final body style firebird

i love firebird... havent had the chance to own one yet though. i especially like the final year the firebird came out. the look kills. and im not even sure pontiac should retro the look like some rumors ive heard they will do. but can anyone drop me some info on the final year(s) of fire bird. my dad's a chevy man and im lookin to restore somthing for him. but my mom was a little more elusive in her cars. she had 2 chargers, a pinto (yes a pinto), and a javelin. and i want to buy her a firebird. if anyone knows if the final body style had problems, motor, tranny, anything. please let me know.

The 4th gen firebird which you're looking at didnt have any different problems from other cars, unless some members can come up with some.

The bodies on the 98-02 birds are sweet! No major flaws and only a few minor ones. The window motors are known to die early deaths in the vehicles with power windows. Also I have heard the flip up headlights can malfunction after so many years/miles. But there was an easy fix and writeup on the internet for that.

My 99 Formula has 72K miles and I have had no problems with my headlights but I am almost to the point where my passenger side window motor needs to be replaced. It raises real slooooooow.

All the transmissions seem to be perfectly fine for vehicles that are kept "stock" or near stock. Heavily modify them however and the 4L60E auto breaks fast and the T56 will need a stronger clutch.

Motors seem good. 3.8 V6 are good for what they are but obviously do not compare to the LS1 V8's. The LS1 has two known flaws. They eat oil (I usually have to drop in one quart inbetween oil changes). And the other is some have piston slap which is annoying but still harmless. Mine does not have any piston slap but I hear the ones that do will stop doing it once the engine warms up.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

if you get one, run synthec ONLY!!! this will help stop and reduce piston slap, and if it has low miles it will help it from eating oil.

if you get one, run synthec ONLY!!! this will help stop and reduce piston slap, and if it has low miles it will help it from eating oil.

i hear the 3.8's in the firebirds and camaro's are actually weaker built then the grand prix's. i dont know if its true though. and how rare are the ls1 firebirds? are they only in the trans ams, or formula's? and im pretty sure i cant do to these what ild do to say a muscle car, just drop in a ls1 and tranny, (and computer) and expect everything to work. (not to mention the $$$).

i hear the 3.8's in the firebirds and camaro's are actually weaker built then the grand prix's. i dont know if its true though. and how rare are the ls1 firebirds? are they only in the trans ams, or formula's? and im pretty sure i cant do to these what ild do to say a muscle car, just drop in a ls1 and tranny, (and computer) and expect everything to work. (not to mention the $$$).

I havn't heard that about the 3.8's. I used to have a 97 Firebird and I had no problems with it outside the routine stuff like battery, alternator and brakes. It had just over 100K on the clock when I traded her in.

LS1 engine is in the Trans Am, Trans Am WS6, Formula or Firehawk. If the vehicles door badge is firebird then it will always have the 3.8 liter V6.

Dropping in a LS1 into a Firebird is extremly expensive and not very easy. It's far more cost effective to just buy a 98 or 99 Trans Am or Formula. They sell for under 10K now.

Formulas are awesome! They basically are the same body as the Firebird (no raised spoiler or ground affects) but with the LS1 engine. They look like a firebird but have the speed of the Trans Am. And they tend to weigh a hundred or so pounds less then the TA. They are also rarer then the TA (far less produced) and cost less to buy! Here are a few pics of mine.


http://img81.exs.cx/img81/4707/MVC-007S.jpg

http://img81.exs.cx/img81/5932/MVC-008S1.jpg

http://img81.exs.cx/img81/2283/MVC-009S.jpg

i will tell you this once..... ohh dear lord thats a pretty bird. i doo like the formula, while the trans am has the look ive always liked he stock near sleeper look (well.... as sleeper as a firebird can get) there is just something about blowing someone away when that under estimate you i get a kick out of. but ive never heard of the fire hawk. what is it? and is that dual (tip)... dual exhaust i see on your bird. is that formula(stock) or you? ive seen the square trumpet on some thats why im asking. MAN THATS A PRETTY CAR.

fire hawks are special editions from SLP. They have some extra horse power and a slightly different look. Nothing crazy tho. They are still pretty easy to find. People usually want alot more money for them..i personally don't think its worth it. Just get WS6 and u will be fine.

how rare would a manual ws6 be? personally manual is the only way to go. but how are the tranny's? did the auto have any problems? or is the clutch a good design ( im pretty sure its hydraulic).

WS.6 > ALL

http://home.comcast.net/~mrluos/Drive24.JPG

WS.6 > ALL



:1:

[QUOTE=Mr. Luos]WS.6 > ALL

Firehawk > WS6 :screwy:

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/736/hawk15aw.th.jpg (http://img77.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hawk15aw.jpg)

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/7086/hawk33oj.th.jpg (http://img77.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hawk33oj.jpg)

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/4769/hawk55ql.th.jpg (http://img77.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hawk55ql.jpg)

Firehawk > WS6 :screwy:
Some will disagree...others will agree.

I personally think the WS.6 hood is a better looking hood. I would actually like the WS.9 hood...looks like the WS.6 hood with the Firehawk heat extractors. But...I can't justify that kinda money for a hood when it could go towards something under the hood. :grinyes:

you will have to forgive my lack of firebird knowledge but whats the difference between ws6 and ws9? and how well does the ls1 take to being modified... ie supercharging... turbo charging... camming. without throwing codes... or creating a problem with electrical? < i hate electrical work... i hate cpu's, sensors, and all that other fun electrical stuff. :newburn: i like simple... like old muscle cars where everything was mechanical and the average joe can work on it.

WS.9 is just a hood.
I think it is an RPO code as well...but not sure on that one.

The LS1 is basicly completely computer controlled. Mods well though.

if you check cars.com go to research and there will be tech articles listing the different recurring problems with the late fourth gen f-bodies. I looked and saw nothing major there. Good luck
Jake

Some will disagree...others will agree.

I personally think the WS.6 hood is a better looking hood. I would actually like the WS.9 hood...looks like the WS.6 hood with the Firehawk heat extractors. But...I can't justify that kinda money for a hood when it could go towards something under the hood. :grinyes:

Looks are of course subjective. I like them all actually. But if I had to pick my favorite hood then it would be the raptor style which is what they used on the Firehawk. I like the way it keeps the nostril openings completely open as opposed to the WS6 that actually cuts the opening in half.

But for that kind of money, I would just buy a regular TA/Formula and add the raptor hood later.

ok, so besides the obvious things you can say like stronger clutch.... what mods to the power train has everyone done and what did you think of the result? was it worth it? oh and does anyone know if the trans ams... formulas... hell anything with the ls1 come with lsd rear diffs? and how strong are the rear ends anyhow... anyone have any problems?

I have only done a couple mods. Little stuff. :lol:

Rear end is crap. I knew a guy that broke his...on a completely stock car.
LSD is correct.

what do you suggest then? is there a stonger diff i can get or a build up kit? not that a stronger diff would be needed... but just in case for demolishing rice situations

For the most part...the stock diff is fine for mostly stock/lightly modded cars.

Not that hard to eat ricers up with an LS1 powered car.

:1:

Hey theres a Juggalo, WOOP WOOP!..........anyways, the WS6 makes the most sense budget wise as compared to a Firehawk at least.

Good luck with the purchase ZX2Guy!!

i think im liken the pontiac crowd... friendly informative. makes me want to buy 2 birds to join in. if i wasnt lookin at about 12 grand each

Most of us have no idea what we are talking about. :lol:

I am still on my stock rearend. Although...I suspect it shall break soon.

just for the sake of asking (not to start a contest or anything) but what is the fastest everyone has gone in thier bird .... and did it feel stable?

My top speed should be 180 or so.

Highest I have ever had it...130. I can't see any need to take it above that.
Felt fine...except braking.

145 all stock, started getting a little light in the front due to a loose piece of plastic, braking was interesting to say the least.

I got to 140 once with the tops off and while I was stock. It felt perfectly stable but I started getting paranoid about a cop clocking me so I backed off as soon as I hit 140. My intention was to see if I could bury the speedo (I was a newb then) but I lost my nerve.

Havn't been anywhere over 120 since but now I know that it can hit 160.

so worst part was braking huh? stock brakes everyone or modified? and ild hate to bring this up but i took my 90 laser to 145 (it had a 1.8):lol: scared the hell outa me and i havent done it since... well since i got pulled over:banghead: (yes i was young and stupid... and im almost through it). how about the suspension? stock a good handler. or would you op for optomized springs, and shocks ( or does it run on struts?)