1982 Pontiac Firebird

Pontiac Firebird (1982) – Ultimate Guide

Introduction

A new, aerodynamically restyled Firebird was 1982’s foremost news from Pontiac.
Instead of the previous four models, the revised Firebird came in three variations:
- base coupe
- luxury SE coupe
- Trans Am coupe
Each one had its own suspension and tire setup.
Engines:
- Base engine was now a fuel-injected 151-cid (2.5-liter) four cylinder hooked to a four-speed manual gearbox.
- The SE carried a standard 173-cid (2.8-liter) two-barrel V-6, also with a four-speed transmission.
- The Trans Am had a 305-cid (5.0-liter) four-barrel V-8 with a four-speed transmission.
- Trans Am buyers could also step up to a dual throttle-body (crossfire) fuel injection V-8 with fresh-air hood induction.
Body:
- A low nose now held electrically controlled hidden halogen headlamps.
- Park/signal lamps sat in squat slots inboard of the headlamps, barely visible with the headlamp doors shut.
- The twin air slots contained horizontal bars.
- At the rear was a large, contoured, frameless all-glass hatch.
- The tail lamps were housed in a full-width back panel.
- The Firebird SE added full-width black tail lamps, body-color body side moldings, lower accent paint (with striping), turbo cast aluminum wheels, P205/70R14 steel-belted black sidewall tires and rear stabilizer bar.
- The Trans Am included bird decals on hood and sail panel, front fender air extractors, front and rear wheel-opening flares, and an aero wing deck lid spoiler.
- A WS6 suspension (optional on SE and Trans Am) included P215/65R15 steel-belted radial (SBR) tires on 7-in. aluminum wheels, larger stabilizer bars, four-wheel disc brakes, a posi-traction rear axle, and tuned springs, shocks, and bushings.
- Standard Firebird equipment included P195/75R14 glass-belted black sidewall tires, hubcaps, a black-finished grille, a front air dam, power brakes, power steering, a front stabilizer bar, side window defoggers, and a black-finished instrument panel.
Interior:
- Reclining front bucket seats were standard.
- A new Formula steering wheel had an energy-absorbing hub.

I.D. NUMBERS

Pontiac introduced its new 17-symbol Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
It was located on the upper left surface of the instrument panel, visible through the windshield
Position	Character	Description
1st	1	US built
2nd	G	General Motors product
3rd	2	Pontiac Motor Division vehicle
4th	A	Manual seatbelts
5th	S	Firebird
	X	SE
	W	Trans Am
6th & 7th	87	Body style number: two-door plainback special coupe
8th	*	Engine type where * is replaced by the following R = 151-cid 4, 90-hp 2 = 151-cid 4, 90-hp X = 173-cid V6, 112-hp 1 = 173-cid V6, 112-hp H = 305-cid V8, 145-hp 7 = 305-cid V8, 165-hp
9th	?	A check digit that calculates the characters in the serial number and gives it a single digit code and can be used to verify that the serial number is legitimate
10th	C	The model year where C = 1982
11th	_	Manufacturing plant code
12th to 17th	100001 and up	Production sequence serial number

IDENTIFICATION

Model Number	Style Number	Body Type	Seating	Factory Price	Production Total
2F	S87	2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – Four	4	$7996	41,863 both 4 & V8
2F	S87	2-door Hardtop Base Firebird – V6	4	$8121	41,863 both 4 & V8
2F	X87	2-door Hardtop SE – V6	4	$9624	21,719
2F	X87	2-door Hardtop SE – V8	4	$9819	21,719
2F	W87	2-door Hardtop Trans Am – V8	4	$9658	52,960

ENGINE

VIN Code	R or 2	X or 1	H (Chev)	7
Cylinders	Four (inline)	60° V-6	90° V-8	90° V-8
Valving	Overhead valve	Overhead valve	Overhead valve	Overhead valve
Block	Cast-iron	Cast-iron	Cast-iron	Cast-iron
Head	Cast-iron	Aluminum	Cast-iron	Cast-iron
Bore & Stroke	4.00 x 3.00 in.	3.50 x 3.00 in.	3.74 x 3.48 in.	4.00 x 3.00 in.
Displacement	151 cid (2.5 liters)	173 cid (2.8 liters)	305 cid (5.0 liters)	305 cid (5.0 liters)
Compression ratio	8.2 : 1	8.5 : 1	8.6 : 1	9.5 : 1
Brake H.P.	90 @ 4000 rpm	105 @ 4800	145 @ 4000 rpm	165 @ 4200 rpm
Torque (lb-ft)	134 @ 2400 rpm	142 @ 2400 rpm	240 @ 2000 rpm	240 @ 2400 rpm
Main bearings	Five	Four	Five	Five
Valve lifters	Hydraulic
Carburetor	Throttle-body fuel injection	2-barrel Rochester E2SE	4-barrel Rochester E4ME	Throttle-body fuel Injection

TRANSMISSION

Four-speed Transmission	Standard
Three-speed Turbo-Hydra-Matic	Optional
Final drive ratio with V-6	3.23 : 1
Final drive ratio with V-8	3.23 : 1

CHASSIS

FEATURE	Firebird	SE	Trans Am
Wheelbase	101.0 in.	101.0 in.	101.0 in.
Overall length	189.8 in.	189.8 in.	189.8 in.
Height	49.8 in.	49.8	49.8
Width	72.0	72.0	72.0
Front tread	60.7	60.7	60.7
Rear tread	60.6	60.6	60.6
Tires	P195/75R14 GBR BSW	P205/70R14 SBR BSW	P205/70R14 SBR BSW
Steering	Recirculating ball
Front suspension	Modified MacPherson struts with coil springs between lower control arm and X-member
Rear suspension	Torque arm/track bar with coil springs	Torque arm/track bar with coil springs and anti-sway bar
Brakes	Front disc, rear drums
Ignition	Electronic
Body construction	Unit
Fuel tank	16 gal

OPTIONS

151-cid four (Firebird SE)	$125 credit
173-cid V-6 (Firebird)	$125
305-cid four-barrel V-8 (Firebird)	$295
305-cid four-barrel V-8 (Firebird SE)	$170 – $195
Dual EFI engine package (Trans Am)	$899
Turbo-Hydra-Matic (Firebird)	$396
Turbo-Hydra-Matic (Trans Am)	$72
Limited-slip differential	$76
Power four-wheel disc brakes (Firebird)	$255
Power four-wheel disc brakes (in performance package)	N/C
Heavy-duty radiator	$40
Heavy-duty battery	$22 – $25
Heavy-duty alternator	$51
Engine block heater	$17 – $18
California emissions	$65
Trans Am Recaro option	$2486 – $2968
Special performance package (SE and Trans Am)	$387 – $417
Firebird custom exterior	$73 – $134
Firebird luxury trim	$299 – $844
Air conditioning	$595 – $675
Cruise control	$145 – $165
Power windows	$152 – $235
Hatchback roof	$790 – $826

HISTORICAL NOTES

1982 Firebird Notes

Introduced on Jan. 14, 1982
While other Pontiac models dropped in sales, the Firebird increased from 70,899 to 116,382
The new Firebird design received extensive wind tunnel testing

1982 Automotive Notes