This is the way I like them. Guy that bought it new kept it for 30 years. No tinkering underhood, only ever gets touched when something is broken.




The only question I have, which the experts here will answer, is the invoice does not show G80. Why wouldn't a car with a performance engine, manual transmission and 3.73 gears automatically be equipped with a posi? The buyer has to remember to order it?






http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pontiac-Trans-Am-Trans-Am-/331528152880?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4d309e2730&item=331528152880

 

I'm certainly no "expert", but...

In those years, there was apparently a VERY limited number of them available; some mfg constraint or something. Consequently very few cars got them. I seem to recall that you could "order" it but most of the time either you had to change your order or you wouldn't ever get a car.

Which in retrospect isn't that big of a deal, anyway. The one they used (Auburn) is a total piece of steaming crap, and would long since have wore out and quit working and become just dead weight and scrap metal. In 2015 it hardly matters what was installed in 1983 if, when you replace it with something that actually works, you take out something called "G80" and throw it in the trash, or take out something not called "G80" and throw that in the trash instead. I doubt the garbage men (or scrap dealer or whoever) will even notice.

 

In this case I believe his car has the Posi - Rear discs required the posi rear if I'm not mistaken.

Production was high in 1984 with a total production of L69 Trans Am's set at 25,088 (1984 L69 automatic Trans Am: 18,037, 1984 L69 manual Trans Am: 7,051). If this was an 83, there would be less than 700!

 

in 1984 the L69 came with one of 2 options
WY6 - Rear DISC brakes W/O LTD Slip
WS6 - Rear DISC Brakes W/Ltd Slip

 

No bids at all with a start of $6500 while the comparable Z28 is at $9,000 & still going.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171753568234?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

The Camaro is a cleaner car. Check the difference in the underhood pics. The TA has 20K more miles and is from the rust zone which is evident from the under car pics.
Even at $6500 I would be leery of this car with issues such as the vents. It's more likely that they are rusting shut as it looks like every bare metal piece has a generous coating of rust.

 

This Pontiac Bulletin covers the G80 shortage in 1983 and how it was handled:

 

My 83 Trans Am LG4 (parts car) had G80, J65 & 3.23... This TSB is definitely a late 1983 change being in April, almost May...