1988 Trans Am?
 

Can anyone help? I just bought a Trans AM, now I want to know more about it. According to Carfax I have a 1988 PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM/GTA. According to ACDelco I have a 1988 Firebird V8 305. The car does not have any badges, but it does have 'Trans am' in the car around about the glove box (if you consider that to be just that.) It does have the tuned port injection. I wonder if that would at least rule out the 305 issue, however there were 'GTA's' that were made with that engine performance modification. I bought it with rally sport winner tires and after market wheels. A little guidance in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Re: 1988 Trans Am?
 

CarFax can't tell the difference between a Trans Am or GTA based on the VIN. CarFax will show "Trans Am / GTA" to cover both Trans Ams and GTAs because the two share the same VIN prefix.

Given that the base Firebird has a different VIN prefix, it sounds like you have a Trans AM or GTA and not a base Firebird. You can check this yourself. If your VIN prefix is 1F2FW you have a Trans Am or GTA and not a base Firebird.

The 8th digit of the VIN will indicate the factory engine. If the 8th digit is "8" it's a 350TPI, if it's an "F" it's a 305TPI, if it's an "E" it's the 305TBI.

"Trans Am" on the map pocket suggests it's a Trans Am as the GTA has a "GTA" map pocket for 1988. However, this is a 24 year old car so don't go on that fact alone.

Open the center console lid and on the inside wall of the center console should be a white sticker known as the SPID. The SPID will have the VIN and all RPO options that your vehicle was built with.

Re: 1988 Trans Am?
 

I'm looking at my vin and the the eighth symbol is 'f.' Thus the engine is the 305. Now, I was on a website, namely: vortec cylinder heads and I found a method for add-on to the 350 tpi. In knowing that I have a 305, does that mean that I have to throw out those plans, are those methods stricken to only the 350 and not the 305? I will post that information along with this message.

Site link: http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...s/viewall.html

Vortec heads PN SD8060A: ($319.50 x 2) $639.00*
Edelbrock manifold PN 7516: $209.95*
Valve cover gaskets PN 10046089: ($9.95 x 2) $19.90*
Center-bolt valve covers PN 12555270, 12555271: ($31 x 2) $62.00*
Valve cover bolts PN 12338092: ($1.07 x 8) $8.56*
Oil fill cap PN 10108650: $4.19*
Intake gaskets PN 12529094: $18.85*
COMP Cams 1.5:1 rocker arms PN 1417-16: $191.95**
Spark plugs: $16.00
Intake bolts 5/16-18 x 1 1/2-inch: (8 needed) $4.00


Read more: http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...#ixzz28raWYD00

Re: 1988 Trans Am?
 

here is my vin: 1G2FW21F4JL215666

Re: 1988 Trans Am?
 

Congratulations on your car.

As JT was hinting at, to confirm if your car is a GTA - Y84 is the lock. If your SPID in the center console says Y84 (and providing the VIN on the SPID sheet matches the vehicle VIN) then you have a GTA.

You can also visit gtasourcepage.com for additional confirmation points. Just as a heads-up: fender vents, Trans Am stickers all round and Trans Am on the map pocket suggest a Trans Am.

On the plus side, take a look at the GTA options and look at the SPID sheet again. Most of the GTA standard items were options on the Trans Am. A fully loaded Trans Am could be virtually just the same as the GTA (I qualify that as one would need to see the two sitting side-by-side).

Anyway, long story short -- Y84 is the be-all-and-end-all.

Re: 1988 Trans Am?
 

Thank you for the help. Did you see my post about modifications? If so, then, will you tell me if those mods will work given my v8 5.0 305 and not 350?

Re: 1988 Trans Am?
 

This forum is about History and Originality. If you plan on modding the car, please visit the Members Firebird section or the Engine forum. Thanks