What If GM had...

[2000LS1Bird]

...offered the '98 - '02 Firebird Formula equipped with a 3.8 supercharged V6 from the Grand Prix GTP?

And perhaps given it its own hood, maybe with a fake side cowl-induction hood like those from the 3rd gen Formulas?

This would have better differentiated it from both the base Firebird in appearance, and the Trans Am in engine offering.

It would have been a great move, I think, because the GTP has a respectable following and aftermarket. A supercharged Formula Firebird would have generated a great deal of enthusiasm.

The main reason I can think of why the idiots in the GM boardroom wouldn't do this is because the Camaro/Z28 wouldn't have had an equivalent offering.

[9T8W66]

Ask any Formula Owner and I'll bet they say their glad they have an LS1.

I know I am.

[TransAm11973]

what if they had offered the ls1 supercharged.....how about that

[jkicak]

why would you want to do this? i just don't get why they would want to put a supercharged v6 in when they could just put a v8 in....the only reason that they offer the v6 in the fbody was to please people that didn't care about all the power of the v8 and to keep the cost down for them... how much cheaper would the blown 3.8 be than the v8?? not much... they didn't do it cause it makes NO sense...

[KyleLs1]

what if they would have just kept on making them....

but they didn't so it is irrelevant lol

[2000LS1Bird]

Fair enough, after all this is an LS1 community.

But looking at the engine offerings for prior Firebirds on Wikipedia (shown below), things sure do get boring after 1992. I think it would have injected new life into the Formula line, and made for some interesting fun on the road.

A few years back when I had my '99 Trans Am, I got my ass handed to me by a modded GTP in a 25-100mph sprint.

Afterwards, I rolled down my window and asked the guy what happened? He had exhaust, aftermarket supercharger pulley, a list of other things, and said he was running mid 12s.

Those GTPs are ugly though, if you ask me. Now a supercharged Formula... that just gets me excited.

Engine summary

First Generation

* 1967: OHC 6 & Sprint, 326 in³ V8, 326 in³ V8 H.O., 400 in³, 400 in³ Ram Air
* 1968: OHC 6 & Sprint; 350 in³; 400 in³; 400 in³ H.O.; Ram Air II 400 in³ (mid-year release; underrated)
* 1969: 350 in³; 400 in³; Ram Air III 400 in³; Ram Air IV 400 in³ (underrated)

Second Generation

* 1970: 250 in³ I6, 350 in³ V8, 400 in³ V8, Ram Air III 400 in³ (Pontiac), Ram Air IV 400 in³ (Pontiac)
* 1971: 250 in³ six-cylinder, 350 in³ V8, 400 in³ V8, Base 455 in³, 455 in³ H.O.
* 1972: 250 in³ six-cylinder, 350 in³ V8, 400 in³ V8, Base 455 in³, 455 in³ H.O.
* 1973: 250 in³ six-cylinder, 350 in³ V8, Base 455 in³, 455 in³ H.O., 455 in³ S.D.
* 1974: 250 in³ six-cylinder, 350 in³ V8, 400 in³ V8, Base 455 in³, 455 in³ H.O., 455 in³ S.D.
* 1975: 250 in³ I6, 350 in³ V8, 400 in³ V8, 455 in³ V8
* 1976: 259 in³ I6, 350 in³ V8, 400 in³ V8, 455 in³ V8
* 1977: 231 in³ V6, 301 in³ V8, 302 in³ V8, 350 in³ V8, 400 in³ V8 (Pontiac), 403 in³ V8 (Oldsmobile)
* 1978: 231 in³ V6, 301 in³ V8, 302 in³ V8, 350 in³ V8, 400 in³ V8 (Pontiac), 403 in³ V8 (Oldsmobile)
* 1979: 231 in³ V6, 301 in³ V8, 305 in³ V8, 350 in³ V8, 400 in³ V8 (Pontiac), 403 in³ V8 (Oldsmobile)
* 1980: 301 in³ (Pontiac), 305 in³ (4-speed only) (Chevrolet), 301 in³ Turbo (Pontiac)
* 1981: 301 in³ (Pontiac), 305 in³ (4-speed only) (Chevrolet), 301 in³ Turbo (Pontiac)

Third Generation

Starting in 1982, all engines were manufactured by Chevrolet unless otherwise indicated.

* 1982: 2.5L 2-barrel, 2.5L Throttle Body Injection, 2.8L 2-barrel, 5.0L 4-barrel, 5.0L Cross-Fire Injection (first year for fuel injection in Trans Am)
* 1983: 2.5L 2-barrel, 2.5L Throttle Body Injection, 2.8L 2-barrel, 5.0L 4-barrel, 5.0L Cross-Fire Injection, 5.0L 4-barrel H.O. (only 662 were made, all 5-speeds)
* 1984: 2.5L Throttle Body Injection, 2.8L 2-barrel, 5.0L 4-barrel, 5.0L 4-barrel H.O. (1500 Anniversary Editions, 500 of them 5-speed)
* 1985: 2.5L Throttle Body Injection, 2.8L 2-barrel, 5.0L 4-barrel, 5.0L Tuned Port Injection, 5.0L 4-barrel H.O. (5-speed only)
* 1986: 2.8L Multi-port Fuel Injection, 5.0L 4-barrel, 5.0L Tuned Port Injection, 5.0L 4-barrel H.O. (5-speed only)
* 1987: 2.8L Multi-port Fuel Injection, 5.0L 4-barrel, 5.0L Tuned Port Injection, 5.7L Tuned Port Injection
* 1988: 2.8L Multi-port Fuel Injection, 5.0L Throttle Body Injection, 5.0L Tuned Port Injection, 5.7L Tuned Port Injection
* 1989: 2.8L Multi-port Fuel Injection, 5.0L Throttle Body Injection, 5.0L Tuned Port Injection, 5.7L Tuned Port Injection, 3.8L Sequential Port Fuel Injection Turbocharged (Buick)
* 1990: 3.1L Multi-port Fuel Injection, 5.0L Throttle Body Injection, 5.0L Tuned Port Injection, 5.7L Tuned Port Injection
* 1991: 3.1L Multi-port Fuel Injection, 5.0L Throttle Body Injection, 5.0L Tuned Port Injection, 5.7L Tuned Port Injection
* 1992: 3.1L Multi-port Fuel Injection, 5.0L Throttle Body Injection, 5.0L Tuned Port Injection, 5.7L Tuned Port Injection

Fourth Generation

* 1993: L32 3.4L, LT1 5.7L (350 in³ iron block, aluminum heads)
* 1994: L32 3.4L, LT1 5.7L (350 in³ iron block, aluminum heads)
* 1995: L32 3.4L, LT1 5.7L (350 in³ iron block, aluminum heads)
* 1996: L36 3.8L, LT1 5.7L (350 in³ iron block, aluminum heads)
* 1997: L36 3.8L, LT1 5.7L (350 in³ iron block, aluminum heads) / LT4 5.7L (350 in³ iron block, aluminum heads) in Firehawk by SLP
* 1998: L36 3.8L, LS1 5.7L (346 in³ aluminum block and heads)
* 1999: L36 3.8L, LS1 5.7L (346 in³ aluminum block and heads)
* 2000: L36 3.8L, LS1 5.7L (346 in³ aluminum block and heads)
* 2001: L36 3.8L, LS1 5.7L (346 in³ aluminum block and heads)
* 2002: L36 3.8L, LS1 5.7L (346 in³ aluminum block and heads)

[9T8W66]

Since day 1 the Formula has always been available with all the same power and performance as the Trans Am but at a much cheaper pricetag.

[hutch1999]

I would rather see an LS1 in a Grand Prix GTP, than a GTP 3.8s/c in a bird.

[blackhawk01]

I think it would have been cool to see an Eaton M90 from the GTP's put on the LS1's...I think it can be done...but the hood would have to be modded..and the firewall

[StuntmanMike]

I think it's a cool idea. In fact, back in the day when these cars were new, I remember thinking about this same subject.

Not to replace the LS1 in the Formula though, just the option to.

A TURBO 3.8 would have been even cooler...just like the '89 TTA's had.

[slowgtp]

Ugly, damn that hurts. They do have nice tail lights though...I've shown mine to some unsuspecting TA's

I agree though for the cost of a S/C V6 a V8 would be the better choice. Now a turbo........

[KyleLs1]

I think it would have been cool to see an Eaton M90 from the GTP's put on the LS1's...I think it can be done...but the hood would have to be modded..and the firewall

magnusun makes a kit for the f bodys. you have to modify the cowling or w/e its called between the hood and windshield to make it fit.

looks pretty badass though!

[blackhawk01]

magnusun makes a kit for the f bodys. you have to modify the cowling or w/e its called between the hood and windshield to make it fit.

looks pretty badass though!

i wonder how the hood closes w/o letting water in...hmm..will def check into that.

[KyleLs1]

http://www.lmspeed.com/

[2-bowties&abird]

i have a 2000 ssei bonneville and a 2000 ws6. that ssei really gets it coming out of the hole. it is a fun car to drive for a sedan. i wish they had thought about that option on an f-body, a supercharged ws6 out of the factory, ford would have said we

[KyleLs1]

i have a 2000 ssei bonneville and a 2000 ws6. that ssei really gets it coming out of the hole. it is a fun car to drive for a sedan. i wish they had thought about that option on an f-body, a supercharged ws6 out of the factory, ford would have said we

Since we are talking about fairytale shit in this thread anyway lol suppose GM kept making the f-body, in 03 the mustang cobra had a blower on it... do you think GM would have sat by and watched a mustang walk all over their pony car? IF there was an 03 fbody there would have been an option that would out-do the cobras.

[2-bowties&abird]

Since we are talking about fairytale shit in this thread anyway lol suppose GM kept making the f-body, in 03 the mustang cobra had a blower on it... do you think GM would have sat by and watched a mustang walk all over their pony car? IF there was an 03 fbody there would have been an option that would out-do the cobras.

damn kyle that ws6 looks sweet with those racing stripes. i have the same color ws6(metallic blue).

[KyleLs1]

damn kyle that ws6 looks sweet with those racing stripes. i have the same color ws6(metallic blue).

thx!!! I was thinking about taking them off.. but they definitely stand out

[2-bowties&abird]

thx!!! I was thinking about taking them off.. but they definitely stand out

i had clicked on the picture and it brought me to the pic of it from the rear. is that the set with the birds on the hood scoops? i couldnt expand the side profile pic you have to see if it was.

[KyleLs1]

i had clicked on the picture and it brought me to the pic of it from the rear. is that the set with the birds on the hood scoops? i couldnt expand the side profile pic you have to see if it was.

yep but they are not the 30th style i had them designed custom by a local shop.