ws6 and firehawk differences, engine mods etc.
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On The Tree
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ws6 and firehawk differences, engine mods etc. Just wanting to know "everything" that makes a firehawk a firehawk, what does slp do to the engine of the firehawk etc?. Also does pontiac just make a regular trans am then send it to SLP and SLP puts on a different hood etc?
On The Tree
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Originally Posted by Rocco1005
Just wanting to know "everything" that makes a firehawk a firehawk, what does slp do to the engine of the firehawk etc?. Also does pontiac just make a regular trans am then send it to SLP and SLP puts on a different hood etc?
And for the second part of your question, yep, GM would make a base TA or Formula at the (now closed) St. Therese plant in Canada. It was then loaded on a carrier and dropped off at SLP, which was like a mile away I think. SLP would do the conversion and deliver the vehicle back the St. Therese plant, where it would get loaded on a railcar for delivery in the states (well, those that weren't destined for Canadian owners anyway).
In earlier years, there were more "extreme" Hawk's available, such as the 1997 LT4 Firehawks (29 built), and the original 1992, which came with a 383 and optional "Competition Package".
The WS6 is similar to a base Hawk... Lid, exhaust, wheels, hood, and some suspension tweaks.
Last edited by Bad Mojo; Oct 26, 2003 at 01:03 AM.
On The Tree
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SLP made the Firehawk, but the WS6 is from ASC. I am not sure of the differences, but that is how they were made. The above is true in both cases though, Pontiac would make the car and send it to either SLP or ASC to get the upgrades. I wish someone could post all the upgrades for each as well. It would be nice reading.
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One of the main differences is that with a Firehawk, you have OPTIONS.
You could order a better rear end or a better suspension or better wheels and some minor appearance items. A Firehawk with the Bilstein suspension also got a lot of 1LE parts in it. 1LE was all the way with Koni Adjustable Shocks as part of that pkg.
With the WS6, there wasn't any options available. You got the one design non-chrome wheels, the higher airbox with the twin nostril hood. You could order traction control from Pontiac and that's it, performance wise.
That's what made me change my mind from ordering a Collector Edition Trans Am to ordering a Firehawk instead.
You could order a better rear end or a better suspension or better wheels and some minor appearance items. A Firehawk with the Bilstein suspension also got a lot of 1LE parts in it. 1LE was all the way with Koni Adjustable Shocks as part of that pkg.
With the WS6, there wasn't any options available. You got the one design non-chrome wheels, the higher airbox with the twin nostril hood. You could order traction control from Pontiac and that's it, performance wise.
That's what made me change my mind from ordering a Collector Edition Trans Am to ordering a Firehawk instead.
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
An LS1 era WS6 gets you:
- Specific 17X9 high polished wheels
- Jounce spacers for 17" wheels
- Specific dual outlet exhaust with bright polished tips
- Ram Air hood
- Raised lower air box
- WS6 badging
- 32mm front sway bar w/ 1LE bushings
- Power steering cooler
- I have heard/read that some '98 to '00 WS6s received 1LE springs, but the breakdown is not confirmed
As far as options go, looking at my window sticker for 2000, the following were options, as they are listed seperate from the "Ram Air Package" and have additional costs/prices attached to them:
- Traction control
- 3.23 gears
- Custom bucket seats with lumbar supports
- 12 disc CD changer
Though it is true that I've never seen a WS6 without 3.23s or the custom bucket seats, they are listed as extra cost options. I suppose at least the 3.23 gears were probably a required option when ordering the WS6 package though.
But does anyone here have a WS6 WITHOUT the lumbar support seats (custom bucket seats)???? I have never seen one without it, but I can't see why it would be required???
- Specific 17X9 high polished wheels
- Jounce spacers for 17" wheels
- Specific dual outlet exhaust with bright polished tips
- Ram Air hood
- Raised lower air box
- WS6 badging
- 32mm front sway bar w/ 1LE bushings
- Power steering cooler
- I have heard/read that some '98 to '00 WS6s received 1LE springs, but the breakdown is not confirmed
As far as options go, looking at my window sticker for 2000, the following were options, as they are listed seperate from the "Ram Air Package" and have additional costs/prices attached to them:
- Traction control
- 3.23 gears
- Custom bucket seats with lumbar supports
- 12 disc CD changer
Though it is true that I've never seen a WS6 without 3.23s or the custom bucket seats, they are listed as extra cost options. I suppose at least the 3.23 gears were probably a required option when ordering the WS6 package though.
But does anyone here have a WS6 WITHOUT the lumbar support seats (custom bucket seats)???? I have never seen one without it, but I can't see why it would be required???
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From: Vincennes,IN
I have a 2001 WS6 without the lumbar seats. The drives side is 6-way power for sitting position ,but that's it. Passenger seat is fully manual.
The car does have 3.23s but no traction control either.
The car does have 3.23s but no traction control either.
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by KimberWS6
I have a 2001 WS6 without the lumbar seats. The drives side is 6-way power for sitting position ,but that's it. Passenger seat is fully manual.
The car does have 3.23s but no traction control either.
The car does have 3.23s but no traction control either.
I have a 2001 WS6 with the power lumbar option. The drivers side is all power, while the passenger is manual for seating position, but has the power lumbar adjustment. The other option on the WS6 was the no cost M6 and the available factory Hurst shifter. M6 was 3.42 ratio only.
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From: Michigan
Originally Posted by DMNSPD
I know this thread has been dead for some time.
I just want to know if there is a sheet that lists all the extras a 2001 WS6 would have.
Also,I know some things were left out.
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From: Edgewood, MD
Originally Posted by Hayze
This may sound like a dumb question, but after reading all this...and with my mods, basicaly i have a firehawk, as far as hp?
The firehawk also has a much better suspension and handles a lot better. A firehawk with bilstein's might handle closer to the ws6...but with the koni's (1le option), it's a big difference in handling and overall ride. So how much hp do you think i am pushing with my mods? There are no dyno machines around here so i am totaly unsure about what i can be pushing. Same goes for track to, there are none either, mostly around here we street race....I know, I know i shouldn't and its dumb
3.23's were a forced option on the ws6/ss/hawk cars.
most cars got the nice (AQ9) articulatiing seats, but it was still an option on most of the 1998-2002 cars, (i think that changed at some point but i don't know when)
The 1998-1999 and some 2000 WS6's got 1LE springs (like mine) and other minor 1le parts, different decarbon shocks, ect. Nothing major, but it was more than the simple swaybar upgrades of the mid 2000-2002 cars got.
1998's also did not get the dual exhaust, instead they got a 3.5" stainless 1 out the left.
Ryan.
most cars got the nice (AQ9) articulatiing seats, but it was still an option on most of the 1998-2002 cars, (i think that changed at some point but i don't know when)
The 1998-1999 and some 2000 WS6's got 1LE springs (like mine) and other minor 1le parts, different decarbon shocks, ect. Nothing major, but it was more than the simple swaybar upgrades of the mid 2000-2002 cars got.
1998's also did not get the dual exhaust, instead they got a 3.5" stainless 1 out the left.
Ryan.
