Just got my car, what exhaust do I have?

[brett777]

Hi, I just bought this 2000 trans am formula, and it has a loud aftermarket exhaust system, seems to be cat-back only. I have one picture and will try to take more, but can anyone recognize what it is, just by the pic? Before I bought the car (I didn't know it already had aftermarket exhaust) I was looking at putting an SLP system on it, and this doesn't look like SLP at all, so I'm wondering if anyone else might recognize it?

I know it is a terrible pic, I'm hoping just seeing the muffler might narrow down the search a little.

[AwsmGy]

I don't know what exhaust that is, but going a little off topic just judging by that bumper I would also say someone also put on a T/A bumper or you don't have a Forumula.



That's a Formula style bumper.

Congrats on the new car though and welcome to FBO!

[brett777]

I'm glad you brought this up, because I don't understand why I have the hood I have either. Insurance told me from the VIN number, they asked me 'is this the formula edition' I said yes. So that confirmed why the car dealer sold it as a firebird formula. When I went to buy the car, I saw trans am written on the doors, and the high trans am spoiler. What I was trying to figure out on these forums, was the difference of a t/a and a t/a formula. It looks like the formula has leather, the SLP intake box factory, which I have, and the Hurst shifter factory, which I also have.

But I am beyond confused why I am badged trans am, and the rear says trans am, and you confirmed the rear bumper is trans am. Are the WS6's the only cars that have the ram air hood? I hope everyone chimes in on this, what I noticed on many forums though, formulas may or may not say formula on the doors, and they may or may not have the low spoiler.

Is that your 2001 formula? That's the front bumper/hood combo I don't understand why I don't have that combo. Only thing I know is, insurance brought up the word 'formula' without me saying it first, so to me that confirms it.

I'll get more pics up of the exhaust tomorrow, I really want to know what it is haha.

[BlairF]

My understanding is formulas share the same body with the v6 birds, only difference is the engine. TAs have the high rise spoiler and dual exhaust, and potentially the ram air hoods.

[AwsmGy]

Yeah, Formulas are essentially "sleeper" cars. They have the V6 body style but the V8 engine. If the badges say "Trans Am" then more likely than not that's just what it is. I have a formula with the WS6 hood/hatch but you have the V6 bumpers.

[brett777]

Thanks for the help, factory, do only T/A WS6's have the ram air hood? Or some regular T/As have a ram air package added to them from the factory? Do I have a normal T/A hood? I'm actually checking junk yards to get the ram air hood.

[Battousai]

You have the normal T/A hood. as for your exhaust, they look like corsa clone tips. or it could be a corsa system.

[Superman]

Formula's don't necessarily look like AwsmGy's. A previous owner prior to AwsmGy buying the car, must have put on the WS6 hood and the Trans Am high-rise hatch, to "clone" the WS6 Formula look.
Your car is a TA, it's NOT however, a WS6. It would have the ram-air hood, the ram-air air box, and of course, the badge (among other things).
Insurance companies (just like most used car dealerships) often don't know what they are talking about when looking at vehicles.
Also, I believe all Trans-Am's are a Formula, however, not all Formula's are a Trans-Am. All depends on the RPO code combination.

Also, not sure if this was just a typo, but it was said earlier that you have the v6 bumpers, but that is not true.
Based on your pictures, you have the Trans Am front and rear bumper covers, the TA side skirts, and the TA hatch.
You have the base "sleek beak" hood, but all non-WS6 models came with that hood, stock.

Regardless, your car looks sweet, and is an awesome color! Keep it looking good!

[brett777]

Thanks for all the info superman, that kind of explains why my insurance said 'formula', yes I don't have v6 bumpers, I know I have the true trans am body, I am trying to get a WS6 hood though. Thanks everyone. Battousai, I'll look up Corsa tomorrow, for now I'm going to get some sleep, I hope to solve the mystery of my exhaust.

[Battousai]

I looked at google images, and I do believe you have a corsa catback. congratulations, it's the most expensive 3" catback available.

[96firephoenix]

the RPO code for a V8 is the "formula" designation, and then there is an RPO code for the "trans Am sport package" Y82 and y84 are the TA appearance packages (either or) for 96. W66 is the formula appearance package

RPO codes scanned from my Service Manual

so like superman said, all TAs are formulas, but not all formulas are TAs kinda like squares and rectangles.

[brett777]

I checked out the Corsa exhaust, you nailed it! That has to be it. Just because it is expensive, is it any good?

I had another question, I can post a pic if needed, I see the 3in cat back disappearing under a small bracket, and the 2 header pipes coming down and meeting the cat back system, but I don't see a cat? How big is the cat on our cars? Is it completely hidden by the bracket that bolts the cat back to the header pipes? Or I just don't have one!

Wish I knew what all was done to my car.... thanks for everyone's help though!

[taylor.o1]

the cats are about a foot long and 8-10 inches wide and around 6 tall, usaualy with a heat shield on it unless its aftermarket. if you had one it would be obvious

[brett777]

Can you tell by this picture taylor? Think there is one in there? Or is the entire bracket thing a cat?

[taylor.o1]

I see no cat in the pics. which bracket are you talking about? the one that goes under the drive shaft and exaust? theres deffiantly no cat behind that one

[Darkside Motorsports]

....your cat goes right in that heat shield you see in the pic....looks to me like you have a pretty decent exhaust system there. No cat, and it looks like an aftermarket y-pipe, and probably headers too. Congrats!

[brett777]

ok, please tell me best way to take a pic of the headers, you really can't see them from the engine bay, they are black I know that, I'll try to get a pic now before sun goes down, thanks man!

[brett777]

ok last post of me being stupid and not knowing what the heck I bought at a dealer last week! My guess is this SLP air box is a factory option? Also, pics of my header tubes, first 2 are of the driver side, second 2 are of the passenger side, and last pic is a money shot of what is believed to be a corsa twin cat back system, which if I have no cat, what is it called then? a ypipe-back system? Unfournately all my friends love their mustangs, which I love as well, but I talked to one of my buddies and they said if I have all this, my car should be around 340rwhp, does that sound believeable? I have also read, the baseline 310hp is a lie and these things dyno ~315rwhp stock. I don't mean to cause any arguments by these statements, I am a 4th gen FBody virgin, and am finally proud to be welcomed into this community!

Now, to me, the pipes infront of the newly discovered ypipe look stock to me, hopefully you guys seeing them, and maybe more importantly the bolt together connections, will help me figure out if they are stock or not. Thanks guys, I am loving it here! I hope I don't post a lot, I just need to figure out what my car has done to it. I would like to dyno/tune it, but not sure if it is a waste of money with what the car has done to it.

[fbodyrs96]

if it is corsa , there name will be stamped into the tips and mufler.

[brett777]

It doesn't say Corsa on tips or muffler. Looking at pictures of Corsa exhaust, I don't see their tips or muffler having Corsa engraved. I can call Corsa tomorrow and find out if they do/don't.