Special Edition Vehicles - There is no such thing as a Firehawk?

Ok so i have had my 01 firehawk formula for about 5 months now and hands down the first question i get is what in the world is a firehawk. How do yall explain it to people that dont know a ta from a camaro? Mine is a formula so that makes it even funner to try to explain.

sorry if this is in the wrong section i wasnt sure where to post it to.

it's a tire :P

seriously though, just explain to them that it's a limited edition car made by SLP engineering.

It's the model one step higher than Formula/TA

you explain it with a bitch slap to the back of their head...j/k

It's the model one step higher than Formula/TA

that'd be the WS6 :P

Its got more rammer air than a WS6. :D

Seriously, just state that it's the top-of-the-line Firebird, upgraded by SLP, the same folks who upgraded Z28s to make the SS. Then watch their eyes light up: Ah HA!

normally people think that a Firehawk is way faster then a stock v8 fbody, I usually tell them if they dont know, a firehawk is a special order Firebird

Here is my question, how does it have more ram air than a WS6 when it uses the stock lower air box and not even the raised lower air box. This is a question that I have wondered for a while,

I still remember being in Downtown Dallas when I was 14 or 15 and seeing a red Firehawk and being like "WTF?!?" - went home and immediately started reading up on it.

Here is my question, how does it have more ram air than a WS6 when it uses the stock lower air box and not even the raised lower air box. This is a question that I have wondered for a while,

Uh, it doesn't. I was (trying) being funny.

In reality, the difference is probably too small to measure, but the WS6's larger/higher scoops and bigger lower airbox opening definately gives it the edge over any other LS1 intake setup.

I always just tell people it's a rare edition thats above a WS6. I like the fact that ppl are like "wtf is a firehawk" makes ppl wonder what it has done to it lol

Trans am formula firehawk.....it's just a firebird lol. If they don't know already then they won't get it

I always just tell people it's a rare edition thats above a WS6. I like the fact that ppl are like "wtf is a firehawk" makes ppl wonder what it has done to it lol

Haha exactly.. I just tell them it was a numbered car that has trim upgrades over the WS6. Plus if I pull into a cruise night here in Canada, people really think I have something special because Trans Am's are so few and far between, let along Hawks.

ask them if they think a Yanko Camaro is a real car?

absolute easiest way to explain to people is to state that it is the SS of the firebird line but rarer. sometimes people will ask for more detail and then i will get into it but for most people and the commoner that answer will suffice.

Here is my question, how does it have more ram air than a WS6 when it uses the stock lower air box and not even the raised lower air box. This is a question that I have wondered for a while,

The intake ports on a WS6 is raised with the hood. The intake ports on a Firehawk aren't raised therefore no need to raise the lower air box. As for which flows more air I am not sure of a test being done. Although both work on the same principle. Now you don't have to wonder anymore.

i just tell people it's a limited edition trans am... people dont' know any better any way and will believe anything anyone says.

ask them if they think a Yanko Camaro is a real car?

It's not, but a Yenko Camaro is.

The intake ports on a WS6 is raised with the hood. The intake ports on a Firehawk aren't raised therefore no need to raise the lower air box. As for which flows more air I am not sure of a test being done. Although both work on the same principle. Now you don't have to wonder anymore.

for what its worth... a simple aftermarket lid, the kind almost everyone has, flows more then the WS6 "ram air", or the firehawk intake.
the intakes are not special.. while we all know (or should know) the small diffs between a WS6, formula, and firehawk.. the reality is they're so similar one could consider them just body kit options... because the few minor changes between them are often the first things modified by the aftermarket anyway.

for what its worth... a simple aftermarket lid, the kind almost everyone has, flows more then the WS6 "ram air", or the firehawk intake.
the intakes are not special.. while we all know (or should know) the small diffs between a WS6, formula, and firehawk.. the reality is they're so similar one could consider them just body kit options... because the few minor changes between them are often the first things modified by the aftermarket anyway.

the biggest non-cosmetic difference with the firehawk is probably the bilstein suspension upgrade that many of them came with:

http://www.firehawk.net/images/lit/2001/content/bilstein.jpg

BILSTEIN ULTRA PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION SYSTEM

35mm front stabilizer bar
21mm rear stabilizer bar
Reinforced stabilizer bar brackets and special end-links
Bilstein shocks, recalibrated to SLP specs.
Progressive-rate front springs 223 to 448 lb.-per-inch
Progressive-rate rear springs 97 to 136 lb.-per-inch
Rear trailing arms with 1LE bushings
1LE panhard bar
Option Price: $999

the biggest non-cosmetic difference with the firehawk is probably the bilstein suspension upgrade that many of them came with:

http://www.firehawk.net/images/lit/2001/content/bilstein.jpg

BILSTEIN ULTRA PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION SYSTEM

35mm front stabilizer bar
21mm rear stabilizer bar
Reinforced stabilizer bar brackets and special end-links
Bilstein shocks, recalibrated to SLP specs.
Progressive-rate front springs 223 to 448 lb.-per-inch
Progressive-rate rear springs 97 to 136 lb.-per-inch
Rear trailing arms with 1LE bushings
1LE panhard bar
Option Price: $999

oh i agree... im not trying to put it down or anything.. and if you're going to keep the car stock, its a great setup.
my point was just that.. well look at what you have listed, then think about what most guys here do:
aftermarket LCAs\panhard have poly bushings... instead of the 1LE.
lowering springs replace the stockers
aftermarket shocks/struts replace the stockers.
while not often replaced by all, new poly bushing endlinks are less then $10 a set..
now if you were in autocross and wanted to stay in a stock class.. you wouldnt do that stuff.. but if you just look at the general mods people here do, it replaces most of that stuff.


im not snubbing the firehawk in anyway, i always loved it.. and the hood is just fuggin awesome. I was just commented on the "ram air" thing.

as for the OPs problem of explaining it... i can relate. seems like every vehicle I get has something about it that the average person doesnt "get" or believe..

I always explained it to People like a Roush Mustang. An out of hous complany that modify the cars before then get to the dealer. It is a little easier for people to relate too since Roush mustangs are a little more known than SLP and the Firehawk.

Oh and just an FYI not all SS cars went to SLP for modifications. SS hood went on in th factory. So only if they got some other upgrades from SLP did they go to SLP

Side question -

I thought they stopped making Firehawks out of Formula's in '00? Or was that only WS6 cars?

I tell them that its 5 grand more then I should have paid and that even though there were only a few made don't waist your money on them. Unless your a collector, because SLP does not make replacment parts for these cars i.e badging, spoilers, rims,center caps. So go get a nice clean WS6 and that the extra cash you saved and mod it up.:chug:

Just thought I would share this with yall the other day we were having our yard treated and the guy walks up to my dad and asks, "Isn't that firehawk the one that has the duel supercharged v6 in it from factory? Dad couldn't help but smile and say yep sure is. It amazes me how dumb people can be sometimes!

Firehawk body styles,
1992-1997: available in Formula body only
1999 - 2002: available in both Formula and Trans Am
2009: G8 ( :barf: )