TOOTALL88

Hey guys im new to the ls world and im wanting to buy an 02 trans am. my cousins have camaros but i like the styling of the ta. are the ta's harder to find parts for than the camaro or are there any major performance differences? like i said im new to the ls world and i know they are essentially "alike" cars but i want opinions before i buy one. one reason im asking is the fact that gm dropped the pontiac line. is that a factor for oem replacement parts or aftermarket parts, etc. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

RJDio

Trans Am parts are not hard to find, there are plenty of cars 'parted out' almost daily. Lots of aftermarket parts, TONS of performance parts.

TOOTALL88

thats good to hear. always liked the styling of the ta better than the camaro but did not know if the parts for it were few and far between. looking at a red 02 and a sunset orange 02. not sure which one. trying to get info before i buy one. thanks for the reply!

RJDio

The Sunset Orange '02 will be rarer than the red. There are build number threads you an research, my notes show there were less than 800 Sunset Orange WS6 cars made in 01-02. There were over 7000 red ones made 96-02.

whether it's the Z28, SS, T/A, WS6, or rare Firehawk they all look good to me and they all have the LS1!

TOOTALL88

yeah i knew the orange was rare. in good shape too. like you said, either way they all look good and run good

chaman

iTrader: (5)

Go for it!

Zlow28

iTrader: (11)

OEM parts are slowly starting to get discontinued from what ive noticed on both cars. But they are still strong with aftermarket parts. Youll have no problem finding parts for these cars especially in ls1tech. Plus, the trans am is the same thing as the camaro but just different looks.

Id go for it aswell!

Blackpanther99

iTrader: (8)

Agreed^ Just go for it, you wont have any issues finding parts for your T/A at all. Much less in this forum that there is dozens of parts being posted everyday

1320Chicken

iTrader: (4)

I've noticed new oem body panels are getting tougher to find. Junkyards and part outs are always options and has been said before the aftermarket for these cars is strong. I'm just not a fan of aftermarket body panels.

Chassis and driveline wise the cars are identical. As far as chassis goes a lot of the parts are interchangeable clear back to the 93 models.

RJDio

not to change the subject, just a FYI: if you are set buy the '02, up to 25% of the '02's have LS6 blocks, just do a little research and you will knw what to look for when looking under the hood, isn't something to ask the seller, just look for it yourself. I'm not saying it makes it any more valuable or faster, just that is a bit of info you will have that the seller may not. I'm set on my color, so I'd take that with the LS1 block over another color with the LS6 block, but just something to look at.

NemeCes

iTrader: (1)

I've had my WS6 for a little over a year and I'm so glad I got it. For one, it looks mean as hell and the LS1 is a monster. Responds so well to mods and with such an extensive aftermarket sector out there dedicated to the LS1, you really can't go wrong if you are looking for a relatively cheap V8 with tons of potential.

Good Luck on your hunt!

02ls1gun

Get it! if it was me I would do the sunset orange. Ive owned both cars, and I own a 02 z28 now. IMO i lliked the ta better. The interior and seats were more comftorable. Nothing beat cruising down the hwy with the tops off looking through the windshield out over the ram air hood. The orange would also have a higher resale value if you ever needed to sell

NoHope

Just remember, at the end of the day a Trans Am is just an over glorified Camaro.

y2k_ta

iTrader: (80)

I'd say the Firebird and Trans Am are just refined versions of the Camaro. They had to start somewhere

chaman

iTrader: (5)

^ qft!

AmnSF

iTrader: (12)

Just remember, at the end of the day a Trans Am is just an over glorified Camaro.

Trolled.

'99REDTA

iTrader: (1)

I personally like my flamboyant camaro, so glad a I got a TA over a camaro and with the headlights down they're just as fast

TNMIKE

iTrader: (1)

Whoa, this is the first I've heard of an LS6 block from the factory in a T/A.
Is this true?

RevGTO

iTrader: (12)

The only downsides to Firebird/TA are the cracking door panels and headlight motors. I bought one of the last new OEM panels in the country and there are no more. Severely cracked panels can't be repaired well; moderately bad ones can. Headlight motors are easily fixed, just kind of a pain.

The upside is that Firebird styling is SO much better than Camaro - inside and out!

Zlow28

iTrader: (11)

yep, a few of the late fbodies came with a ls6 block from the factory.