Ws?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 163
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From: Warsaw, IN
Ws? I was curious to know if any one knows of a way to identify weither my car has a WS pakcage? It has the RTS emblem on the dash, and I was told that that meant it was a WS6, but I wanna be sure. I checked the vin and they make no mention of theose packages (WS6, 7, or 9) in the vin. Only the basics. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I would love to be able to say it's a WS6. Just adds spice to the name IMO Thanks
RTS means Radial Tuned Suspension, meaning it was supposedly 'tuned' for having radial tires. Before that, you could call it having a 'bias' tuned suspension. I don't know if there is such a huge differance, but having RTS doesn't mean WS6. I have a 78 TA, non-WS6, and it has the same dash emblem. Look on the door, also in the engine compartment, right near the driver's side hood hinge, is a plate riveted to the body, probably painted over in black. It should say WS6 or not on there. What year/color/motor/model do you have?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 163
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From: Warsaw, IN
it's an 80 Trans Am with a four-barrel 301. I believe the orginal color was a dark red...someone *tried* to paint it blue. You can see were they left the factory stripe dwon the center of the car and all the pinstripes...there just blue now haha. I'll check sometime tommorow...it's dumping like crazy outside and the carport hasn't shown up yet 
Lets just hope that they didn't paint over the emblem
Lets just hope that they didn't paint over the emblem Trending Topics
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Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 65
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My '79 is a WS6. You probably won't be able to tell definitively unless you run the vin through PHS. Back then WS6 was more of an appearance package which required certain performance options. Clues would be four wheel disc brakes and "turbo" wheels on your car. If you are serious about the history of your car, PHS documentation is a no-brainer. I forget how much I paid for mine but I believe it was $30 or less (about 6 years ago).
WS6s didn't come with just turbo wheels. You could get an 80 turbo TA with or without WS6, and they would both have the turbo wheels. The 'real' WS6 wheel is a 15x8 snowflake. You could also get snowflakes on non-WS6, but they were 15x7, and you can tell the differance by looking at the outside of the rim: 15x8s had about an inch of steel between the snowflake part, and where the tire starts. It can almost be described as looking like a trim ring, to illustrate better. The 15x7s didn't have it, the snowflake part went all the way to the tire itself. And you will be able to tell if it's a WS6 by the RPO code on the door and the plate in the engine compartment, if he could have read it. You can still send away to PHS, but it certainly isn't the only way. The biggest differances between WS6 and non WS6 were slightly different shocks, slightly bigger sway bars front and rear, and the bigger rims/tires. Chances are if it was repainted, the orginal wheels could have been changed anyway.
If you look at the post labeled "gold edition, what to do" in this forum, the car in the pic has WS6 rims. You can see the ring of silver between the gold rim and the tire. Regular snowflakes would have the gold snowflake going all the way to the tire.
If you look at the post labeled "gold edition, what to do" in this forum, the car in the pic has WS6 rims. You can see the ring of silver between the gold rim and the tire. Regular snowflakes would have the gold snowflake going all the way to the tire.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 65
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WS6 didn't just come with Turbo wheels but on his particular car it would be a clue due to the engine he has. Still, I suggest PHS because his car has obviously been modified so much of what may have easily identified it could be gone and it's just neat to have the facts about your own classic.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 163
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From: Warsaw, IN
I know it's a 4 bbl 301, and it's got snowflakes, not sure on the rim width, but it's got 245's on it for now 
I could check the metal lip on the falke and see if it's an inch like stated above. Thanks for all the feedback! BTW all 80's came ONLY with a chev 305<pontiac 301<pontiac 301 turbo
I could check the metal lip on the falke and see if it's an inch like stated above. Thanks for all the feedback! BTW all 80's came ONLY with a chev 305<pontiac 301<pontiac 301 turbo I know, 79 was the last year for a true Pontiac mill. If you still have all the stickers on the door, the one where it gives tire pressure is also a clue. It will give the stock size tire that came with the car from the factory. I'm really not sure on what the stock size was for WS6, but it had to be close to 225ish. I have WS6 rims, with 245s on front and 275s on rear. PHS is of course a good way and you'll learn about all your options/build numbers and such, but if you want a quick answer, look around for the stickers/plate/and such. With so much already done to your car, I'm sure those aren't the orginal wheels. Mine weren't, but at least the guy put on real Pontiac rims. Check out the pic in the "Gold edition" post, and you'll see the lip I was talking about.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 163
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From: Warsaw, IN
Ya, 1981 was the last year the had Pontiac engines. And as far as different wheels, it's possible, but thats kinda like seeing a 98 WS6 with a new paintjob and saying, "Well those badges are fake, I'm sure." I'm not trying to be a dicI<, but just sounds kinda silly.
Dunno Joe, we've seen some pretty screwed up stuff. Like escorts with H2 badges and stuff... its unlikely, but not impossible. haha... im still pullin for your car to be some ultra rare TA haha