Hey guys, I went to the main page, and punched my vin # into the vin-decoder, and it came back, and said it was a firebird, Trans Am, Formula. Why is this?? I have a GTA. I know it s a GTA. I even have the original Temporary license plate from the pontiac dealership, and it says GTA on it. Do they just classify all 89 T/A's, Formula's,GTA's that way.
Thanks
Mike

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(Gran Turismo Americano) "The Ultimate Firebird"
Smokin 1989 GTA- Bone stock except for exhaust. (no catalytic-stainless pipe into Flowmaster 2 chamber).

 

Yes, you are correct. There is not a special VIN character to designate a GTA. Thats why alot of people have trouble spotting a fake GTA, because the VIN says its a Trans Am.

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'87 Trans Am
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JET AFPR, Ported Plenum,
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Thanks GM Tech. But why did the Vin-decoder say Formula also. Was that just wrong?
Thanks again man.
Mike

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(Gran Turismo Americano) "The Ultimate Firebird"
Smokin 1989 GTA- Bone stock except for exhaust. (no catalytic-stainless pipe into Flowmaster 2 chamber).

 

Hard to say, maybe something wrong with the program. Look at the fifth digit of your VIN. "S" should be the firebird and formula and "W" is the trans am.

------------------
FREE CARFAX Record Check

If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen

GM Master Tech
ASE Master Tech + L1
Savannah, GA

'87 Trans Am
S/D TPI retrofit including functional PassKey,
22# injectors,
Whatever chip I feel like burning,
JET AFPR, Ported Plenum,
TB Coolant Bypass, Custom Cold Air,
SSM SFC, KYB Shocks, Boxed LCAs, Wonder Bar,
8mm Accel wires,
Flowmaster Exhaust,
16" GTA rims,
Corvette Servo,
3.73 Posi
4wheel Disc Brakes
Summit 1-5/8" headers, 2.5" Dynomax catback.

Best 1/8: 9.519@72.74

'97 Bonneville SSE

 

I used to sell Chevy's/Pontiacs and can tell you that the Formula, Z28, IROC & Trans Am cars are options, not different cars. EX., the Z28 is the option code on the check list of the order form. They are all F-Bodies, but just different options. It's just that they came standard with V8 engines.

It is possible to find out what engine is in the car from the VIN, but not necessarily the option package, unless your really good and know what engines came with what option packages. (That's probably how that program is set up.) For instance, the 4th Gen F-bodies. You can't get a V8 in the RS, so the VIN code tells you what engine is in the car. If it says that it's a V8, then you know it's either a Z28 OR a Z28/SS. And yes I said Z28/SS. An SS is nothing more than a Z28 with an option package. Just like an IROC is a Z28 with the option package of an IROC. (Even when the Z28 wasn't produced, but the IROC was, the dealer checked the Z28 option box to get the IROC.) You can't tell an SS buy the VIN, at least not when they were built exclusively by SLP. After GM took over the task, then they might have used another VIN code. I didn't sell after that, so I don't know.

On a slightly different note, that's why some insurance companies will ask you for the VIN, AND if it's a Z28, Formula, etc. That way they can charge you more in premiums. In some states that's illegal. They can't charge more in premiums for an option that came on the car. Only the platform of the car and engine package that came on the car. Like my insurance company charges more because I have T-Tops because it's OK in IL to do that. But in some states, the bastards can't get away with that.

 

The TA VIN is specific, its a W not an S like on a Firebird. Has been for quite some time.

 

Thanks everyone!! I feel better now. I checked the 5th dgit, and it is a "W". The system must be screwed up. But it freaks you out initially, to think maybe someone made a Formula into a GTA. But It would be crazy for someone to do that on my car, it has leather, every option, Steering wheel controls, ETC. Also I never thought to check my old car fax report until this morning, and when I did, that says Trans Am.
Thanks a million guys!
Mike

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(Gran Turismo Americano) "The Ultimate Firebird"
Smokin 1989 GTA- Bone stock except for exhaust. (no catalytic-stainless pipe into Flowmaster 2 chamber).

 

But didn't the TA have a different engine/trans combo and engine code than the Formula/GTA? I thought the Formula came with a more aggressive cam, exhaust, etc. Wouldn't that explain the difference in the W and S, by the engine code, or no? And if so, then that's how you would know that it's a TA and not something else, because of the engine it came with. Right?

[This message has been edited by AJ_92RS (edited July 31, 2001).]

 

The engine codes are the same, LG4 (h), L69 (g), LO3 (e), LB9 (f), L98 (8), whether its a Formula or TA, providing that engine was available or used on that car. The only exhaust difference was the N10 dual cat option (IIRC 89 up) that was available on the Formula but not the TA.

The TA will have a W in the 5th digit of the VIN, whereas a Firebird (or Formula) wont, it will have an S instead.

 

O I C. Cool.

But on the same note if I showed you my VIN, and you saw the "E" in the 8th spot (is that the right spot?), then you know that I would have an RS, right? The RS is the only Camaro that came with that engine, right? That's all I was saying.

I didn't know that the TA was a different "body" per say, than a Firebird. I knew that the WS6 is an option code, but I didn't know that the TA had different VIN coding. Cool.

Do you know if the IROC was the same way? Or any other F-bodies had a different letter on the VIN. Or are you a PONCHO ONLY man? I only told what I was told by my dad who was an insurance broker for 35 yrs. He only knows "that side of the story". Probably due to legal issues like I mentioned earlier.

[This message has been edited by AJ_92RS (edited July 31, 2001).]

 

Uhm... no. The engines are all the same in the two cars. An LB9 in a 91 Trans Am is the same LB9 in a Z28. The only difference would be the LG4 in a base model is 10 HP less than the LG4 in a Z28/Trans Am, probably due to the exhaust differences.

Madmax, you couldnt get dual cats in a Trans Am? Thats something I didnt know!


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1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.23 @ 107.62 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
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Sure glad about the Pontiacs not having dual cats! It was enough of a pain in the a$$ to remove one and fabricate.
Later
Mike

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(Gran Turismo Americano) "The Ultimate Firebird"
Smokin 1989 GTA- Bone stock except for exhaust. (no catalytic-stainless pipe into Flowmaster 2 chamber).

 

That's not what I was asking. But thanks anyway. At least you tried. That'a a good thing. We all need to try sometimes. Keep up the good work.

 

I tried my VIN and it showed my car as being a Formula, just like yours did. I was kinda worried for a second because I know my car is a GTA. Just thought I'd share since mine showed the same as yours.

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FOR SALE: 1988 Black GTA.

 

HeyChappy88, at least I am not the only one. It freaked me out too!
Later
Mike

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(Gran Turismo Americano) "The Ultimate Firebird"
Smokin 1989 GTA- Bone stock except for exhaust. (no catalytic-stainless pipe into Flowmaster 2 chamber) & AC Delco Rapid Fire Plugs