
The earlier "pedestal" spoiler is sturdier and much lighter than the later polyurethane over steel "Aero Wing" spoiler, so it's a good upgrade if you want to lose weight and add durability.
Caveat Emptor
Although the entire TPI system can be swapped over to a non-TPI car, this is not only complicated, but stock TPI systems are notorious for choking off high-end power, so it's not a cure-all for a weak performer.
We highly recommend www.thirdgen.org as a great resource for a lot of accurate information. Like any Web site available to everyone, though, there can be some less-than-correct opinions at times.
Most importantly, before you soldier off to the nearest junkyard in search of these crusty jewels, make sure you're bolting them onto a solid car. Also remember that these parts are not going to be around forever-this is a finite window of opportunity in which they are available in quantity. I bought my first GTOs in the early '80s for a few hundred dollars, and the junkyards were full of them. Now original GTO or Trans Am performance options are like gold. Does history repeat itself? I'm betting on it.
| Third-Gen Production |
| | Firebird/Formula | Trans Am | Total |
| Year | Production | Production | Production |
| '82 | 63,402 | 52,960 | 116,362 |
| '83 | 42,954 | 31,930 | 74,884 |
| '84 | 72,930 | 55,374 | 128,304 |
| '85 | 51,852 | 44,028 | 95,880 |
| '86 | 61,593 | 48,870 | 110,463 |
| '87 | 55,712 | 32,875 | 88,587 |
| '88 | 42,448 | 20,007 | 62,455 |
| '89 | 49,046 | 15,358 | 64,404 |
| '90 | 18,036 | 2,496 | 20,532 |
| '91 | 23,977 | 6,343 | 30,320 |
| ’92 | 24,803 | 2,766 | 27,569 |
| Total Third-Gen Firebird Production | 819,760 |
| Third-Gen WS6 Sway Bar Applications |
| Year/Model | Option or standard | Diameter Front | Diameter Rear |
| '82-'84 Trans Am | WS6 Option | 32mm | 21mm |
| '84 15th Anniv. T/A | 15th Anniv. Option | 32mm | 25mm |
| '85 Trans Am | WS6 Option | 34mm | 25mm |
| '86-'92 Trans Am | WS6 Option | 36mm Hollow | 24mm |
| '87-'92 GTA/Formula | WS6 standard | 36mm Hollow | 24mm |
| '89 Turbo TA | WS6 standard | 36mm Hollow | 24mm |