2000-2002 Trans Am inspection

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NoJoy

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Ok, so I have been looking through this site trying to educate myself on this great car. I am in the market for a 2001 or 2002 Trans Am with the WS6. Milage will be under 50,000 if I can find one in great condition.
What big items do I need to look for before buying? I know alot about Subarus-like the STi, but not much about the Fourth gen Trans Am. Thx.
:)
 
Like any car of this nature have it checked by a competent mechanic. Make sure it has the original driveline components engine/trani/rear. You dont want to pay top dollar to find out someone blew an engine and put something else in to replace it. Try to find something with documentation going back to the original owner and full maintenance records.
 
Ok thx. The car I am looking at is a 2002 Trans Am with the Ram Air performance package (factory) It has a Hurst shifter and custome exhaust. Everything else is supposed to be stock. Owner has used synthetic oil during oil changes. This car has 45,000 miles on it, but has sat in a garage for a couple of years too-being drivin occationally.
 
On a car that has only been driven occasionally look for oil leaks on engine, transmission, and rear end.
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Ok. Does this mean that some of the seals are going bad from the car not being driven on a regulair basis? Also if I do my part on the oil changes and tranmission fluid change, how many miles can the engine and transmission tolerate before a rebuild? How much HP can both withstand? Thx.
 
Seals will leak if the car just sits for years. Nobody can predicate how many miles the engine will go but if you dont abuse it you can easily go past 100K. I think 400+ would be the max but again it depends on what you do.
 
That's what I was thinking. Most cars like to be driven, even if its only a couple hundred miles a month. I just did not want to end up with a car that I would have to replace all the seals, because it just sat there. Sometimes low miles can be a bad thing.
 
I am also considering a Lingenfelter engine job. It's a little spendy at $8900.00 but I like the fact they really inspect the engine before modding it. And it comes with their 3 year warrenty. If the 6 speed manual can handle the 400hp, then I will be happy. :)
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The car I looked at is a 2002 Trans Am WS6. 45,500 miles. I saw no leaks from the engine or transmission. Car looks clean. Mostly stock except the Magna Flow exhaust.
If this car has headers put on, how would I know? Can you see them just by looking at the engine? The owner is the second one, but he does not know what the first owner did except the exhaust. He got it at a car dealership. CarFax is clean. Price is at $15,500. Looks like I am going to do it.
 
With true long tube headers each exhaust port has it's own steel pipe coming out on each side of the engine. The four pipes on each side come together at a collector and then attach to the rest of the exhaust system.
 
Ok thx. About how much extra hp/trq can you expect from adding headers to this engine?
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10 to 15% with a low restriction exhaust system
 
Alright thx. Those are good gains. I bought a 2002 Trans Am-42,000 miles on it. I am excited about my new purchase. Drives very different from my STi. But still handles well.
My next question is what are the wheel dimensions if I want afertmarket wheels? (to perserve my stock ones) 17" x? , offset? and lug pattern?
 
Sorry for all the nube questions ;)
Do all 2002 Trans Ams have traction control, and if so where is the on/off button. The previous owner did not know if his car had this feature.
:)
 
NoJoy said:
Sorry for all the nube questions ;)
Do all 2002 Trans Ams have traction control, and if so where is the on/off button. The previous owner did not know if his car had this feature.
:)
Click to expand...

The on off switch should be located above the shifter and below the A/C controls. My Firebird doesn't have it.

2002_pontiac_firebird_convertible_trans-am_dac_evox_1_500.jpg
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No traction control... At least for manual transmission 2002 TA WS6.
 
Traction control was optional for all LS1 F-bodies, manuals included. There will be a switch on the center console ahead of the shifter it the car has TC.

So very glad my '00 WS6 6 speed has no TC, my right foot is my TC.

NoJoy, how do you like your car now that you've had it a while? Only real thing to watch for on these 4th gens is the OE differential.
 
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