a buddy has a 98 ta with a ram air hood but no ws6 badges. is it a real ram air ta or did someone just put a hood on it.

 

The only way to tell is check the RPO codes... on my car, the sticker is on the Drivers door... If there's a WS6 listed then it's real, but I have yet to know a WS6 owner who would remove their badges...

 

I have a WS6 convertible, which does not come with the
WS6 badges. For some reason the factory chose to not
put the 17" wheels on verts. I have 16x8s with an ABS
badge on the wheels. Actually I now have 17x10s on the
back w/315s and WS6 badges. But from the factory it did
not have them. I can only speak for 1997.

 

If the car doesn't have WS6 badges, then it's not real. I don't know of anyone who would take them off. Every ram air out of the factory has WS6 badges. Sorry to tell you, but if you have abs wheels, you don't have a real WS6. (unless someone changed them) For about $1000.00, you can make any TA a ram air, but it's just the thrill of knowing you have a real one.
Just look on the door for the WS6 code like said before.

 

Since I ordered the car new, have the build sheet, and
the WS6 code on the door, I'm pretty sure it's a WS6.
The WS6 wheel inserts only fit in the 17" wheels, which
is why the 16" wheels have ABS inserts. The reason for
the 16" wheels had to do with ride quality in the convertible.
It sounds like a lame reason (which it is) but that is what
GM tech said when I talked to them in 1997 after the car
was delivered with 16" wheels. It's all a wash now anyway
since I no longer have a skinny tire problem.

 

The verts all got the 16" rims. Didn't matter if you ordered a firebird convertable, or a WS6 convertable. You got 16" rims.

 

Badges could have been stolen like on my old SS. I didn't bother replacing them I just polished the paint up where they were.

 

Well, my friend also has a 97 WS6, which he ordered new, and his car came with the 17" WS6 wheels and the rear WS6 badge. If your car does have ABS wheels, why doesn't it have the rear WS6 badge. This is all news to me. It just does't make to much since.

 

Verts only got 16 in wheels no matter if it was firehawk, ss or ws6. My hawk didn't come with "Firehawk" decals does that make it not real? I have the window sticker and SLPs verification to disagree if you think so.

 

My friend's car is also a convertible. He must have ordered it special or something. Thanks for informing me about this. I guess you really do learn something new everyday.

 

One thing that a lot of people don't know is, WS6 doesn't really have anything to do with Ram-Air. WS6 is and always has been since the 70's just an option code designation for a particular suspension setup. Take for instance the 3rd generation cars...the '87 thru '92 GTA came standard with the stiffer WS6 suspension package while on the Trans-Am, it was optional...and keep in mind there was no Ram-Air at that time. Now you know why the Ram-Air convertibles doesn't have a WS6 designation.

 

It's been a rough couple of weeks for me so I have not had a
chance to check out old posts.

The only option code available to order Ram Air in a 1997 car was
WS6. It was a Pontiac decision to redefine WS6. What was once
a suspension package is now "Ram Air".