RamAirZ

Well, I was shopping around for another 3rd gen (been awhile since my last build) and came across a sweet 86' firebird. I've been looking for one to be my daily because my dually is horrible on gas and with some money issues I'm going to sell it off and part out my 70' and just have one car for now. I found this 86' about 30 minutes from my house. It has 60K original, yes original, miles on it. Is almost completely unmolested. The only things changed form original are the tailights (TA versions, not sure if you could get them on a V6 model from the factory or not) and the stock radio was changed for a later model stock cassette played with the EQ. Everything else is untouched and in great shape. Has power windows, locks, seats, mirrors. Security roll cover, roof console, t-tops, original t-top bag in perfect shape, the dash isn't even cracked! The only issues is it idles with a "slight" hiccup, probably from not being driven in 2 years, and the blower motor seems to be out (I hear the vents switching and what not when you move the controls but the motor never turns on. Could be the control panel or the blower motor I think). The drivers seat has a tear on the outer bolster but all the other seats are perfect, good headliner and sail panels, typical console warping around the shift plate but good working console lid. I picked this baby up for $1300 too!!! I'll get some pics up later, gonna be swapping the wheels out for some 16x8's I have in the garage from my 70'. The 2.8 and the tranny all run/work great. Drove it about 50-60 miles tonight with not a single problem. It buzzes right along!

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

Sounds sweet. Lets see some pics!!!

RamAirZ

I'll get some pics posted up tomorrow for ya guys. Ran out of daylight today, I washed her up and worked on my 70' for awhile.

RamAirZ

It's like a piece of 3rd gen history, she has all the weird little options, had factory louvers too but someone had removed them at some point but left the top brackets:

RamAirZ

RamAirZ

RamAirZ

RamAirZ

RamAirZ

Anyone know if you could get the TA stlye lights on an SE from the factory? I assume yuo probably could because the only things different than stock on this thing are the taillights (unless you could order them) and the radio looks to be a later model unit but its liughtning matches the rest of the car. Is that radio stock? It looks later to me but you never know, power antenna and everything works on it too

Camrs89

Nice! looks like a fun project! I just got back into the thirdgen scene the other day too! Welcome back! BTW, I like your old Camaro

RamAirZ

Thanks, that car started out an LB9/A4 car, then went LS1/T56, then went 360ci small block with built 700R4 with 4K stall lol. I've had an 87' Iroc, 88', 89' TA, 92' RS and now this car. Here's a couple pics of previous ones:

RamAirZ

RamAirZ

RamAirZ

oldschool

Radio is original and correct for 1986. Looks to be a Delco UX1. Car looks to be well optioned. Run your RPO codes in the RPO decoder on the Third Gen home page. DE1 is the code for GM factory hatch louvers, it would be interesting to see if it came off the line with those. Check your roof console, (another rare option with an LB8 engine) and see if the tiny Firebird flashlight is still there. Stock unmolested V-6 cars are becoming harder to find. Most by this stage of the game have either been driven to death and destroyed, or so heavily modified that their unrecognizable. That car truely is a survivor. Nice original ride.

RamAirZ

Thanks, I can't believe the condition of it. I'm going to write down the RPO codes in a few, but the firebird flashlight is indeed still there, but the battery inside had corroded so when I pulled it out I got a nice bath of blue/white battery gunk. I guess they only made 2,259 of the SE's in 86' and the taillights are indeed an original item on the car according to someone else on here. So it looks like everything has been untouched on the car. The more I found out about this car, the more I don't want to mess with it lol. I always have to build these cars lol. If I do I'm thinking a 3400 swap (I've had BBC, SBC, LS1's) with 3500 heads, forged internals, turbocharged, tubular k-member and a-arms, full suspension mods (springs, TA, LCA's, etc etc), try to lighten the car, C6 brakes, etc. If I went this route I think I would leave the interior pretty much the way it is (aside from a couple added gauges) and on the outside just change the wheels and paint color (sunset orange) and add the lower black stripes again. What do ya think?

RamAirZ

OK here's what I found. I had a total of 80 rpo codes listed. Here are some that stood out a little to me:

AC3- 6-way power drivers seat
AK1- Deluxe belt and shoulder harness
AM9- split rear seat
AR9- European style seat
A01- All windows tinted
A90- Electric hatch release
BS1- Acoustical Package
B20- Luxury trim ornamentaion
B34/35- Floormats lol
B48- Luggage Compartment Trim
B67- Radio Cassette Tapes Container
DK6- Roof Console
D27- Rear Compartment Cover
D42- Rear compartment security shade
D9B- Vehicle Speed sensor, but then I have D5W which says speedo gear driven?
E5Z- Speedo adapter (delete)
E9Z- Speedo Key (delete)
GU6- 3.42 axle
NB2- California Emissions System, tier 0
NO9- Fuel filler door lock control
PB4- wheel lock control
T93- Tail and stop lamp, smoked
UX1- AM/FM stereo cassette EQ
WS1- Firebird Performace Value Package #1
W69- SE Option, "special edition"
YR1/YS1- custom seats
YT9- Fisher furnished parts option package


Then I had these ones: 6UF/7UF and 8WA/9WA, computer selected springs. What the hell does that mean, a computer picked the springs in my car lol? I didn't bother listing all the codes like power windows, locks, mirrors, ac etc. So it doesn't have the DE1 code but there are little brackets at the top of the hatch that I believe to be for louvers. Maybe a dealer installed option? There doesn't seem to anything on the car not factory or "dealer" installed, except maybe some regular maintenace type stuff.

RamAirZ

And I don't see an RPO code for a posi-traction rear diff, but it'll lay 2 solid black marks.

LunaticLsXDream

I have seen an open diff leave two marks, sometimes it happens... Only way to know for sure is to pull the diff cover.

RamAirZ

I'll be pulling it in a few days when I do a full fluid update. Most of my opens in the past would only leave 2 for a very short period, once you kept it going it would be all right side one wheel peel. This one holds both until I left off (decided to try it today. Being a little older now I was actually a little hesitant to beat on it yet but it brought back some memories lol)

Camrs89

Nice old ones! I really do like the flat black with the SS hood. May have to go that route on mine

RamAirZ

I love these cars, I miss my old ones lol.

Camrs89

yeah, thats why I came back, I regretted selling mine on the drive home from dropping it off, but at the time, I couldnt do it. Im gonna just have to recreate my old RS, this time I think Im going to leave the drivetrain alone other than just maintence and just have a nice clean RS, so what if its a V6, not like the 305s where that much faster anyways. (I have the LT1 when I want to go fast anyways) S