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Auto Detailing and AppearanceShare tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
Strap in folks. The threat is real - it is verifiable. Our 2018 COTY is a Big Red, Ten Second Monster.
Congratulations, firebirdo88! Your positively brutal base 'Bird is our TGO Car of the Year.
Ladies and Gentlemen...this street driven Third Gen runs a sub 10.1 sec quarter mile.
It can be hard to find a car with this extreme level of performance with COTM quality fit and finish. But, as I've said, when we do find them, they tend to do very well in our COTM/COTY contests. And for that matter, I'd also put them up against anything else on the road or track. While we're on the subject, I'd also put concours level Third Gens like those of Chazman, Horacioz28IROC, and 88IROCvertZ up against any of their bone-stock predecessors. And while we're still on the subject, those dead-sexy sleeper Third Gens (example:'87-'89-ish IROC-Z or Formula with aluminum heads, mean exhaust and tuned suspension), while somewhat under-represented in COTM (IMO) will always be a personal favorite of mine. Point is, regardless of year, brand, or level of modification, we're one {small} Third Gen family. It might be catching on though, because there must be a reason <250 hp Third Gens are commanding higher prices than 450 hp Fourth Gens.
But I digress...
firebirdo88, your phenomenal Firebird drops the mic on the fact that, be it street cruiser, road course, drag strip, pro-touring - with the possible exception of being a "practical" daily driver - Third Gens can do anything.
My Firebird makes little under 700 rwhp and with the TH400 3.50 rear end gear etc it is fun to drive but it is smooth and not too brutal The drag radials lower gearing and LS1 ecm makes it safe and predictable. I drive mine all over. It doesn't matter if it is 15 minute trip or an hour or so away rain or shine. I wouldn't hesitate to take it. Even with the 3 speed it isn't bad on gas. The other items which helps is a good torque converterwhich is tight when cruising and opens up under load.
I don't want to say congrats as it is too overused.....YOU DA MAN!. I really love your car and the way you stayed true to the original look of the Firebird...Magnifico!
Last edited by vinny R; Dec 21, 2018 at 06:01 AM.
Reason: mispell
Thanks everyone! Truly honored to be nominated by maks10 and win something like this among so many other awesome cars. This is a great thing we do here to nominate cars every month and learn more about our members and their cars history.
Thank you!
I do have one correction to above my car has been mid 9’s this year. I went 9.59 @ 139 MPH in Indianapolis this September.
I have seen some 10 second cars with (with slips to prove it ) around, but as Linson alluded to, many of them look like “unfinished” cars. I see them with bulging primer hoods with pins, peeling paint on the nose and bumpers, a gutted interior with only a drivers racing harness seat, cracked dash, missing door trim panels, etc, etc..
This car is extremely nice and clean, engine compartment shows well and it does not 10 sec, but 9 seconds!
I have seen some 10 second cars with (with slips to prove it ) around, but as Linson alluded to, many of them look like “unfinished” cars. I see them with bulging primer hoods with pins, peeling paint on the nose and bumpers, a gutted interior with only a drivers racing harness seat, cracked dash, missing door trim panels, etc, etc..
This car is extremely nice and clean, engine compartment shows well and it does not 10 sec, but 9 seconds!
Great representation for COTY, congratulations!
Thx man! I have always loved how these cars look in stock form and always strive to do it tastefully.
This is a great winner for COTY. A Firebird that been modified to perform like a rocket, while still maintaining the sleek, timeless lines that rolled out of the factory more than a quarter century ago.
It is an automatic. That is a stock automatic console lid just has a aftermarket shifter under. I have a B&M Pro Ratchet, but it still looks like it fits in with the stock interior. The trans is a TH400 built by RPM Transmission in Indiana.
It is an automatic. That is a stock automatic console lid just has a aftermarket shifter under. I have a B&M Pro Ratchet, but it still looks like it fits in with the stock interior. The trans is a TH400 built by RPM Transmission in Indiana.
Ah, my bad, looked like a 5 speed with short throw shifter in the other pic....nice car!!
I have seen some 10 second cars with (with slips to prove it ) around, but as Linson alluded to, many of them look like “unfinished” cars. I see them with bulging primer hoods with pins, peeling paint on the nose and bumpers, a gutted interior with only a drivers racing harness seat, cracked dash, missing door trim panels, etc, etc..
This car is extremely nice and clean, engine compartment shows well and it does not 10 sec, but 9 seconds!
Ah, my bad, looked like a 5 speed with short throw shifter in the other pic....nice car!!
I do get that all the time at car show. It took me a while to figure out how to add a ratchet shifter and make it look clean. At the time I wished someone made a drop in unit that used the stock handle.
Thanks everyone for the support! So I had PM about it being a DD it is not. I live in Ohio but try to drive it as much as I can. I enjoy my car as much as possible.
Congrats on a really nice car! I have to ask, how are you running 9.59 at almost 140 at Lucas Oil Raceway (NHRA track) without even having a rollbar? At that mph and speed you are looking at needing a 10 point cage that is NHRA certified, a window net, ignition cutoff switch, etc.
I have seen some get away with making a pass or two at this speed without a certified cage, but never with someone in the other lane. Either way, it's a really nice build and is very impressive!
Where are the details on our COTY winner? I've seen a couple of write ups but still looking for the secret sauce that gets this car into the 9's.
Curious minds want to know.
Where are the details on our COTY winner? I've seen a couple of write ups but still looking for the secret sauce that gets this car into the 9's.
Curious minds want to know.
There are a couple of clues as to the HP number. Although from the engine pic I can't see it, there might be a ProCharger in there. As pointed out though, no cage.
Hey guys, I found a video from this year my wife took at the track and just uploaded it on youtube. I have nothing to hide. I have posted the combination on TGO on the 82-92 F-body 1/4 mile times list, but I can see not many guys go to that page. Most of the times I go to the track are for track rental or test and tune days. I have never had any issue at multiple tracks. Maybe I just have good luck. Here is are some specifics of my car.
It is a 400 sbc
Heads: AFR 195cc, 2.08 intake, 1.600 exhaust valves
Cam: Custom Indiana Muscle Car hydraulic roller, 240/240 duration at .050
Intake: Converted and ported LT1 intake.
Engine Management: LS1 ecm with efi connection 24x.
Transmission: TH400, JW Performance Ultra-Bell, Trans brake, built by RPM Transmission
Converter: Yank 4200-stall, Billet
Rear: 9" 3.50 gears spool
305/45R17 M/T ET Street SS radials
Full BMR suspension
175 shot single nozzle Nitrous outlet
. I have nothing to hide. I have posted the combination on TGO on the 82-92 F-body 1/4 mile times list,
Never thought to look there.
Originally Posted by firebrdo88
It is a 400 sbc
Heads: AFR 195cc, 2.08 intake, 1.600 exhaust valves
Cam: Custom Indiana Muscle Car hydraulic roller, 240/240 duration at .050
Intake: Converted and ported LT1 intake.
Engine Management: LS1 ecm with efi connection 24x.
Transmission: TH400, JW Performance Ultra-Bell, Trans brake, built by RPM Transmission
Converter: Yank 4200-stall, Billet
Rear: 9" 3.50 gears spool
305/45R17 M/T ET Street SS radials
Full BMR suspension
175 shot single nozzle Nitrous outlet
And that's what I was looking for. I can see where the performance comes from. Well done.
Last edited by skinny z; Dec 30, 2018 at 12:40 AM.
Thx! That is with timing pulled at launch and ramped back in and progressing the nitrous. It setup to get down bad track prep. I did not realize we had this pass on video.
That's the way you take every post - you constantly look for a reason to pick a fight dude!
It's called PERCEPTION.....and yours is constantly a negative one.
How about I rephrase my comment - I'd LIKE to see it run 9's - (as I'd enjoy it) hows that snowflake?
Over and out - I wont respond to any more of your comments - so flame away dude
Hey guys, I found a video from this year my wife took at the track and just uploaded it on youtube. I have nothing to hide. I have posted the combination on TGO on the 82-92 F-body 1/4 mile times list, but I can see not many guys go to that page. Most of the times I go to the track are for track rental or test and tune days. I have never had any issue at multiple tracks. Maybe I just have good luck. Here is are some specifics of my car.
It is a 400 sbc
Heads: AFR 195cc, 2.08 intake, 1.600 exhaust valves
Cam: Custom Indiana Muscle Car hydraulic roller, 240/240 duration at .050
Intake: Converted and ported LT1 intake.
Engine Management: LS1 ecm with efi connection 24x.
Transmission: TH400, JW Performance Ultra-Bell, Trans brake, built by RPM Transmission
Converter: Yank 4200-stall, Billet
Rear: 9" 3.50 gears spool
305/45R17 M/T ET Street SS radials
Full BMR suspension
175 shot single nozzle Nitrous outlet
I tried few thing before this but I found simple worked better. This is just 4" tubing and a K&N filter. I had it bend down in the fender well and filter out of the engine bay before. It seemed to pick up with it in the engine bay sucking hotter air. Only thing I can think of it likes a shorter run with less bends. Sorry my car is so dirty I just took the pic today and I have been doing projects in the garage next to it.
Now that is a cool motor!
A sbc mixed with some LT1 mixed with some LS!
Yeah I have a mix of a few things from 1970-2005 lol. I have done the 24x swap to a few cars and would do it again in a heartbeat. It really is shocking on the change of drivability with large cam.
