anyone know how to tell a T/A from a GTA by different parts?

i just baught an 87 trans am and ive been checking it out and think it might be a gta. it has the molded door panels (which ive heard only come on gta's) it has a 305 tpi auto and t-tops (heard you couldnt get a 350 with a t-top car). it sets lower then my 84 Z28 does. either there isnt any rpo codes left in the car or im just not looking in the right spot because i thought theyd be in the console like a 3rd gen camaro. theres a few pics of the car at www.cardomain.com/id/xeroxed hopefully someone will know if this is a gta or t/a. either way i got a sweet deal on the car only paid $400 for it and the only thing wrong was it needed a new ecm and the driver side fender painted.

IT looks like you have a gta i had a 87 with t tops it had a factory 350 in it i just picked up a 86 iroc with a 350 carb motor any way what colour is the interior and dose it have a piece that holds tapes and stuff on the roof between the t roofs i will try to find out other ways of telling and post againg 86 iroc 350 no mods yet sold 81 miss it big time :( :(

it has the map pocket on the passenger side dash with the bird on it. it has the overhead console. it also has a 140 mph speedo.

GTA's don't have fender vents on the front fenders, that is the most distinguishing feature. Everything else can be swapped easily to make a GTA clone.

My GTA had badges everywhere. On the wheel, map pocket, outside.

1. Molded door panels were part of the deluxe interior package for Firebirds. It was standard on GTAs, and optional on 87-89 Firebirds.

2. GTAs are either 350 autos, or 305 manuals. No 305 autos.

3. The t-top issue again... 87-90 definately were available with the 350 and t-tops. 91-92 were not supposed to have t-tops with the 350. I've never seen one, but someone always claims to have seen one or owned one. Many times they don't know its a 305 advertised as a 350 or the t-tops are aftermarket.

4. It sits lower than your 84 Z28 because there is a very good chance that its a WS6 car.

5. I don't believe any GTAs came in two tone. I'll have to check up on that though.

6. Look at the Firebird badge on the rear light bar. If its in silver, its a regular Firebird, or TA. Gold was only available on the GTA.
Does it have the digital dash?

5. I don't believe any GTAs came in two tone. I'll have to check up on that though.

6. Look at the Firebird badge on the rear light bar. If its in silver, its a regular Firebird, or TA. Gold was only available on the GTA.
Does it have the digital dash?

Regarding #5 above, you're exactly right. If it's a two-tone car (and it's the factory paint), then it's almost definitely not a GTA. You might also check for things like 4-wheel disc brakes (good sign, but not definite), aluminum driveshaft (same as above), etc.

But hands down, the best way to check your car out is with the help of the :bow: GTA Source Page! (http://www.gtasourcepage.com/Authentication.html) :bow: :thumb:

(I'm really surprised that no-one's mentioned that yet!) ;)

Whoops, forgot one thing - if you can't find the build sheet in the car, you still have a chance at getting the information that's on it. Write down your VIN & take it (or better yet, drive the car) to a Pontiac dealership, & ask really nicely if you can get a "SPID report". They don't have to do it for you, but it's usually not too much of a hassle. Then just look for the Y84 RPO code - if it's there, you're golden!

If not, hey, at least you know exactly what your car came with! :cool:

Did you check in the back glovebox ,sometimes they were put there.

From what I see that car is NOT a GTA. It has NO indications of even being so. Info can be found at www.transamgta.com if you want to read up.

Here is the definitive list of GTA items. It can vary year to year, as some options were not introduced till 88, and some items are 90-92 only.

___________________
Apperance

All GTA's will have the Y84 RPO code.

A GTA WILL have GTA emblems on the nose, and fenders. As well as emblems located on the sail panels.

A GTA will have a gold firebird inset into the center piece of the tail lights if it is a 87-90 GTA. 91/92 GTA's wil have the two peice TransAm tail lights as a tribute to the Fiero.

All GTA's will come with Gold Crosslace rims. The center caps should be black with a Gold Firebird emblem.

A GTA will have either a gold firebird emblem horn button or steering wheel radio controls for all 88-89 GTA's. 87' GTA's did not have the option of steering wheel controls. 1990-92 GTA's had the airbag steering wheel.

A GTA will have the Ultima air lumbar seats. These are adjustable in almost 6 different ways, with inflatable lumbar support. But they are not power seats in the sense we think of them today.

A GTA will not have fender vents. It will have standard firebird, or firebird Formula fenders.

A GTA will be a solid body color, there were no two tone paint jobs from the factory on a GTA.

A GTA will have a map pocket with either a Gold firebird emblem embroidered, or it will have "GTA" embroidered on the map pocket.

A GTA's steering wheel will be leather wrapped for all years. As will the shift handle, and Ebrake.

A GTA could have the 60/40 split bench seats.

For 1988 only, a GTA could have the "Notchback" option. Also for the same year a GTA could have the "euro" style paddle folding side mirrors. All exported GTA's have these mirrors.

All exported GTA's have the standard firebird tail lights as the grid style did not pass overseas requirements.
_____________________________
Mechanical

A GTA will come with either a 350TPI/Auto, 305TPI/Manual, or 305TPI/auto (peanut cam). There were no GTA's with the TBI 305 powerplants.

There might be more stuff to list, but this list should be enough to identify a GTA.

Also of note, all 1989 Turbo TransAm's were built from a GTA as the base model. The power train, and suspension were then modified. All true TTA's will have Y84 in the RPO list.

For 1988 only, a GTA could have the "Notchback" option. Also for the same year a GTA could have the "euro" style paddle folding side mirrors. All exported GTA's have these mirrors.

Apparently, option code DD7 'Paddle Mirrors' were offered only in 1987, and only very early in the production year.

The GTA Source Page (http://www.gtasourcepage.com)

Actually,GTAs did come with 305 automatics.My buddy just bought one a couple weeks ago.Its definitely real.

i guess its just a trans am. i never really liked the looked of the 3d gen t/a and firebirds or gtas but now i that i got one i think they look a lot meaner then a 3rd gen camaro. ive got about $460 into the car now because it needed a fan relay and ecm. i think it might be worth a little more then i have into it seeing how the whole undercarriage still has the factory undercoating and its still black. i doubt this cars ever seen a new york winter. now i just got to take it to work and match the driver side fender and make a few touch ups on the body and itll look and run great.

Hehe, I knew someone would find a mistake in what I wrote. Though what I wrote is mostly accurate. The first 3 lines should be enough to determine if it is a GTA.

A GTA will also have the word Pontiac in gold on the drivers side headlight insted of chrome.

i just baught an 87 trans am and ive been checking it out and think it might be a gta. it has the molded door panels (which ive heard only come on gta's) it has a 305 tpi auto and t-tops (heard you couldnt get a 350 with a t-top car). it sets lower then my 84 Z28 does. either there isnt any rpo codes left in the car or im just not looking in the right spot because i thought theyd be in the console like a 3rd gen camaro. theres a few pics of the car at www.cardomain.com/id/xeroxed hopefully someone will know if this is a gta or t/a. either way i got a sweet deal on the car only paid $400 for it and the only thing wrong was it needed a new ecm and the driver side fender painted.

Well the only thing wrong that you know of...lol


~BB~

lol yea thats all that i know of besides little stupid things. the headlight motors need to be replaced to. i put it on the road yesterday it drives good. i should be getting the paint to match the fender today. it got up to 120 without a problem and didnt shake or shimmy and the steerings a lot tighter then my 84 Z28 was. so i guess its not a bad $400 car lol.

[QUOTE=Marc 85Z28]

1. Molded door panels were part of the deluxe interior package for Firebirds. It was standard on GTAs, and optional on 87-89 Firebirds.QUOTE]


My 91 GTA has only the standard door pads the ones were the armrest bolts to the pad..its all original

I know a guy in NY who literally has 15 GTAs...one of them is a black on black leather 92 with t-tops (it has L98 B2L AND CC1)

I know a guy in NY who literally has 15 GTAs...one of them is a black on black leather 92 with t-tops (it has L98 B2L AND CC1)

L98 AND B2L? That's a REALLY rare bird ;)

L98 AND B2L? That's a REALLY rare bird ;)


L98 : 5.7 LITER V8 TPI ENGINE
B2L : PERFORMANCE PACKAGE & ENGINE PACKAGE V8 5.7LPFI


There are Alot of cars that got both RPOs...

I'm sensing some sarcasm in his comment.

L98 : 5.7 LITER V8 TPI ENGINE
B2L : PERFORMANCE PACKAGE & ENGINE PACKAGE V8 5.7LPFI


There are Alot of cars that got both RPOs...

Hmmm...

I have always thought that only Corvettes got the "true" L98. The B2L RPO was not just the performance package, but it was the aluminum head delete option, which all 350 TPI F-bodies received. I also am aware of the 85 and early 86 Vettes with the same iron headed 350 TPI being called an L98.

I nearly bought an 87 IROC with the 350 TPI (verified by both VIN and engine casting), and it did not have the L98 RPO. B2L was present.

My 1989 GTA has both L98 and B2L codes on the glovebox decal. According to my GM option codes book:

B2L - Engine Package 5.7 liter, PFI

No mention of 'aluminum head delete' in the book.

My 1989 GTA has both L98 and B2L codes on the glovebox decal. According to my GM option codes book:

B2L - Engine Package 5.7 liter, PFI

No mention of 'aluminum head delete' in the book.

I'm basing all of this off of a Corvette history/authentication book that my father has. They clearly stated the differences between the 85-91 Corvette engine, and the 87-92 F-body engine. It could be wrong :confused:

L98 is the code name for the 5.7L TPI engine, same as the LS1 and LT1 is for 4th gen F-bodies, and Vettes.

I do not believe you will find any mention of the L98, LT1, or LS1 in the RPO list.

However, B2L should be mentioned if its a true 350TPI F-body.

L98 is the code name for the 5.7L TPI engine, same as the LS1 and LT1 is for 4th gen F-bodies, and Vettes.

I do not believe you will find any mention of the L98, LT1, or LS1 in the RPO list.

However, B2L should be mentioned if its a true 350TPI F-body.

Mine has both L98 and B2L.

I wasn't sure, so I didn't make it definitive. My GTA doesn't have the RPO codes in the center console, nor can I finda build sheet. However, it is a GTA as all of the VIN #'s match on the panels and everywhere else.

GM has also given me a copy of the sales invoice, and Y84 is on there. As well as the california air emissions cert. But I don't have any other options listed on the invoice. Very wierd.

My 88 GTA has both RPO's L98,B2L also. I've seen FruityOnes car in person and there's no doubt in my mind it's a true GTA.By the way Bill I'd like to see it again since the upgrades,I've been following your progress on thirdgen.org.Lookin Good.

Still needs paint bad!!! Planning on repaint her the exact same white she came from the factory with. Only better paint and better prep/finishing. I'd love to dye my interior black, I could do it too. I need a new leather wrapped steering wheel again, or I need to have mine redone.

But the motor looks down right NASTY. As in I'm gonna eat your first born child nasty! Too bad its only set to run mid 13's. Maybe a low 13 if I can avoid blowing either the rear end, or the transmission! :D