Theres a TTA driving around in my area. I see it all the time. It's in great shape from what I can see. However I think it's the guys daily driver. And what's worse is he never washes the thing. It's got mud all over it right now. How it got mud all over it in the city I can't tell you. What's even worse is that this guy probably bought the car and has no idea what it is otherwise I doubt he would be driving it around. And for what those cars go for I thought they were all in the hands of private collectors. Although If I had a TTA I would be tempted to drive it around some. Not daily though.

 

Non-tech. If this post does not illicit responses with a technical flavor, I'll be closing it. But for now, I'll keep it open.

Willie

 

Speaking of TTA's, is that the exact same motor that came in the Buick GN's, or was it just very similar? Just curious...

 

the turbo trans am are the v6 turbo, the same combo from the grand national but with some tweaking to get it to fit in the smaller engine bay of the thirdgen...

poor car!! wash it for him

 

I pretty sure it's the same block but as MDFormula said there was some tweaking done to get it in there. I think 3.8 or 3.3 heads were used off of the FWD motor.

 

The heads were borrowed from a 89 3.8 FWD LeSabre to fit the A/C system. If GM didn't run A/C in the TTA, they could have used the same heads as the GN.

 

The 1989 Turbo was and is a collectible, but not in an ultra rare sense. These go for $10K on up typically.

The 1987 Grand National had improved intercooler and was the best engine of those Grand Nats, as far as I recall.

The GNX is a very great Buick as well. My two Olds Cutlass has the 3.8 V6 and were quite fast normally asperated -SP?-

Bill Speed

 

If i had a TTA i would drive it all the time...i can't stand people who buy cars to just let them sit in a garage 11 1/2 months at a time.
cars are meant to be driven!!!!!

 

Did this affect the TTA's HP compared to the GN?

 

Sounds remotely similar to a '92 T/A Yellow vert that I used to see all the time. I believe there were only TWO MADE. I watched the thing go from nice back when I first saw it for sale to really trashed. What a shame! If I'd only known back then I'd have bought it but I didn't want a vert or a 305. Arrrrr....
Also a guy around here drives a yellow '94 Formula daily. I bet he has no idea how rare it is, either.

 

I think it raised the compression slightly, but didn't really affect the hp.

 

If I remember correctly, the book I have rated the GNX at 300 hp and the TTA at ~250.
The GNX managed 0-60 in like 4.9 and 12.9 1/4 I believe, which was faster than the TTA's 5.3 and 13.X
However the GNX top speed was about ~120 I believe (obviously governed) whereas the TTA was 150+.

So, according to that info, the GNX was capable of faster acceleration (stock)but of course every other performance aspect was far less.
Don't flame me, I love the TTA that's just the info I have. I'd sure like to drive either
or BOTH

 

Actually
The Turbo V-6 engine that is installed in the TTA is has more in common with the GNX in terms of performance. The FWD Heads installed on the Pontiac TTA benefited by superior head chamber designed which bumped compression up...which in turn Pontiac created custom pistons to maintain 8.0 compression ratio in order to run more boost--16.5 stock. It's this low 8.0 compression ratio that allows the TTA to become a screamer when the boost is turned up wich cheap mods. What makes the GNX special over the rest of the GNs is the heavy duty 12 blade intercooler, ceramic turbo fan, aggressive chip calibration not to mention suspension upgrades for better handling. The TTA inherited all this (and 3rd gen handling abilities ..except for the ceramic turbo fan--quicker spool.

A magazine pitted the GNX vs TTA in 3 races and GNX won 2/3 by a 1/10 sec. It also has to be said that the owner (driver) of the TTA didn't know how to make a boosted launch. On the 3rd race he won...the owner finally improved his launch (learned?) Thus it is my opinion in a situation where both drivers are equal in ability...the TTA would surpase the GNX in 1/4.

 

ok, I don't doubt that.
That was just one source that I had.

No doubt Turbo T/As are awesome cars.

 

08141980


GNX's and TTA's have very similar performance #'s
C&D had the TTA at 4.6 0-60 and a 13.4 1/4. From personal
experience I had similar #'s when mine was stock. On an old
Vericom my worst 0-60 was 5.5 with heavy wheelspin, but with a decent launch 4.7-4.9 all day.

 

I agree, collecting is for cards and coins, not cars. Just take care of it and dont drive it like you stole it.