my 3rd gen family is growing! in addition to my two camaro's (both 92 rs, a4,lo3, fe1 susp.,2.73, one car works one doesnt) i just purchased a 1987 GTA (l98 ws6, 9 bolt 3.23-7?,alum. driveshaft, j65 brakes).

just posting this up, alott of people have owned an lo3 car and a l98 car but i dont recall seeing a comparison.

my 92 in the sig pic and avatar was my first car, i bought when i was working at dragway 42 in westsalem OH going on six years ago. it has the soft fe1 suspension, i swapped in a posi 2.73, other then smog removal an open element and timing, its completely stock. runs pretty good for an lo3 pulling in a best 1/4 mile of 15.65 at 88 mph a couple years ago. if the car was tuned and tuned up completely i belive it would go a 15.40 in its present state.

in comes the GTA, completely stock with a new motor under the hood. most people would think the GTA is ALOTT faster. well its faster, but for those considering a tpi swap into an lo3, i dont suggest it. it bears mentioning that some members of tgo have expressed doubt that the motor in the gta is a complete and correct l98, i have checked the heads but its a maf car, so it'll run fine with moderately different cam, i cant tell whether the short block and cam are the "right" ones without tearing the motor down so,, seeing that it runs much like many people say tpi does(awesome torque and response, less then terrific top end power)you'll have to decide for yourself how much accuracy this comparison shows. off the line the gta is AMAZING. the only strength the lo3 came from the factory with was good low end torque,, but the l98's torque destroys the camaro's, HOWEVER once you pass 3000 rpm the difference between the cars starts to dwindle, tpi's stock top end is better then the tbi, however after getting punched in the spine by the torque when you hit the throttle, its a let down to see the rpms creep towards redline after you pass the power band. off the line performance is scary your first time in an l98 car after a life of l03's, but its not the best part the gta at all.

the BIGGEST difference in performance to me,, was the handling. the ws6 cars got bigger sway bars, especially the rear one, stiffer springs and shocks, a higher rate steering gearbox, and some other goodies i think, but can't recall. the sum of the parts is greater then the whole! when you punch it, the nose doesnt rise much at all, the car bites and goes, power brake it a bit and it burns straight till second then kicks out but is easily brought back straight by lifting the throttle a bit and punching it again, when you hit the four wheel disc brakes, the nose doesnt drop a noticable amount, it just bleeds off the speed. the gta's got a bit softer dampers then regualr trans ams, and i dont mind it a bit, despite its admirable grip and stiffness, it rides very smooth over the road and always feels stuck to the pavement. the steering deserves attention too, im not going to compare the cars on this point because i believe my camaro has a malfunctioning gearbox, but the gta's is all i can ask for, its direct and precise, doesnt feel like power steering at all, add it into the suspension and you can nail whatever line you like easily.

the differences between l98 and lo3 werent what i thought they would be, after spending five years on this board and being in the underdog crew of lo3 people, you get the impression that l98 is a god, well mines not. too be honest though the only reason the tbi gets attention these days in my mind is because of the tbi forum, some of the most inventive people ive ever met on that board, look at advances like the EBL and numerous and very helpfull stickies in that board are keeping the system alive more competitive then it ever has been, you guys are the A-Team of cheap EFI, cudos and thanks for all the help over the years!

 

thats a good compro but i promise u if u open that gta up a little with some new exhaust headers back u will understand even a little better why the l98 is much better I walk away from any of the 305's from the line or the roll the ones i have met with sticks will help them keep up better but only to a point I have met 305s that have beat me but its pretty far and few between just do some work to the 350 then u will really like it pz

 

for sure the l98 is better in stock form. all around its better, but it isnt THAT much better, its doesnt back up the flogging that tbi guys get alott of the time. it is by far the SWEETEST looking efi system ive ever seen though, cmon that thing looks like its off a stardestroyer.

the suspension deserves more attention then the motor, imop. i think an l98 car equipped with an fe1 susp. (dunno if thats even possible)vs an lb9 or l03 car with ws6 susp, and a t5 would, lose in a road race depending on the track. it depends on years though, i have a weak year for tpi so maybe im not doing it justice, i think it'll pick up alott with a different intake.

but to the l03 guys, especially the newer ones, dont sweat the tbi, its a great system too, it was purpose built to be cheaper and less powerfull then the tpi but that can be overcome. you guys have the best forum ive encountered in your corner, the tbi gurus are amazing just look at fast355 he's got a tbi powered VAN that he took out an lt1 camaro with iirc. The best workers are volunteers and i think that people like fast are basically too stubborn to give up which has lead to alot of innovation in tbi.

 

GTA'S PROS and CONS
hp gas milege??
handling
LOOKS
top speed

This is what ur l98 gta has over youre rs.

 

i have an 87 to and so we are basing it off the same year maybe your jasper engine isnt as good as the orginal was if its a gta then it was ws6 sups. if it doesnt then its not real pz

 

if it aint real its real enough. assuming the rpo sheet is correct then it is a ws6 gta car. it has the ws6 susp, four wheel discs, aluminum driveshaft, bw 9 bolt that works quite well still, correct seats, steering wheel, tailights, fenders, gfx (fenders with the extractor dont fit right, the gfx over lap the gfx a bit), motor mathes the hood sticker, vin and rpo, vin on the steel bumper matches vin under the windsheild, its got a salvage title, so the collector value is dropped allready so one way or another i have a sweet pontiac.