I seem to find everything 88-n- up, 86-n- before are different! ie aero wing , diff. light motor , last year carb, motor, rims, I think i should have bought a 85, or is it me ! It seems everything i hear is negative bout that year ! I love the car, but it doesn't seem to love me ! Just my money ! All kidding a side was 87 a bad year!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

i think all thirdgen's have their good and bad times

i never really heard many negative's about 87 trans am's, what i mean is that the year wouldnt really stick out in a line up of crappy years, thats just me..

 

I know what you are talking about. I think I can clarify as I have a 1987 car as well.

I think you are just missunderstanding what is going on with them. I have noticed for mods and parts you see typically one of two things. Either it says 1985-1987 or 1988-92. The later statement seems to be more common in the engine mods department at least. The reason is simple. In 1985 they made major changes to the engines and cosmetic areas of the car over the 1982-1984 cars. In 1988 they changed only one major thing from the year(s) before. They went from an old V-belt system to a serpentine setup. So when you go looking for superchargers and turbos that fit this car you'll typically find everything for 1988 on up. 1985 I think simply out sold the 1987 cars. Performance wise though 1987 is one of the better years for the TA. They still made improvements over additional time. But they were all minor. BTW if you want to be able to use 1988 and up sort of stuff like superchargers and what not you need to order the kit to convert your car from a V-belt setup to a serpentine setup. Nothing wrong with your car man. You just have to make one extra step to make any major mods to it.

I hope this clears things up. I know if you do a search on this board you can find that kit. I know I am going to get one if I keep my 305. You can do everything and use everything for a 1988 and up car, you just have to make the belt system changeover.

As for the wing. The difference is our wings have a brake light in them. Before that the wing was plain and had no wiring in it. No contacts. This is because the brake light was in the rear window. (UGLY AS HELL)

The rims are another story. They changed from the 85 and 86 style to the GTA style. The GTA style rims are actually more rare and harder to come by.

At least you don't have a 1982 CFI TA. Those are really hard to get parts and mods for.

 

I saw a vette for sale....almost called the guy until I looked up the engine..got an issue of Hot Rod with a list of multiple years and changes made within those years to the Chevy 350....saw it was CFI, said nevermind.. Lol.. Course I have a Ford now with the exact same power rating stock...225 hp...I should be pushing 250+ if the components I was told were in it are actually in it.

 

Yeah that dreaded CFI system. I knew a guy that had that. It was always breaking down on him. Those LU5 Crossfire cars are a pain. Although personally I think the 1982 Recaro TA is one of the best looking thirdgens ever made.

 

87WS6. your forgetting the fact that the 88 and newer cars are speed density and do not have a mass air flow sensor. that is the major difference just letting you know not arguing.

 

IIRC...
'90 and up were speed density.
'89 was Mass air flow, but no cold start valve
'88 was a different airbox, IAC passage and different cam
was '87 the first year for us for the one-piece? '86 the mixed breed? '87 had a new cam and first year of the 5.7, '85 the first year for the TPI...

Don't know, it's late and the kids are harrasing me. There is a ton more. I thought we had hit the minutia in a previous post or tech article?

 

Your correct about the Speed Density instead of MAF and the CAM difference. My point to the guy was that the TA is not the worst year for the Trans-AM. I was trying to get the point across that with a little work you can make your car compatible with the 1988 on up stuff.

 

87 is FAR from being the worse. 87 was a transition year, getting new parts, yet not fully utilized till 88. Im mostly speaking about the GTA, but the TA should be the same.

 

I think my car was the last year for carbs! [ roc. 4 bll][comp. contrl. carb] Just seems like most upgrades are for 1988 & up . I 'm so mad at the car now with the strict emission test that i might take it to te track run it to death!!!!!!!!!!! I 've been easy on it since the new motor , now its time time to push it to the limit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY much FED up!!!!!!!!! I miss my old 79 maro [ with 1970 350 ] no heater & half the fire wall missing & hi jackers in the back!!! Would have smoked this car in reverse!!!!!! aaaaaaaaaaaa the good old days!!!!!!!!! when cars had pure SAC under the hood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

1987 a bad year for Trans Am? I don't think so. '87 brought in new options as well as a stronger transmission. Plus I think the 1987 Trans Am was the best model, but I might be biased on that

 

86 had smaller cams than the 87's, especialy the TPI cars.

86 was the first year for the 1-piece rear main seal on the block, as diferent from the 55-85 blocks. 86 was also the last year for the perimeter-bolt valve covers, the centerbolt heads arrived on the 87 cars.

87 is less of a bastard year than 86.

 

Just wanted to clarify once more that MAF was from 85-89 and SD was from 1990-92 (for fbodies)

 

I think it could be argued that 2002 was the worst year for T/As, as well as all other F cars.

 

In the sense that it was the final year, yes... But performance wise.....wowsa. I want one of those SLP Ram Air Trans Ams.....whewee. Extremely sexy cars, but they've got some big nuts under that dress! As far as new engines go, you can't beat an LS1.... Except an LS6 that is. Or that Ford bastard mutant motor, the 4-cam (or was it DOHC? I've read both printed) 4.6 liter Supercharged (390 hp, 390 ft lbs)

 

I also own an 87. I love it. However mine was made January of 87, so it still has alot of 86 qualities along with 87. As for the light on the wing, don't have one. 87 was not a bad year