difference between Trans Am and Formula

i researched the formula and trans am and came up with this; the trans am was mostly used to race mainly in circle tracks and was seen as a superior car to the formula, and the formula was mainly used on the tracks that formula 1 cars used (winding tracks), with its WS6 pack and preformance tranny. (thus the name formula.) if the 2 were to race and both had the 350 in them, the trans am would have a faster 0-60 time because of its beefed up engine, but the formula had the superior speed with its tranny. so each posessed an equally important item to racing. which car pontiac raced depended on the nature of the race and the track. correct me if im wrong on something and if i missed anything (this was based on the 3rd gens.) this is for a research project and it will be checked for accuracy, so please know what ur talking about before posting, thanks for your help guys. :P

i may be wrong, but i was always under the impression that the formula is just a firebird with the v8, and the next step up (ta) has the "body kit" and other options. this would make the formula the fastest due to the lighter weight.

The Formula is usually slightly lighter but Basically they are just trim level's. Formula and Trans Am came with same Drivetrain's and options most years. But pretty much what crack3rjack said except even though Formula is lighter and in theory should be faster they never show any different number's than Trans Am.

i dont know how to put up photos but... is THIS a formula?

http://www.carad.com/ebaymotors/viewPhoto.htm?http://carad.ebayimg.com/i4/01/a/02/a1/b8/45_4.JPG

http://www.carad.com/ebaymotors/viewPhoto.htm?http://carad.ebayimg.com/i18/02/a/02/a1/8c/cd_4.JPG


cause it has no 'body kit' on the front just like the bumper.. which is how I think they look best... yeah im not sure of their differences either..

OOH and what YEARS did they come out with the look on the pics.. just the bumper and no body kit cuz i wanna get me one :smokin:

I can't see the back but the front end isn't a 3rd Gen Trans Am front so(Also those ground effects look aftermarket to me) if it has a 305 or 350 its a Formula. The formula basically looks exactly like a base Firebird but has the Drivetrain and suspension of a Trans Am

what about one of these??
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6420&item=2492104512&rd=1

Yup thats a Formula but it says that in the ad, Also it has a 5.7 so it has to be but here is what the 3rd Gen T/A look like so if it has a V8 and does not look like this then its a Formula
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/144075Trans_Am.jpg

your pic dont work =(

You sure refresh the page?. Came through on my end

it just says "Image hosting by Tripod" and has Tripod's logo..

The pic worked for me...I'm so pissed that that formula 350 went for 5700 with 32k original on it to someone besides me! lol but as far as the trans am 350 being beefed up more than the formula 350...i'm pretty sure the only difference besides the body is the gear ratios in the transmission, and the option of Ram Air on the T/A. Otherwise they are equal. Also between the Formula and regular Firebird, the spoiler is different. If anyone has a link to anywhere that shows all the exact differences I would be very interested to see that.

The T/A's and Formula's had different spoiler's but the Formula and Firebird came standard with same exact one and either could be ordered with the Trans Am one but it was a option. Also the Formula and Trans Am came with same exact gears in both 3rd and 4th Gens and could get optional gears in both as well. Only thing I can think of that the Trans Am came with that the Formula couldn't be ordered with was Fog lights.

i didnt wanna start a new thread so.. is the hood scoop for the formula funtionable? or just for aesthetic purposes... it looks cool :smokin:

Which formula model the ram air one? Or the Base models opening's at the lower base of the hood?

just the base hood that had like a hump by the driver side close to the windshield.

I'm not sure which models(which Gen) Formula your talking about but it really doesn't matter because the Ram Air set up is never functional even if its opened up because the rate at which a engine sucks in air(vacuum pressure). You would have to be traveling at mach 1 to actually be able to "ram air" into the intake manifold. So the answer is no its never functional and always just for cosmetics although I think they look pretty bad ass and want one myself.

Yeah the hump is only functional for letting a miniscule amount of heat out if you take the cover off of it, and giving the car that mean and pissed off kind of look.

i can answer that 1, as i have that hood :P yes they CAN be functional. they where built to be a functional cold air intake. but came from the factory with a cover. u have to buy the kit seperate, but all u do is unbolt the plate on it and hook up the new intake to it. it also works to put a holly carb filter on the TBI or caeb that came on the car with the scoop open. i opened mine as a cooling vent but it actually seemed to give a hell of an extra kick to the engine. if u open the scoop and dont have the filter hooked up to it, then u better put a plastic bag or cover of some kind over the distributor cap because when it rains, water splashes inside and soaks the distributor and the car wont run untill it's dry.

any idea of where i can find the kit? or info on it.. u got pics of it?

yeah i want that kit, and rain never bothered my car and i've had water pour in there, although I am having problems that no one can figure out lol maybe thats the problem.

u dont know of any place where I can see pics of this?

What kit are you talking about? I don't see any mention of a kit besides the last 3 post's.

i know u can get them on e-bay sometimes, but they r hard to come accross, its easier to fabricate one yourself if u have the skills to do so.

The Formula is not just a base Firebird with a V8. First off, all Formula's came with the WS6 Performance Suspension package standard. They also came with 16" wheels, as compared to the V6 'bird's 15".

Really, the Formula is closer to the TransAm than the base Firebird. The only thing the Formula and the base model have in common is the standard spoiler and the lack of the lower body kit. Most everything that the TransAm had standard came on the Formula as well, but then there were options for the T/A that you couldn't get on the Formula.

The TransAm is the "higher end" Firebird as far as luxury and class go, but the Formula is the real performance version of the Firebird. Put a Formula and TransAm side by side, and the Formula is about .2 seconds faster in the 1/4 mile, and handles slightly better for road racing due to the decreased weight, as well.

Why does everyone keep saying the formula came with the standard spoiler...the spoiler is the same as the trans am (check savage's pic). The older 3rd gens had the standard spoiler, but at some point they were all the better one.

The Tran's Am spoiler like the on Savage has was a option the Formula was avalable with but came with standard smaller base model every year that I know of 3rd and 4th Gen, Infact if you check out my car in my sig and in the member's ride thread you will notice I have the smaller one.

3rd gen formulas did not come with the low spoiler..it came standard with the wrap around spoiler same as the trans ams (excluding notchback GTA's)
formulas are essentially trans ams..with less of hte gaudy add ons..2nd gens..they've trans am drivetrains, suspensions....but with firebird fenders (no vents) ..lack of wheel flairs...and htey had a "ram air" hood (excluding hte 80-81 turbo formula which had the "power bulge" hood ..and the 73-74 455SD formulas which came with a shaker hood), 79-81 formulas had blacked out taillights same as the trans ams as well

3rd gen differences (note 3rd gen formulas span 87-92) ..came with the same drivetrains as the trans am....had the firebird "body" ..being that they had no fender vents or ground effects...they had the power bulge hood which is the same hood used on 82-84 trans ams that was derived from the 80-81 301Turbo trans am/formulas, also had hte trans am wrap around spoiler and trans am taillights, had standard 16'' wheels

4thgen LT1 had..once again same drivelines as the trans am, body of the base firebird (no deviations that i'm aware of such as different hood etc), trans am taillights and "formula V8" decals on the rear bumper and front driver headlight cover
4th gen LS1 same as above ..ditched the "formula V8" stickers, all 98-02 birds had same taillights making hte only destinguisable part of the formula the wheels (if left stock, being they're same as stock trans am wheels) and the formula emblems on the doors

NOTE: many options on formulas of all years are standard equipment on trans ams..of the same years


this isn't a complete bit..just something i wrote out in about 3-5 mins..gotta run to the store..if i got anything wrong..or mixed up someone please correct me

http://www.97ta.com/videos.shtml

If i remember right the 82 and 83 trans am videos on this page tell you the differences of each type of trans am

maybe this will help

the formula has firebird tail lights, and says pontiac under the firebird on the center piece of the tail lights, trans am has the grid tail light lenses, with a removable firebird emblem in the center piece

the trans am light are farther recessed into the back of the car,and are completely flat,and the formula lights stick out a little bit,and are rounded.

i have a 88 formula 350 that looks exactly like a trans am and even says it in a couple of places but who knows...

formula is faster than trans am (I CHECKED 97 MODELS).
here is the link. l compared 97 formula and 97 trans am.

formula (0-60) is 5.7 sec. trans am is (0-60) is 6.1 sec.

http://www.autotrader.com/research/compare/index.jsp?restype=used

when you click the link, select vehicles. l compared 97 trans am and formula and formula was faster (0-60)

Just an internet link.

Both cars have the same motor....most of the time the Trans Am has more aggressive gearing.
Close race....but I wouldn't say either is faster.

well actually l meant formula is faster on (0-60) otherwise l think they got the same top speed and sure they have same engine.

when l compared, l saw that and l posted here.