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Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 12:53 PM
  #1  
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Car: '88 Firebird Z20
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Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Just wondering if both had identical engine, drivetrain, suspension which would come out ahead. In theory I'd say the Firebird because of the more aero front, but what do you guys think. Later.
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 12:59 PM
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Some cars were built better then others... And different options = Different weight. It is a toss up.
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 01:13 PM
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

I would note that Lingenfelter chose a TransAm for his land speed record.
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 01:15 PM
  #4  
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Car: 87 GTA
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

With everything equal, as far as power, traction, weight, etc.? The Firebird would have a slight advantage, due to aerodynamics. But the driver is the biggest factor in everything.

When I was running autocross regularly, I knew a driver that could beat just about anyone in THEIR car, that they were used to, his 1st time in. He could take a F-stock car & run with E-Street Prepared cars easily.
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 02:11 PM
  #5  
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Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Although the Firebird has a better drag coefficient, I doubt you would see any difference in performance unless the vehicles were designed to do 150+ mph. 2 identical street cars but with different body styles would likely be equally fast.
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 02:35 PM
  #6  
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Also, they had different air intakes, so that also may have some play in this. But then again, at the stock power level, it isn't going to really be noticed.
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 02:54 PM
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

i think the firebird... its appears to be more aero than the camaro... there is a german tuner, that has one going over 250mph
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 10:24 PM
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Originally Posted by ellocojorge
... there is a german tuner, that has one going over 250mph
this one. this car is sick: http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/22/e...pontiac-trans/
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 10:39 PM
  #9  
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

CAMARO!!! Thats an easy question!
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 10:51 PM
  #10  
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Originally Posted by rocdriver
CAMARO!!! Thats an easy question!
... Its all about the Firebirds... They really seem to FLY!
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 11:32 PM
  #11  
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Car: 1985 Berlinetta
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Camaros got better air intakes
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Old Aug 16, 2009 | 03:50 AM
  #12  
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Originally Posted by Toehead
Camaros got better air intakes
Firebirds even look faster.
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Old Aug 16, 2009 | 04:17 AM
  #13  
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From: Dallas, Tx
Car: 1991 camaro rs
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Originally Posted by battmann


thats the one... makes me tear up a little
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Old Aug 17, 2009 | 01:04 PM
  #14  
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

good to read about the american-bashers getting the correction they deserve. euro snobs are such dumba$$es. If you're serious about going fast, there are only 2 options: (1) a turbocharged big block chevy, or (2) a turbocharged LSX.
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Old Aug 17, 2009 | 01:34 PM
  #15  
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Car: 1991 Trans Am
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Typically I would lean towards a Camaro being 'faster' with equal drivetrains. My thinking on this is Firebirds were generally the higher end model and weighed a little more, not counting Formula's.
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Old Aug 17, 2009 | 01:49 PM
  #16  
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From: Dallas, Tx
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Originally Posted by Atilla the Fun
good to read about the american-bashers getting the correction they deserve. euro snobs are such dumba$$es. If you're serious about going fast, there are only 2 options: (1) a turbocharged big block chevy, or (2) a turbocharged LSX.
lets not stick our heads up our ***** on this either... amg( Mercedes tuner) has been producing some of the fastest street legal vehicles around.
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Old Aug 17, 2009 | 02:15 PM
  #17  
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

street legal? that depends on the laws of the various countries. For ultimate HP potential, no Mercedes engine can approach the capabilities of the LSX block, and there are BBCs out there over 3000 HP. The HP required increases at the cube of the speed increase. So, to go faster, you need more HP. And unless you want to go from piston engines to jets or rockets, the HP champs of this planet are the 2 I named. If they want to rival us, they'll have to use one of our engines, or build a one-off.
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Old Aug 18, 2009 | 12:24 AM
  #18  
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

i meant emmissions and actually drivable
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Old Aug 18, 2009 | 12:48 AM
  #19  
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Car: 91 B4C "police special service"
Engine: L98 494hp
Transmission: tko-600 on order
Axle/Gears: 3.23 true trac
Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

well besides the euro cars mentioned above???????

I would say camaros, because you can get a police package (yes mine is) in those....and police radios are faster than any car.....LOL.
okay sorry, I know that was cheesy....
still go camaro!! lol
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Old Aug 18, 2009 | 01:14 AM
  #20  
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Car: 86 T/A, 83 Z/28
Engine: 5.0 TPI, 350 2 X 4 bbl
Transmission: 4 speed auto, 5 speed manual
Axle/Gears: 3.23 posi, 3.73 std
Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Wasnt the turbo trans am the fastest third gen of all the factory third gens? Beond that there were actual magazine tests on this very thing cant remeber which magazine or what particular year but the way it ended up breaking down the IROC camaro had better low end speed because of its better intake giving it alittle hp boost over the firebird but the Trans Ams better aerodynamics allowed it to overtake the camaro in the top end. Oddly enough though they ended up with the same top speed which was something in the low 140s. That being said I thing a Firebird formula 350 would be the best of them all. They could have all the T/A performance options whith about 300 lbs less than the T/A which would push it beyond not only the T/As but the IROCs and Z28s as well by a narrow margin. The only ones that i cannot account for are 1LEs, SLP cars, or any special package car of that nature.
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Old Aug 18, 2009 | 01:17 AM
  #21  
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From: Dallas, Tx
Car: 1991 camaro rs
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Originally Posted by 91interceptorZ
well besides the euro cars mentioned above???????

I would say camaros, because you can get a police package (yes mine is) in those....and police radios are faster than any car.....LOL.
okay sorry, I know that was cheesy....
still go camaro!! lol
lol that u are correct
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Old Aug 18, 2009 | 10:28 AM
  #22  
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Car: 1988 Firebird - 1998 Z28
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Does it really matter?
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Old Aug 18, 2009 | 12:10 PM
  #23  
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Car: 91 B4C "police special service"
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Originally Posted by V6F1R3BRD
Does it really matter?

But of course......

I agree though on the special cars......the firehawk was offered to the pontiac guys, which did outperform them all.....camaro was not offered that special intake system...although I don't know much about them....only ever seen one..
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Old Aug 18, 2009 | 01:23 PM
  #24  
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Turbo Trans Am.

Booya!
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Old Aug 18, 2009 | 01:30 PM
  #25  
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Car: 91 B4C "police special service"
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

what were the specs on that....wasn't it just a turbo 4 cyl.... or like the old TA 301 turbo cars???
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Old Aug 18, 2009 | 10:21 PM
  #26  
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Originally Posted by 91interceptorZ
what were the specs on that....wasn't it just a turbo 4 cyl.... or like the old TA 301 turbo cars???
If your referring to the Turbo TA it was the infamous buick 3.8
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Old Aug 18, 2009 | 10:25 PM
  #27  
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Re: Firebird or Camaro, which is faster ?

Originally Posted by IrocZ30589
If your referring to the Turbo TA it was the infamous buick 3.8
The 301 he's referring to, was a 2nd gen turbo car. (i thought it was a 304?)

The Buick 3.8 was in the 89 TTA.
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