WS6 or not that is the question! It's my 87 305TPI(LB9) automatic, has front disc brakes/rear drums, the little "performance suspension" badge under the dash pad(tho I think it doesn't matter) I have no RPO's in the Console or in the Rear Storage(as i read in an older post). I have searched through atleast 60posts and there is no clear way of finding this out unless you measure the front sway bar. I measured mine with a tape measure and it's 1 1/2inches maybe alittle larger. I used a pair of pliers to get a more accurate size. Now all I know is the WS6 front sway bar is between 32mm-36mm. I've been told I have it and that I didn't have it.

 

check for polyurathane(sp) bushings. they are normaly yellow in color if you have them i would say you have the ws6 package .

 

I looked at buying a 87 or 88 GTA that had the WS-6 package. It had rear drums. This one said WS-6 right on the dash. I would guess yours should have the same badge on the dash.
If I remember right it also said on the center caps (same rims as yours).

 

Nope and nope. I heard something about a data sheet or something like that under the carpet on the drivers side front. Anyone heard of such a thing?

 

I can't believe it 2:19am and this was still driving me crazy wanting to know so I took my ruler outside and measured my front swaybar! 1=10mm on this cheap ruler but hey if it works! I measured there because I could get up under my car to far enough with the camera but I did measure it and it was 36mm there also. The thin part is only in the bends, right behind the wheel it goes back to the larger diameter. I think the pic says it for me but I want to be postive and have absolute proof of this before I go bragging so I'm going to pull my car up on ramps tommorrow and try to get a better pic and go by the Dealership and see if they can get me the RPO's VIA the VIN. Here's the pic I took.

 

I'll go out on a limb and say its a WS6 car. Best bet is to get your RPO's, if you can't then I'd say get a 1987 Firebird sales brochure and look whats in the WS6 package for a Trans Am and just compare those items to your car. If you have all the WS6 features its WS6.

 

I guess I'll have to try that because I just called two Pontiac dealers and they ran my VIN but wasn't able to get my RPO's because their system wouldn't go that far back.

 

Have you tried PHS? May not help a lot but it'll include a sample order sheet that might give you a better idea.

 

As the owner of quite a few third gens. One even purchased brand new from the dealer, I would say you have a WS6 car. (Although I am sure it would not be worth sitting up at 3 am worrying about it.) If you are that determined to find out, that you will crawl under your car in the dead of winter to measure a fricken sway bar with a ruler, you are either A. really bored, B. need a girlfriend, or C. a bonified car nut. Anyway, if I remember correctly, the only way you could get the Y88 (I believe that is the base suspension on V-8s )was to order the lo po LO3 or LG4 motors. If you had the LB9 or L69 you had to get the WS6. The only exception that I am aware, is that you could get the WS6 on the formula with a base V8 engine.

 

What's PHS?

 

LMAO A. not really this is too exciting B. I married but she is in bed where I should be C. That must be the problem!
Pretty sad huh?LOL
I have the LB9 engine so I would go to say that it's looking good so far!

 

PHS = Pontiac Historical Services.

For $35 you can get a packet from them with a few things specific to your car, a glossy pic of a car like yours, some general Firebird info, and a 2002 Pontiac sales brochure... Most of it is useless or redundant of other sources that don't cost as much, but if you don't have the original window sticker, or any background history on your car the info is good stuff.

Search on yahoo or the like to find their website.

 

Way too cool here's their link http://www.phs-online.com/ Thanks Drew and guys.

 

Heres a little info for you on the 1987 WS6 package:

87:
12.7:1 quick ratio steering
Gas-pressurized shocks
Special springs and bushings
36mm front swaybar
24mm rear swaybar
16"x8" Cast aluminum wheels
P24550VR16 Eagle GT 'Gatorback'(subject to availability)
Notes:Rear discs not part of WS6, mandated with the 350 TPI option. This then required the purchase of the Limited-slip rear differential as well. Purchase of TPI engine requires purchase of WS6.

Check out the last line.

If you want more years:
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...&highlight=WS6

 

I knew I was right about the engines dictating the suspension. First time that I was right in 2002. Now I can stop thinking for the rest of the year.

 

Not sure if I'm understanding you correctly. But the GTA that I was looking at had the 350 TPI, WS-6 package, dual cats and rear drums. It also had ws-6 badges on the car and the vin checked out.

 

Dual cats in 87? Dont think so.

 

I have to agree with madmax. Dual cats were not available until 89. I personally have never seen a GTA with rear drums. In all the promotional and sales literature I have seen, rear discs are part of the GTA package, not an option.

 

I just wanted to update that I used one of those electronic caliper's at work to measure my front sway bar and it was 36mm! So yep mine is a WS6. Oh happy day! So then my car has Limited Slip It must be a dang good one because I can leave two very nice black marks or maybe I'm just alittle confused on the limited slip thing. And it sucks driving in the rain! I take off and I loose traction really easy and my rear end always wants to slide to the right. Or is this normal for limited slip?

 

If you are getting double black lines you have limited slip. The open rears will give you the dreaded one wheel peel. I also don't think that just because you have WS6 you have posi (limited slip) I know of many formulas with WS6 w/o posi. But in your case two strips of black rubber = limited slip. Also there is usually a metal tab on the back of the differential if you have posi.

 

Where is the tab located on the diff? So limited slip and posi is the same thing?

 

Yes. Limited slip and posi are the same. Ford calls theirs Traction Lok. Anyway looking at your differential, you should see a small metal tab sticking out from between the differential housing and the cover. If its there, you will see it plain as day.

 

Boy I'm glad I didn't buy it then. It was at a salvage yard (repairable). Its funny tho that the RPO codes checked out.

 

I Don't have a tab. But I can make some black marks for ya GM has done some really weird stuff!

 

If you got the 350, you got the WS6 and ordered the rear discs as well (or were forced to) you ended up with limited slip too.

 

But I don't I have the LB9.

 

In your first post you say that you have the LB9????????

 

Yea and that's what I just said. LB9=305tpi L98=350tpi.

 

What????????

 

Madmax said:
I said I don't I have the LB9. I was assuming he was talking to me about the Limited Slip and I was telling him I don't the 350 I have the 305.

 

It's in my first post. Second sentance.

 

I am not sure why I continue to beat this dead horse (the horse is already in a bottle of elmer's on a shelf in WalMart). Dude, go back and read (carefully) all of your posts and you will see why I am confused. Although I am generally confused all of the time.

 

Ok I have the LB9 engine which is the 305TPI. I do not have the L98/350TPI. Then madmax said "If you got the 350, you got the WS6 and ordered the rear discs as well (or were forced to) you ended up with limited slip too. " and I said I don't have the L98/350 I have the LB9/305.

 

I think the problem here is that he missed one letter in the sentence that completely changed the meaning...


A clearer way to communicate the above would have been to say...

But I don't have the L98, I have the LB9.

 

I could just picture senior english class in high school, if I would have said that above sentence.

"Guthrie! What the hell did you just say?! Use actual words!" LOL

Come on Drew, lol, us car guys can be hard to communicate with sometimes


This has been very good reading

 

At the time I didn't think much of it. But now!
Any works of wisdom guys?

 

Words of wisdom?

Don't eat yellow snow?

 

No Drew, he asked for works of wisdom not words of wisdom. Sorry I had to do it. I make my living scrutinizing legal docs so errors just kind of jump out at me. Not trying to be a DH on purpose, just kinda comes naturally to me.

 

Works of wisdom then eh?


People with wisdom probably don't go out and buy worn down 80's hotrods...

 

This is true, Drew.

But men are stubborn, and these cars are our toys

 

[spellcheck] Damn I'm going to have to quit posting when I get home from work or atleast talk Dirk into getting SpellCheck.LOL Drew you must have the least amount of wisdom than anyone, since you have more 3rdGens than anyone else here. Redarrow1 sorry about the confusion I hope you understand now.
[/spellcheck]

 

can't argue with that.

 

Just FYI, it's kinda hard to get a good measurement where you were on the swaybar. Try it near the center or close to the bushing. I'm not as into the 'birds so I don't know for sure, but all the WS6s I've seen in good shape say so on the centercaps and the dash. Like I said though, I don't know if they always badged it like that.