JohnnyBs98WS6Rag

iTrader: (1)

I'm trying to compile a breakdown of the '97 'Birds from CompNine's database, and I'm getting confused w/ the RPO codes used for the Firehawks and Comp T/As.

For the '97 Comp T/As, I understand that they have both RPOs R6V and WU6 (along w/ RPO Y82, 47 built that year). Does that mean that the other 38 T/As (Y82) with RPO R6V and NOT WU6 are just "plain" Firehawk T/As? If so, wouldn't that mean that the RPO for a non-Comp T/A TransAm is R6V (contrary to what I've read on a few different Comp T/A sites), and that WU6 is the RPO that distinguishes a Comp T/A from the rest of the Firehawk T/As?

Then, what about the '97 Formulas (W66) that have RPOs WU6 (96 built) and R6V (101 built, but only 95 of which ALSO have WU6)?? If R6V is the RPO for a Firehawk, wouldn't that make all 101 of them (w/ R6V) Firehawk Formulas? Then if that is true, what would the 95 of those w/ WU6 make them? And what about that ONE w/ WU6 but no R6V?

And finally, there are 47 Firebirds (w/ L36) that have RPO R6V, what the heck are those?? And the 13 Formula 'verts w/ WU6?? It appears that R6V and WU6 was used to identify more than just Firehawks and/or Comp T/As.

HELP!

JohnnyBs98WS6Rag

iTrader: (1)

Forgot, also......

Is there an RPO code that distinguishes LT4 cars? When I enter that RPO searching for a quantity of '96-'97 Camaros and Firebirds, I get zero hits. Seems ALL of the '96-'97 f-bods in CompNine's database are LT1 cars. Was the LT4 engine swapped for the LT1 at SLP and not get reflected in the RPO list/decal for those cars? Or was there another "merchandised pkg" RPO used to identify those cars receiving the LT4 engines?

69camaross

iTrader: (4)

I"m not sure where your source is getting his info as it's all over the place (L36 is the RPO for a V6) but here's how it was;

91-92 Firehawk = B4U
93-97 Firehawk = R6V
99-02 Firehawk = WU6
95-97 Comp T/A = R6V and Y82 (Trans Am)
96-00 WS6 Formula = W66 and WS6
96-02 WS6 Trans Am = Y82 and WS6 (Y84 = TA convertible)

All production LT1 Firehawks where Formula based. SLP then got greedy and whored out the Firehawk name in 99 by adding to the portly Trans Am platform there by creating a Firehawk Trans Am. All Comp T/As were just that Trans Ams with SLP equipped options.

The 100 or so 30th anniv 1997 LT4 and 20 or so LT4 1997 Firehawks were engine swaps by SLP. All of their GM produced info (VIN, RPO sticker) state they are LT1s but the car's came with a mountain of paper work from SLP and all of the LT4 cars are well documented by SLP.

Rob

iTrader: (6)

SLP also did pilot Firehawk TA's in 94. I want to say 12 but I really don't know if they made that many. I have only seen one and his had SLP headers installed as well.

69camaross

iTrader: (4)

Correct, they did quite a few pilot cars including converting a couple 25th anniv TAs into Firehawks. But all of those were "test" vehicles and not considered production models. Just like the 98's that had their fixed headlights removed and sold as regular TAs with "Firehawk parts". Almost all of the pilot cars do not have the Firehawk RPO codes.

JohnnyBs98WS6Rag

iTrader: (1)

OK, this helps a little, but its still not 100% clear. I'm going from CompNine's VIN#/RPO database, which I'm assuming (from the sheer volume of data) that it's essentially drawn directly from the GM-VIS database (they have several makes/models OTHER than f-bods). I've posted the breakdown I've created from this for the '95s and '97s in the "Firebird Production Breakdowns......." sticky in the "Firebirds" section. But in short:

Speaking of just the Y82 T/A coupes.....
There were a total of 85 Y82 T/As built in '97 w/ RPO R6V, 47 of these ALSO had RPO WU6, which coincidentily is the same number of Comp T/As produced that year, so I'm assuming these cars (w/ both R6V and WU6) were the Comp T/As. I believe this is a very safe assumption as ALL of these 47 are silver (13U) and have Pewter Leather interiors. So what are the other 38 Y82 T/As that have R6Vs but NOT WU6?? It just so happens that all 38 of these also have the CW7 export RPO (Purto Rico/Virgin Isles). I take it that these are NOT "Firehawk T/As" and the R6V RPO signifies something else?? Or were there 38 Firehawk T/As built in '97 that were all exported??

NOW speaking about just the '97 W66 Formulas......
There were a total of 101 Formula coupes built w/ R6V, 95 of which also have WU6. There were 0 Formula 'verts built w/ R6V but 13 built w/ WU6. Firehawk.org reports both Firehawk coupes and 'verts being built in '97, so apparently R6V is NOT the RPO that identifies a Firehawk 'vert, so I assumed WU6 was the RPO for Firehawk Formulas (coupes and 'verts). Again, it's very confusing and inconsistent.

bballr4567

iTrader: (5)

Wow. Insane work Johnny.

69camaross

iTrader: (4)

WU6 wasn't used on Firehawks until 99. Who knows what is signified before that. Could have been anything. Just like Y83 means a TA GT but only applies to 1994. Or Z7D means a Brickyard SS pace car but only applies to 2002. You're going by unverified info on someone's site. Check out the other sites on the net listing RPO codes that claim they are correct. You can shoot all kinds of holes in them too.

R6V = LT1 Firehawk (no TA) just plain old Firehawk.

JohnnyBs98WS6Rag

iTrader: (1)

I went back to confirm that statement and found that it is incorrect. The 13 Formula 'verts that had WU6 also have R6V. So indeed, all LT1 Firehawks have R6V, but not all cars w/ R6V are "Firehawks". In addition to the aforementioned 38 exported '97 T/As w/ R6V that were NOT Comp T/As, there were a bunch of '94, '95 and '96 T/As w/ R6V that are not considered "Firehawks" that were also NOT Comp T/As (most, if not all were exports).

Thanks for helping solve this puzzle.

PowerPro01

Is it possible that R6V is, in fact, a "drop ship" code?

Jim Mattison @ PHS may hold the answer...