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According to a Road & Track Article in 1987 the IROC was .1 seconds faster than a Formula.... The difference between the cars is the IROC used the L98, and the Formula used a LB9/M5... Looking at the above numbers if the 1LE Formula was not a 1LE car I would suspect the speed might be slightly slower yet because it should have been significantly lighter than the L98 car BUT the L98 car still beat it...
I cannot think of a TRUE side by side comparison of the cars IROC, GTA & FORMULA with the Exact same setups...
All I know is the Formula is seems to be the "most fun to drive" when they do the comparisons... The IROC gets beat up on because it has a rougher ride...
Indeed, John. You Formula runners are the performance champs among us Firebird folk every time, model-for-model. I'm with you.... I think every magazine comparo I've ever seen ends up with the Formula model as the most enjoyable overall.
__________________ Frankie Rider, 2 The GTA Source Page
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I always thought the Formulas were the "all hp, no luxury" models. But 2 of the GTAs were faster, including the "pig" of a 'vert....In the#s I listed above.
I would assume the GTA/SLP tested...Is what became the Firehawk.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by okfoz
Its interesting that the Formula is about .05 seconds faster in the quarter ... And we get NO respect
I would have really liked a comparison between the Formula, GTA and the Z28, all equipped with the L98...
John
5 tenths isn't any more than variation between runs.
Last edited by Stephen; 10-01-2008 at 06:29 PM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
I always thought the Formulas were the "all hp, no luxury" models. But 2 of the GTAs were faster, including the "pig" of a 'vert....In the#s I listed above.
Did you read the same first post that I did... the Vert was about a second slower car...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen
I would assume the GTA/SLP tested...Is what became the Firehawk.
The GTA/SLP car is independant of the Firehawk, These were two different programs. The SLP package in a sence was a stepping stone to the Firehawk in a sence... The SLP package was a Dealer Add on it consisted of a Chip, Runners, Cat-Back and the headers... The only thing that the kit had in common with the Firehawk is the headers and the Cat-Back Exhaust. The kit was available OTC from the dealers starting in 1989. SLP started after the Runners and the Exhaust was introduced and basically the Firehawk was Ed{?} Hamburger's idea to show the world their technology, it almost caused SLP to go bankrupt because they had to destroy a few cars with Crash Tests to get them certified. Because the Axel was a Dana 44, they needed to do a Backwards barrier crash & other tests.
There was never a GTA Firehawk BTW. Hamburger wanted the best performer out of the Firebird line because it was the lightest and had more race potential than the Trans Am. In the end it was faster and handled better than the ZR1, Ferrari 348 & other "Super cars".
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen
5 tenths isn't any more than variation between runs.
Regardless of differences between runs the Formula with the same Engine in theory should outperform a Trans Am or GTA every time because it is ligher. The premise of the formula was essentially the same as the GTO was in 1964, a lightweight no frills Street fighter, Even more evidence is in 1989 when they introduced the N10 dual cats, originally it was a formula only item, only later in the year was it also used on the GTA and Trans Am...
I have this article and I must say, all differences aside, I like to take a moment and just look at the main page with all the cars and just enjoy it. Those are some sought after cars right now.
__________________ 1992 Trans Am "RARE 92" ----- Jamaica Yellow, L98, 147K, All Original CA car 1991 Trans Am GTA ------------*2,800 miles*--1st Place Stock, TA Nats 2009 1992 Trans Am "PMD 92" ------47K, Best of Show, ThirdGen Fest 2008 1989 Formula 350 "PMD 89" ....Sold.... Redline Performance Machines
Its a really good article all in all IIRC... Its in with a Hot Rod Magazine articles book called "Pontiac Firebird, Trans Am and GTO." There are some other articles on 3rd Gens, including a 1985 T/A Test with the HO L69...
give me a bit to find it. It was PHR, Hot Rod or Car Craft--I think
I have 2 89 formula 350 tests one is with the SLP stuff being installed and the other is a stocker that they did minor hop ups...
Both cars are red hard tops..
__________________ www.TheFoat.com/92GTA1992 Trans Am GTA SLP: GMPP optioned "SLP Performance Parts Package" GTA, 220K Miles, Dark Jade Gray Metallic, LB9, 4L60, T-Tops, and Gray Leather. Documentation includes Window Sticker, Factory Invoice, Etc.
... And we get NO respect 
