EMTGuzman

hey guys i tried searching and i must be search-tarded but i'm kinda still new to trans ams. I have an 85 Trans AM, and was just wondering where to look to see if this car was originally a WS6.

Thank you so much.

DJP87Z28

RPO code WS6. It was a option not a car line/model.

EMTGuzman

thank you i know it is an option dealing with suspension, etc... however i am trying to figure out WHERE to look... i know the code, but where do i look? where are all of the places i can look?

92RS(real slow)

does it have 4 wheel disk im pretty sure all ws6 had four wheel disk, im not positive though

DJP87Z28

RPO code list for options:
Under the center console lid/inside the rear hatch compartment. Otherwise the previous owner ripped it out.

gcgarner

I've got rear drums. My RPO codes are inside my console. WS6 is located in the third row down, 4th from the right.

87TAairlineyard

The WS6 package in 1985 included 16 inch wheels, so if your center console RPO sticker is missing, look on the driver side door for the sticker with the tire information. That sticker will say something like 245/50R16 if its a WS6 car- it will also have your build month and year. Also there should be a small "performance suspension" emblem on the passenger side of the dashboard, below the map pocket. If its missing the emblem and had 15 inch wheels, the car was not a WS6.

Talon

I hope you don't mind me butting in i just posted "WHAT IS THIS????????????????????? HELP "
Talon
asking info about my 1991 firebird formula,, I am curious, what does "WS6" mean, stand for, is it an option most everyone wants,??????

crazyL

yea so my babay just matched all that so she must be . But I think i have 15 in tires. i no i have the performance emblem uder the map pocket!

1985WS6transam

iTrader: (4)

My 1985 Trans am was definalty a WS6, had the rpo sheet and all, but had 15 inch wheels. It also had the performance suspension emblem. The 15" wheels were verified by the door sticker so maybe not all 85TAs had the 16" wheels. Maybe something to look into.

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

He was just giving those items to say that a car that DIDN'T come with 16" wheels can't be a WS6 car. A particular car can have 16" wheels and not have the WS6 option package. The best way to find out is to track down your RPO code list. you can be relatively sure your car was a WS6 if you can confirm that it has every option in the package. Also, you may be able to find out all your car's original options from Pontiac Historical Services.

87TAairlineyard

1985 was an interesting year for the Trans Am- the 1984 WS6 package specs were made standard on all 85 TAs but the new for 85 WS6 package included 16 inch wheels with the new Goodyear Eagle GT "Gatorback" tires, as well as slightly larger diameter sway bars. WS6 was retuned (in regards to the shock stiffness) to take advantage of the leap forward that the Gatorbacks offered over other tires- these tires were state of the art in 1985. The ride was a bit less harsh and crisp as compared to an 84.

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

My 84 doesn't have the WS6 package, but it does have rear disc and 16" rims originaly.

Klortho

The only other way is to measure the sway bars. All WS6 cars have 36mm front and 24mm rear sway bars.

85 T/A WS6

The badge mentioned is not a WS6 exclusive, these are found on many non WS6 cars

gon8go

I have an 89 t/a with the 16" gta rims and the (ps) badge, I read in the 89' dealer brochure that the wheels were available only on trans ams with a "level 3 suspension" does that mean its a ws6 also?
----------
p.s. I have rear drums.

BlackBird20

If your referring to my old TA you bought from Jeff (buffaloman). No, it has factory 15" rims on it....

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

In regards to the 1984 T/A, only the 10th Anniversary Edition cars came with 16" rims. They were the first f-body to be offered with 16s

j dezzy

iTrader: (12)

double checked the RPO. Sorry, I decoded it wrong. thanks for bringing that to my attention Bobby.

Rastus

I don't know how much help this is, but on my 88T/A I have the "performance suspension" under the map pocket but I don't have a WS6 on the RPO sheet. I have a WS3(Unknown) and WS4(T/A designation) listed, but no WS6.


I'm kinda lost, haha.If anyone can help explain why it's there, that would be cool.

AmorgetRS

iTrader: (6)

Read post 15... the Perfomance Suspension badge is not WS6 specific.

gon8go

what is level 3 suspension(read in 89 brochure)?

okfoz

Wow, this is facinating...

OK #1 the 36mm front sway bars did NOT appear until 1986...
WS6 & WS7
1982 - 1984: 32 mm Front 18mm OR 21 mm rear (depending on your engine)
In 1985 the F41 HD suspension was upgraded to be like the WS6 suspension from 82-84
NOTE: the 1984 Special T/A's with the 16" rims got the 24mm rear stabalizer

1985: 34mm front and 24mm rear
1986 - 1992 36mm Front and 24mm rear, there was few 1LE cars that got a 23mm rear sway bar for racing in the later years, apparently the cars were too "tight" to correct this they used 23mm sway bars.

ALL WS6 cars from 1985 - 1992 I thought used the 16x8 rims... BUt 85 may be an exception BUT I doubt it. the 16" rims ARE NOT an indicator of the WS6 package, from 1988-1992 a Trans Am without WS6 could be had with 16" rims.

1984 was the LAST year for WS7 which was the same suspension as WS6 BUT with drum brakes, starting in 1985 the WS6 suspension was specific to the suspension and did not determine rear disc brakes.

John

85 T/A WS6

WS6

Level 2 = Y99

85 T/A WS6

You must have had an 84...... this is very odd indeed
A pic of your RPO sticker would help, one of those deals where you have to see it yourself to totaly comprehend it.

gon8go

I re read the brochure and it said that a standard trans am came with level 2 suapension which was 34mm front+23mm rear swaybars and 15" turbo wheels

level 3 was the gta package (ta option) with 16" spoke wheels 36mm+24mm bars. but it mentions it like it is separate from ws6 even though it sounds the same.

85 T/A WS6

I guess I would have to see an 85 WS6 w/o rear disks, because it was SUPPOSED to be included in 85, thats the way it was sold and advertised at least.

85 T/A WS6

This is a 89 Brochure right? The option packages varied from year to year so it gets confusing.


If it helps WS6 was standard on GTA and Formulas

gon8go

its an 89 brochure, I'm just confused as to weather rear discs were part of the ws6 pkg in 89 or an option. I thought someone mentioned that they weren't included in the package after 85 or something.

Z's r Best

my 88 formula had the WS6 package (bigger front sway bars than an IROC, 16 inch wheels that said WS6 in the centers, a 3.23 pos rear but with drum brakes, the little performance suspension tag on the dash, etc. It was a 305 TPI with 700r4.

gon8go

just checked my rpos and its there. I guess they only badged it on the formula and gta. I noticed it designated on the wheel center cap, mine just has birds.

okfoz

Its VERY possible that they still combined the options together, HOWEVER instead of WS6 including disc brakes within the RPO code itself, rear disc brakes got a seperate RPO. Its like the B2L Option from 87-92, it included the L98, Engine Oil Cooler, etc...

John

Klortho

Also the plastic trim on the passenger side may have been replaced if it was cracked (the screw holes get opened up very easily) and the replacement pieces didn't have the Performance Suspension badges on them.

The standard T/A did have the Y99 suspension which had the same swaybars as the Iroc's but the WS6 upgraded to the 36/24 starting in '85 if I remember correctly. The 9 bolt I pulled out of an '85 L69 car has the big 24mm rear bar, and has the 36mm front bar (which reminds me I need to go pull it) and it had the Performance Suspension badge on the trim on the passenger side.

Randy82WS7

i cut up a red 85 trans am ws6 with disc posi 3.08 10 bolt and 15" wheels

my 82 tran am is a WS7

good thread here

KITTvsKARR

iTrader: (3)

I have an '87 Trans Am (Which appears to be a debadged GTA) and an '88 Formula.. both have WS6 in the RPOs.. both have 16" wheels.. both have Rear Drums.. and both have the "Performance Suspension" badge inside. So I'm guessing that rear discs were a sepparate option from the WS6.. atleast during those years...

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

I have a 85 TA with the ws6 suspension that I'm getting parts off of before I call someone to come get it. Is there anything desirable or beneficiary about this option that would warrant me pulling off before I let the car go?

If I end up buying a 3rd gen Camaro Z28, would it have a similar suspension or would I benefit from swapping over parts?

I guess what I'm asking is does the 88-92 Z28 have rear disc brakes?

Dens71TA

iTrader: (5)

I would grab the 12.7:1 ratio steering box, the rear disc setup and the sway bars. If its an early build car is may have the 25mm rear bar which it the largest the 3rd-gen ever got from the factory.

88TransAmFreak

iTrader: (15)

Thanks!

I'm trying to find a car more complete and drivable, I was talking to the guy that owns the salvage yard down the road that has a 91 Camaro Z28 TPI that's pretty clean. He said he wanted $1500 for the car but when I got there the engine was out of it. Why I don't know, he babbled something about the PO putting in the wrong computer.

Other than that it would be a good car, it's pretty clean. Red w/white rally stripes and a red interior. Has some enkei wheels on it.

Having said that, my brother bought this Trans Am I currently have from this same guy 3 years ago. My brother never did anything with the car so I traded a older big screen TV for it. I had to jump through hoops to get the title work done. It wasn't as easy as I though it would be.

Anyway, this guy asked me what I was going to do with the Trans Am and said they guy that sold it to him wanted it back. I explained it was just a shell and I would take $300 for it.

I think I'm going to keep it and pull the tranny, suspension, harness, and a few other things out of it to keep for myself. The transmission was rebuilt and hopped up shortly before the engine blew up and it ended at that guys yard.

I hate to part it out, but unless I find a clean firebird as a donor it's would be pretty expensive to fix up. I don't have that kind of money.

Bad thing is it's never been wrecked and rust free It was just badly neglected and sat for a long time so all the rubber is shot and deteriorated.

Dens71TA

iTrader: (5)

You might be able to fix it up cheaply by buying a complete parts car. I recently bought a '82 T/A with a hacked and blown up drivetrain and picked up a complete and running rust bucket '84 T/A from a local junkyard. All together I have less than $1000 into both cars and I still haven't parted out the '84 T/A for the parts I won't be needing.

nextonmags

No, not all od them, my car has the 4 wheel disk brakes, but is not a ws6

Srvloon

I just got an 85 and it has the Performance Suspension badge. As you can see I have the 15-inch wheels on it although it has another set of wheels I'm thinking it's the 16's. I don't know yet I haven't seen them. As you can see the motor and trans are out of it but it came with the tuned Port injected motor and the 700R4 trans which I have. No RPO in the console and nothing on the door about the tires. I have rear drums as well. Need to pop hatch & look. Where's Glove box? I see 3 map holders.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

It'd be in the center console if it's still there. They were just peel/stick labels, that often peeled off, especially in Firebirds since it's stuck to the side of the glove box in the console. Anything in the glove box tends to rub against them, so they get beat up in short order.

The difference in 85/86 was pretty minor, mostly the difference between the level II and level III suspensions. At this point, 75% of those components are due to be replaced anyway as preventive maintenance and general upkeep. It's hardly worth worrying about, with all documentation missing its a moot point.

F-body-fan

I believe the WS7 started in 1979. In 79 they rolled out the 4 wheel disk rear to come as part of the 2nd year WS6 package.
They were projected to run out of rears because the soaring popularity of the option being ordered and came up with the WS7
(std rear drums like 78) so they could keep on making the cars with rest of the package.
I didn't realize that was still going on in the 3rd gens too. No clue if it was for the same reason, or if some people just didn't want the rear disks. Makes sense to keep the option, in case the supply would run out. I am guessing that happened to a lot of options back then & maybe even today.

Back in early 1978 WS6 included a higher output engine as well as suspension & was amazing what a change that made to the car. First time I drove one I couldn't believe how it felt compared to a std 78 T/A.

Pretty sure my 1982 Recaro had WS6 but I never verified it. It had that std 15" wheels like was mentioned above. I didn't realize at the time the optioned continued into the 3rd gens. No internet back then. Just dealers flapping their lips & others repeating it.

okfoz

82-84 WS6/WS7 got the 15" rims, except for 84 15th anniv ed
85+ WS6 got 16" Rims... The F41 Suspension was the Base Trans Am suspension and and they too got the "Performance Suspension" emblem.

The WS6, WS7, WY5, WY6 were all gone by 1985, 1984 was the last year for any of those.

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

okfoz

I should have said WS7, WY5 & WY6 ended in 1984... sorry

WS6 was an evolution, WS6 in 1984 is not the same as WS6 in 87

I am trying to remember the specifics, so I might be wrong, I do not have my information on me right now, so this is by memory
WS6 = Rear Disc + Posi , and larger sway bars, wheels
WS7 = Rear Drum + Posi & Larger sway bars, Wheels
WY5 = Rear Disc (W/O Posi) & larger sway bars, wheels
WY6 = Rear Drum (W/O Posi) & Larger Sway bars, wheels

I think 1985 (87+ for sure) WS6 became specifically a handling package, (16" Wheels, larger sway bars, specific shocks and struts etc)

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

Just a good sanity check for me!

Your description of the 87+ WS6 content matches what my '88 included.