[camerjeff]

Well I was looking for something that would get 30 or so MPG, be fun to drive, and cost less then $7000.00. I came up with this slightly scraped up 1997 Firebird Convertable, 3800 V-6, T-5 five speed, and it has the rear wheel disc and duel exhaust outlet options. The car was bought at a police auction by the previous owner, 44,000 miles, interior is actually pretty good, Grey Cloth. And it is quicker than I expected it to be, and I averaged 29 MPG on the 440 mile drive home.
It does have a few things to take car of, it is missing the drivers side sunvisor, the drivers side tail light is cracked, the drivers side headlight motor is making a grinding noise after the headlight retracts. And for some reason the radio display quit working after I put a CD into it, every things still works, AM/FM & CD, but now there is no display.

Paid alittle more than I wanted to at $6500.00 , but it but the engine , trans, and clutch seem solid.

[arbys]

That's good logic for buying a car. Looks nice and economical too. Where is 440 miles from Belleville? Where was the car from?

[camerjeff]

The car was near Chicago IL

[milly]

Looks like a real nice one. We bought a 1996 3.8/auto back in Feb. and have put a lot of trouble free miles on it so far. Our factory cassette/radio had the same problem in regards to the display. If I slapped the top of the dash it would light up. We installed a Pioneer cd/mp3 player in it's place though.

[02Hawk]

Good pick....the headlight is the ever so popular nylon cam gear....go on LS1.com...the fix for it is posted....

[camerjeff]

Milly,

Thanks for the tip, I did the Fonzy thing and the display came back!!!!! That will have to work for now.

02 Hawk, Thanks for the tip on the headlight motor gears, I ordered the metal replacements so I will take car of that when they arrive.

And I pleasantly suprised, with the power and torque of the 3800 with the manual!!!!! I think it would be the perfect Drive line transplant for a 75-80 Sunbird or Astre being at least 1000lbs lighter would be really fast!!!!!!!

[Cammer-6]

Jeff see my post in the 4 th gen forum about the cheap gear fix.
rotate it 180 and its fixed for a few years.

Car is the exact sister to my 97.
PM me the VIN so I can compare options.
I have several 4 gen converts they are alot of fun.

[camerjeff]

PM Sent, and I agree so far it is alot of fun!!!!

Thanks Cammer

[quicksilver97ta]

Thats a great car to pick up for what you want. For a 97 with the rear disc brakes that should mean that the car is equiped with the 3800 series performance package. It should also have a posi rear, dual exhaust, and tighter steering box.
I was shopping for one of those back in 97 and learned about them. The one I test drove was a 5-spd t-top car and a freakin' blast to drive. That's the one that got away. If I didnt need a truck so bad I'd have one of those for a DD. Congratulations!

[Cammer-6]

Jeff sent you the option decoder
looks like yours and mine would make a perfect pair
pretty odd that both have same options except trans
and radio

[quicksilver97ta]

Pontiac option Y87, known as the 3800 Performance Package. It includes a limited-slip differential, four-wheel disc brakes, quicker steering, dual exhaust outlets, a 3.42:1 axle ratio and P235/55R-16 tires on five-spoke alloy wheels. Originally it costs only $535.
Is this what you guys have? I think thats the only way you get rear discs on a V6 until '98.

[MikeNoun]

Be especially careful about the rear window. They have a tendency to separate from the fabric at the top. Other things to worry about are the headlight doors (already mentioned) and rear disc brakes. These cars have an unfortunate tendency to chew up the rear rotors in no time, and I drove mine like a little old lady.

Great cars though. I special ordered a 96 Formula convertible back in Oct 95, in triple black. Kept it until 2005, and sold it with only 35,000 miles.

[Cammer-6]

already fixed my rear window(top was too good to redo all of it)
so far with 60k my rears are fine.
our environment may be key to that(no salt and mud,always garaged)
yes Y87 was only way to get rear discs until 98 when it became standard on all F bodys

[camerjeff]

Cammer-6

Thanks for the VIN Decode, looks like your car has keyless entry & a power seat also, and your car was built a few weeks after mine.

And it looks like my car is missing its stock chrome wheels, and for some reason has a 3.23 posi rear axle, but does have the Y-87 performance package.


Y87 PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT 3800 GT 3800 GT(Y87)
561


AH3 ADJUSTER,SEAT,4-WAY MANUAL,DRIVER 4-WAY MAN D/SEAT ADJR(AH3)
2,534


F41 SUSPENSION,FIRM RIDE HANDLING,FRONT AND REAR FIRM RIDE & HANDLING SUSP(F41)
1,274
GU5 AXLE,REAR,3.23 RATIO 3.23R(GU5)
1,002
G80 AXLE,REAR,POSITRACTION,LIMITED SLIP POSITRACTION L/SLIP R/AXL(G80)
2,340

J65 BRAKE SYSTEM,POWER,FRONT AND REAR DISC 4-WHL DISC BRK(J65)
2,340

L36 ENGINE GAS, 6 CYL, 3.8K, MFI, V6, HO (ERV6 SERIES) 3.8K(L36)
1,274
MM5 TRANSMISSION,MANUAL 5-SPEED PROVISIONS(MERCHANDISING OPTION) 5-SPD M/TRANS PROVISIONS(MM5)
78
M49 TRANSMISSION MAN 5 SPD, BORG WARNER, 77MM, 3.75 1ST, .76 5TH, O/D 5-SPD M/TRANS(M49)
78

N36 STEERING WHEEL,SPORT-4 SPOKES SPORT STRG WHL(N36)
115
P05 WHEEL,CHROME CHROME WHL(P05)
1,556
QCB TIRE ALL P235/55R16 BW R/PE ST TL AL2 96T TIRE(QCB)
1,056

[Cammer-6]

the 99 convert Glenn(Birdman aka Einstein) just got from me has even more options
and has had some tweaking as its really fast for a bent 6.
Hes taking it on a 1200 mile trip starting today so am curious how it does on
economy.I believe it would give the LT-1 cars a run for the money.