Hey guys.. im new on here.. i just traded my 2000 saturn SL1 for a 1991 pontiac firebird (gas prices dont bother me lol) and i have a quick question.

Okay, the guy i got the car from told me the car was a 1991 trans am with a 5.0L 305 TBI auto trans.. the car has Trans Am on the glove box pouch, it has Trans am bodykit.. but i looked online and it said only the 5.7 TPI's were trans ams..i did one of those little vin searches and it came back formula... I checked all around to make sure the vin matched all the bodyparts and they did.. BUT the guy before me put a 89 firebird formula front end on it (because someone beat the origional hood and fenders up with a baseball bat) .... Can anyone help me find out what kind of sex this bird is?

 

A 1991 Firebird with the TBI engine is a regular Firebird. The Trans Ams and the GTA's would have the TPI engine, either 305 or 350, in '90-92. You could have a Formula, but if it has the "rain gutter" ground effects on the door and the rear quarter panel, its a Firebird. The Formula doesnt have ground effects. The VIN has nothing in it to tell the difference between a Firebird and a Formula, as the Formula is an option on the base Firebird. The Trans Am and GTA were different models. I dont know why the VIN decoder would tell you its a Formula. But I do know if its a 90-92 Firebird and it has a TBI engine, its a Firebird, not a Trans Am.

 

Look at your RPO codes which are located in the storage compartment in the rear hatch area

TBI motors came in Formula's too

post up some pics if you get a chance

-jason

 

Looking at the vin, especially on carfax won't give it correctly. If it says Firebird Formula and you have the ground effects, you more than likely have a base firebird. My base firebird also says Firebird Formula on my car insurance and on carfax.com. Sounds like the guy either lied to you, or just didn't know.

 

yea.. i have a few pics... i havent touched this car (except just to clean it) to show someone like.. how confusing the car is.. i love the car to death... i just dont know anything about it lol
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...000027/TA8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...000027/TA3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...000027/TA4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...000027/TA7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...027/motor1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...027/motor2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...027/motor3.jpg

 

Hard to tell without a better shot of the front clip, but I'd say you have a base model firebird with a Formula nose from an earlier model. Those front bumpers came on 87-90 firebirds and formulas. The hood is definitely a formula hood. Not sure about the fenders. Someone else will have to chime in about the heat extractors at the bottom.

Looks like a clean car otherwise. Good luck with it!

-jason

 

The heat extractors do not look flush with the fenders, so someone could have cut holes and added them. Your taillights are formula or firebird.

91 Formulas, Trans am and GTAs did not come with that type of rear spoiler.

It looks like someone changed your front bumper cover and added the 85-90 trans am only heat extractors to the fenders or put 85-90 TA fenders on it.

5 digit of the VIN will tell you if it is a firebird or Trans am only. S= firebird and W= Trans am

8th digit will tell you what engine. T= 3.1, E= 5.0 TBI, F= 305 TPI and 8= 350 TPI

 

Also you could get a 305 TBI in a plain jane Trans am in the late 80s but I've never seen a 91 or 92 TA with a 305 TBI.

I believe you have a firebird with a formula hood, 90 or older firebird or formula front bumper cover and modified or 85-90 TA fenders.

91-92 firebirds, formulas, GTAs and trans ams had a gold bird on the map pocket only.

 

I just caught something else.

The drivers side headlight should have Pontiac on it, to be correct for a 91-92.

 

yea it does say pontiac on the driver side light.... the front end is off of an 88 or an 87 i think because the guy i bought it from said he didnt like the tear drop front end.. i checked the vin it says firebird 5.0L.. i just dont understand why the glove box says trans am and the bodykit is a trans am bodykit.. someone didnt put those on the car.. they came with it because i checked them out and .. i worked in a chevy bodyshop and i can just tell if something was put on or factory.. but yea.. the guy before me put that formula hood on it and everytime it rains water gets all over my CARB filter and distributer.. you know anyone selling the right hood ?

 

It should say PONTIAC on the headlight cover, not where yours has it. See the pic I posted.

Map pockets are easily changed.

You could get the GFX (TA body kit) on a Firebird.

The right hood would have been a plain flat hood (no vents) on a Firebird. TAs and GTAs got a flat hood with 4 vents. I have a vented hood but I'm in Atlanta. You should be able to find one locally.

 

Here is what the front of your car should look like but your hood will have no vents. Notice the 91-92 TA, GTA and Formula rear spoiler. Firebirds came with the type you have on your car.

 

91-92 Formula.

 

Some other helpful pics.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...g?t=1221424971
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...g?t=1221425007
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...g?t=1221424938
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...g?t=1221424868

thats what it looks like right now.. i wanna change out the fenders for the year thats suppose to go on the car... are those the headlights for that year? when the guy changed out the front bumper cover he took cut the foglight wires and theyre still dangling with green batter crud on them (i took the fuse out so they arent live anymore) .. i appreciate everyone who has helped me with this crisis (lol) i need to change the oil in it, anyone got any suggestions for type of oil and filter? it has like 164k on it.. then i have to fix the rot spot inderneath the battery (everyone i know has the same problem) and a fist size rot hole on the driverside firewall where the firewall meets the wheel well and after that im gunna start makin her look prettier

 

The pics of the head lights I posted are correct for 91-92 drivers side.

 

gender of car ???? all cars are female . treat them right , they will treat you right . an old , old saying is that if its got tires or teats it will cause you problems if you don't take care of it . just reflections from an old gearhead . been there , done that . good luck .

 

thats right!!!!!! thats what ive always been told. dude, i hope you get your car straightened out. that all sounds like a situation i normally find myself in. just be glad you got a 3rd gen sports car. i'm more of a camaro person myself (have had some bad experiences with pontiacs) but at least you're not ridin around in a "tennis shoe on wheels" anymore. for what its worth CONGRATS.

 

lol i know man thanks alot... yea im more of a camaro guy... i just wanted a third gen F-body with a v-8 (for something to fix up and baby) but the car i really really want is an 81 camaro or an 81 T-A... but the firebird i have is cool with me.. shes my baby lol