Findin the right Bird, but have questions
kidiam
09-08-2005, 11:49 AM
Im 16 and have always wanted a firebird every since i was little. i looking in between the years 1993-1997. I dont have a whole lot of money to spend around 6 thousand. any suggestions?
Is it true the V8's have sound in a low pitch rumble and the V6's dont. I want a powerful car, a car you can feel when u acclerate. so should i get a v8 or v6?
Also I want t-tops. Most of the firebirds i find between the 1993-1997 range its either one or the other, v8 without t-tops or v6 with t-tops. I rearly found any with both. Another thing is what kind of exhaust do you recommend for that low pitch rumble?
Is it true the V8's have sound in a low pitch rumble and the V6's dont. I want a powerful car, a car you can feel when u acclerate. so should i get a v8 or v6?
Also I want t-tops. Most of the firebirds i find between the 1993-1997 range its either one or the other, v8 without t-tops or v6 with t-tops. I rearly found any with both. Another thing is what kind of exhaust do you recommend for that low pitch rumble?
FormulaLT1
09-08-2005, 05:22 PM
I am sure you can find a T/A or Formula with T-tops threw www.autotrader.com (http://www.autotrader.com/) in your price range which is right on the money what you can expect to spend for a good/excellent condition LT1 in those years. Good luck to you but it does take some work on your part search wise to find the right car. Welcome to AF
John
John
76455Firebird
09-08-2005, 10:24 PM
I would definately suggest waiting until you find an LT1 with the t-tops, if you settle now, you won't ever be truly happy with the car. As for the exhaust, I'm not sure probably SLP has a good sounding exhaust, I'm not sure if they have sound files on their website but I know flowmaster, magnaflow and others have sound files.
blindeyed
09-09-2005, 01:13 AM
Wow, you've been finding some Formula's and T/A's without t-tops? Now that's pretty rare, since Pontiac hardly made any without t-tops. I'd say 90% of all birds made came with them.
But if you wan't one that really puts you in your seat, then stay away from the V6's. They're nothing compared to V8's. And that's said from experience.
As for the exhaust, I always recommend Borla if money is really no option for you. But on a budget, Magnaflow is just as great. Also, I always like to recommend others to stay away from Flowmaster. I'll admit, they do sound great on V8's, but they're extremely restrictive as compared to Borla or Magnaflow. But, if sound is what you're looking for and restriction is no concern, then you may find Flowmaster to be just what you're looking for.
I would definately suggest waiting until you find an LT1 with the t-tops, if you settle now, you won't ever be truly happy with the car.
Well, I bought my bird with no t-tops. I'll admit, I'd love to have them. But that's not stopping me from truly being happy with my car. In fact, I plan on putting in some t-tops sometime in the future. It's really not that much of a complicated process if you've got the right tools. So I'd say if you happen to find bird that's perfect in every way and you love it, but it doesn't have t-tops. Then get it, you can always put them in later. And, the chances of them leaking as most factory ones end up doing is pretty slim in most cases, given that you did a really good job on putting the weatherstripping on.
But if you wan't one that really puts you in your seat, then stay away from the V6's. They're nothing compared to V8's. And that's said from experience.
As for the exhaust, I always recommend Borla if money is really no option for you. But on a budget, Magnaflow is just as great. Also, I always like to recommend others to stay away from Flowmaster. I'll admit, they do sound great on V8's, but they're extremely restrictive as compared to Borla or Magnaflow. But, if sound is what you're looking for and restriction is no concern, then you may find Flowmaster to be just what you're looking for.
I would definately suggest waiting until you find an LT1 with the t-tops, if you settle now, you won't ever be truly happy with the car.
Well, I bought my bird with no t-tops. I'll admit, I'd love to have them. But that's not stopping me from truly being happy with my car. In fact, I plan on putting in some t-tops sometime in the future. It's really not that much of a complicated process if you've got the right tools. So I'd say if you happen to find bird that's perfect in every way and you love it, but it doesn't have t-tops. Then get it, you can always put them in later. And, the chances of them leaking as most factory ones end up doing is pretty slim in most cases, given that you did a really good job on putting the weatherstripping on.
tuske427
09-09-2005, 11:21 AM
Definitely get a V8 (LT1) car. do not even consider a v6.
I too am suprised you're having difficulty finding V8 cars with T-tops. After '94 most of them had them. there were some early production issues which is why 1993 has more non t-top cars than the later years. after a while, t-tops were standard equipment on Trans Ams. Not on the Firebird Formulas though.
As for the cars, I'd suggest a '95 model if you have choices. My reasons are this:
1- 1993 had a "speed density" system on the cars. '94 and later cars used a "Mass airflow sensor" (MAS). This is much more responding to power improvements. Meaning if you plan on making your car faster, for simplicity of tuning, avoid the speed density.
2- In 1995 GM improved the Optispark ignition by adding a vent. the '93 and '94 models don't have this. if they collect moisture they crap out leaving you stranded. Now, you can change the early style with a later (vented) one, but it's work. why not buy a car with it already...
3- 1995 was the last year of the "OBD 1" system. This is easier / less stringent for hot rodding and emmisions laws. It's an issue for us Californians. 1996 (OBD 2) cars had dual cats and a more complex OBD system, making exhaust systems more expensive and more complicated, amongst other things.
some other tips for looking for a car:
a- the 93-95 or so models were available with either a 115 mph speedometer or a 155 mph speedometer. the 115 speedometer car came with all season radials and a 108 mph computer set speed limiter. This can be changed with a hypertech power programmer, but you still have the crappy speedometer unless you switch it out with a better one. the 155 speedometer cars came with z rated tires and no speed limit. much better, imo.
if you are shopping for a '94 model, they made a "trans Am and a "Trans Am GT" this was a marketing experiment gone awry. the 'base" trans am this year got the smaller firebird spoiler and had , I belived the 115 speedometer. If you got the "GT" verison ,thne you gotthe bigger T/A spoiler and the better speedometer/ computer setting.
This is not to say that any of ther other cars are bad, but, these are things you can consider when shopping. Above all else, make sure you get a car that hasn't been wrecked and rebuilt or is rusted away. Most of this stuff is changable with a wrench, some money and time.
The other nice thing about the LT1 cars is they will accept many of the LS1 cars better pieces. example- you can bolt on the aluminum driveshaft, larger brakes (only bother with the front) rims, or cosmetic pieces if you were really eager.
Good luck with your shopping! Let us know what you scoop up
I too am suprised you're having difficulty finding V8 cars with T-tops. After '94 most of them had them. there were some early production issues which is why 1993 has more non t-top cars than the later years. after a while, t-tops were standard equipment on Trans Ams. Not on the Firebird Formulas though.
As for the cars, I'd suggest a '95 model if you have choices. My reasons are this:
1- 1993 had a "speed density" system on the cars. '94 and later cars used a "Mass airflow sensor" (MAS). This is much more responding to power improvements. Meaning if you plan on making your car faster, for simplicity of tuning, avoid the speed density.
2- In 1995 GM improved the Optispark ignition by adding a vent. the '93 and '94 models don't have this. if they collect moisture they crap out leaving you stranded. Now, you can change the early style with a later (vented) one, but it's work. why not buy a car with it already...
3- 1995 was the last year of the "OBD 1" system. This is easier / less stringent for hot rodding and emmisions laws. It's an issue for us Californians. 1996 (OBD 2) cars had dual cats and a more complex OBD system, making exhaust systems more expensive and more complicated, amongst other things.
some other tips for looking for a car:
a- the 93-95 or so models were available with either a 115 mph speedometer or a 155 mph speedometer. the 115 speedometer car came with all season radials and a 108 mph computer set speed limiter. This can be changed with a hypertech power programmer, but you still have the crappy speedometer unless you switch it out with a better one. the 155 speedometer cars came with z rated tires and no speed limit. much better, imo.
if you are shopping for a '94 model, they made a "trans Am and a "Trans Am GT" this was a marketing experiment gone awry. the 'base" trans am this year got the smaller firebird spoiler and had , I belived the 115 speedometer. If you got the "GT" verison ,thne you gotthe bigger T/A spoiler and the better speedometer/ computer setting.
This is not to say that any of ther other cars are bad, but, these are things you can consider when shopping. Above all else, make sure you get a car that hasn't been wrecked and rebuilt or is rusted away. Most of this stuff is changable with a wrench, some money and time.
The other nice thing about the LT1 cars is they will accept many of the LS1 cars better pieces. example- you can bolt on the aluminum driveshaft, larger brakes (only bother with the front) rims, or cosmetic pieces if you were really eager.
Good luck with your shopping! Let us know what you scoop up
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