Hi
I am seeking information about a TA hood I recently saw.
It was from I believe a 1989 Trans Am.
It had the louvers on the front (with a screen under it) and on the side, by the windshiled, one air exit, per side.
What is so special about this hood?
Anyone have a picture of the air filter set up? I am seeking to make a air ram air system for my car (1985 Firebird, with that coffee can air filter). My 3.4 under the hood, needs more air! Yes, I said, correctly, 3.4.
I blew up the 2.8.
Slipped in a 3.4.
HEY Reno! How you like it over here!! They treat you ok?

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

It's just the 85-92 T/A hood. There was no factory ram air for it. you could probably make one if you could make a custom air box

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89 Transam GTA, 350TPI, auto, 3.27 rear, dual cats, gray.
Magnaflow cat-back,
K&N open element,
Best E.T. 14.63@95mph

 

Now, wait.
I've seen the back hood scoop ones. I thought that was up to including 1985, also.
Even the one on the June cover of Car Craft is the back hood scoop one, too.
And that's a 1988 TPI Formula 350.
I'm after information of the one with the two louvers on the front of the hood and two air exits at the back of the hood.
Thanks for responding!
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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

[This message has been edited by KED85 (edited May 11, 2001).]

 

In '85 or so (maybe '86) Pontiac started using the flat hood with louvres on it for the T/A and the Formulas got the Turbo bulge hood. The air filter is the same regardless of which hood you have. You could try to make it functional, but the air flows over the hood in that area, you would need a Ram Air hood like the 4'th gens to "catch" the air and bring it to the engine.

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Bob '89 Ram Air Formula 350
And until that time when death won't wait, let each man rage against his fate. (O'neill)
My car's homepage

 

Been trying to figure out how to create a realistic air set up. This original coffee can thing is a joke.
Was hoping that hood would work.
Would love to have/make something like the 4th gen nose in front bumper set up.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

Ked85,
I did the ta hood swap over to my old car, a 92 3.1. I was hoping for a ramair like setup by cutting the back of the hood away under the non-functional louvers. There presents a problem, even if you cut the hood away. In order for the air to flow from the inlet into an open air filter (perhaps mounted to the tb), it has to flow over the radiator (about 1-2 cm of room when you close the hood). If the louvers were further back on the hood, this would not be a problem. The TA hood looks great and an aftermarket one will cost you:
150 for the hood
80 for the front louvers
15 for the back
25 for the screens under the louvers
Totaling 270 for a non-functional ramair lookalike hood. In retrospect, its not worth it unless you're going for looks only. If you consider a cold air intake like jobryan26's, the hood is definetly worth the small change. If you want true ramair, look into an ascd ramair or ramairII hood.
It's just too bad a 4.3 wouldn't slip right into the 2.8's place.
Just my .02
Jon

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~3.1EyeCandy~
"The Car that started my craze"

'92 Firebird 3.1 (A car sold)

My new baby: '87 flame red GTA 350 w'auto
Carmine interior with pioneer all around
Hooker Catback, Airfoil, K&N
http://3.1EyeCandy.tripod.com

 

check out www.usbody.com they have the ram air off of the fourth gen firebirds for the third gens!

 

I got similar results by slipping a 40K 3.4 block into my car.
This Firebird now flies!
And gets over 20+mpg on the freeway cruising at 70MPH plus (when I can in LA area!).
No need for a 4.3, as I would just into my 1974 Corvette or my 1967 Camaro RS/SS Convertible with a LT-1 & four speed

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

I just saw the underside of that louvered hood. It definetly has some ram air features.
BUT.. you are saying I can buy those pieces?
And put them on my current hood? That may be an answer too.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

You can buy the louvers and accessories without buying the hood, but it'd be a waste. You cannot hoodup ramair with the transam factory louvered hood. The contours of the radiator and hood leave little to no room (emphasis on no room) for ram air potential.

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~3.1EyeCandy~
"The Car that started my craze"

'92 Firebird 3.1 (A car sold)

My new baby: '87 flame red GTA 350 w'auto
Carmine interior with pioneer all around
Hooker Catback, Airfoil, K&N
http://3.1EyeCandy.tripod.com

 

I get 22mpg city.



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1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula LO3 Auto
-180 degree stat
-Hooker Cat-Back
velcro t-top bag
*****Possible summer '01 mods*****
Dual Snorkle, Keyless Entry, Wonder Bar from my IROC, 4th gen seats, T/A tail lights

1985 IROC-Z, TPI Auto
-Accel Super Coil


http://www.geocities.com/krt80/

 

Now, in the city for the state of Virginia.. I can easily see one getting such great ilage.
BUT... in the City of LA, Traffic capitol of the world....
All one can do is keep fighting for holding what little freeway space there is.
Jack rabbit gunning to get into the next lane, real quick.
It's murder on city gas milage.
Lately, I've been able to travel on off peak hours. So I can go a bit easier on the pedal.
The torque of the 3.4 mill, really helps me take it a bit easier.
Out here all one does it travel in traffic. I normally take a road I call the OIR (Olympic (Blvd) International Raceway. All one does is race from traffic light to traffic light.
There has got to be a simple way to get more air into this coffee can thing.
And I do like that hood.
I really love the hood used in the Popular Hot Rod Firebird articles.
It has the hood like a 4th gen car.
Wish I could make a nose like the 4th Gen (bumper) & keep the flat hood.
There has to be a way.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

I had an 83,and an 82 Trans Am and both had the hood,and both were functional for those cars.The 82 and 83 both usually had the CFI also know as the Cross Fire Injection,and the way the set up was worked,was that when the car was floored,a solenoid opened the flap to the hood scoop to suck in more air through the scoop in the hood.So basically it sucks air in when the car is floored and man when it works likes it is supposed to i felt a difference in the car as opposed to the same exact car with the set up not working.When you close your hood it seals between the top of your TB set up and the scoop,and the air first enters the chamber where the stock air filter is before entering the intake.For what the set up was i like it when it ran right.As far as the newer cars with the same hood,like the 89 formula.theyre totally non-functional as far as i know.Well i hope maybe i helped somewhat.


Check out My Trans Am:
http://hometown.aol.com/italianknight178/index.html

 

Formula hood are non-functional, but are the same hoods that the 82-84 TA's had minus the induction setup. 85-92 TA hoods with the louvers and the air extracters are just for looks.

 

You only get 20+ in a V6, that sucks. I am getting 26 or 27 highway at 65/75 mph with my carbed LG4.

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1985 TransAm BLK/GLD Stock
1985 TransAm BLK/BLK
305HO (Its finally in) 5-speed, 3.27 posi, WS6, power everthing.
http://www.geocities.com/bullfrawgs

 

You have to understand how one drives in LA traffic.
So 20+ (and I am not really keeping track) is quite acceptable to me.
I'm sure it's quite up there, but, I'm so busy wiht so much, no time to be that concerned with it!
The fact that it gets better milage than my 1974 Corvette is just fine by me!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

You might be able to use some of the parts of the SLP cold air intake system for V8 cars. You can buy the parts seperatly if you need to. Check out www.slpeng.com and see what ya think. I dunno but some of it might work. You could also just get rid of that can all together and put a cone air filter on the end of the intake system.

Just some ideas........

Laterzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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Matt

1987 GTA L98 MD8 GW6

"Stop Lights timed for 35Mph are also timed for 70Mph"

 

Matt, I tried the cone at the end of air system trick.
This was before, I did the swap.
All it caused was my engine to run-on, after I shut it off.
After I re-installed the Coffee Can stuff, that problem went away.
I have eventually found out my Accel coil was "the cause" and I have to install a "MSD resistor" (in a wire from the alternator) to prevent that engine run on problem.
I do have a rather large selection of emission/air intake hoses from swap meets to create something.
This hood, is such a nice looking item, along with the fiberglass hood, used on the Popular Hot Rod Firebird, project car.
Trying to keep this idea, simple and functional. The hoses.... still seeking the solution, after I go for my first smog test, with the swapped engine.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

You can use the TA hood to vent hot air from the engine compartment. This has to be worth something!

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1989 Trans Am, 305 TPI 5-speed, T-Tops(love 'em),4-wheel disc, 3.73 posi(the toy). '97 Camaro V-6 T-Tops(daily driver)

 

It is SO HARD to imagine, these small V-6 creating that much under hood heat, compared to your guys V-8s with all that stuff!
I can't wait to pass my smog test.
Then I can play!!
Just gotta figure out, see another example how it was/is done!

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA