Im interested in buying a 1987 TA. Is there any thing specific i should look for that usually goes wrong with these cars ? I have wanted one for a while and i have a chance to pick up one with the following specs:

1987 Firebird TA
350ci motor
Auto / shift kit and B&M shifter
Ram Air setup
No major body damage
interior is nice.
currently registered.

 

There is a member here with a very nicely built 1989 Trans Am, the car is in great shape and has a very nice set of ROH Synper rims on it. Hopefully he will see this thread and reply with some more details.

 

The biggest thing it to make sure its really a 350 and not a 305 that the owner thinks is a 350.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

How would i tell if the motor thats installed is really a 350 not a 305 ? Where is the identification stamp ?


The 350 is the L98 correct ?

 

Yes, the L98 is the TPI 350 engine. To tell, look at the 8th digit in the VIN number. If its an 8, then it came with a 350 TPI engine. If its an F, then it came with a 305 TPI engine. Now, to check the engine itself, look at the ridge on the back of the engine by the distributor. It'll have a cast in number, either 5.7L or 5.0L. Or you can look at the casting number on the driver or passenger side of the block, underneath the heads. Then take that number over to http://www.mortec.com/ and see if it matches up to an '87+ 350.

 

Thanks alot. I hope everything checks out. I'll keep you guys posted. maybe in the near future i can actually show up to a meet instead of just reading the boards

 

Hey 'yal i saw the TA today and test drove it. It didnt have very good braking, but it ran great and had very nice accerlation. I noted the VIN number: 1G2FW21F7JL228508

I noticed it had WS6 on the rear dust covers...

Anyway to tell if it really has the WS6 suspension package on it ?

 

Did G.M. put a 350 in any 87 models from the factory, or did the 350 option start with the 88 model year?

 

It started in 87 for 350's

 

It has an F as the 8th digit, so you know it started life with a 305 TPI engine. If the owner claims the engine is a stock 350, then you know he's lying, or just clueless. He (or a previous owner) could have swapped the engine, as well.

Check out the SPID sticker in the glove box between the seats, It will list a bunch of three-digit numbers and letters, in alphabetical order. LB9 is the code for a 305 TPI, and it will say WS6 if it came with that sport suspension package. The other codes you can look up on the SPID decoder on this website.

 

The owner installed a B&M shifter and 86'd the center console. is there another way for me to find these codes ?

In all honesty if its not a 350 no big deal. I can pull a 350 from the junkyard and start building it while i get to know the tpi system and enjoy the car. The WS6 wheels did catch my eye though.

For 87 what options did GM included in the WS6 package ? i did notice that it had drum rear brakes.. not sure if that means anything.

 

I have a 1987 Trans Am that I am looking to sell soon. Paint needs to be redone but the car is in good shape. Only 85k original miles. I had the 305 swapped out for a 350 by Dyno Don. You can check it out at my Car Domain page www.cardomain.com/id/nbird87 PM or email me at transdsm@yahoo.com if you are interested.

 

Thats a very nice TA i simply cant afford such a price right now. Do you finance lol

 

Price is negotiable

 

Well i am trying to buy this TA for only 750!

 

That's quite a price! I guess you plan on working on it quite a bit

 

Well the body is in great shape. No major dents or dings. The motor is strong -- doesnt smoke,or poot when you get on it. The only thing is its missing is a passenger side door lock, and the center console -- since they installed a B&M mega shifter they removed the console.

 

Here is a pic

 

One more..

 

I suppose you could get a 4th gen console for it since the original console is missing. I don't think the megashifter has an install kit for a firechicken, that is probably why they removed it.

 

Yea i was thinking about constructing a box that housed the window switches.. The rachet shifter is pretty cool.

 

Yeah having the ratchet shift is nice, but the fact that the t-handle never stays in place bugs the hell out of me

 

Oh i only test drove it once so i i wouldnt know... but im hoping to have something to complain about soon :-)

 

That's why you ditch the T-handle and go with the ball style. That's what I did in my old El Camino. Waaaaaay better.

 

You should contact George Lara AKA 12secSS. He works for B&M. It may be something he can look into for you.

 

The T-handle has been a bit of annoyance for a while.

I had a B&M StarShifter (still have the shifter sitting in my garage) in my '69 El Camino. No matter how well you tightened the jam nut, the T-handle would eventually come loose and the handle would twist.

At one point, the threads for the handle stripped from having to tighten it all the time. B&M also used fine threads, which didn't help and the post was machined flat on two sides — so you really didn't have full threads on the post.

I ended up machining down the post and rethreading it with a tap-and-die. I then used an insert in the T-handle to make it fit the smaller post. Well, this helped a little, but the handle still would loosen up. Finally, the post flat out broke off the shifter lever.

B&M does have some good customer service I must say! I took my shifter apart and took the broken lever over to B&M to show them. They went into the shop and gave me a brand new lever – free of charge.

I then hit PAW and bought a B&M 4-speed shift ball since it fits the automatic shifters too. Never had a problem after that.

 

I did, he said they all do that

 

That is a good suggestion Bret, I hadn't thought of using a regular shift ****

 

Well thats a wonderful answer. Guess what product I'll never buy.