1998
PONTIAC FIREBIRD
PRODUCT OVERVIEW:
The Canadian-built Pontiac Firebird, Formula and Trans Am coupe
and convertible models offer sports car customers styling, features
and technology. These cars are designed to appeal to those
carbuyers who place a premium on the driving experience.
NEW FOR 1998:
* New front end modifications (new mini-quad pop-up
headlamps, new front fenders, new hood, new front fascia
on both base and uplevel models)
* New LS1 Gen III 5.7L V8 engine with performance and fuel
economy gains
* Four-wheel disc brakes now standard on both V6- and V8-
equipped models
* Formula convertible discontinued
* Hood extractors discontinued
* New 16" aluminum wheel and 16" spare tire/wheel
* New polished version of the 17" wheel for the Ram Air
performance package
* New hexagon pattern taillamp (shared for both base and
uplevel)
* New V6 transmission case for noise and vibration
reduction
* New larger V8 torque converter for heat and fuel economy
improvements
* New air induction system
* New high-performance V8 power steering cooler available
* Body-coloured door handles
* Two new exterior colours (Sport Gold Metallic and Navy
Blue Metallic)
MODELS: Firebird (2-door coupe)
Firebird (2-door
convertible)
Formula (2-door
coupe)
Trans Am (2-door
coupe)
Trans Am (2-door
convertible)
Formula Ram Air
(2-door coupe)- package
Trans Am Ram Air
(2-door coupe/convertible)
-
package
VEHICLE CLASS: Sporty
ASSEMBLY LOCATION: Ste. Therese, Quebec
CUSTOMER PROFILE:
Three-quarters of Firebird buyers are men. They place a high value
on the driving experience. They appreciate Firebird's handling,
performance and extroverted style.
EXTERIOR FEATURES FIREBIRD\FORMULA\TRANS
AM
Antenna Power O
S S
Body Panels Polymer composite doors, front
fenders,
rear deck-lid, spoiler
and
roof S
S S
2-sided
galvanized steel rear
fenders
and hood S
S S
Convertible top power operation, glass rear
window,
full headliner and
tonneau
cover (Convertible only) S - S
Fog Lamps Fog lights S
S S
Glass Solar-control,
tinted S
S S
Headlamps Dual-quad, concealed
(electrically
operated) S
S S
Mirrors Dual, left remote,
right manual S - -
Dual,
left and right power remote,
blue
tint (standard on all
Convertibles)
O
S S
Mouldings Bodyside, body-colour S
S S
Lower
rocker panel (Trans Am
features
specific design) S S
S
Package Sport Appearance
Package (includes
special
aero mouldings, and dual
exhaust
outlets) O
- -
Paint Base-coat/clear-coat
S
S S
Roof Panels Removable, tinted with locks and
removable
sunshades (Coupe only) O O S
Spoiler Rear deck-lid
(Trans Am Coupe
features
specific spoiler) S S
S
Tires P215/60R16,
all-season touring
blackwall
(restricted speed
rating)
S
- -
P235/55R16,
all-season touring
blackwall
(standard on Trans Am
Coupe;
restricted speed rating) O - S
P245/50ZR16,
Goodyear Eagle RS-A
all-season
performance blackwall
(standard
on Trans Am Convertible;
maximum
speed rating) -
S O
P245/50ZR16
Goodyear Eagle GS-C
performance
blackwalls (maximum
speed
rating) -
O O
Wheels 16"
x 8" 5-spoke cast-aluminum S - -
16"
x 8" styled 5-spoke
cast-aluminum
-
S S
16"
x 8" chromed 5-spoke
cast-aluminum
O
O O
Wiper System 2-speed with variable delay
(intermittent)
S
S S
S - Standard Equipment.
O - Optional Equipment.
INTERIOR FEATURES FIREBIRD\FORMULA\TRANS
AM
Accessory Power Retained accessory power S
S S
Air Conditioning Manual S
S S
Console Full front floor
with armrest,
storage,
auxiliary power outlets
and
cupholders S
S S
Cruise Control Electronic with resume, coast and
decelerate/accelerate
features S S S
Defogger Electric rear window
S
S S
Door Locks Power (standard on all
Convertibles)
O
S S
Floor Mats Front and rear, carpeted S
S S
Hatch/Trunk Release, power remote S
S S
Instrumentation Analogue cluster (includes
200-km/h
speedometer, tachometer,
coolant
temperature, oil pressure,
low
oil level indicator, battery
voltage
and fuel gauges) S
S S
240-km/h
(150-mph) speedometer
and
low coolant indicator -
S S
Lamps Front
ashtray, dome (except
Convertible),
rear courtesy
(Convertible),
rear luggage
compartment
and glove compartment S S S
Mirrors Inside, rearview
with dual reading
lamps
S
S S
Visor
vanity, left and right
covered
with map straps S
S S
Seats 6-way
power driver adjuster O O S
Cloth
reclining bucket seats with
4-way
manual driver adjuster and
full
floor console S
S -
Reclining
bucket seats with
perforated
leather seating areas O O S
Articulating
bucket seats with
perforated
leather seating areas - - O
Seatback Rear, full-folding
S
S S
Steering Column Tilt-Wheel(tm), adjustable S
S S
Steering Wheel Leather-wrapped, sound system
controls
(includes leather-wrapped
parking
brake handle and shift
knob)
S
S S
Windows Power, driver's
express-down
feature
(standard on all
Convertibles)
O
S S
S - Standard Equipment.
O - Optional Equipment.
SOUND SYSTEMS FIREBIRD\FORMULA\TRANS
AM
All Firebird sound systems include an
electronically tuned Delco AM/FM stereo
with seek up/down and digital clock:
AM/FM
stereo, compact disc player,
7-band
graphic equalizer and Delco
TheftLock(tm)
S
S S
AM/FM
stereo, cassette tape player,
7-band
graphic equalizer and Delco
TheftLock(tm)
(includes 10-speaker Hi-
performance
sound system on Coupes;
6-speaker
extended range sound
system
on Convertibles) O
O O
4-speaker
coaxial sound system S - -
6-speaker
extended range sound
system
(Convertible only) S -
S
10-speaker
Monsoon extended range
sound
system (Coupe only) O
S S
Trunk-mounted
remote 12-disc CD
changer
O
O O
S - Standard Equipment.
O - Optional Equipment.
MECHANICAL FIREBIRD\FORMULA\TRANS AM
Axle Limited
slip differential O S
S
Axle Ratio 3.23 rear axle ratio
(automatic
transmission) -
O O
Battery Delco Freedom
II with battery
run-down
protection S
S S
Block Heater Engine block heater S
S S
Brakes Power, 4-wheel
disc, ABS S S
S
Engines 3.8L 3800 Series
II V6 with SFI S - -
5.7L
V8 with SFI -
S S
Exhaust System Aluminized stainless steel S
S S
Split
with dual outlets O
S S
Packages Performance Package
includes
P235/55R16
touring tires, painted
or
chromed cast-aluminum wheels,
uplevel
steering ratio, dual
exhaust
outlets and limited slip
differential
O
- -
Performance
Suspension Package
includes
Special Handling
Suspension
package, larger
stabilizer
bars, stiffer shock
absorbers
and bushings - intended
for
serious performance
enthusiasts
(Coupe only - requires
Ram
Air Package) -
O -
Ram
Air Performance/Handling
Package
includes specific badging,
single
chrome exhaust outlets
Ram
Air Induction system, functional
hood
scoops, P275/40ZR17 performance
tires,
17" high-polish cast-aluminum
wheels,
specific front and rear
suspension
with higher front and rear
spring
rates, unique shock valving
and
stiffer Panhard bushings - O O
Steering Power, rack-and-pinion
S S
S
Suspensions Front independent Short/Long
Arm
(SLA) rear live axle S
S S
Firm
ride and handling S
- -
Performance
ride and handling - S S
Traction Control Electronic -
O O
Transmissions 5-speed manual with overdrive S
- -
4-speed
electronically controlled
automatic
(features "normal" and
"performance"
shift programs on V8
engine;
"normal" and "2nd gear"
start
snow mode on V6 engine) O S S
6-speed
manual with overdrive,
1st-4th
skip shift with
instrument
panel indicator - O O
S - Standard Equipment.
O - Optional Equipment.
SAFETY AND SECURITY FIREBIRD\FORMULA\TRANS
AM
Air Bags Driver and front passenger,
frontal
S
S S
Anti-Lock Brakes Anti-lock braking system (ABS),
4-wheel
S
S S
BTSI Brake/transmission
shift interlock
feature
(automatic transmission
only)
S
S S
Headlamps Daytime running lamps with
automatic
light control S
S S
Fog Lamps Fog lights S
S S
Keyless Entry Remote keyless entry system
(standard
on Convertibles) O O S
Theft-Deterrent Alarm, audible and visual O
O S
PASS-Key®
II theft-deterrent
system
S
S S
Roadside Service 24-hour Roadside Assistance
Program
S
S S
S - Standard Equipment.
O - Optional Equipment.
TECHNICAL
PRODUCT INFORMATION
FRAME Integral
body/frame
BODY MATERIAL Polymer composite front fenders, roof,
doors,
hatch, front and rear fascias; two-
sided
galvanized steel hood and rear
quarter
panels
SUSPENSION
Front Independent
Short/Long Arm, coil spring,
stabilizer
bar
Rear Live
(Salisbury) axle, torque arms, track
bar
w/coil springs and stabilizer bar
BRAKES Power-assisted,
vented discs (front and
rear),
ABS
STEERING Rack-and-pinion, power-assisted
WHEELS FIREBIRD/ FORMULA/
TRANS AM
CONVERT. TRANS
AM CONVERT.
16" x 8" steel 16"
x 8" 5-spoke 6" x 8" 5-spoke
5-spoke aluminum cast-aluminum
cast-aluminum
TIRES P215/60R16 P235/55R16
P245/50R16
all-season all-season
all-season
touring touring
performance
NOTE: Vehicle top speed limited to speed rating of tires
ENGINES 3.8L 3800 Series
II V6 5.7-Litre V8 (LS1)
Type 90-degree
OHV V6 90-degree OHV V8
Bore x Stroke 96.52 x 86.36 mm 99.00
x 92.00 mm
(3.80
x 3.40") (3.90 x 3.62")
Displacement 3791cc (231 cu.in.) 5665cc
(346 cu.in.)
Compression Ratio 9.4:1 10.1:1
Fuel Regular
Unleaded Premium Unleaded
Fuel Induction Sequential F.I. Sequential
F.I.
Horsepower 200 hp @ 5200 rpm 305
hp @ 5200 rpm
Torque 225lb.-ft.@4000
rpm 335lb.-ft@4000rpm
LAYOUT Front engine /
rear-wheel drive
TRANSMISSIONS
5-speed manual 6-speed manual 4-speed
electronic
w/overdrive w/overdrive
automatic w/overdrive
Gear Ratios
1st 3.75 2.66
3.06
2nd 2.19 1.78
1.63
3rd 1.41 1.30
1.00
4th 1.00 1.00
0.70
5th 0.72 0.74
----
6th ---- 0.50
----
Reverse 3.52 2.90
2.29
Final Drive 3.23-std. 3.42-std.
3.08-std.
(3.8L
V6) (5.7L V8) (3.8L
V6)
3.42-o
pt.(3.8L V6)
2.73-s
td.(5.7L V8)
3.23-o
pt.(5.7L V8)
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS
COUPES
CONVERTIBLES
Wheelbase 2566 mm (101.1") 2566 mm
(101.1")
Length 4911 mm (193.3")
4911 mm (193.3")
4919
mm (193.7") 4919 mm (193.7")-Trans Am
(coupe/conve
rtible)
Width 1890 mm ( 74.4")
1890 mm ( 74.4")
Height 1321 mm ( 52.0")
1340 mm ( 52.7")
1331
mm ( 52.4")- Trans Am
(convertible)
Track Front 1542 mm ( 60.7") 1542 mm ( 60.7")
Rear 1540
mm ( 60.6") 1540 mm ( 60.6")
INTERIOR DIMENSIONS
COUPES
CONVERTIBLES
Leg Room 1093/ 733 mm 1093/
733 mm
front/rear (43.0/28.9") (43.0/28.9")
Head Room 944/ 896 mm 944/
896 mm
front/rear (37.2/35.3") (37.2/35.30")
Shoulder Room 1458/1417 mm 1458/1417
mm
front/rear (57.4/55.8") (57.4/55.8")
Hip Room 1340/1129 mm 1340/1129
mm
front/rear (52.8/44.4") (52.8/44.4")
WEIGHTS / CAPACITIES
Curb Weights 1515 kg (3340 lb.)- Firebird
1571
kg (3463 lb.)- Firebird Convertible
1568
kg (3457 lb.)- Formula
1582
kg (3488 lb.)- Trans Am
1625
kg (3582 lb.)- Trans Am Convertible
Fuel Capacity 59 L (12.9 gal.)
Seating 2/2
Trunk Volumes 366L(12.9cu.ft.)- Coupes-w/rear seat up
215L(
7.6cu.ft.)- Convertibles-w/rear seat up
953L(33.7cu.ft.)-
Coupes / Convertibles w/
rear
seat down
Liftover Height 892 mm (35.1")
Interior Volume 2379 L (84.0 cu.ft.)
Towing Maximum Gross:
455 kg (1000 lb.)-
automatic
transmission only