I recently fulfilled my lifelong dream and purchased a 1985 Trans Am off Craigslist for 500 dollars. It's in good running condition but I have a question. I decoded my vin and it shows I have the 305 V8 LG4, which to the best I can find on the internet, is TPI. But the car I purchased has a dual snorkel air cleaner and an Edelbrock performer 600 carb. How can it be TPI and carbureted at the same time? Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me.

 

Yes, these cars are 20 or more years old and as a rule had several owners. Few have original engines. The more owners the car has had the more changes will have been made to it that are not "correct". By "correct" I mean exactly as the factory made it. Your main concern is whether the car will smog if it has to depending on where you live. If the car runs great and you are happy with it drive it and have fun. If you have money to burn and want to make it "correct" there are plenty of parts out there for sale to do just that.

 

= Carb

The 305s available that year were:

8th digit of VIN:

H = LG4 (base-model low-perf carb)
G = L69 (HO carb)
F = LB9 (TPI)

No 350s were available. The only other kind of engine besides the 305s was a 6-cyl. They had already dropped the 4-cyl by then, thankfully.

Of course, no factory cars came with an Edelbrock carb; so clearly, that much at least has been changed.

 

Thanks a bunch; I must have just made a google error. I like it the way it is, and since I live in VA I don't have to worry about smog, but I just wanted to know what I had so I wasn't lost when i went to buy parts. Thanks for all your help guys, hopefully someday I'll be knowledgeable enough about my T/A that I can return the favor.

 

Wicked dude I bought my first Firebird S/E $500 same year in my sig has basically all the options a Trans Am of the same year could have but without the body kit.

Fun car love it, tons of power for the little 305....but then i found my GTA...and now i cant even sleep!

Enjoy these cars man...unique in every way.. well compared to all these 4 cylinder economy cars and imports on the road today...booooorinnnggg

3rd Gens = Cars
Anything else = Transportation