lets say u had a bone stock 2002 TA, and a thirdgen TA also with stock LS1, T56, and same gear ratio...who will consistently win this race?

i ask this cuz in houston there are a couple of thirdgens runnin around with LT1s and LS1s

 

i believe i heard that the thirdgen would win because it weighs less than a fourthgen with the same combo..

i think the thirdgen would need some upgraded suspension to hook up better though.

 

Eh, toss up for the most part I would think. Weight is close and the suspension is virtually identical in the rear where it would effect 1/4 mile performance.

That said why go to the trouble to throw a LS1 in without putting in a better cam? And why do the custom exhaust without starting out with headers and a better than factory cat-back??? Plenty of room for major improvements...

 

engine type, mods or not it really doesnt matter...i just wanted to know who would win between a 3rd gen and a 4th gen with the exact same engine, drivetrain, etc

 

it would prolly be pretty equal

 

it that 3rd gens suspension wasnt upgrade and was 13+years old.. then the 4th gen won hands down.

 

IMO the Third because of the weight difference.

 

granted weight does have an advantage, but he never said these 3rd gens have suspension work done.. u can have all the power u want.. but if u cant plant it.. u aint going anywhere..hense.. see sig's 1/4-mph #'s

 

hehe, I'm one of them Now granted, I'm not stock, but I can take out stock LS1's all day long. I think it would be a very close race for a stock LS1 3rd gen and 4th gen.

 

I say thirdgen for sure. Less weight+equal power+worn out suspension (provided it's equally worn out on both sides)= thirdgen win. If the rear on the thirdgen breaks or you for some unknown reason left the 700r4 in there then it's 4th gen all the way cause even if it's slower it'll still get to the end of the track.

 

yeah once again proved that the thirdgen body is better both aerodynamically and by weight

 

In the firebird platform the 3rd gen is a bit more slippery compared to the new T/A's. Don't know if it's the same for the Camaro. I heard a comment or two on them when they compared the two during the run of the IROC series. They used the New t/a body style after Dodge gave up the name from the Daytona and said on a top speed run they were fairly close, but there wa an aerodynamic advantage to the third gen T/A................

 

I can see LT1's, but LS1's? Are you sure about that? Besides, chances are if they went through all the trouble of an LS1 swap I SERIOUSLY doubt the rest of the car is untouched. And since when did suspension come into play? 3rd and 4th gen cars share identical LCAs, panhard bar, and extremely similar torque arm. The shocks and springs are almost interchangeable as well. They should be about equal...

From what I've seen the 3rd gen Camaros and Firebirds are usually lighter than the 4th gens. The heavier models like the GTA are fairly close though. But like I said earlier, I doubt those are "stock" LS1's and drivetrain in the 3rd gen cars.

 

Yea pete, one of the main reasons for the better aerodynamics of the t/a is the headlights and overall front end. The Camaro headlights and front grill(?) are less aerodynamic than the t/a with just curves and no inlets to trap air. Plus, I love the way it looks when you sit in a firebird and look out over it's hood. Way better than the Camaro's in my opinion. And getting back to the topic, if what you originally said is what is true, than I say thirdgen because of weight, but it basically comes down to the driver and launch with the T-56.

~Matt

 

3rd gen would win, it'd be several hundred pounds lighter. Lighter = Faster.

 

Is it just me or would it not depend on the driver here?? I have seen LS1 Camaro's and T/A's run 14's b/c the owner couldn't drive it. Among many other variables of course. The car may be capable but, if the owner can't drive it, it makes all the difference in the world.

 

I'm sure that we're talking about ideal situations here. A guy on my racing club has an LS1 powered RS, with a 2200 rpm converter and 4th gen rear he ran a 12.8

 

I dont see what would make a 4th gen heavier, i would actually think a similar optioned 4th gen would be lighter than a 3rg gen. 4th gens use fiberglass doors and the ss's and ws6's have fiberglass hoods as well. The LS1's are all aluminum and that takes a considerable amount of weight off of it. They both have just about the same chassi with minor differences. How does a similar optioned 4th gen weigh more?

 

Because it...does. Thirdgens are several hundred pounds lighter than 4th. You don't have to believe anyone on this board, you can look it up on any of the tech websites. Thirdgens average around 3200-3400 while 4th gens average 3400-3600, several hundred more for the vert of course. I mean just look at the 4th gen next to a thirdgen and you'll see that it looks heavier. That's cause it IS heavier.

 

It's not a matter of believeing anyone on this board. I trust the people here because they have a vast knowledge in 3rd gens. I wasnt saying i didnt believe that a third gen is lighter, i was simply asking a legitimate question as to what makes a third gen lighter. From just a glance it would seem to me a 4th gen with lighter body material and an all aluminum engine would weigh less with the same options. I just wanted to know what makes a third gen lighter? Thanks you

 

uhhh, 4th gens don't have fiberglass bodies, corvettes do. An LT1 Camaro weighs in at around 3600-3700 lbs, subtracting like 200 from that and there's your LS1 weight.

 

how do you explain the little chip on the corner of the door of my 2000 z28 having fiberglass behind it? Thats why the doors dont dent. I know the fenders aren't fiberglass, but i'm definite the doors are.

 

4ths are wider, longer, and have bigger, heavier interiors, (dash) and are I think made of a heavy dent resistent composite.