i Just acquired a 1995 Formula/TA w/ 118k w/ 6-speed manual. It is pretty cool and i'm liking it, i have a couple of questions however:

1. This car has been sprayed (with a nice shade of red i might ad). They put "formula" markings on the head light and rear bumper. However, it looks like it has trans am body kit but with the formula spoiler, and the round fog lights. I *think* it actually is a trans am, but with the formula spoiler, is there any way i can tell for sure? i have pics of it here: http://www.pbase.com/zephxiii/bird

To be honest, i have always hated the T/A spoiler, I think this car looks so much better without it. I lucked out on that

2. Yes, it suffers from the unbalanced driveshaft problem, whats the word on the best place to get a new aluminum one?

3. When CAGS kicks it into 4th, the tailshaft feels like it wobbles a little bit under the extreme load when at very low rpm. Is that normal? Or is it time for new transmission mounts/bushings? I can also feel the trans "bounce" just a little bit when going over certain bumps.

4. It seems like everytime i open my door, the hatch pops. Whats up with that?

5. Is there any programability as far as teh keyless entry goes, ie parking lights flash when a button is pushed. I had a 97 monte before this car, and i always hated how i couldn't tell if the keyless worked or not.

 

#1 Looks Good. You should know what exactly your buying before you get it. But your insurance company can tell you exactly what car you got by using the vin. # no matter how much some one previously modified it.

#2 I'd probably try and have a machine shop spin the driveshaft and see if it's out of balance. I'd hate to buy a new one if I didn't need too.

#3 You might need new mounts and bushing. Have a trusted mechanic look them over and see what condition there in. If you do need to replace them go ahead and get polyuerathene and not some OEM replacement.

#4 Might be a wire crossed somewhere or something. Probably need a skill car electrician to check that out.

#5 You can probably get a programming software from a dealer or Advance Auto. I think I seen something at Advance on the keyless entry stuff.


Car looks good. The advice I've given isn't the only options youu have but they can give you a start in the right direction. Of course I could be wrong about a few things but I hope this gets you started so you can enjoy your car.

 

Its hard to tell if thats a T/A or a formula...I'd guess it's a T/A but its odd seeing one with cloth, most had leather. Some did, however, come with the low rise spoiler like a formula. When you are getting out of the car is your leg hitting the hatch release located on the panel below the steering column? You can buy a used aluminum driveshaft for 100-150 off of these boards usually. It's a nice upgrade if you still have the steel one. No you cannot make the lights flash with that year car when using the keyless entry. The transmission should not shutter at low RPMs either, get under there and peek around.

 

After looking around on the internets and comparing, i think it actually is a trans am. Whoever sprayed it added the formula badges for some reason (not that its a bad thing). I read that the T/A spoiler was an option, i guess this may have just been a low buck optioned T/A as it doesn't have traction control, or leather either etc.

Will an aluminum driveshaft out of/for automatics fit in 6-speed cars? An aluminum driveshaft will be one of the first things i'll get for the car since the vibration is apparent 60-90mph most notably on deceleration.

the hatch deal, the car pops it when i either unlock just the doors via keyless entry, or if i just open the door from the outside. i haven't even seen the hatch button on the inside, i looked for it once, didn't find one. I guess this is just a convenience thing? Will the car automatically relatch the hatch or do i have to shut it everytime? Just trying to clear things up with it

I will probably change the tranny mount this weekend since its cheap. While I'm under there i will inspect the torque arm and bushings too.

Where are the best places to jack the car up? I would think the rear dif would be the best spot in the rear, but i'm not sure where in the front. I'd rather not jack it up on any sturdy part of the unibody (don't want to leave dents as the underbody is in good condition.)

 

On another note, I just changed from whatever conventional oil that was in it, to mobile 1 synthetic 10w30..... its So much better

 

the hatch deal, the car pops it when i either unlock just the doors via keyless entry, or if i just open the door from the outside. i haven't even seen the hatch button on the inside, i looked for it once, didn't find one. I guess this is just a convenience thing? Will the car automatically relatch the hatch or do i have to shut it everytime? Just trying to clear things up with it

Found the hatch release button was jammed in the working position

 

Well, first off...
I know tha atleast 93-94 had two different T/As. One was the regular, and one was a Trans Am GT. I think the spoiler was pretty much the only difference (and GT could get leather, traction control, etc.) Not sure if the option was for 95 or not. If it was, it was the last year.

All driveshafts are interchangeable from atleast 93-02, but I thought it was 82-02. You can find LS1 d/s's pretty cheap now (they're aluminum.)

Lastly, if you find somebody skilled enough, I'm sure you can get them to wire it up so the lights will flash when you hit the keyfob. The dome light is supposed to come on though when you hit it. That's how I know (that and the "shoop" of the lock unlocking).
Good luck.

 

That car looks a lot like mine... A 1995 Trans Am without the "GT" option. They came with the low spoiler and 2:73 gears. I looked at all your pics, and you have Trans Am seats also.

 

Cool, thanks for the info, how can you tell what gears the car has?

 

When CAGS kicks in, you end up in 4th at a pretty low RPM (below idle). T56's rattle when you lug the engine. It's normal, it's internal to the transmission, and it's harmless. Car & Driver called it "gear rattle." Every car with the T56 will do it, even the C6 Z06 and the Viper.

Get yourself a skip shift eliminator (or just buy a resistor and some electrical tape, if you're feeling cheap) and forget about it.

-Jake

 

Since you've got a 6spd, it came with 3.42s.

 

im pretty sure there was no gt option for 95. could be wrong though

 

That's what I was thinking, but I don't know. I know for sure it was 93 and 94 atleast.

 

The search feature is your friend! Thanks for your post. I was going insane with the hatch popping open each time. So, got the release button loose and voila! Thanks again!

 

zephxiii,

Try Google. I did a Google search for any car identity by VIN. Google found me a .GOV website, maybe some part of NTSB. The insurance company had denied that I had the TA I knew I bought and owned, saying the special packages did not exist for that year. That .GOV site set them straight.
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