door jamb.

Then do a search here for "rpo code lookup". Or, do the search, write the ones that matter down and see if they match the sticker. Look at the block casting number. Under the car, near the starter should be a 3 digit number in a circle. Compare those with known casting numbers. Also on top of the block where the transmision bolts up, you might be able to see with a flashlight. Also the Vin will tell you what size motor you have, not specifically of it is a t/a or not.

 

The car could have a 350, even if the codes say 4-cyl. I wouldn't bother with that for identifying the engine.

Same for the VIN; it'll tell you what the car CAME WITH, not what IT HAS.

Gotta look at the block casting # for that. There is NO OTHER WAY to tell; NO SUBSTITUTE.

If it has TBI now, it probably came with that. Would have been a 305 originally. 8th digit of the VIN will be E. Won't tell you WHAT THE ENGINE IS, only what IT CAME WITH. Big difference.

350 TBIs came in Caprices and such. Would be an EXTREMELY EEEEEEZZZZZZZY transplant into that car.

However, experience indicates that less than ¼ of all alleged 350s in such cars, are actually 350s. Somehow they seem to morph right back into 305s under careful informed scrutiny.

As far as telling if it's a Trans Am, I can't help you there. Doesn't look like one now though: the ground effects pieces are missing, or maybe, only a few have got stuck on. Could be a Formula though which is essentially the same thing as a T/A except w/o the gfx.

 

Looks to be a base bird with aero package.
RPO code sticker will be in the rear driverside locking compartment.

 

Send me the VIN if you have that and don't have the RPO codes as I can check with Compnine's database to see what the car originally had.

There was no domestic 350 TBI (Throttle Body) engines in the ThirdGen from the factory.

That doesn't look like a Trans Am. The Trans Am did not have the nameplate on the front fender. Being the car is 22 years old, almost anything is possible to be changed. As stated above by TTOP350, it looks like a base Firebird.

 

Yeah there are some gfx missing on the car. But it did have them originally.

 

I'm going to be looking at the car soon. I hope to read the vin number, codes, and block number then. I'm just wondering if I'm wasting my time. Honestly, I don't want just a base firebird. -.- I'd rather have a Trans Am, GTA, etc.

 

You'll probably want to look elsewhere. Pretty sure that's a base Firebird. Wrong spoiler, wrong hood and Firebird emblem on the fender are just a few signs.

 

 

They never made a factory 350 throttle body injected f-body only tune port 350's were in these cars.If it was a 92 trans am it also would have the aero wing not pedal stool style spoiler also the eighth digit of vin should be an 8 for 350 or F for 305.But as others have mentioned your pictures look like a base firebird with aero kit

 

That was kinda my point. I should have clarified. If you know it hasn't been messed with, the Vin will tell you the size of the engine and rpo what it actually is, well, was. Block casting is a sure bet.

 

Just having fun here, but don't you really mean pedestal spoiler? Pedal stool spoiler makes me think......crap!

 

 

Thanks. I think I'm going to pass this offer. Especially if it's not a 350.

 

For sure... I would pass
1) The headlight motors are apparently broken
2) it is missing ground effect pieces (can be expensive)
3) It is a BASE firebird, clear and simple
4) No 3rd gen even export got the L05 (TBI 350 engine)

To me... there is not much there except for parts at this point in time... give it 10-20 years and it might have more value than that, but right now the market is not there for a Base Camaro or a Base Firebird to be viewed more than what it is.

 

Ditto, just a junker base 'bird. If it has a 350TBI it's from a Chevy truck...