Jason Bemis

Hi everyone. i purchased a 1986 std model. was a v6 now a 350 . it also has disc brakes. was wondering if they were added. or was discs an option for non v8 cars. the build sheet is gone and i cannot find the info anywhere. thanks in advance

GeneralDisorder

iTrader: (1)

A V6 car would certainly be rear drum brakes. That was probably changed by a previous owner that detested drums. I know a lot of people that intensely dislike them.

GD

Jason Bemis

i 100% thought so but had to ask. only due to rockauto sells disc brake parts under 1986 v6. but i have owned tons of 3rd gens since 1995 and never have i seen a factory disc brake rear in v6. thanks again.

okfoz

There was 941 Base Friebirds with J65 in 1986... Never say never, the 1986 First, Second printing of the dealer order worksheets state that J65 was "Inc. Limited Slip Axle G80 - Inc. w/Special Performance Pkg. WS6. Req'd w/5.0 Liter Engines LB9 or L69 - N.A. w/2.5 Liter Engine LQ9" My Third printing appears to be the same but J65 is cut off, and all I can read is the top of the letters.

Starting in 1987, J65 was NA on the Base Firebird...

Edit: from 1982-1985 J65 was a Trans Am or S/E Option only... Therefore this was an 86 only thing.

John

GeneralDisorder

iTrader: (1)

So in 86 only you could get a V6 bird with a limited slip and rear disc brakes....... LOL. That's a really weird one. Given 86 production numbers, 941 cars is pretty much "Unicorn" status.

When you say "base firebird" though - does that automatically mean it had a V6? Wouldn't the 2.5 also be a base firebird? And if base means it could be V6 or I4..... then couldn't that also mean you could have a base model with a V8? If that's the case then those 941 cars would probably be V8's. IDK but a 2.8 isn't going to benefit from rear disc brakes - heck a lot of the V8 cars didn't even have them.

GD

JT

iTrader: (1)

I found several 1986 Firebirds with the V6 and J65 & G80 options in Compnine's database, which only has Canadian exports. Export cars can be different but it would appear disc brakes on a V6 did occur.

okfoz

A few things here...
1) The 2.5L I4 was technically dead in 1986, none were produced, even though they did have them on the order sheet.
2) From 1982-1986 there were 3 Firebird trim levels. The Base, which was the basic car, S/E was the luxury model and Trans Am was the performance model.
3) Unlike 82-85 and 87-92 for the single year 1986, there was no apparent restrictions on the rear disc brakes for the Base firebird, All other years it was not even an option to be had on the base Firebird. Interestingly in 1982, you technically could have ordered the rear disc brakes on the S/E with the 2.5L I4. 83-85, Any Trans Am (all of which were V8) or any S/E (as long as it did not have the 2.5L I4) could have been ordered with the J65, there does not seem to be any other restrictions.
4) As JT pointed out, indeed some were made.

Something else that will bake your noodle, is there was actually 321 Base Firebirds with the Borg & Warner 9 Bolt axle with the 2.77 gear, and another 442 B&W 9 Bolt with a 3.45...

I think 1986 was a transition year, they were gearing up for the 1987 MY with the introduction of the Formula and the GTA, along with dropping the S/E. I suspect Pontiac was feeling out the waters on the popularity of adding the J65/G80 option to the base firebird to see if there was any interest. In the end there was not ample interest to continue the options and from 1987 onward.