Q about Pontiac Trans Am/Firebird

[The Mitch]

Hi all!

My project for the next year is to get a american car...
I'm looking for a Trans Am from 1982-1992 in good condition and build a Knight Rider replica (My GF will kill me for this idea )

Who has some expieriance with those cars? I mean, are there any building years that show bad quality or some technical difficulties?
I have some bad GAS I can tell you

Tell me something

Cheers

[Jason1212]

I had an 83 firebird. The cars had their problems but given what you are doing (rebuild) they shouldnt be a factor. The interior sucked in that most anything that was vinyl didnt last long (cracking dash, warping console). The instrumentation can be flakey at times. The headlight motors were known to go out, both of mine did. The later cars in that run (90-92) are known to have better transmissions earlier models are a bit weak. The idler arms in the front steering linkage didnt hold up well either. The radial air compressors GM used for the AC at time also sucked.

[RobRR]

Been into those cars for 10 years now! I currently own a 92 Trans Am Convertible and an 88 GTA... previously another 88 GTA and an 84 Trans Am.

Tell me exactly what youre looking for, what your looking to get out of it performance wise, how much you plan to spend on it and Ill tell you everything you wanna know!

As for which year, Id personally use an 85-up chassis... while theres little difference, there are a few suspension parts that are different for the 82-84 cars. Other than that, frame wise, they are all identical. 82-84 were the smaller gfx (which Kitt was), 85-90 was the larger style ground effects, and 91-91 was the "rain gutter" style gfx and banshee nose. So if you really want to be period correct, go 82-84. Now, the 15" bowling ball hub caps and turbo cast wheels, which Kitt used, are pulling some BIG bucks latley over here... Im talking $1000+ for a set of 4!!!

Engine wise, Id stay away from the crossfire (or ceasefire) engine as its come to be called. One of the worst intake designs ever.

Anything else, fire away!

[DonP]

I have a 1990 GTA, black on black leather wth a stick. It's a kick in the ass to drive.

Go here:

https://www.thirdgen.org

Not the greatest picture:

[SouthPlatteDemon]

Trans Ams rock! I'd have to get the Burt Reynolds one myself. Post 70's emissions control ruined all our fun!

[fett]

He lives in Germany. What can he do? Have one of us in the US buy one for him? The shipping would more than the car is worth.

[RobRR]

Actually there are quite a few over there Fett!

[RobRR]

I have a 1990 GTA, black on black leather wth a stick. It's a kick in the ass to drive.

Go here:

www.thirdgen.org

Not the greatest picture:

Just like my old one! I miss that car.

Whats your name on TGO Don? Im 88 WS6 TransAm GTA but havent been on in years... that place went to shit for the most part.

[zeegler]

Why would you want such a trailer trash ride anyway? :ROTF:

[LouSiffer]

You definately want the 85 and up. One of my biggest complaints about the 82-84 Firebirds and Camaros is that the rear hatch glass was not molded right. It often left the passenger side hanging out a little past flush and makes it look like it was wrecked previously. PPG finally got the glass corrected for 1985.-Lou

[thetroy]

Knight Industries Two Thousand!

[thetroy]

Maybe you should just get a mustang though...

http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=4afd8ce7-1767-4250-9486-858705d17b30&entry=index

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/14/wrider114.xml

[TommyD]

Q about Pontiac Trans Am/Firebird

> I have an uncle in Akron that has a super-limited (less than 100) version of the Bandit model,white with gold trim. He got it for 4500 bucks from an uncle of his wife,the car was garage stored for years,and only had 10k miles on it. Tommy D.

[The Mitch]

He lives in Germany. What can he do? Have one of us in the US buy one for him? The shipping would more than the car is worth.

We have many of those over here, but barely one in good condition.

[The Mitch]

Been into those cars for 10 years now! I currently own a 92 Trans Am Convertible and an 88 GTA... previously another 88 GTA and an 84 Trans Am.

Tell me exactly what youre looking for, what your looking to get out of it performance wise, how much you plan to spend on it and Ill tell you everything you wanna know!

As for which year, Id personally use an 85-up chassis... while theres little difference, there are a few suspension parts that are different for the 82-84 cars. Other than that, frame wise, they are all identical. 82-84 were the smaller gfx (which Kitt was), 85-90 was the larger style ground effects, and 91-91 was the "rain gutter" style gfx and banshee nose. So if you really want to be period correct, go 82-84. Now, the 15" bowling ball hub caps and turbo cast wheels, which Kitt used, are pulling some BIG bucks latley over here... Im talking $1000+ for a set of 4!!!

Engine wise, Id stay away from the crossfire (or ceasefire) engine as its come to be called. One of the worst intake designs ever.

Anything else, fire away!

Thank you, good information!
I need one in good technical condition. The building year doesn't matter.
I found a guy here who builds KITT front bumpers and all of the other stuff like scanner light. So I can build a replica out of every firebird from 82-92