1991 GTA, should it have Rear Drums & just the base AM/FM radio, no equalizer?

[Eric 97LT4SS]

Looking at picking up a 1991 Trans Am GTA, because the price is right, it's not perfect, and need a new project. But, I would like to purchase an authentic GTA and not a re-badged Trans Am. I realize this is a 3rd Gen question but we all started with at least one if not two before we purchased our 4th Gens. Car has all the appropriate GTA emblems, Gold rims, 5.0 TPI w/5-speed, articulating bucket seats (cloth), but owner cannot find the RPO sticker so not sure if it's a true Y84 GTA. Everything looks right, except I always thought that GTA's had as standard equipment the UX1 -- Radio, AM/FM, Cassette, Equalizer, Clock. Thsi car just has a Delco AM/FM Cassette unit with no Equalizer but, also has Rear Drum brakes and not the Rear Disk's I expected to see. What gives, could it only be a T/A with GTA badges, Seats, & Rims? If so why go to all the trouble, the car even has the Original Paint. Thanks guys.

[Christopherrr]

sounds like the real deal...but this might help.

http://www.gtasourcepage.com/

[DeWynter]

Sounds fishy. I have never seen a real GTA with drum brakes. this does not mean someone didnt blow the rear and put in a replacement. as far as the radio is concerned It may have had an aftermarkt stero in it at one time and alot of people just junk the factory one. This means it could have been just put into the car for sale purpouses. To find out if it is a real GTA take the VIN number to a GM daeler and ask then to print out the RPO code sheet for that VIN. It may cost you a nominal fee. You then can compare the RPOs to thirdgen.org in the RPO decoder and you will see what it really is. Dont worry if you find some RPO codes dont have a translation, they are usually just factory codes to tell the workers what trim goes on the car.

[Christopherrr]

no...there were some GTA's with drums...

BODY / INTERIOR

Curb Weight: 3460-3530 pounds
Weight Distribution: 57% (front) - 43% (rear)
Wheelbase: 101.6 inches
Track: 60.7 inches (front) - 61.6 inches (rear)
Overall Length: 191.6 inches
Width: 72.0 inches
Height: 49.7 inches
Rear Storage Space: 5.8 cubic feet (rear seat up) - 9.1 cubic feet (rear seat folded)
Fuel Tank: 15.5 U.S. Gallons (supposedly 18 U.S. Gallons on 1989 20th Anniversary Indianapolis Pace Car - not verified)


Vehicle Lay-out: Front engine / Rear drive
Body/Frame: Unit Steel Construction
Brake System: Four Wheel Power-Assist Disc**


** - Some models were equipped with the RPO J42 disc/drum brake system


Rotor Size:


10.5 inch (front and rear) - 1987-1988
10.5 inch (front) and 11.7 inch (rear) - 1989-1992
12.0 inch (front) and 11.7 inch (rear) - 1989 20th Anniversary Trans Am


Wheel, Type and Size: Cast aluminum alloy, 16 x 8 inch
Tires:


Goodyear Eagle VR50 Radial, size 245/50-VR16 (1987-1988)
Goodyear Eagle ZR50 Radial, size 245/50-ZR16 (1989-1992)


Steering: Recirculating ball, with power assist
Wheel Turns, lock-to-lock: 2.4
Turning Circle, Foot-in-diameter: 37.6
Suspension Components (front): modified MacPherson struts, lower A-arms, coil springs, tube shocks, and anti-roll bar
Suspension Components (rear): Live axle, with trailing arms, torque arms, and Panhard arm, coils aprings, tube shocks, and anti-roll bar

[Eric 97LT4SS]

Interesting, that's for the info guys. 2,035 GTA's produced in 1991 with the following Rear Brake set-ups:

J41 -- Brake System, Power FR Disc, RR Drum -- 62
J42 -- Brake System, Aluminum Drum -- 829
J65 -- Brakes, Power FR and RR Disc -- 1,144

If I can get the car for under $3k probably going to grab it, only has 74k on the clock. The factory Radio still concerns me and why isn't the RPO sticker in the locked Rear Compartment Storage area like it should be.

[Christopherrr]

The factory Radio still concerns me and why isn't the RPO sticker in the locked Rear Compartment Storage area like it should be.

you might want to ask him on that one...

[DeWynter]

Would there not also be one in the center console, I know that is where mine is. But I dont have one in the locked compartment at the back drivers side.

[Eric 97LT4SS]

Exactly what I thought but looks as if PMD decided to move it. For the 1987-1990 cars, the label was placed on the inside wall of the console glove box; in turn, for 1991 and 1992, the sticker was moved into the LH rear storage compartment. The GTA option code was Y84

[Fastbird93]

I used to own a 91 GTA, and it had drum brakes. They're not so common as the ones with rear disc brakes, but they're out there.

[DeWynter]

Must have been the aluminum drums then right?

[Fastbird93]

Must have been the aluminum drums then right?

If that was directed at me, I couldn't tell ya. I traded that car in for a 99 T/A 5 1/2 years ago.

[Disifer]

After reading through this thread I went and checked the "GTA" I just bought and found out it wasn't really a GTA. Kinda disappointed. Great car but not as special now.

[Christopherrr]

ouch...that's has to suck...what gave it away that it wasn't a GTA?

[Eric 97LT4SS]

Looks as if the early production 1991 GTA's with the 5.0 TPI 5-speed combination received Rear Drum brakes which were Cast iron and not aluminum drums. Looks like they also did NOT receive the Aluminum Spare rim & tire or the 1LE Aluminum Driveshaft. GM must have been dumping stock on the GTA's produced in the first month of the 1991 production run.

[Disifer]

embarrassed to say it but everything on the GTAsource website. No badges or anything; wrong tires. Of course I didn't really think there was anything that special about a GTA until after I bought it. That was when I got excited.