I just ran the VIN number in an SE my woman is looking at, and it came back as "Trans Am Special Edition." SE's are considered Trans Ams? Can anyone back this up?

-Reno

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'88 Firebird LB8
"Cerberus"
http://www.angelfire.com/il/Firebird28/index.html

 

The guys on the "history/restoration" message board on here might have a better idea...


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Here's the scenario....

An SE is considered to be a Firebird coupe, not a Trans Am (just like a GTA is considered to be a Trans Am).

BUT, SE's could be optioned out to just as high a level as T/As could. For instance, this is why her rear end has discs, rather than drums. WS6 was available on both SE's and T/As, along with many other options. The ONLY T/A exclusive in the '82-'84 years were the CFI and L69 V8s.

Hope this helps a little...

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Jason E
'89 Camaro RS 2.8
Hypertech chip/K&N filters/Accel 8.8 wires, Accel Supercoil/RapidFires
Eclipse CD and 100x4 amp/Boston plates and 6x9s
Alpine Alarm, Keyless Entry

'95 Grand Am SE 3.1 Coupe
No mods yet...

Long Live #3...

 

Check the 5th digit of the VIN. TransAms are 5 and regular production are 4. A GTA is an option of the T/A and the Formula is an option of the regular production. If your 5th digit is a 4, then its not a T/A.

 

Exactly....just as SE is an option of the base coupe (apologies if I didn't explain that right )

 

hehehe, the, umm, 5th digit? Uh-huh, it's an X...I $hit you not.

Anyway, I'm not asking this question out of my ****, I ran the number on the site's decoder, it said "Trans Am Special Edition." If Jason's right about the Coupe thing, then the decoder is screwed up.

-Reno

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'88 Firebird LB8
"Cerberus"
http://www.angelfire.com/il/Firebird28/index.html

 

What year is this thing?

 

84. I was just looking at my VIN, too, and my 5th digit is an S, 5th digit from the END is a 5 though...

-Reno

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'88 Firebird LB8
"Cerberus"
http://www.angelfire.com/il/Firebird28/index.html

 

UP to the LAST 6 numbers of your VIN, that is the sequential serial number of the cars produced for that year.

EX.
1G2FW87H6FL123456
1=Nation of Origin (USA)
G=manufacture (GM)
2=Make & Type (Pontiac)
W=Series Code (Trans Am X=Firebird SE, S=Firebird) (& F Body car line)
87=Body type (Coupe 2 door sport)
H=engine type (LG4 V-8)
6=Check digit (what does it mean, check digit)
F=model year (1985 Up & down, subtract or add years)
L=Plant location (Van Nuys N=Norwood)
Last 6 is sequnetial serial number, plant sequence number
Quoted from Mr. Helms, 1985.
How many 1985 Firebirds did they make?
Anyone know how many 1985 Firebirds made at the Van Nuys Plant?
Cool, I own another Van Nuys Firebird.
The count is now at 1-Norwood Camaro, 3-Van Nuys cars (my Wife's/Son's 1968 Camaro & 1985 Firebird & previously owned 1968 Firebird).
I love these F-Body Cars

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

[This message has been edited by KED85 (edited February 24, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by KED85 (edited February 24, 2001).]

 

Mine's Van Nuys. Check digit is basically the correct answer if you put all the other numbers and a number code for the letters through a permutaed algabraic absolutley f##ked up sequence. Do it all right, and the check digit is the answer. It's to make sure VIN's aren't faked, basically.

-Reno

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'88 Firebird LB8
"Cerberus"
http://www.angelfire.com/il/Firebird28/index.html

 

Reno, does it have the S/E only hood? The S/E (know '85 has it for sure) has "vents" in the front like the 85/86-up T/A's but no "vents" in the rear sides that the T/A's have. It's a kinda rare part.
Sometimes when an S/E got hit and needed a hood, it would get replaced with a T/A or flat Firebird hood because the ins. co. or the customer did'nt want to spend the extra money to buy a new S/E hood because a T/A hood was considerably cheaper even when the vent fillers for the rear holes needed to be purchaced. I remember something like $600 for an S/E hood verses $350 for a T/A hood or something close to that.

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Kenney
82 Trans Am WS7 notchback
83 Trans Am WS6 T-tops
72 Vista Cruiser 455
90 Olds Trofeo
80 K-10 w/snow plow
Painter @ Chevy dealer
GM junkie

[This message has been edited by 82 TRANS AM (edited February 27, 2001).]

 

I GOT IT!!!!

Yes, there was a "Special Edition" Trans Am for '82-'84. But is it an S/E???? NO.

I see what you're saying now. The S/E was the midline model 'Bird in those years (just like the '82-'86 Berlinettas), BUT this is completely different from a Trans Am Special Edition.

Lemme guess...is it black with gold accents?? If it isn't, it should be!!!

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Jason E
The former third gen...
'89 Camaro RS 2.8

The future third gen...
'87-'92 IROC, GTA or Z28

The driver...
'95 Grand Am SE 3.1 Coupe
Alpine swing face 60x4 CD player

Long Live #3...

 

I've never heard of a production line T/A S/E. What is listed in 84 as the T/A S/E is the 15th anniversery car. Which is white with blue stripes, ect, ect...basically the same decal kit as the other 84 T/As but with Trans Am on the door which does not appear on any other models of this year.

Only other T/A S/E I can think of is Recaro edition but that would doubtfully show up in the VIN

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1984 WS6 Trans Am Hartop
Former L69 Car under restoration
1984 Trans Am T-tops
4-bolt main 350, performer intake, headers, Holley 650, T-5, hayes clutch, dual elec. fans and 3.23's.
Daily driver and restoration
13.98 @ 101