-88 TA INFO AND MODS-

Year: 1988
Make: Pontiac
Model: Firebird
Trim: Trans Am
Engine: 5.0 tpi (replaced w/ 5.7 tpi)
Transmission: automatic

I bought this car April 16, 2003 with 233,000 miles on the body.

Here are some specs. ( ) = unchecked

Description Factory -VS- Mine
Wheelbase 101" -- (101")
Length 191.6" -- (191.6")
Height 50" -- (50")
Width 72.4" -- (72.4")
Weight 3255lbs -- 3335lbs
Horsepower 225 @ 4400 -- (225 @ 4400)
Torque 330 @ 3200 -- (330 @ 3200)
0-60 7.1 sec -- (7.1 sec)
1/4 Mile 15.5 @ 85 -- 14.563 @ 93.16
Gas Miles 16/25 -- 13.9/(25)

Options: (I have no idea about what it came with from the factory, but here's what it has now...)
-AM9 - split folding rear seats
-AU3 - power door locks
-A01 - all window tint
-A31 - power windows
-A90 - trunk release
-C49 - rear defroster
-CC1 - t-tops
-DG7 - dual electric mirrors
-D34 - visor vanity mirror
-D42 - rear cargo screen
-D81 - rear areo wing
-G80 - limited slip
-J41 - front disc, rear drum brakes
-JG1 - aluminum drive shaft
-K34 - cruise control w/ resume
-L98 - 5.7L V8 tpi
-MD8 - automatic transmission w/ overdrive
-N33 - tilt steering wheel
-N64 - aluminum spare tire
-T96 - fog lights
-U75 - power antenna
-UQ7 - performance sound (well part of it)
-VK3 - front license plate bracket
-red paint
-black interior trim
-black seatbelts
-black cloth seats
-manual adjustable seats
-digital dash
-cassette holder
-deluxe door panels

Stuff wrong with the car when I bought it: (i'm being pretty picky compared with my Formulas)
-rear passenger seatbelt won't retract (what's with the 3rd gen seatbelts?)
-rear driver's side back seat folding hook doesn't completely fit over pin
-driver's seat track won't let seat slide back and forth (fixed)
-driver's seat shows a very small amount of wear
-passenger door panel seam is begining to split minorly
-center console door is loose (fixed)
-rear ashtray not mounted correctly (fixed)
-gas guage is not accurate (runs out of gas w/3 orange bars left)
-the small information guages (seatbelt, check engine, etc...) need new covers
-the system check screen shows that the right headlight is out, even when it's not
-the information panel of the dash occassionaly reads funny symbols (fixed by pressing either the trip, average speed, or mph/kph button)
-right side of dash panel cracked in front very minorly
-far right side of dash panel cracked
-overhead light burnt out fixed
-cigarette plug not working fixed
-headlight switch faded (fixed)
-fog light switch faded and doesn't light up
-rear defrost switch doesn't light up (fixed)
-rear defrost doesn't work
-trunk release switch faded (fixed)
-both power window switches have worn lettering
-left turn signal works, but automatic release doesn't
-passenger side air conditioning vent smashed (fixed)
-center lower air conditioning vent single piece broken (fixed)
-passenger sunvisor creeps down while driving
-rear locking case hinge broken
-power antenna stuck in up position
-rear hatch supports are weak, but still work well
-driver's door missing small rubber peice (fixed)
-door pins are still good, but are worn enough to begin scraping paint on passenger side
-front driver side parking light housing is broken (fixed)
-front passenger side parking light lense cracked (fixed)
-center caps are loose
-paint has small chip on rear bumper
-battery is missing tie-down block (fixed)

Stuff that's gone wrong with the car since I bought it:
-right front ground effects have chipped paint
-right front tire torn in sidewall (fixed)
-CD player won't eject CD

Stuff I've fixed, replaced, or done to the car since I've had it:

---04/18/2003---
"the 1st nickel and dime..."
-replaced torn front right Toyo tire (SJR Motorsports)
Total cost = $127 (includes tire, mounting, balancing, and tax)
Total time = ~1 hour (includes travel time)

---04/29/2003---
"fixing the small stuff"
-installed a battery tie-down block (from 88 Formula)
-replaced front left and right parking lights (from 89 Formula)
-replaced the headlight switch (from 89 Formula)
-replaced the passenger side air vent (from 89 Formula)
-installed missing rubber piece in driver's door (from 89 Formula)
-remounted rear ash tray
-rerouted hard-wired radar detector wire
-removed velcro from dash pad
-removed velcro from passenger's map pocket
-removed thermometer and velcro from dash trim
-replaced odd-ball screws in dash panel (from 89 Formula)
Total cost = $0
Total time = ~6.5 hours

---05/01/2003---
"fixing the small stuff pt. 2"
-replaced center lower dash vent (from spare dash panel)
-replaced performance suspension plate (from 89 Formula)
-replaced driver's seat track (from 88 Formula)
-installed rubber tops for seat track screws (from 88 Formula)
-installed passenger seat track rear metal plastic covers (from 88 Formula)
-installed performance sound gain switch (from spare dash panel)
-installed performance sound trim plate (from spare trim plate)
-replaced trunk release switch (from 88 Formula)
-fixed cigarette lighter socket
-replaced overhead light bulb (from 89 Formula)
-replaced rear defrost switch (from 89 Formula)
-tightened center console door
Total cost = $0
Total time = ~7 hours

---05/04/2003---
"the 3k"
-installed a Fram Tough Guard oil filter (Advance Auto)
-poured in 5qts of Mobil 1 full synthetic oil (Advance Auto)
Total cost = $26.71
Total time = ~1 hour

I am going to attempt to take pics of different options/upgrades. Here is a few to begin with.

K&N cone filter

Friend-ported upper intake

Goodyear Gatorback serpentine belt

TPS airfoil

March performance pullies

160 degree thermostat

Accel adjustable fuel pressure regulator

MSD Super Conductor 8.5mm wires

AC Delco Rapid-Fire plugs

Accel ignition module

Edelbrock long tube headers

Main stuff done to car when I bought it:
-350 HO jasper engine
-Proform harmonic blancer
-March performance pullies
-Goodyear gatorback serpetine belt
-Throttle shifter cable
-Rebuilt transmission
-Hurst transmission lock-up harness
-Polyurathane transmission mount
-B&M transmission cooler
-Balanced alumnium driveshaft
-Performance u-joints
-GM posi 2.73 rearend (2.73! What was he thinking???)
-Alumnium spare tire
-GM distributor
-Hypertech Powermaster chip
-Hypertech ignition coil
-Accel ignition module
-GM starter
-MSD 8.5mm plug wires
Splitfire triple platium plugs
-Knock sensor
-Main computer
-Throttle position sensor
-Oil pressure sensor
-Temperature sensor
-Alternator
-Idle air sped control sensor
-Power steering pump
-KYB shocks
-KYB struts
-Edelbrock panhard rod
-Lakewood polyurathane rear trailing arms
-Energy suspension poly. end link bushings on front and back
-Enrgy suspension sway bar bushings on front and back
-Energy suspension poly. torque arm bushing
-Rear drums, shoes, and hardware
-Front calipers, rotors, and performance friction pads
-Front Taylor stainless brake lines
-Edelbrock headers
-3" Flowmaster downpipe
-3" High flow cat. converter
-Hooker chrome exhaust tips
-GM converter hangar
-GM converter air tube
-Smog pump
-K&N Filtercharger induction
-TPS airfoil in throttlebody
-GM fuel injectors
-GM oxygen sensor
-Accel high pressure fuel filter
-GM fuel pump
-3 row rdiator
-Perma-cool electric fan
-Hypertech fan switch
-Edelbrock victor series water pump
-GM heater contol
-GM heater control valve
-GM heater control relay
-Goodyear hoses
-Heater core
-Heater blower motor
-Radiator overflow tank
-Front end lower deflector
-Fiberglass hood
-New paint job
-Foot Pedals
-Grant leather steering wheel
-Door handles
-Pontiac throttle plate
-Rear Firebird splash plates
-Window tint
-Fiberglass headliner
-Car alarm
-Rear spoiler and clips
-Alpine CD player
-Alpine front 4x6's
-Pioneer rear 6x9's

Still to be installed

Lunati cam

A real nice velcro t-top bag

transmission filter

B&M Synthetic Trick Shift transmission fluid

Overhead console (Yes they are all mine....I'm keeping the one closest to the camera)

another pics of the consoles

the console that will go in my car

dials of my console

rare Firebird console flashlight

back side of console

Page 1: Intro
Page 2: 88 TA Exterior Pics
Page 3: 88 TA Interior Pics
Page 4: 88 TA Info and Mods
Page 5: 88 TA 1/4 Mile Times
Page 6: Purchasing the 88 TA
Page 7: 89 Formula Exterior Pics
Page 8: 89 Formula Interior Pics
Page 9: 89 Formula Info and Mods
Page 10: 89 Formula 1/4 Mile Times
Page 11: Purchasing the 89 Formula
Page 12: 88 Formula Exterior Pics
Page 13: 88 Formula Interior Pics
Page 14: 88 Formula Info and Mods
Page 15: 88 Formula 1/4 Mile Times
Page 16: Purchasing the 88 Formula
Page 17: Family and Previous Cars
Page 18: Friends' Cars
Page 19: Misc/Rice/Funny Pics