speegracer

Hey everybody,

I'm new to the board, so thanks for any answers.

I don't own a bird of my own but recently I got into a debate with a friend who does and I need help on the debate. This friend claims he bought a 97 Formula Ram Air LT1 and swears it's a true RA.

I have another friend of mine who is a Trans Am enthusiast of 25yrs. I've known this dude since High School and Firebirds and T/A's were all he talked about. He's owned 2000 WS6 Ram Air for 7yrs and went through some mods like putting it on the juice for those days at the track. He wanted to beat my naturally aspirated 85 Olds Cutlas which runs 12.30's so he started spraying his. This guy knows his Formula's and T/A's but the other friend is a thick headed as hell and won't listen to anything I say when I try tellin him he bought a clone Ram Air based on the 16" wheels and WS9 RPO. I don't see how it could possibly be a TRUE 97 Formula Ram Air.

He claims there is a $485 Ram Air OPTION available in 97 which I can't debate but I'm still not a believer it is a true Ram Air. What would Pontiac be offering for a $485 Ram Air OPTION anyway? He continues to dispute whether I'm right that it's a clone....can you all help me correct him if he's indeed wrong or correct me if I am.

I just want the facts so I can END THIS DEBATE?

If you all can arm me with facts I'd be grateful.

Thanks much everybody!

Tamatt27

iTrader: (4)

"Formula WS6 Ram Air (1996-2000) and Trans Am WS6 Ram Air (1996-2002) (Ram Air, Freer flowing exhaust system, suspension upgrades, Increased cooling, 17 inch wheels with 275/40ZR/17 tires)"
Taken from the sticky just above you. There's loads of info in the stickies, check 'em out and you should have all the facts you'd want.

EchoMirage

iTrader: (3)

during the LT1 years, it was possible to order either the WS6 OR Ram Air. it wasnt a package like the LS1 years. though, as stated, 97 might have been the changing year, when they were both lumped into a package. so either its a fake ram air, or he is wrong about the year, and might have been ordered without WS6.

staringback05

iTrader: (8)

why argue with someone thats not as smart as you?

speegracer

It sounds like it was possible in 97 to order a "Ram Air" intake and hood but can anyone tell me if it would still show WS9 in the RPO?

EchoMirage

iTrader: (3)

it would say WS9 if it wasnt a WS6. if you dont see WS6 in the door code, then its not a WS6. i dont know the code for ram air though. ergo.......if it was still possible to order EITHER ram or OR WS6 in 97, and the car was ordered NON WS6 but with ram air......it would say WS9 for stock suspenion (i think) and probably have a code for ram air.....which i dont know what that is.

LS1W66

A WS6 or a Firehawk were the only ways to get a Ram Air hood on a Firebird.
There is no Firebird Ram Air option except the originals from `67-`72. The modern Ram Air was part of the WS6 package that was available on Formula's from `96-`00 and Tran Am's from `96 -`02.
WS9 is the Formula Conversion Package and just means the car is a V8 Firebird. All V8 cars will have WS9, W66 [Formula] and Y82 [Trans Am] RPO's have to be present to distinguish what model it is.
All WS6 and Firehawk [RPO WU6] models will have 17'' wheels except `96-97 [LT1] Convertibles they will still have 16's. [SS Camaro's aswell]

ALL STATED ABOVE IS ABSOLUTE FACT AND CANNOT BE DISPUTED

DrEvyl

iTrader: (5)

It would show WS9 even if it was a real Ram Air car. If it was a real "Ram Air" car and not a Firehawk it would have WS6 in the RPO codes.

This is from my '98 Trans Am WS6... but note that it has both WS9 and WS6... the only thing that would differentiate it from a Formula WS6 is the presence of the Y82 option (the Trans Am package).

JohnnyBs98WS6Rag

iTrader: (1)

Absolutely true. The only clarification I can add is there were 0 WS6 'verts produced in '96, but there were '96 SS 'verts built.

Sounds like the car in question could still be a '97 Formula WS6, but AS USUAL, the RPO decal contains the TRUTH about the particular car.

Captainofiron

iTrader: (1)

A lot of people get swindled like this from dishonest dealers who say its Ram Air to charge more, but yea what was said above is true, if it doesnt say WS6, its not a real "Ram Air" and since you said it has 16s that is further proof

glocklimited9

iTrader: (3)

<-- 96 ws6 formula ramair

Blackbirdws6

iTrader: (7)

97 formulas could not be ordered with the ram air package. Only WS6's with the 17s, suspension, hood, airbox, etc. The only cars that could get the "ram air" package, not to be confused with the ws6 package were the convertible formula and trans am cars. I looked at my old brochure just to take a look and check. The "ram air" package cars had the 16's (which were all verts), ram air hood & air box, oval exhaust outlets, non-ws6 suspension and no WS6 badge on the bumper.

-Brian

JohnnyBs98WS6Rag

iTrader: (1)

I have heard (from original owners) that some of the '97 WS6 'verts had the WS6 badge on the bumper and some did not. All had the 16" rims / standard suspension. Is it possible that, on the '97 'verts, the "WS6" and "Ram-Air" package is one and the same but was "de-contented" from what the same RPO option included on the coupes? And is it also possible that the presence of the WS6 badge on the bumpers of the '97 'verts was either a mid-year production change or a random factory occurance? I remember seeing an article in MCR where they drove a '97 WS6 'vert across FL, "Coast-to-Coast in a Day". I'm pretty sure that car had a WS6 badge on the bumper (need to dig out my archives).

BTW, did the LT1 WS6 cars have a unique exhaust like the '98+ WS6s (compared to non-WS6 exhausts)?? I thought it had, but I'm not familiar w/ exactly what that system consisted of. Assuming they were "special", I'm surprized the '97 WS6 'verts didn't come w/ the same exhaust WS6 coupes did.

Nitto98

i owned a 97' formula firebird ws6! yes true ws6!! looked it up years ago but there were only few hundred made in 97..... but believe what you want

Nitto98

by the way they had 17'' chrome, cheezy suspension package, 10 speaker monsoon w disc change, ws6 hood, tcs and ram air intake! trust me i became more interested in the car once i found out it was rare (well, more than usuall)

LS1W66

The `96-97 WS6 cars had the standard exhaust AFAIK but they came with an Oval tip like the standard LS1 cars had. Being that they were built by SLP though you could order the Dual on the Left System in `96 and the Dual Dual in `97. I remember seeing cars with these systems on the dealership lots and on the street.

JohnnyBs98WS6Rag

iTrader: (1)

Just to clarify, ALL WS6s came w/ 17" rims ('96-'00 were high-polished aluminum w/ clear finish, NOT chrome), with the EXCEPTION of the '97 WS6 'verts.

1997 Firebird Production:
Firebird 16392
Firebird Convertible 1226
Formula 2293
Formula Convertible 283
Formula WS6 473
Formula Convertible WS6 41
Trans Am 5829
Trans Am Convertible 927
Trans Am WS6 2273
Trans Am Convertible WS6 463
Total 30754

LS1W66

Actually all the `96 Cars have Bright Silver painted 17'' wheels, the polished wheels weren't available till `97

Captainofiron

iTrader: (1)

Yea theres a LT1 WS6 running around down here that looks almost exactly like mine, except he has the bright silver 17 wheels, they dont look as good as the polished on a black car IMO

Blackbirdws6

iTrader: (7)

mine did not have the ws6 badge and no 17's here. All I am saying is there was no just "ram air" formula except for the verts models. It was called the ram air package which was due to the verts not having the 17's and suspension. There were certainly WS6 formulas but none of them could be verts if you refer to just the option package name.

I think the confusion is in the difference between "Ram Air" and "WS6". My father was the original owner of my bird and I was with him through the whole process. The code will still be there but even I wont admit to my car being a true WS6 because I'm missing the larger wheels and better suspension. Would be happy to scan the brochure and dealer option paperwork if people want to see it.

-brian