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Tech / General EngineIs your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!
Please bear with me, I'm female and new to this, so I don't know technical terms and all that. I just know I want to go fast lol.
When I bought my TA I was told I would have to reinforce the frame to keep it from twisting if I wanted to race it. However, I read online that the Recaro package came with a stronger build. I would appreciate any knowledge about this. I really don't want to spend money on unnecessary upgrades.
The Recaro edition was just fancy interior. It's the same chassis and suspension as every other 82 Trans Am.
What do you mean by "race"? These cars were put round a track just the way they came from the dealer. Not that they were the best but at factory power levels it's not really an issue. You'll need a lot more than factory 1982 HP to need any type of rigidity upgrades. Not that you couldn't do that now if you wanted to, you just don't need it at stock power to throw the car around a little.
Also there isn't a "frame" because the car is unibody. Meaning the entire chassis is one welded structure and there isn't a separate body and frame. Spohn (http://www.spohn.net/) makes the types of parts you were likely referred to - they do call them frame connectors but that's a bit misleading since there isn't a frame in reality.
The WS6 option, was standard on the Recaro E,which included RPO J65 4-wheel disc brakes, P215/65R15 Goodyear Eagle GT "Gatorback" radials, RPO N89 15-inch "Turbo Cast" aluminum wheels, stiffer springs, thicker 34 mm front & 21mm rear sway bars, a fast turn ratio "WS" 12.7:1 power steering box, and the RPO G80 limited slip rear differential. Also available was the WS7 option, which was the same as RPO WS6, but utilized rear drum brakes instead of the rear discs. This option was created when the WS6 option first released in 1978 due to a shortage of rear disc brake components.
Just add sub frame connectors, wonder bar, and shock tower brace.
That's pretty quick. A 10 sec car is no joke. Do you have any pictures of your 82? What condition is it in?
I do drool over those Recaro edition interiors.
Something to think about - if you get it into the 10's then you will need some serious harnesses and probably the stock seats aren't going to fly. There's a lot of rules at the track for cars that fast. You will need a driveline loop..... something like this would be the right answer I should think:
That's pretty quick. A 10 sec car is no joke. Do you have any pictures of your 82? What condition is it in?
I do drool over those Recaro edition interiors.
Something to think about - if you get it into the 10's then you will need some serious harnesses and probably the stock seats aren't going to fly. There's a lot of rules at the track for cars that fast. You will need a driveline loop..... something like this would be the right answer I should think:
My father ran 10.9 at Green Valley. I intend to try to follow in those footsteps.
My interior is roached. I'll sell the front seats and replace those, the back seats will be reupholsteried. There's no motor but the body is straight and is the perfect project car for me. I'll take the whole thing apart and sand, primer, and paint every piece. She'll be built to the tilt. Definitely will not be all original. She's a 500$ barn find... self named Diablo7. Let me see if I can figure out how to post pics...
There's potential there. Looks straight. Mine was pretty sad when I started too:
Sat for 11 years under a collapsed plastic greenhouse in the woods.
Painted with Rustoleum using a roller. I still need to wet sand and buff most of the car. Did some on the hood and mirrors so far. Work in progress....
First thing to do is make it run with any old SBC. They are cheap used. Then you can move it, etc. If you haven't looked into the rustoleum roller painting technique you should Google that. I probably have about $600 into my paint job. I had to learn as I went and I still have a lot of wet sanding and buffing to do but it looks pretty good already compared to where I started. I haven't decided if I will clear coat over it or not. I might but I really like the rustoleum for a daily driver because it's super easy to repair chips and flaws. I have everything to do it in my garage and I can easil apply four coats in a day, sand and buff it the next. It's like magic.
