Im trying to find a good Firebird for my little brother. He can't afford TPI models. So im wondering what years and models they stuck the 305 TBI LO3 in?? Don't care about camaro he doesn't like em. Has to be Firebird. Oh ya he want one with WS6 if that is possible?

 

86+ Firebirds had TBI L03. I would recommend 88+ if he can afford it so that it will be the roller cam and 8746 ECM and the 28 spine rear axles which will be better for future mods.

 

I thought only the 91+ TBI's got the roller cam. Since I got my 91, I've found a good way to visually determine what's under the hood: as any 91-92 with the 20 spoke 15" wheels will either have a 3.1 or L03 under the hood. I'm not sure if you could get the WS6 package with the L03 as the L03 was and upgrade option on the base Firebird and the WS6 was an upgrade on the TPI models.

 

If he's wanting to modify it, I'd steer him away from the TBI years. The carb cars are infinitely easier to modify since you don't have to worry about computer tuning. They're going to be cheaper, too (probably more miles though).

 

There is not a reply post here that doesn't have incorrect data in it!

First of all, the first year for TBI was '88, not 86+.

Secondly, all TBI cars got roller cams, as chev had finished updating the small block by '88. This means roller cams, one piece seals, centrebolt heads, and new intake bolt angles.

Thirdly, most factory carbed Camaros and Firebirds are computer controlled carbs. I can't think of one that isn't, so I'm pretty sure they're all cc.

TBI is fine for a junior rodder. Make sure that the mods are well planned out, and take care of the major problems first. Do searches for how to make a TBI run 14's if you're wondering what these problems are.

 

I don't really know about how hard it is to tune a computer controlled carb ('cause I don't really know how much the computer controls) but I do know how hard it is to tune the TBI. It does fine for things like headers, exhaust, open element, and the like. But, when I swapped the heads, throttle body, and intake, it couldn't handle it any more. I swapped ECUs, burned my own chips, payed for custom chips, and all that fun stuff. I wish that I had just swapped out for a carb in the beginning...'cause I never got it right with the TBI.

That's just my personal opinion, though. Some people have been able to get the TBI working on heavily modified engines, I just wasn't one of them.

 

We live in Canada where its below 0 celcius for sometimes half a year (at worst) Carbs are a bad bad thing. Make for hard starts in the morning. It has to be fuel injected. Thats why he wants atleast TBI. Plus he's going into 1st year university so he can't afford to modify anything more expensive then a plastic straw!! The most he can do is get hand me downs from my L98. Which reminds me i read the L98 cam goes into the LO3 quite well.

 

mine is ws6/tbi

 

All Formula's had WS6, and the base motor was the L03 from 88 all the way to 92 I think. I'm not sure if you could get a Trans Am with WS6 and TBI, maybe in 88? 89-92 has the ECM that is easier to mod. If he wants a stick shift make sure he gets a year with the WC-T5 whenever those started, and the 28 spline axles started being phased in on '89 models but not all got them.

 

Alright, no, Trans Am's never had an LO3, if you wanna get your buddy an LO3, WS6 Firebird you'll have to get an 88'-92' Formula Firebird. You could get a plain Firebird without the the WS6 for much cheaper than any Formula you'll find and in my opinion makes very little difference in handling. Some yes of course, but not enought to warrant spending lots more money. Get a Firebird with a LO3 non WS6, it'll be cheap and your buddy will have a blast.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dmair5_0
[B]Alright, no, Trans Am's never had an LO3, if you wanna get your buddy an LO3, WS6 Firebird you'll have to get an 88'-92' Formula Firebird. You could get a plain Firebird without the the WS6 for much cheaper than any Formula you'll find[QUOTE]

BS.

I got my Formula for $2000, nice car except it needs a paint job, I haven't seen a regular bird that nice for that cheap either.

Trans Am could have the L03 in 88, 89 and maybe 90. They do exist so don't say they don't, it's an old question on this board that has been aswered again and again, Trans Am could come with L03's.

 

Ok Keith, I'm speaking from my personal experiences, I have never found a Formula that was in decent shape for less than I got my 91 Firebird, ever. Maybe its just where I'm from, but thats the way I've found it. I just think it would be easier to find a regular Firebird before a Formula, and to add to that, the insurance is much less on anything that doesn't say Formula or Trans Am on the fender. For raw availability and cheapness I would go with a regualr Firebird. Sorry about the LO3 thing in the trans Am, I've never ever seen one, but I'm sure I could be wrong, and don't want to post false info. Just my opinion we don't need to sh** on each other here do we?

 

OK, with the TBI Trans AM, if you look in the Third Gen Tech Data on this site, it shows that the Iroc, Trans AM, and Formula all had this motor as a base motor. So people saying that an Iroc with a 305 TBI is not an Iroc, or a Trans AM with this motor is not, etc etc, needs to look. Yes, not many people bought these cars, mainly because if your going to spend the money, get the better motor. These cars do exist. TBI would be a good car for him to drive back and forth to school because it will be more reliable than a Carb. And should last a long time. That is what the TBI was made for. And the it would be better to get a regular firebird instead of the formula mainly because of the insurance and partly the price (usually).

 

RamAirZ: What kind of hood is that, and how much $$ sis it cost?

 

that's funny, i went 14.209 @ 95.46mph(approx. 225 rwhp calculated) with heads, intake, 1.6rockers, full exhaust, ultimate tb, and a stock chip. the car always had a great smooth idle and even got 23mpg with out a lock torque convertor.
the stock ecm can handle a world of things, you just can't forget that when you mod an engine you will always(and i mean always!) have to mess with the base timing and fuel pressure/jet size.

later
tim

 

It's a Ram Air II hood, costs 650 bucks, but GT Auto is making one cheaper, so wait on them if you wanna buy one.