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Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Page | 1978 Pontiac Trans Am
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Pontiac Historical Services
The package that you receive from Pontiac Historical Services lists all of the specifications for any 1978 Firebird, Esprit, Formula, and Trans Am. I don't have all of them listed here, but at least this will give you an idea of what is included. I tried to list on this page the most general information, but it does have much more detail than what is listed here.
(Click on the Link to be taken directly to that Section)
Car and Body Dimensions 
(These measurements are in inches unless otherwise noted)
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Firebird
2FS87
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Firebird Esprit
2FT87
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Firebird Formula
2FU87
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Firebird Trans Am
2FW87
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Width
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Tread Front
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61.3
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61.6
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Tread Rear
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60.0
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60.3
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Vehicle Width
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73.4
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Vehicle Width w/Front door open
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140.5
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Length
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Wheelbase
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108.2
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Vehicle Length
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196.8
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Overhang Front
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42.8
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Overhang Rear
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45.9
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Upper Structure Length
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94.2
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Rear Wheel C/L "X" Coordinate
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86.7
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Cowl Point "X" coordinate
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9.4
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Height
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Vehicle Height
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49.3
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49.3
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49.5
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49.5
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Cowl point to ground
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35.7
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35.9
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Deck point to ground
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35.6
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35.8
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Windshield Slope Angle
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57.4 deg.
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Ground Clearance
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Front bumper to ground
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11.7
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11.6
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Rear bumper to ground
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10.2
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10.5
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Angle of Approach
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18.4 deg.
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18.5 deg.
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Angle of Departure
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10.4 deg.
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10.7 deg.
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Rear axle Differential to ground
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6.8
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Min. Running ground clearance
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5.2
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5.3
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Location of Min. ground clearance
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Catalytic Converter
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Power Combinations 
( F= Federal A = Altitude C = California )
(Federal/High Altitude Engine/Axle Combinations available all states except California.)
(High Altitude Engine/Axle Combinations not recommended for Low Altitude.)
Series Availability
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Code
cu. in.
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Carb.
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Comp.
Ratio
(x to 1)
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BHP
@ RPM
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Torque @ RPM
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Exhaust S=Single
D=Dual
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Transmission
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Axle Ratio
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Standard:
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Firebird and Esprit
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LD5
231
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2
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8
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105
@3400
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185
@2000
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S
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3-Speed
Manual,
Automatic
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3.08 F
2.56, 3.23 F
2.56 C
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Optional:
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Firebird and Esprit
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LG3
305
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2
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8.4
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145
@3800
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245
@2400
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S
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4-Speed
Manual,
Automatic
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3.08 F
2.41 F
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California
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LG3
305
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2
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8.4
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135
@3800
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240
@2000
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S
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Automatic
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2.41 C
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LM1
350
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4
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8.2
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170
@3800
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270
@2400
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4-Speed
Manual,
Automatic
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3.08 F
2.41, 3.08 F
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California & Altitude
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LM1
350
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4
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8.2
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160
@3800
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260
@2400
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S
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Automatic
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3.08 A
2.41, 3.08 C
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Series Availability
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Code
cu. in.
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Carb.
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Comp.
Ratio
(x to 1)
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BHP
@ RPM
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Torque @ RPM
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Exhaust S=Single
D=Dual
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Transmission
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Axle Ratio
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Standard:
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Formula
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LG3
305
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2
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8.4
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145
@3800
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245
@2400
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S
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4-Speed
Manual,
Automatic
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3.08 F
2.41 F, C
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Optional:
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Formula
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LM1
350
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4
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8.2
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170
@3800
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270
@2400
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S
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4-Speed
Manual,
Automatic
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3.08 F
2.41, 3.08 F
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California & Altitude
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LM1
350
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4
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8.2
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160
@3800
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260
@2400
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S
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Automatic
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3.08 A
2.41, 3.08 C
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Formula
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W72
400
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4
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8.1
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220
@4000
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320
@2800
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D
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4-Speed
Manual,
Automatic
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3.42 F
3.23 F
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L78
400
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4
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7.7
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180
@3600
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325
@1600
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S
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Automatic
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2.56 F
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L80
403
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4
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7.9
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185
@3600
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320
@2000
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S
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Automatic
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2.56, 3.08 A
2.56, 3.23 C
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Series Availability
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Code
cu. in.
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Carb.
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Comp.
Ratio
(x to 1)
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BHP
@ RPM
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Torque @ RPM
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Exhaust S=Single
D=Dual
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Transmission
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Axle Ratio
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Standard:
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Trans Am
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L78
400
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4
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7.7
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180
@3600
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325
@1600
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S
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Automatic
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2.56 F
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W72
400
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4
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8.1
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220
@4000
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320
@2800
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D
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4-Speed
Manual,
Automatic
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3.42 F
3.23 F
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Optional:
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Trans Am
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L80
403
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4
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7.9
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185
@3600
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320
@2000
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S
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Automatic
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2.56, 3.08 A
2.56, 3.23 C
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Engine General: 
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LD5/231
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LG3/305
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LM1/350
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L78/400
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W72/400
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L80/403
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Type
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V6 90° OHV
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V8 90° OHV
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Engine Weight (lbs.)
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204.0 MT
191.7 AT
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246.9 MT
235.8 AT
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271.7 MT
260.0 AT
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298.2 MT
286.9 AT
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296.0 AT
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Firing Order
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1-6-5-4-3-2
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1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
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1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
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Recommended Fuel
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Unleaded 91 Octane (or higher)
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Normal Oil Pressure (lb@rpm)
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37 @ 2400
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32-40 @ 2000
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35-40@2600
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55-60@2600
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30-45@1500
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Capacity of Crankcase
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4
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5
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4
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Fuel Tank
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21 US gal.
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Idle Speed AT
MT
(* - with AC on)
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800 rpm
600 rpm
|
700 rpm
500 rpm*
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600 rpm
500 rpm*
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N/A
500 rpm*
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775 rpm
600 rpm*
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N/A
550 rpm*
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Carburetor Make
Model
No. used
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Rochester
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2GE
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2GC
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M4MC
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2 bbl.
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4 bbl.
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Cooling System Capacity
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15.8 gal.
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17.5 gal.
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18.4 gal.
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20.4 gal.
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Timing Manual
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15° @
800 RPM
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4° @
600 RPM
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6° @
700 RPM
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N/A
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18° @
775 RPM
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N/A
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Timing Automatic
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15° @
600 RPM
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4° @
500 RPM
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8° @
500 RPM
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16° @
675 RPM
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18° @
775 RPM
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20° @
1100 RPM
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Spark Plugs
Gap
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R46TSX
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R45TSX
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R45TSX
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R46SZ
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.060 in.
|
.060 in.
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.060 in.
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.080 in.
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Tires and Wheels: 
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Firebird
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Esprit
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Formula
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Trans Am
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Special Performance Trans Am
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Size, Load Range, Ply
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FR 78 x 15B
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GR 70 x 15B
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P225/70R15
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Type
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Steel Belted Radials
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Recom. Inflation Fr.
Rear
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28 psi.
30 psi.
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30 psi.
30 psi.
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Rims
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15x6JJ
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15x7JJ
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15x8JJ
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