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History / OriginalityGot a question about 1982-1992 Camaro or Firebird history? Have a question about original parts, options, RPO codes, when something was available, or how to document your car? Those questions, answers, and much more!
I've got that issue somewhere. Thanks for the memories, Tony.
I only have this left of the magazine, If you ever come across yours, could you see what magazine/year it's from and if there's more info on the year of the car? I'm guessing 88, non N10 car?
I only have this left of the magazine, If you ever come across yours, could you see what magazine/year it's from and if there's more info on the year of the car? I'm guessing 88, non N10 car?
Could be a project, but I'll look. I'm virtually positive it was not an N10 car. I think I read and re-read that story a half a dozen times, (before the internet ) back then.
Goes to show that "back in the day" a 160* t stat and bump in initial timing really woke these TPI cars up.
So uh.... What car in 1988 was so much more responsive and neck snapping fast that it made a Formula 350 feel like such a slug? I read these articles, and it seems like the auto journalist/auto critic always has to tear into the car for being slow or uncomfortable, but I wonder what car actually lives up to these impossible standards? And a chrome hood latch spring? Really? Would have sworn they were plated (Zinc?) to prevent rust? Who knew it was an attempt at fitting in at the Car Show. Guess the Time-Out doll was an accessory catalog extra.
So uh.... What car in 1988 was so much more responsive and neck snapping fast that it made a Formula 350 feel like such a slug? I read these articles, and it seems like the auto journalist/auto critic always has to tear into the car for being slow or uncomfortable, but I wonder what car actually lives up to these impossible standards? And a chrome hood latch spring? Really? Would have sworn they were plated (Zinc?) to prevent rust? Who knew it was an attempt at fitting in at the Car Show. Guess the Time-Out doll was an accessory catalog extra.
On a test like this, I think some of those comments have to go in one ear and out the other.
The more interesting part is at a time when many people believed that these new fangled computer controlled cars couldn’t be tuned, Defeo knocked a second off his 1/4 mile time with simple hotrodder tweaks.
So uh.... What car in 1988 was so much more responsive and neck snapping fast that it made a Formula 350 feel like such a slug? I read these articles, and it seems like the auto journalist/auto critic always has to tear into the car for being slow or uncomfortable, but I wonder what car actually lives up to these impossible standards? And a chrome hood latch spring? Really? Would have sworn they were plated (Zinc?) to prevent rust? Who knew it was an attempt at fitting in at the Car Show. Guess the Time-Out doll was an accessory catalog extra.
Tony had a Mustang back then that ran 13’s and all he did was pull the silencer off and bumped the timing. I believe it was a stripped notchback with 3.08’s as the only option. He also mentioned in the article that they ran high 13’s with a stock C4.
I was trying to attach the article. He ran13.40’s with DR’s and tuning.
He also mentioned in the article that they ran high 13’s with a stock C4.
I was trying to attach the article. He ran13.40’s with DR’s and tuning.
I too was going to mention the stock 86 C4 going 13's. Since a few on here think the TPI could have never done it. Granted, mineshaft DA air and super prepped surface at the NJ tracks all the time helps.
Not sure how many mild to wild mustangs I had my hands on back in the day but the fastest one I built was over 1500ish hp to the tires.
I too was going to mention the stock 86 C4 going 13's. Since a few on here think the TPI could have never done it. Granted, mineshaft DA air and super prepped surface at the NJ tracks all the time helps.
Not sure how many mild to wild mustangs I had my hands on back in the day but the fastest one I built was over 1500ish hp to the tires.
That magazine group (cars illustrated, GMHTP, and MMFF) always ran at Englishtown and always came up with the best times. They had a guy named Evan Smith that would do all their track times.
I have seen a bunch of bone stock 5.7 Camaro’s back then run in the high 13’s at Union Grove.
That magazine group (cars illustrated, GMHTP, and MMFF) always ran at Englishtown and always came up with the best times. They had a guy named Evan Smith that would do all their track times.
I have seen a bunch of bone stock 5.7 Camaro’s back then run in the high 13’s at Union Grove.
I met Evan Smith at a couple Mustang shootouts we were invited to round 2005-6 ish? Itty bitty guy with a HOT shoe for sure.
Very interesting read. Unrtil recently I never knew a stock Thirdgen (excluding the Firehawks and TTAs) was ever recorded turning 13s. Hell I remember being blown away watching the "new" 93 models hitting high 13sec slips and all of them weren't getting there.
That was a cool read. I was an avid Hotrod reader back then and remember articles and advertisements on these cars. Still have them packed away somewhere. I don't recall reading the headlight modification before.
So uh.... What car in 1988 was so much more responsive and neck snapping fast that it made a Formula 350 feel like such a slug?
That whole bit where he was bashing the car reeked of old school muscle car talk. He was probably thinking back to a 1960's muscle car, which, in completely stock configuration with bias-ply tires, still probably struggled to hit low-15s.
That whole bit where he was bashing the car reeked of old school muscle car talk. He was probably thinking back to a 1960's muscle car, which, in completely stock configuration with bias-ply tires, still probably struggled to hit low-15s.
The old muscle cars in stock form, 99.9% of those old hot cars were not as hot as people remembered them. They seemed faster because they handled like crap, and anything over 90mph was a white knuckle experience... In 1985 there was an IROC-Z article and the author stated that the 85 IROC was the fastest Camaro the magazine had ever tested, and they had the results going back into the mid 60's... With the exception of the COPO cars and some other specialty cars, Factory Stock 60's cars are not as fast as people remember.
Its funny because the rest of it is actually starts on page 58. As Paul Harvey used to say, "and now, the rest of the story".
This shows a bit on how/why to not do things.
Thanks for posting these, Tony. I used to devour stuff like this back in the day and literally bought EVERY magazine with a 3rd gen article. I still have them in my basement, all those that survived a flood I had years ago.
Split Fire plugs. Remember those? I still have a set in my black '89.
At one point I was getting over 10 magazines a month from the early to mid 80s and I still have most of them. Sadly, I'm getting zero a month these days.
With the internet, and scanners, paper magazines are a bit quaint.
Thanks for the rest of the article. I'll have to read it closer later when I have more time. Just from the glance it looks like they threw the Hypertech catalog at it. The ol' info-mercial sponsored by our sponsor routine. This time Hypertech, next time SLP, or TPIS, or Eldlerbachen Farms next time.
Very cool articles. I used to get half a dozen magazines and threw all of them away when I had to sell my last third gen. I was in such debt with Dr bills and my third son just being born didn't know if I'd ever get back into cars and didn't even want to look at em for a long time.
At one point I was getting over 10 magazines a month from the early to mid 80s and I still have most of them. Sadly, I'm getting zero a month these days.
One day you will get the question, "Daddy, what is a magazine?"
I think the interweb is great for stuff like this but to me, nothing beats having a good magazine in hand.
I agree, I miss the good old "Magazine days" The ones still left are no comparison to the old day magazines.
Soon, there wont be any at all - only digital subscriptions.....thats the way it going
For sure, Nothing like holding it in your hand over looking at it on screen. On the screen it can be erased or changed without you even knowing. Something that you physically hold in your hand is there until someone throws it away...
The last one worth a %$^# was Car Craft. I finally let it run out because I was tired of stacking them up, and I just couldn't throw em away. It took an act of God to get them to stop begging me to resubscribe. They kept sending me offers for CC, Hot Rod, and Popular Hot Rodding for a few years, but I think they finally took the hint.
Wish I had the gumption to go through all the car magazines stacked around or boxed up on the shelves, and scan all the relevant articles onto the laptop. It'd free up a ton of physical space, and it'd be easier to find a reference, really. That is assuming of course that data doesn't become corrupted.
I have been peeling out an putting all the 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th Gen story's in protective sleeves in their own 3 ring binders. I have cleaned up at least 1 full pickup load through the years. Also pulling out ads and other relevant items for other people. I also pass on certain mags if people want to look through them
I have cabinets full of data and information. About 50 original Magazines, but I realized quickly that indeed the stuff starts adding up. I went to the Library several years back and spent several days going thru microfiche and stuff taking Digital pictures of old articles I came across. That got old tho.
Before the internet, there were times I'd spent 2 or 3 days looking for an old magazine article. Those days are gone. Who's got time and patience for that?
I ended up with a buddy's stack of binders full of magazine clippings. Told myself I'd scan em and toss the lot in the trash. It's been a few years, all they've done is gather dust.
Goes to show that "back in the day" a 160* t stat and bump in initial timing really woke these TPI cars up.
but if they didnt adjust cooling fan turn on temps the stat would do nothing but delay how long it takes to hit max temp. Fans would be required to keep 160’s
07-29-2018, 08:38 PM
) back then.
