I'd like to learn how to tell the difference between 4th-gen Firebirds, Formulas, Trans Ams, and WS6's, and LT1s and LS1s. I'd like to be able to identify year ranges too.

I know the 'birds got a visual refresh in '98 along with the Camaro -- I just don't know what to look for in order to tell which years are which. I'm pretty good at identifying Camaros, but my Firebird skills are lacking.

For the sake of discussion, imagine that the cars are all debadged. I know I can pick out a WS6 by the badge on the back.

Can anyone fill me in? What are the key places to look (hood, spoiler, wheels, where else?)? Which years had which parts? Pictures to clarify details would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Okay, LT1 Firebirds are more of a wedge. LS1 Firebirds are more curvy (headlights look like petals instead of rectangles).

From the back. LT1 has a slotted look the taillights. LS1 has a honeycomb look.

The front bird is smaller on the LT1 years compared to the LS1 years.

Firebirds and Formulas have a birdbath looking spoiler. T/A, Firehawk,WS6, etc. has a high rise.
98-02 firebirds have foglights more to the sides, the trans am has them more to the center.

The WS6 and Firehawk have the snorkel hood.

 

Are the WS6 and Firehawk hoods identical?

Were there any hood changes in 98?

I thought they went to honeycomb tail lights in 97, i.e. some LT1s will have them. Is that wrong?

 

LT1 Firebirds noses come to a point, the LS1's are rounded.

LT1 firebirds only had the front/side market light combo. LS1's had a twin light setup on the nose with a foglight and marker light.

LT1 Trans Am's had a pointy nose and dual round foglight recesses just to either side of the point. The LS1 Trans Am has a rounded nose with horizontal splitters at either "corner" and dual round foglight recesses located on either side of the vertical centerline of the nose.

Trans Am's (all years) had side skirts and a dual recessed rear fascia for the tail pipes. Formulas and Firebirds do not.

ALL Trans Am's starting in 96 got the High Rise spoiler. From 93-95 it was an option.

NO Firehawks got high rise spoilers. They got their own variant. ALL Firehawks had some sort of ram air.

WS6 cars are more difficult to identify from just a roll. It's VERY easy to buy a hood, some wheels, and a bagde. Easiest way to verify in person is to check the RPO sheet, but the failsafe is to do a vin check.

 

...didn't '97 up Firebirds/Formulas/TAs have daytime running lights from the factory?

also, wasn't there a stock wheel design variant from the LT1 years thru the LS1 years?

 

[QUOTE=JeffsWorld]...didn't '97 up Firebirds/Formulas/TAs have daytime running lights from the factory?

QUOTE]

Yes.