1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
12-11-2018, 07:33 PM
#1
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: *member since 1999, I think - just can't remember my old name, and the big site crash...*
Posts: 1,199
Received 151 Likes
on
105 Posts
Car: 89 GTA ASC Conv., Prev: 89 GTA 6.3L
Engine: 5.7L L98 TPI
Transmission: 700r4 Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1 w/ JG1 Options:B2L, N10, U1A
1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
1982 Turbo TA which almost was...
12-11-2018, 09:10 PM
#2
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
For all the wishful thinking in that video, the 4.9T Pontiac was nothing to write home about. Until EFI really came into it's own, and the Big 3 finally discovered intercoolers, turbocharged cars weren't too thrilling. From 82-86 the 301T would have sucked just as bad as the LU5 or LG4, probably would have gotten stomped by the L69 cars. All while being more expensive to own, maintain, and warranty.
12-11-2018, 09:21 PM
#3
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: South Ms
Posts: 4,417
Received 720 Likes
on
490 Posts
Car: 89 Firebird
Engine: 355 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt.Posi-3.73s
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
I had the privilege of driving a pace car Trans Am with the turbo 4.9 and....it was an absolute turd. Honestly my L03 car seemed much snappier, they should have just put 350s in these cars from 82-92 like the 4th gens did.
12-12-2018, 07:59 PM
#4
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
For all the wishful thinking in that video, the 4.9T Pontiac was nothing to write home about. Until EFI really came into it's own, and the Big 3 finally discovered intercoolers, turbocharged cars weren't too thrilling. From 82-86 the 301T would have sucked just as bad as the LU5 or LG4, probably would have gotten stomped by the L69 cars. All while being more expensive to own, maintain, and warranty.
12-12-2018, 08:08 PM
#5
Supreme Member
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: MICHIGAN
Posts: 4,636
Received 751 Likes
on
577 Posts
Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: L03
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 2.73 Open
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
I'd love to have TTA Performance build me a 301T. With mods that are pretty mild in my book, they can pull 354HP and 511TQ at 3000 rpm.
https://ttaperformance.com/on-the-dyno
https://ttaperformance.com/on-the-dyno
12-12-2018, 08:31 PM
#6
Supreme Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 9,666
Received 546 Likes
on
376 Posts
Car: 1989 IROC-Z. Original owner
Engine: LB9. Dual Cats. Big Cam
Transmission: World Class T-5
Axle/Gears: BW 3.45
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
I'd love to have TTA Performance build me a 301T. With mods that are pretty mild in my book, they can pull 354HP and 511TQ at 3000 rpm.
https://ttaperformance.com/on-the-dyno
https://ttaperformance.com/on-the-dyno
Wow, cool!
12-12-2018, 10:34 PM
#7
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
So if you took a 350, built it up and added a turbo, how would it stack up to that 4.9T on the dyno?
History shows that GM lacked the initiative to pair a V8 with a turbo well into the period after thirdgens. Everything from the 1.0L Sprint 3cyl, 1.8L Sunbird, 2.0L Grand Am, 3.8L Buicks, and 4.3L Syclone/Typhoon got a turbocharger, but no V8s in the early EFI era. Kinda shoots holes in any theory of the 4.9T getting love if only the corporate engine strategy hadn't been...
History shows that GM lacked the initiative to pair a V8 with a turbo well into the period after thirdgens. Everything from the 1.0L Sprint 3cyl, 1.8L Sunbird, 2.0L Grand Am, 3.8L Buicks, and 4.3L Syclone/Typhoon got a turbocharger, but no V8s in the early EFI era. Kinda shoots holes in any theory of the 4.9T getting love if only the corporate engine strategy hadn't been...
Trending Topics
12-13-2018, 06:21 AM
#8
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
So if you took a 350, built it up and added a turbo, how would it stack up to that 4.9T on the dyno?
History shows that GM lacked the initiative to pair a V8 with a turbo well into the period after thirdgens. Everything from the 1.0L Sprint 3cyl, 1.8L Sunbird, 2.0L Grand Am, 3.8L Buicks, and 4.3L Syclone/Typhoon got a turbocharger, but no V8s in the early EFI era. Kinda shoots holes in any theory of the 4.9T getting love if only the corporate engine strategy hadn't been...
History shows that GM lacked the initiative to pair a V8 with a turbo well into the period after thirdgens. Everything from the 1.0L Sprint 3cyl, 1.8L Sunbird, 2.0L Grand Am, 3.8L Buicks, and 4.3L Syclone/Typhoon got a turbocharger, but no V8s in the early EFI era. Kinda shoots holes in any theory of the 4.9T getting love if only the corporate engine strategy hadn't been...
12-13-2018, 07:14 AM
#9
Supreme Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Il
Posts: 11,688
Received 745 Likes
on
505 Posts
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
The 301 was ment to be a MPG engine but in true Pontiac spirit, they started modding it. The block, crank and balancer were lightened and the shared pair intake runner heads/intake were garbage from a performance and durability standpoint .
If (huge if) they would have used the older style beefier block casting, better older style counter weighted crank with the older style heads/intake, they would have had a monster to build off of.
If (huge if) they would have used the older style beefier block casting, better older style counter weighted crank with the older style heads/intake, they would have had a monster to build off of.
12-13-2018, 09:03 AM
#10
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
The 301 turbo block was a thicker casting IIRC. definitely not as stout as the older Pontiac engines. They lightened the crank by removing the counterweights. That and the siamesed intake runners hampered any ability to make decent power with the design as it was.
12-13-2018, 07:36 PM
#11
Supreme Member
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: MICHIGAN
Posts: 4,636
Received 751 Likes
on
577 Posts
Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: L03
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 2.73 Open
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
But I know what you're saying. A modern SBC (or Pontiac) with a turbo AND EFI would have been fun.
And if I were going to build a 301T, I would pull the Quadrajet in favor of EFI.
12-13-2018, 09:55 PM
#12
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: *member since 1999, I think - just can't remember my old name, and the big site crash...*
Posts: 1,199
Received 151 Likes
on
105 Posts
Car: 89 GTA ASC Conv., Prev: 89 GTA 6.3L
Engine: 5.7L L98 TPI
Transmission: 700r4 Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1 w/ JG1 Options:B2L, N10, U1A
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
So if you took a 350, built it up and added a turbo, how would it stack up to that 4.9T on the dyno?
History shows that GM lacked the initiative to pair a V8 with a turbo well into the period after thirdgens. Everything from the 1.0L Sprint 3cyl, 1.8L Sunbird, 2.0L Grand Am, 3.8L Buicks, and 4.3L Syclone/Typhoon got a turbocharger, but no V8s in the early EFI era. Kinda shoots holes in any theory of the 4.9T getting love if only the corporate engine strategy hadn't been...
History shows that GM lacked the initiative to pair a V8 with a turbo well into the period after thirdgens. Everything from the 1.0L Sprint 3cyl, 1.8L Sunbird, 2.0L Grand Am, 3.8L Buicks, and 4.3L Syclone/Typhoon got a turbocharger, but no V8s in the early EFI era. Kinda shoots holes in any theory of the 4.9T getting love if only the corporate engine strategy hadn't been...
What was the twin turbo project 3rd Gen in 1991? Firefox II? There were also the RPO B2K Twin Turbo Corvettes from 1987-1991 which 510 were built.
Pontiac "Firefox II" Trans Am prototype (1991) (The Firefox II, based on a 1991 Trans Am was built by Pontiac in conjunction with TDM Technologies. TDM is an automotive engineering support firm based in Livonia, Michigan. This incarnation of the original Firefox differs from the original in several areas. The Firefox was powered by a beefed up Tuned Port Injected 5.7 liter with aluminum heads and a bumped up compression ratio of 10.5:1. The Firefox was also given several tried and true TPI modifications. The Firefox had provisions for a catalytic convertor but this prototype was not so equipped. Horsepower levels were an impressive 328 hp at 4500 rpm and a stump pulling 395 lbs of torque at 3500 rpm. It is needless to say that these levels of performance would decimate stock driveline pieces. As was the case with the original Firefox, the shifting duties were handled by a Corvette ZF six speed tranny with power being channeled to a limited slip rear with 3.91 gears. Residing in the rear of Firefox II is a suspension that F-body owners have wanted for the last 10 years, an independent rear suspension. This all aluminum independent rear suspension required the fuel tank to be removed and replaced with a small fuel cell fitted in the luggage compartment. It also required a compact muffler mounted snuggly behind the IRS assembly. The IRS was apparently considered for the 1989 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am and the original Firefox but has never made it on a production F-body due to cost and complexity. The rolling stock was also upgrade to handle the increased performance. The Firefox II rode on sticky 275/40/17 Goodyear
12-14-2018, 11:13 AM
#13
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
So I love gaming like this. A dream build of mine that I'll never do would be to build an '82 TA with a 301T, and make it as factory appearing as absolutely possible. Exception being that it would be a 350 or a 400 and not a 301, and it would have an EFI throttle body instead of a Q-jet running on E85 with water/meth injection(no intercooler). It would also have a T56 labeled as a 4spd.
12-14-2018, 12:16 PM
#14
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
So I love gaming like this. A dream build of mine that I'll never do would be to build an '82 TA with a 301T, and make it as factory appearing as absolutely possible. Exception being that it would be a 350 or a 400 and not a 301, and it would have an EFI throttle body instead of a Q-jet running on E85 with water/meth injection(no intercooler). It would also have a T56 labeled as a 4spd.
12-14-2018, 03:20 PM
#15
COTM Editor
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,892
Likes: 0
Received 1,855 Likes
on
1,270 Posts
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
A dream build of mine that I'll never do would be to build an '82 TA with a 301T, and make it as factory appearing as absolutely possible. Exception being that it would be a 350 or a 400 and not a 301, and it would have an EFI throttle body instead of a Q-jet running on E85 with water/meth injection(no intercooler). It would also have a T56 labeled as a 4spd.
12-14-2018, 03:32 PM
#17
COTM Editor
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,892
Likes: 0
Received 1,855 Likes
on
1,270 Posts
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
My dream '82 is a KARR pro street drag car with a license plate that says FU KITT
12-14-2018, 06:40 PM
#19
Supreme Member
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: MICHIGAN
Posts: 4,636
Received 751 Likes
on
577 Posts
Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: L03
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 2.73 Open
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
So I love gaming like this. A dream build of mine that I'll never do would be to build an '82 TA with a 301T, and make it as factory appearing as absolutely possible. Exception being that it would be a 350 or a 400 and not a 301, and it would have an EFI throttle body instead of a Q-jet running on E85 with water/meth injection(no intercooler). It would also have a T56 labeled as a 4spd.
Yup. If cost and time were no object, I'd love to make my 3rd gen all Pontiac.
12-14-2018, 10:40 PM
#20
Re: 1982 Turbo Trans Am which almost was...
If a Pontiac is built in California, on the assembly line with Chevys, is it really any more of a Pontiac than a Chebby 305 or 350 that came in a Pontiac? I mean the Chevy engine in a Pontiac that's virtually a Chevy, is as much Pontiac as the rest of the car.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Striker
Interior Parts for Sale
1
03-14-2011 09:34 AM
Gta-Paladin
Tech / General Engine
9
10-07-2002 12:07 AM
83firebirdS/E
Auto Detailing and Appearance
23
01-18-2002 07:59 PM