well we bought the firebird
88 formula 350 tpi
auto
4 wheel disk
some other nice options too
this also has an aluminum driveshaft too

has a flowmaster single outlet cat back and K&N air filter
78k on it
shiftkit in the tranny

build list says G80 limited slip diff (anyone know what this means?)
J65 front/rear disk brakes, is this the 1LE option?
KC4 engine oil cooler

one issue is (i believe hasn't been tuned up, cap/rotor/wires/plugs etc)
is takes a few crank overs to start up, so thinking that might help

also i hear like a ticking/tacking type of sound, so initially i thought maybe the exhaust was leaking by the cat/pipes, had it on the lift today, and it seemed ok. as i was under the hood, it seems that the ticking was from the fuel injectors, is that typical of a tpi? or is there a common area i should look at.

i have shocks to put in it (look original on there)
and the tie rods have some slop, evidence of tire wear on the tires. So we will do new tires and aligment (thankful i have that ability at the shop)

she loves this car, and it will be her daily driver to replace her 90 FB V6.
you should have seen her zipping around on the highway. LOL

Also some other things i plan on shortly:
CE Bolt on subfram connectors, then weld em on
tires (want the firestones off it, plus needs em on front)
slotted brake rotors and pads all around (saw irotors.com may investigate them)
a head liner (starting to sag)
and all the general tune up goodies.
tires are 245/50/16
poly sway bar bushings (anyone know what size front and rear are on a WS6?)

Thanks

you have no idea how happy she is, and how solid feeling this car is, just needs some lil TLC.

 

Wow.. you got a GREAT deal. Based on the tire size you gave me and the 4-wheel disk brakes, it is 1le. That means suspension, tires, steering etc, are all a little better. The G80 option means you have a Posi out back. Posi+245 tires equal *Big time traction*
Giving it a tune-up would be HIGHLY advisable. Give it new plugs if it needs it, wires, distributor, fuel filter, etc.. and it should run like a charm. Sub Frames conn.'s on this car will make a WORLD OF DIFFERENCE handling wise, so I give that option a big, fat *GO*. Polygraphite suspension will give you a rougher ride (which the Misses may not like) but you will have a better feel of the road because the poly lets the movements transfer better to the steeringwheel.
Congrat's and enjoy,
Matt

 

thanks Matt:
this 1le brake option, how is this different from the standard setup?
are the rotors larger? dual piston calipers?

i am new to 3rd gen stuff, there's no carb so i am totally lost, but learning quickly.

any recommended cross drilled/slotted rotor manufactures?

i saw irotors on ebay.

since this is a WS6, does this mean the shocks from her 90 FB wont work?
also have the struts, according to part numbers, seems like one part number for all models

i also might go with tokico shocks, got them on my 79 TA for like 5 years and they are just like the day i installed them still.

i don't think she will mind the stiff ride from poly bushings, she is a speed and power freak. she already showed me the supercharger section in the summit catalog... LOL

 

Your Welcomed Don, glad to be of service
How are the 1LE brakes different? Frist of all, you have 4wheel disk. Otherwise you would have drums in the rear (unless *maybe* you could have optioned for it, but I am not sure). Plus, they are a little larger of rotors.

You are like me; if it isn't carb you are clueless, lol. I guess I am learning slowly but surely though

There are some rotors that *i* would recomend. Baer, Brembo or SSBC. You ok with spending 500+ dollars? THen go for one of these brands. Very expensive, but honestly the best money can buy.

And yes, since you have a 1LE packaged WS6, your shocks will be VERY much so different from the V6. The struts will be different as well. Tokico are very good, but I would recmoned Bilstein HD's. If you buy a GOOD pair of shocks, like Tokico or Bilstein, then in all reality you *shouldn't* have to replace your shocks/struts ever again. LOL.. if your wife is already pointing out the supercharger section, then I highly doubt she will mind the Poly's and the increased ride as a result from them. But hey, since she is already looking at s/c'in the Trans Am, why not do it

 

Are you sure it's 1le? Just because it's rear disc, doesn't mean it is. I was under the impression j65 means larger rear discs? As well as the 1le package not coming out until 89 TA's only? Does it have AC? If it is 1le, congrats! Those are pretty unique.

And to "never having to replace your shocks/struts again" Even with my bilstein HDs I'll be checking them in 4 years or so and thinking about new ones.

The ticking (to an extent, if it only comes from the injectors) is completely normal.

The swaybars should be 36mm/24mm. I've sometimes had some problems getting the 36mm front bushings but they do exist.

If the cars a street car, especially driven by your wife as a daily then stay away from drilled/slotted. They'll eat up your pads and crack sooner. Get some real good pads and you'll have a better time with fading and such (EBC greenstuff, Hawk HPS, Bendix Titanium, Stillen, etc). The slotted ones are designed to scrap away that layer of gas and crap that forms under heavy braking (basically it'll just eat your pad sooner); the crossdrilled ones are a waste of money unless they are cross-cast and not just drilled.

How many is "a few cranks" when starting? If it's quite a bit, check your fuel pump relay. Otherwise just a tune up will make it run 1000x better; 02, fuel filter, plugs, wires, etc.

 

I don't like to rain on your parade, But that car is nothing special. One model below the Trans Am and NOT A 1LE car. The only option it has going for it is the 350 TPI. This motor required extra cost options when ordered.
G80 limited Slip required
J65 rear disc brakes (ft & rear are 10.5 dia rotors) nothing special.
KC4 oil cooler another requried option for a 350 TPI.
Your question about the WS6, just a upgrade on the supension. Aluminum dr shaft another option that could be ordered.
So really nothing special or rare but a nice set up car to start with, so just enjoy it.

 

beautiful car to begin with...is it t-top ? and trust me those poly sway end links will make a big difference in turns...i love them "best bang for your buck" solid feel ...good luck and enjoy da ride

 

Congratulations on your new car. I call the "Formula 350's" the factory hot rod. You could order them with the good guy parts and they are lighter in weight. Sounds like yours has a lot of the good parts.

My 1989GTA came with all the good parts but also with the weight. I weighed it on a scale today and it came in at 3510 pounds. With me inside at 250 pounds that means a race weight of 3760 pounds. Still I can turn a 12.73 @105.85 in the quarter. Fixing to do better next time out.

 

Thanks for the replies:
here are some more codes off the build listing.
j65 power brakes disc front and rear
g80 limited slip diff
b2l 5.7 FI v8
kc4 oil cooler
mxo auto
w66 formula option
1sc option package

has AC
245 50 16 tires
special perf package????

the console has a sticker of a whole bunch of 3 didgit numbers, i'll see what is in there.

Could the valves need adjusting?
I know i need to spend more then 2 seconds under the hood to locate this ticking sound, but again it almost sounded from the injectors

so if it is a performance package on the brakes, the rotors would be larger, i think almost 12 compared to 11? or also dual calipers in the front?

we just got the cap/rotor tonight, so i am gonna throw that on, i will take the msd out of her car and put it in here too.

i guess i can see if energy suspension makes a swaybar bushing/end link kit for this car.

 

"Performance Suspension" doesn't really mean brakes when pontiac mention it. It's just the slightly stiffer springs, and 36/24 swaybar combo. The brakes aren't going to be anything special. If it's rear disc, they're not that great anyways Iron calipers, and single piston all around and the rears aren't the more desirable PBR calipers (IIRC, those started in 89). I also think the stockers would be 10.25" front. Real tiny compared to what's availible now.

 

You are thinking to much about what this car may not have. Copy the 3-digit RPO's and check them out a RPO decoder on thirdgen.org. That will answer your question and stop you from claiming thing that are not possible on that car. Example: 10.5 dia rotors and single piston iron calipers are on that car, no matter what you read into it.

 

in no way was i claiming anything special, just trying to find info before getting further into it.

i'll use the thirdgen rpo thing, thanks for the info.

what's the best way to get at the power antenna?
i need to replace it. can i get at it from under the dash?

the chilton 3rd gen book really didn't explain alot about it

 

In my experience the ticking noise is just fine from the injectors. A decent way to find out if they are fine is to hook up a fuel pressure guage to the schrader valve on the fuel rail then disconnect the vaccum line to the fuel pressure regulator and it should be at 37psi +-3. Unless the person has put in a adjustable fuel pressure regulator on and then who knows where it might be.