98 TA with new crate engine or 02 all original Formula

**HerkyBird** · 01-21-2013, 06:50 PM

Hello,

i have two people who know I am addicted to 4th gen TA & Firebirds offer me the following. I need your help which one and why?

option 1: 98 TA, Black,auto, t-tops, grey leather and no issues/cracks/rips. The current owner has had it for the last 11 yrs. The dealer that he took the TA to for service also installed the crate engine. Body has no issue or paint concerns. no accidents. 134k on body and 50k on the engine. Owner has all receipts even for oil changes.

option 2: 02 Formula, auto, pewter with ebony leather, t-tops. Looks nice in pics but that is all the info I have to go by. 6 owners. No accidents. The guy dropped his price without much fight. That concerns me. 112k miles. All original no updates.

Let me know what you think. I have a 99 black TA now and sold a 98 TA to a forum member. But the bug has me bad!!!!

**35th-ANV-SS** · 01-21-2013, 07:14 PM

You left out a very important factor - how much? I personally would not want any vehicle with high miles and 6 owners.

**transamtom** · 01-22-2013, 05:24 AM

I vote for the 98 as well,you know the history and it was cared for.

6 owners is a lot unless 4 of them were holding companies and no major miles were put up in that period.

***SMWS6TA*** · 01-22-2013, 08:44 AM

what are your plans? a stock motor is virgin canvas for mods.....meaning if you want to beef up the motor you don't have to figure out what the guy did before you.

What kind of crate motor was put in? Stock LS1 or something else like a stroker or something else?

Like Jon said price?

Also pics help a lot...

**HerkyBird** · 01-22-2013, 10:31 AM

The crate motor is an LS1. The price is $5,200 for the 98. Immaculate. Upon, further review and more pics from the 02. The 02 has a dent on the passenger side rear wheel and the dealer is not giving too much info. Dropped his price a grand to $5k without me pushing too hard at all. I did a carfax and nothing looks out of line but it smells fishy. The 98 has all the records and the owner took care of it. I am not expecting a mint car for $5k but the 98 TA is as close to that for the money.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 01-22-2013, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by HerkyBird

The crate motor is an LS1. The price is $5,200 for the 98. Immaculate. Upon, further review and more pics from the 02. The 02 has a dent on the passenger side rear wheel and the dealer is not giving too much info. Dropped his price a grand to $5k without me pushing too hard at all. I did a carfax and nothing looks out of line but it smells fishy. The 98 has all the records and the owner took care of it. I am not expecting a mint car for $5k but the 98 TA is as close to that for the money.

I would do the 98, seems like a much better deal.

**HerkyBird** · 01-22-2013, 11:05 AM

Thanks!!! Your TA looks awesome btw!!!! I have some black ws6 rims that I need to put on one of my black TA's now. Plus the windows on this 98 are tinted dark so it looks nice and sinister!!! Not that nice and sinister go together.

***SMWS6TA*** · 01-22-2013, 11:27 AM

I go with 98 also.

BTW do you know or can you get what yr the LS1 is.

I ask because after 02' you have LS6 block and rumor is after 04' All LS1's were LS6's. Not sure if true.

**HerkyBird** · 01-22-2013, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

I go with 98 also.

BTW do you know or can you get what yr the LS1 is.

I ask because after 02' you have LS6 block and rumor is after 04' All LS1's were LS6's. Not sure if true.

I know the part number and code and they have the receipt from when all the work was done. But I am now sure what year the ls1 motor. Can one tell from part number or upc code off of motor?

**98TransAmWs-6** · 01-22-2013, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by HerkyBird

Thanks!!! Your TA looks awesome btw!!!! I have some black ws6 rims that I need to put on one of my black TA's now. Plus the windows on this 98 are tinted dark so it looks nice and sinister!!! Not that nice and sinister go together.

Thanks! I get what you mean by nice and sinister though. With the 98 you won't have cracking door panels or bubbling sail panel which is a plus IMHO.

**HerkyBird** · 01-23-2013, 06:29 PM

Well, I made the decision. It was really easy once I saw the 98 in person. I drove it home 4 hours today. I have with me a folder about 2 inches thick of receipts of maintenance. I will dig a bit deeper on the year of the LS1 replacement. It looks like the original motor had some issues with piston a little more than the "slapping". Replaced by GM dealer. The owner kept even his own notes.

This is the first firebird/Trans Am that I have been in or drove that did not have the creaking, squeaking, or rattles. The paint is smooth and like a sheet of glass. Mechanically it was soo well taken care of. The owner passed away in October and his daughter said this was his fourth 4th gen Fbird/TA. This one was his fave.

I will post some pics soon. Now I have two black trans am's. One 98 and a 99. The 98 is much nicer than my 99. Oh, what mods to do?

**35th-ANV-SS** · 01-23-2013, 06:58 PM

Nice. Congrats on your purchase. Looking forward to the pics.

***SMWS6TA*** · 01-23-2013, 07:47 PM

Congrats.....

Another 98 in the House.....

**2002ssslp** · 01-23-2013, 07:54 PM

Never buy a car that has had 6 owners in 10 years.

**98TransAmWs-6** · 01-25-2013, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

Congrats.....

Another 98 in the House.....

Agreed

Congrats on the purchase!

**RedFenix_68** · 01-28-2013, 05:21 PM

hmmm sounds like the previous owner knew what he was doing. A folder 2 inches thick is pretty cool because he has all the records but concerns me as well considering there might have been a lot of mechanical work? or are those just receipts for tune ups/oil changes/etc..

**HerkyBird** · 01-28-2013, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by RedFenix_68

hmmm sounds like the previous owner knew what he was doing. A folder 2 inches thick is pretty cool because he has all the records but concerns me as well considering there might have been a lot of mechanical work? or are those just receipts for tune ups/oil changes/etc..

Receipts for mostly routine maintenance and items that normally over time need updating. However, the exception being the new motor and that did concern me until I saw how OCD the prior owner was about the car. On several of the diagnostic reports from the dealership where he had it serviced were such comments as "customer states that he hears a noise coming from rear end". In that case rear end was replaced. I just had the car given the once over by someone with more technical that myself and the only issue found to be addressed is the front brake pads. So I am pretty stocked.

Thanks!!

**RedFenix_68** · 01-28-2013, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by HerkyBird

Receipts for mostly routine maintenance and items that normally over time need updating. However, the exception being the new motor and that did concern me until I saw how OCD the prior owner was about the car. On several of the diagnostic reports from the dealership where he had it serviced were such comments as "customer states that he hears a noise coming from rear end". In that case rear end was replaced. I just had the car given the once over by someone with more technical that myself and the only issue found to be addressed is the front brake pads. So I am pretty stocked.

Thanks!!

**transamtom** · 01-29-2013, 04:15 AM

Originally Posted by HerkyBird

Well, I made the decision. It was really easy once I saw the 98 in person. I drove it home 4 hours today. I have with me a folder about 2 inches thick of receipts of maintenance. I will dig a bit deeper on the year of the LS1 replacement. It looks like the original motor had some issues with piston a little more than the "slapping". Replaced by GM dealer. The owner kept even his own notes.

This is the first firebird/Trans Am that I have been in or drove that did not have the creaking, squeaking, or rattles. The paint is smooth and like a sheet of glass. Mechanically it was soo well taken care of. The owner passed away in October and his daughter said this was his fourth 4th gen Fbird/TA. This one was his fave.

I will post some pics soon. Now I have two black trans am's. One 98 and a 99. The 98 is much nicer than my 99. Oh, what mods to do?

Cool,thats the one I would have bought.

Glad its as nice as described.

**RONS98TA** · 01-29-2013, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by HerkyBird

The crate motor is an LS1. The price is $5,200 for the 98. Immaculate. Upon, further review and more pics from the 02. The 02 has a dent on the passenger side rear wheel and the dealer is not giving too much info. Dropped his price a grand to $5k without me pushing too hard at all. I did a carfax and nothing looks out of line but it smells fishy. The 98 has all the records and the owner took care of it. I am not expecting a mint car for $5k but the 98 TA is as close to that for the money.

The 98 is a better deal to me because it's only $200 more and you know all the records and it has a fairly new motor. The other car has to many owners and miles. Thats my 2 cents.