My friend just bought a 87 T/A 305 tpi, auto.

We were looking in the glove box at the manufacturer's label and on the sticker there were letters and codes. Well one of the codes is WS6. I thought that just the GTA's and formula's had WS6? Is this pretty standard in the 3rd gen's T/A??

I thought it wasn't. I also have a 89 T/A and I looked in my glovebox and mine has WS6 as well

Thanks

 

WS6 was optional on the Trans Am and I beleive it was standard on the GTA, but I'm going out on a limb there.

 

Optional on the Trans-AM and standard on the GTA. Optional on the Formula Firebird also. In later years the only cars that really didn't get it are the base model birds.

There is one 1982-84 car around that a board member owns that has WS6 on thier 4 cylinder car.

So I think you could have gotten it on just about any car if you ordered it. But generally it's something you only see on higher end cars.

 

My 1992 Trans Am is a non-WS6 car.

 

Actually all Formula's had WS6 (non-deletable). But yes the WS6 was standard on GTA's but optional on T/A's.


Later, Garrett

 

Thanks guys, i always thought the Ws6 only came on GTAs and formula.

So on the t/a's when u seen the little plaque on the pass. side reading performance suspension I guess that means Ws6??



Also i have hardly ever seen a overhead console on a t-top car on a T/A. My friend that just bought the 87 has it. I have had 3 t-top cars through the years and never had this. I guess this was an option as well?

 

WS6 is the RPO for the extra cost "Perfomance Package" offered on Firebids. Actual nothing real special about this option
( swaybarsize ,springs & shocks).

 

Right I agree, but they handle great. I was telling my freind about it who has a 87 Mustang :nono: he is like ws6 is over-rated. But the fact is I out handle him pretty nicely

Thanks

 

I can tell you the WS6 will make a bad driver look good. Not that I am a bad driver, but my GTA moves like a dream on corners and when making a quick lane change.
The WS6 package did change through the years, and the one thing the thirdgen WS6 has over newer ones is the swaybars are the biggest of them all. The suspension was meant for cornering without so much regard for comfort like the 4th gen WS6 TAs. And yes, IMO the 3rd gen WS6 cars will outhandle a 4th gen WS6 and any street Mustang.

 

I Agree

ROCK ON

 

Not necessarily, I think there was 3 levels of suspension and the upper two got the "Performance Suspension" emblem on the passenger side. I have seen non-WS6 T/A's with the emblem, thats why I question it.

John

 

F41 and WS6 got the Performance Suspension badge. FE1 Soft Ride cars didn't.

 

Hey you wanna see how a WS6 will do against an FE2 IROC? I happen to think the Chevy's suspension is pretty stoudt. You familiar with Macungie?

 

Let's see.

FE2 -- Suspension System, Ride and Handling
WS6 -- Suspension, Special Performance

The GTAs are equipped with both.

 

Well if your looking for ride I wouldn't recommend FE2. But i love the stiff suspension feel. I drove a 87' 350 GTA WS6 a couple of months ago and in my opinion it was slightly softer and not quite as tight as mine. Then again that car had twice the mile of my car, so perhaps the suspension was worn out.

 

You're right, the "brand new" feel is probably gone in mine, but even like that on a not so smooth road it can be pretty rough. I think the factory shocks are still there.

So what components are included as part of the FE2?

 

The WS6 package includes the FE2, so I doubt that an FE2 IROC has stiffer suspension than the WS6.

 

I disagree with the "specialness" of WS6. That sounds like a statement from someone who does'nt have it.

Don't forget the close ratio steering box that comes with WS6. The steering box is half of the WS6 handling "experience".

 

On a similar but side note: There was a magazine that tested NEW F-bodies back in 87, and I think they used a Formula, GTA, an Iroc, and Z28, they said the Formula was "The most fun to drive" Go fig...

John

 

FYI, IROCs have the short ratio steering box too, i love it. Like you said, its very cool. I would like to drive a similar mile GTA to see what it feels like.

About the formula, was that a 350? Would you mind scanning that article, i would love to read that. Well the Formula is the lightest right? Other than that I wouldn't think there would be many differences. Diff wheels, interior, WS6 should be the same as in T/A GTA, right?

 

Of course I know where Macungie is. Ya I would like to see how my Ws6 does against your stoudt suspension. Is there a road course in Macungie that I am unaware of??

Also you may of drove a GTA with Ws6 and thought it was soft. And it may of had alot of miles and might of been warn out . But my Ws6 isn't warn out. I have low mileage and there is not too much of anything warn out

ROCK ON !

 

actually it was a 305 5-speed, I already have the article on the computer, but there are 13 pages at 250k each so It might be frowned upon. After reading the article, there was two drivers of the three that liked the Formula above the others (for performance). Of course one of the authors must be a forign car lover he stated that they should make the f-body about 5 inches narrower and 6 inches shorter and stick with a V6 to compete with the 944 & RX-7s )

John

 

Nah, just messing with you. I wish there was. I'd love to see your ride sometime.

 

Ya man no problem we live pretty close, actually my girlfriend is from Topton, well she used too now lives in Nazareth but her family still lives there. So i'm in the area alot

Later