Should You Buy a Firebird Trans Am? Third Gen
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- čas přidán 7. 06. 2024
- If you’re like me, you grew up watching the Trans Am in Knight Rider….Kitt 👊
In this video I dig deeper Into the third gen Pontiac Trans Am! What made the Pontiac Firebird so successful? Why it’s still popular today? What to look for when buying? 🚀🚀
Everyone who has Shared/Subscribed/Liked our videos, THANK YOU!! More to come!
This video is kinda fast paced, so timestamps are a must:
0:00 20th Anniversary Firebird Trans Am
1:42 Firebird Formula Firehawk.
2:53 3rd Firebird Gen Chassis.
3:40 91-92 Firebird Structural Improvements.
6:03 Firebird Modifications.
7:14 Gears & Higher stall torque converter.
7:39 Good idea to LS swap a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am?
8:58 Wonderbar + Rag joint.
10:10 Dynamats sound insulation on Firebird's and Camaro's ?
11:45 Aftermarket Air conditioning R134a VS R12
12:59 Most Important thing when buying a third gen Pontiac Firebird!
3rd Gen F-Body IROC Z28 Camaro Video HERE: • CAMARO IROC Z - Ultima...
C4 Corvette Video HERE: • Things to Know Before ...
More Car Videos HERE: • Hernan Speed - COOL CA...
Message me:
/ hernanspeed
#knightrider
#thirdgenfbody
#pontiacfirebird - Zábava
Thanks To Everyone who has Liked & Subscribed! 👊
This video is kinda fast paced, so timestamps are a must:
0:00 20th Anniversary Firebird Trans Am
1:42 Firebird Formula Firehawk.
2:53 3rd Firebird Gen Chassis.
3:40 91-92 Firebird Structural Improvements.
6:03 Firebird Modifications.
7:14 Gears & Higher stall torque converter.
7:39 Good idea to LS swap a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am?
8:58 Wonderbar + Rag joint.
10:10 Dynamats sound insulation on Firebird's and Camaro's ?
11:45 Aftermarket Air conditioning R134a VS R12
12:59 Most Important thing when buying a third gen Pontiac Firebird!
Everyone who has Shared/Subscribed/Liked our videos, THANK YOU!! More to come!
3rd Gen F-Body IROC Z28 Camaro Video HERE: czcams.com/video/Qj_QKz8SDfM/video.html
C4 Corvette Video HERE: czcams.com/video/TsFujNIEKFM/video.html
All Car Videos HERE: czcams.com/play/PLB1Br-75u6i1Y5Wmvne3cuLPutuddsb-I.html
Message me:
instagram.com/HernanSpeed
#knightrider
#fbody
#pontiacfirebird
My brotha you were there! Lol bless you. And I watched "A Team" afterwards haha
@manher4335 You know it! 💯👊 I Pity The Fool! 🙌😆
This was a good and informative video, just bought a 90 GTA with only 148000 klms, red ttops with the 305 five spd, going to leave the engine stock with the exception of a set of headers and gearing, 373s should wake it up, should be a nice cruiser and fun to drive
Great buy! 💯 Yesss, 373’s will most definitely wake up the beast in it! 👊🚀🚀
Thanks for watching brother! 🔥🔥
Yes, let's talk about Firebird Trans Am, bring it on!
You know it! 🙌🙌
holy cow, that exhaust sound! ❤
Yesss! 👊👊 Right before takeoff! 🚀🚀🚀
EBu thanks for watching! 🔥🔥
LOVE IT!!! I’m here for the 20th Anniversary, this did not disappoint! 💪💪
You know it! 👊👊 Beast of a motor! 🚀🚀
Ups Side thanks for watching! 🔥🔥
Man.. how about that peanut butter sandwich! 🥪 😂😂
Yeap, always wanted one as a kid 💯 It’s one of my goals, as a 4th car (gotta keep it minty)
Man, we all wanted one as kids! 💯💯 Even today, my kids go crazy when they see an fbody Firebird! They’re like, does that one have the turbo boost button? 😆🙌
Thanks for watching! 🔥🔥
I had 1991 TA Convertible. The body flexed like a wet noodle. Even with a Camaro SS rear end upgrade, it was slow. However, I loved that car and kept it for decades. Absolutely gorgeous and a head turner in red.
Red is the color for IROC verts! 💯💯 It was one of the stiffest convertibles available at the time, but yes…structures have improved immeasurably in the last few years. They should’ve also offered it with the L98 350 from the factory, that would’ve been amazing! 🚀🚀
Thanks for watching man 👊👊
Wonder bar and subframe connectors help with flex. My brother had 2 third gen fbody T/As. Even in my late model 4th Gen Trans Am I noticed huge improvement with subframe connectors.
I gave up on my '88 replica about four years ago. Just two days before I came into some money. I miss it, and I wouldve done a TT 1600hp sb2 small block build on it.
Had a '91 in high school too. The cars with the ground effects needed loads of bodywork if you converted them.
Great car to have in Highschool!! 🙌🙌 I agree, it is much more work to do a replica on the newer cars because off all the extra bodywork needed….especially for a black car. You’ve got to do that small block build one day! 🚀🚀👊👊
Two Many Mopars thanks for watching!🔥🔥
Another great film. When I got the notification did not recognise the new channel name 😛 Keep the videos coming!
Thanks for watching brother! 👊🔥
Great video! I had an 89' Trans Am 5spd for 20 years. it was in totally mont condition, last summer a kid turned across my lane without looking and totalled it. I still miss that car, It felt like when the horse died in the never ending stories. I still have a 78' bandit but truth told, the third gen was my favourite.
Ohh man! Things like that really makes you appreciate life even more. Sounds like you’ve still got a great one, I’ll have a Bandit one day…. And Yesss, with the bird on the hood! 🚀🚀👊
Thanks for watching brother! 🔥🔥
I owned one, loved it. Let my brother use it, it ended up in a junkyard. Wish i could find another one.
You’ll find another, even better! 👊👊
Kudos: At 7:05, you showed the Accel Lingenfelter Superrram intake (middle of photo). That was the best intake assembly for the L98 engines. When installed, the engine came alive by revving and producing power up to 7,000 rpm; it was a game changer by adding 30-40 hp, while not sacrificing power or torque in lower rpm range.
You know it!! 🚀🚀👊👊
Love every minute of your video from start to finish, hope you can talk in the future about the Firebird WS6 2002, thank you and keep up the good work!
Thanks brother! Will do! 👊👊
Funny these cars were already WS6 before they badged the last 4th generation WS6
Great job! I've got a 91 firebird never saw that footage
Yes!! That’s a great year! 🙌🙌 Not many people know, and there’s lots of conflicting info… so it’s better to get the info directly from the source.
Isaac thanks for watching! 🔥🔥
Smokey and the Bandit my friend.
I had a dorm mate w an old Firebird 400 ... coming home drunk from Tijuana, he took it up to 160 mph😅
Smoky and the Bandit has gotten even more popular in the past 10 years, that’s why the 2nd Gen Firebirds prices have popped 💯💪 And yesss, I myself sometimes spend too much time looking up 78’s with huge screening chickens on the hood! 🤫🤫
Mannn! If he took a Firebird 400 to 160mph… he wasn’t drunk, he was blasted into outer space! 🚀😆
@@HernanSpeed think about us! 18 years old and scared to death
💯💯
Great video! I love my 1999 Trans am.
You’ve got the amazing LS! 💪💪👊👊
Michael thanks for watching! 🔥🔥
@@HernanSpeed I've owned fourth gen Firebirds for 24 years and still love them. One day I hope to get a third gen.
Sounds like you’ve had some good times! Those fourth gens are incredible, especially the structures and LS’s! 💯💯👊
@@HernanSpeed agreed. I am still in love. Thanks for the video.
@michaelm3381 thanks man!
I've had 3 third gen Firebirds over 20 years (91 and 92s,) This review is right on point!
I was attracted becausethe body was very reminiscent of 1970's muscle cars,(and b/c of Knight Rider)
Lots of limitations living what you can do with it in CA, so LS swaps are tricky. You have to upgrade many other things as he says in the video.
The 5.0 is nice without changes and should be left as is. 5.7's usually have more options like power windows etc.
The steering is mushy and sloppy and needs upgrading as he says! I dyno-matted one after upgrading the engine, and It became so slow LOL!
Julie thanks for watching! 🔥🔥👊
I did subframe rails on my 83.
and it made a huge difference.
I cant imagine it being better with the factory adhesive.
Also the astro van steering shaft upgrade.
I’ve heard of the Astro van steering shaft, it’s a great mod! 💯 Subframes also make a huge difference! 👊👊 The adhesives tie in all the metal parts that are sandwiched together on F Bodies, it made them drum tight.
Thanks for watching man! 🔥🔥
Another great video!
Thanks brother! 👊👊
Excellent video! Keep up the great work. Trans Ams are the best! Especially the 20th Anniversary.
Thanks brother! 🙌 Nothing like the 20th Anniversary, a BEAST of a motor! 👊🚀🚀
Great channel. In 2016, I had a chance to buy a low mileage (21k miles) 1989 TTA for 20k. I had no idea prices would inflate ridiculously during/after the pandemic and thought a deal like that would come around again. Sadly, those days are long gone; everything is inflated.
Your right 💯💯 The prices still keep going up, especially for the nice ones. There just isn’t anything like it anymore, so they really stand out 🚀🚀
@@HernanSpeedAgreed. I have a friend who had been buying and selling many different generation Firebird Trans-am cars. I already knew their prices were going up. Still glad to have my original 89 GTA. Awesome video and information
Not every Firebird just the F bodies
FACT! 👊 💯💯
Thanks for watching! 🔥🔥
I have a 1985 Pontiac Trans Am T tops Love it
Having T-Tops is better than a convertible, light is always coming in the cabin!☀️🚀🚀
Such great advice dude! You definitely know what you're talking about!
Thanks man! 🙌🙌
I love my 88 GTA ❤
GTA = Good Times Ahead! 👊💯👊
Thanks for watching! 🔥🔥
Great video!
Thanks for watching man! 👊👊
Awesome video on an awesome generation
Thanks for watching brother 👊
Astro van steering shaft upgrade!
You know it! 💯👊 Thanks for watching brother! 🔥🔥
Awesome video. I love Trans Ams.
Your not in he only one! 🙌
Thanks for watching brother!👊👊
Yes. Yes you should.
👊👊👊
Great video! Wish I saw this before I bought my 87 Formula, I would have held out for a 91. One thing I did learn is the 700R4 transmission was upgraded in 87 so I got lucky there. I put crate 350 with 310/350lbs in there and am having a blast. Suspension is next. Will check out that wonderbar and subscribed to your channel.
The 87’s styling is on point! 🙌🙌 Sounds like your taking it to the next level! Yes, that transmission takes a pounding, it has a slingshot effect on the upshifts from the factory….no shift kit needed.
Thanks for watching brother! 👊👊
I love the sound of a header 350 Trans am gts headers pipe 3 inch cat back
It's insane loud as fuck.i love the sound and a have a Holly stealth ram intake and a cam upgrade and have a foged 383 I built in my garage aluminum heads it'd a monster
Burn out machine 😊
I still have my 1989 L98 Trans-am GTA. The 89 TTA is rare and limited to 1500 made
Thanks for watching man! 👊👊
@@HernanSpeed You're welcome.🔥👊
Just as you mentioned, I've always heard about changing the wonder bar, this is the first time I hear about change the rag joint, any recommendation for a rag joint for a Firebird T/A 1985, thanks!
Yes, the rag joint is most definitely a wear item…makes a huge difference! 🚀🚀 I’ve even heard of people bypassing it and putting a semi-solid one from a jeep (more road noise, but even better steering!)
@@HernanSpeed thanks!
I love the look and style of the third gen cars and always wanted one but recently went and looked at an 88 GTA and to my surprise when getting into it I felt cramped, being 6ft4 in those cars dosnt work, had to practically slouch down so the top of my head didnt hit the roof and not enough leg room, now looking at fourth gen TA but they are awsome cars and icons of a bygone era
6ft4! Thats a great problem to have! 💪💪 Taking the t-tops off solves many problems 🚀🚀 Take your time, the right one is out there waiting for you!
Thanks for watching brother 👊
I love all looks but 76. Tough' has a great engine
I like the too, a true classic! And the bird on the hood breathing fire! 👊👊 Someday I’m rock one of those 🚀🚀
Mxlman thanks for watching! 🔥🔥
I think keeping it original is better. LS swapped are cool except for the wiring and converting would be the worse
💯💯💯👊
@@HernanSpeed I have a few uploads of my GTA. Wish it was in better shape nowadays
I was introduced to the Pontiac Trans am watching Knight Rider. I am a huge fan of the show and would love a KITT replica .Can you get a 2.5 litre Trans am?
What engine sizes did this car become available in to buy?Thanks for a great video.
The Trans Am was a package on the existing Firebird, they came with V8’s. So, you don’t need the Trans Am model to build a KITT, all you need a a standard Firebird(in nice condition). Most Firebirds actually came with V6 2.5, they get great gas mileage! They’re lots of replicas with this motor, they’re mainly show cars…and they get lots of looks! 🚀🚀🚀
So, you can build your KITT replica out of any year Firebird as long as it’s 82-92 years 👊👊 But if you want power, always look for the V8’s 🚀🚀
Brian thanks for watching! 🔥🔥
@@HernanSpeed Thanks for replying
🙌🙌
I also have kyb agx stuts
Hi. Warm greetings from Poland. Where i can download walpaper of this black Pontiac behind you on this video?
Hi from Miami! Yes, I’ve still got it in my photo roll. Send me a message on IG, I’ll forward it to you 💯💯
Rafal thanks for watching! 🔥🔥
Did you do a video of the Starion?
Not yet, but you knowwww the Starion is on my list! 👊👊 Next one up is the Foxbody 5.0
The interior black cloth seats are all mint factory not a Rip and the headliner fell down 2000 and I ripped it out and the dash pad just cracked 3 years ago and I put in a after market on from rock auto 250
I had a 1988 GTA, black with saddle interior with digital dash and 5.7! I want it back! Who has one like this for sale
That’s a killer spec! 🚀🚀🚀
My R134a runs at 34.5 degrees, any colder and the system would freeze over.
Yes, colder will trip the freeze switch. Definitely depends on your location, here in sunny Miami… R134 knocks performance (especially cool down times). With R12, the cooling is perfection ❄️☃️
Thanks for watching man! 🔥🔥
89 TTA does not have the GNX motor or even the GN motor. It has different heads for hood clearance aside from other mods. Yes it is the fastest production car for that year. I did not know the 91-92 cars had the structure adhesive. That is good to know. The Early 82-84 cars were all over the place, performance wise. But, when they ran right. They were rockets. Weighing in at 2900lbs !!!
Correct, several mods were made to make the GNX engine fit… it loves BOOST! 🚀🚀 This generation of F-bodies are my favorite! 🙌🙌
Thanks for watching brother! 👊👊
Buick LeSabre heads.
good vid no l98 running circles around a ls
Thanks for watching man!🔥🔥
Well, 1st it was Smokey and the Bandit that really cemented the icon. Knight Rider was secondary. 2nd, there was a fourth gen, the third generation wasn't the last. 4th, you are a little off on cost of putting an LS into a 3rd gen. It's much easier and cost effective to put an LS engine in a 3rd gen than it is to put an LS into v6 4th gen. In a 3rd gen you're able to bypass the computer and then use a holley sniper. The ecm in 3rd gens is very basic. This will cost significantly less than $100k.
What’s really interesting is that smoky and the bandit has really gotten popular in the past 10 years, and prices reflect this. This wasn’t always the case, it’s great to see them go up 🙌 Knight Rider has always been replayed through out the years, all over the world without interruption… popularly never dipped.
I’ve seen the best LS swaps coming out of Texas, with big Texas budget’s to match. You can easily spend over $100k+, but I understand that most are done for under $25k 💯👊
Jeffrey thanks for watching! 🔥🔥
Okay, I'm 100% not interested in this subject. But I want to hear your take on it.
I think you’ll get a kick out of it, my kids wanted me to add some 80’s Airwolf shots! 😆😆
It's fun to hear his off angle take on everything. Love it!
Hey ! I live 1 hour from Miami, have a 92 Firebird vert. 1 of 64 color combo . garage kept. 60k miles. U should see it, believe me I feel it would make good content. I can send photo/video ?! 🙏🏽 📧
What’s up man! Sounds like you’ve got a great one! 🚀🚀 Check out “Miami Vintage Prop Cars” on IG! That’s exactly the type of car they look for to be featured on Music Videos & TV commercials! Message them today! 👊👊
the firehawk engine isnt an l98 anymore..it starts with a 4 bolt main 350 block,its redone completely,different heads,cam,induction etc so,no it isnt an l98.i have an l98 under my work bench(as well as an lb9 and a vortec 350) its a 2 bolt main block
I get what you mean, it’s so modded that it’s no longer an l98 🤔 I remember they used to have the catalog with all the parts you could order separately, it didn’t last long because one of the main objectives was passing emissions.. Looking back at old Hotrod magazines, these l98’s were completely redone…makes the Firehawks mods look ultra conservative. But again, it was more about passing emissions so that it could be sold throughout the dealership network(-and financed). It’s a beefed up L98, not a totally different engine.. - The LS is a totally different engine.
Thanks for watching! 🔥🔥
Major cons to 3rd gen weak transmission rear axel very hard to dual exhaust. Pros easy to work on parts easily available other than exhaust transmission and axles are easily upgraded
Fact’s 💯💯👊
There called gta Trans am
Pontiac called it the Trans Am GTA in the USA 🇺🇸
@HernanSpeed why is it a gta Trans am they built it in california I saw 4 more in my town 1990 2000 in my big town and they were all automatic
Think about how rare the t5 is
32 million ppl live in canada and 360 million usa 861 t5 in usa 1988
I have never seen one factory ever
Neither did my auto shop teacher
He always wanted it
I killed 8 tires on the street sideways 1 st gear long every day
I also have the 9 bolt 3.41 rear end posi
I broke the clutch disc 4 times
@HernanSpeed I have the receipt and all the option from surgenor in ottawa 1988 and it was a bad ass car i miss driving it
The gta also has skirts and ws6 suspension package it says ws6 on the center caps my factory front and ws6 is corvette suspension
LS engines aren’t that great to me they are overrated
If LS swaps costs less, I would be more enthusiastic about them💯💯
Thanks for watching brother! 👊👊