Greetings all. How can I tell if my 1989 Firebird Formula has the 1LE suspension package? Thank you

 

I don't know if 3rd Gen Firebirds were offered with RPO 1LE.

Have you checked the SPID sticker?

 

I stand corrected below. I leaned a lot today.

More Birds had 1LE than Camaro lineup
Check the RPO codes or measure the diameter of the front disc.

 

The easiest visual clue is to look at the front brake calipers. If they're rusty, they're cast iron. 1LE calipers are aluminum, and won't rust. They may be shiny gray, dull gray, or even white, but they won't be rusty. If you see rusty calipers, you can be 99% sure the car never had 1LE.

 

No 1LE Formulas were built until 1991.

1988, 89 & 90 1LE's were all TA's.

 

None of us mentioned the No A/C. 1LE is not a suspension package. WS6 is a suspension package

 

Not true - of the 1532 1LE cars produced between 1988 & 1992 only 172 of those were Pontiacs with 104 of those being TA's and 68 of them being Formulas. Chevrolet built 1360 1LE equipped cars.

 

He probably just saw the PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION badge and got excited.

 

I should have specified pre 1990.....I'm not up on the 91-9w cars

 

Many more Camaros than Birds.

 

In case anyone was wondering.

 

WOW. Those numbers contradict a LOT I have thought over the years. I truly was under the impression that the Pontiac lineup had a significant amount higher of 1LE cars. Thank you PurleyPMD this is news to me.

 

IF the TTAs and firehawks? are thrown into the 1LE count, things do change a bit but do they count as a true 1LE since they have AC?.
What about B4C cars? are they counted in the 1LEs?

 

The B4C Police Package and the B4U Firehawk packages were included in those numbers. The Turbo TA's are not - although they were equipped with the larger front brakes I do not believe we have ever seen one with 1LE on the SPID.

 

The rpo code decal should be in the center console or drivers side storage compartment in the back. I presume your car is a 5speed? I'm pretty sure there were no 1LE auto's ever made. Yes it should have the big PBR finned aluminum calipers.

 

Although all of the 1LE cars equipped with the 5.0L 305 cid LB9 TPI were 5 speeds, all of the 1LE cars equipped with the 5.7 350 cid L98 were automatics.

I don't have a breakdown on all of those yet.

 

Can we please just have one of these threads that doesn't get into the minutia of what was or wasn't? Dude asked a simple question, how to tell, with a simple answer.

 

Take it easy Drew, no need to fret! 1LE's ROCK!

 

Just trying to answer the questions as they come in Drew - lots of incorrect info out there. Feel free to correct me if I've made any mistakes.

 

Speaking of 1LE's Matt here has a really nice machine. I'd argue with him about the best color tho!! LB

http://www.mcsmk8.com/92-B4C-CAMARO/92-B4C-CAMARO.html

 

Where is that sticker located?

 

Center console.

But see how veering off the topic creates incorrect info that then needs to be corrected....

 

I really like the Quasar Blue, car just has too many a/c compressors for me.

 

I really like the Quasar Blue, car just has too many a/c compressors for me.

 

IF you take into account the 1989 TTA that had the 1LE brakes but not the 1LE RPO, then technically yes, there were slightly more Firebirds that got the brakes than Camaros. WHY the 1555 TTAs SPID was devoid of the 1LE, when they got the 1LE equipment is beyond me. The only thing I can think of is there was something else with the 1LE that the TTA didn't get or the TTA had something that made the 1LE incompatible.

John

 

In my opinion, you are correct. The intercooler location was too tight to the sway bar, so the camaro "wonderbar" chassis stiffener would not work. On the 'birds, the chassis stiffener was part of the 1LE combination of options.





Mark.

 

I didn't think the firebirds ever got the wonder bar??

 

I ran across a Formula that had the Wonderbar (it was not a 1LE), the owner said he owned it from day one, and didn't put it on... Never could figure that out, wish I would have noted the VIN.

John

 

Cool, I honestly don't think I have ever checked to see even on a 1LE bird. Will be watching from now on tho.

 

No N10 exhaust or JG1 driveshaft John.

I'll have to check if my 1LE Formula has the wonderbar - I wouldn't expect it to be on the TA but I'll check that too.

Maybe Hunter can check his TA?

 

No N10 or JG1 rpo on the TTA kinda makes sense it wouldn't have 1LE either
.

 

I'm basing this info on the 1989 info on the players race series that talked about the car configurations, as well as my 1989 1LE that as the TA sway bars. Basically the best of both put into a package.

Also note the front struts and rear shocks were unique to the 1LE package ... and with the lighter weight of the V6 turbo, the front struts would be too stiff perhaps? Being the TTA was not a race car, have a more comfortable drive was the choice.

Back to the original poster; the Formula should not have had 1LE stuff from the factory, but it might have been added after. As Drew says ... check your front brake calipers and see if they are aluminum (with two visable discs).

Mark.

 

Gentlemen, checked for a wonderbar on my 1LE '91 T/A, not there. I had to go out to the barn and check as I didn't know for sure myself.

 

For those of us who are not knowledgeable on the subject can someone please enlighten us on what to look for on the RPO code sheet to identify a 1LE car or it the VIN where you find out?

Thank you guys in advance for your time

 

It should be on the SPID - specifically 1LE

Camaro



Firebird



If you order the documentation from GM it will be listed on the Vehicle Invoice.



On the sticker it would look like this:

 

And what strikes me most about this is R6U Means "CREDIT IN LIEU OF FUEL" $16.00-

What the heck is that?

 

Thanks to all for the information. My Formula doesn't have the 1LE option. I also sent away to allied Vaughn for a copy of the dealer invoice. Lots of info there too.

 

The interesting one for me John is the

Ship To: 60-278

which is not the dealership but a GM supplier or subsidiary.

 

That is one highly optioned 1LE Chris, great to see the window sticker on such a rare car. Car is in awesome condition to boot.

 

I love that the sticker continues onto the second page, so cool!!

 

I checked yesterday - no wonder bar on any of my 1LE's.

 

Kind of wondering if it was a players thing and a oopsie on the line if birds got one sometimes?

 

It may well have been, although the paperwork talks about Camaro chassis stiffeners on the Firebirds. So it's odd that the 36mm front sway bar made it over to the 1LE Camaro to make it a better car, and the wonderbar not make it to the Firebird.

The rarity of the earlier 1LE's makes it somewhat difficult to plot out what was or wasn't included in the "performance package".

Also ... with my 89 1LE, it has a few codes R6's I think which I had not found on US cars. Could those be part of the difference or just marketing packages for odd things?

With the TTA, it obviously does not have "all" the components of the performance package hence no 1LE.


I'm curious what part number is on your front struts? 1LE stock number or the earlier number.

Mark.

 

Jim Waldron Pontiac in Davison was there for years, I think it changed to a Buick/GMC dealership and now is now Wenzel or something like that...