My 1998 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS7

[PAFirefighter11]

I'll update this later but I wanted to at least get it started. I traded in my E36 M3 for this car back in late May. After weeks of failed Auto Trader searches for a real WS6, I found this and drove out to Gettysburg to get it:



Here are the specs...

Make: Pontiac
Model: Firebird Trans Am
Miles: 96,000
Motor: 5.7L 350ci LS1 V8
Trans: T56 - 6 speed
Hood: WS7 (aka aftermarket functional ram air hood, styled on the WS6 hood but slightly taller)
Rear: Stock 10 bolt with 3.42s and a posi
Wheels: 17x9.5" front & 17x11" American Racing Torq Thrust II's
Tires: 245's up front, 315's in the rear
Exhaust: Flowmaster 40 series
Intake: K&N Carbon Fibre FIPK
Audio: Sounds good ;)
RWHP: 310
RWTQ: 320
Misc: 60mm Hella Projector High/Low HID conversion ready to go.

Photos:












UPDATE (11/29): UPS brought me some presents today :-D





Bulbs, ballasts, wiring should be here by Friday or early next week.

[jpalamar]

Always like the look of these, but the interior kills them. Those wide rear tires must be nice for traction though. I'm jelous as I can only run up to a 285 in back of my Mustang because there aren't many all-season options that are wide.

Also search around, but if you can find an LS6 intake mani get one, they flow MUCH better then your stocker and are dirt cheap. One of the easiest and cheapest power adders you can find.

[PAFirefighter11]

Originally Posted by jpalamar

Always like the look of these, but the interior kills them. Those wide rear tires must be nice for traction though. I'm jelous as I can only run up to a 285 in back of my Mustang because there aren't many all-season options that are wide.

Thanks man. I HATE the damn seats/interior color in this thing. I wanted the 00+ as they are nicer material and actual black, instead of some sort of charcoal-ish color:


I honestly am happy with the rest of the interior overall. I also figure this is nicer than the Mach 1 interior for the same year ranges as that was another option (3 options were: 97-99 3000GT VR-4, 99-04 Mustang Mach 1, and the Trans Am WS6).

[renn]

nice pickup, ws6 is without a doubt the best choice out of the 3 you listed.

[BlkWhtTSI]

Why is it on every Firebird the exhaust is lop-sided? No offense, as i do like these cars but, I always see them with one outlet higher than the other.

[OMGz Turbo]

Love it bro.

315's OR BUSTTTT

[PAFirefighter11]

Thanks guys. Nothing like 315's! I need new ones though, these are basically slicks now. TSI: The hanger on the pipe and the rubber hanger on the frame don't line up right. I was able to really force it on and it was even at that point. Haven't looked lately but I think it's still in place. What a PITA that was though....

[httrdd]

Like!

[95PGTTech]

Originally Posted by jpalamar

Always like the look of these, but the interior kills them. Those wide rear tires must be nice for traction though. I'm jelous as I can only run up to a 285 in back of my Mustang because there aren't many all-season options that are wide.

Also search around, but if you can find an LS6 intake mani get one, they flow MUCH better then your stocker and are dirt cheap. One of the easiest and cheapest power adders you can find.

Sumitomo 315/35/17.

I'll leave the opinions of the interiors to those that said them, I personally cannot stand these years interiors and thought the 03/04 Mach to be ahead of its time. To each his own.

From the guy with a Cobra and a small block Chevy engine...

[PAFirefighter11]

Okay, got bored today after work and decided that I REALLY hate my factory headlights. So, I did an install of the low beam projectors and HID's. I have brackets that I will be ordering for the lows and highs to take care of proper mounting and aesthetics. But, for this moment, I am very happy with the outcome of these (output, not looks). I still need to aim them, still need to get the high beams back in, etc. But this is good for the moment. I'll edit this all later with specific info, but here are the photos I took during the install:

[lownslow95]

Install looks good man. Always loved Trans Am's.

[PhillyLS1]

The 98's are a PITA.

I dunno if you care or not since your first mod was headlights, but, you have the worst exhaust and the worst CAI for those cars. IF you change up both you'd probably be putting down 15-30hp more.

Also buff that faded bird off the back.

[PAFirefighter11]

Originally Posted by lownslow95

Install looks good man. Always loved Trans Am's.

Thanks man!

Originally Posted by PhillyLS1

The 98's are a PITA.

I dunno if you care or not since your first mod was headlights, but, you have the worst exhaust and the worst CAI for those cars. IF you change up both you'd probably be putting down 15-30hp more.

Also buff that faded bird off the back.

I'm buying a ported LS6 intake and going with an electronic c/o once time allows. I hate Flowmaster, but it was on the car when I got it and with the c/o it doesn't matter. Also doing all new vinyl for the "Trans Am" on the doors, the rear Phoenix and "Trans Am", the front Phoenix, rear "PONTIAC" text, and "Ram Air".

Regarding numbers for both the K&N and Flowmaster, no one has shown me definitive proof that either of them are bad when compared to other brands out there. Lots of people have "told" me, but no one has proof of this, even on LS1tech..

[Erik@R/TTuning]

These are cars that I have always thought were cool but after driving one it just wasn't for me. They are tanks. Big, brutish, powerful, loud tanks. But I do love them.

[OMGz Turbo]

Originally Posted by PAFirefighter11

Thanks man!





I'm buying a ported LS6 intake and going with an electronic c/o once time allows. I hate Flowmaster, but it was on the car when I got it and with the c/o it doesn't matter. Also doing all new vinyl for the "Trans Am" on the doors, the rear Phoenix and "Trans Am", the front Phoenix, rear "PONTIAC" text, and "Ram Air".

Regarding numbers for both the K&N and Flowmaster, no one has shown me definitive proof that either of them are bad when compared to other brands out there. Lots of people have "told" me, but no one has proof of this, even on LS1tech..

Intake look familiar lol



When we dyno'd we swapped for the flopac and the car made another 10-15 hp

[Got Insulin?]

Nice retro!

[dugganzx3]

It's funny cause all the 93-97 guys(including myself) are jealous of the 98/99 interior, and you guys are jealous of the 00-02 interior. Honestly though the seating position and windshiled rake makes up for it. Light's look really good, wanna do something with mine, I'm still rocking the dual square lights, which are duller than moonlight. What are your plans for the exhaust, leaving the 40 series?

[ranmas2004]

Nice ride! A buddy of mine that I work with has the same car as you WS edition with manual. He hated the interior too and got this custom leather setup made, roll cage, custom exhaust with electronic cut out he is building the car to handle 1200hp, already changed out the transmission, and next year he says he's getting a crate engine built, some 6.0L LS engine that will put out 900hp.....he's sick with that car!!! I don't know too much about the thunderbirds, but I know that car is going to be so FAST!!

[JERRYM1997]

Originally Posted by ranmas2004

Nice ride! A buddy of mine that I work with has the same car as you WS edition with manual. He hated the interior too and got this custom leather setup made, roll cage, custom exhaust with electronic cut out he is building the car to handle 1200hp, already changed out the transmission, and next year he says he's getting a crate engine built, some 6.0L LS engine that will put out 900hp.....he's sick with that car!!! I don't know too much about the thunderbirds, but I know that car is going to be so FAST!!

That would be a firebird sir.


As for the exhaust SLP sounds amazing and is an awesome price. But for a little bit more you can get borla adjustable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDMIkItbeG8

[PAFirefighter11]

Couple more cut-off shots. Cell phone shots - pardon the quality. First one was BEFORE I adjusted them. Second was after: