1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
This was the car in the mid 90s. I think it had around 3k miles at the time
I posted this late last summer on Ls2.com.....but I should have shared this here as well. So, a guy I know had a GORGEOUS 1989 Turbo Trans Am with only 7,100 original miles on it in a garage along with a red 1982 Corvette with 11k miles, and a 1982 Collector Edition Corvette with 14k miles. All 3 cars were just like brand new. Owner is the pickiest guy I have ever seen. For example, he would put masking tape around the wheelwell edges when he'd drive the TTA, and he'd recline the seat all the way back before he'd get in and out of it so his butt wouldn't wear the leather side bolsters on the seat. He was working on starting the red 82 Vette, and it backfired and started something on fire and it burned the entire garage down, with those precious jems inside. It about made me sick to my stomach when I drove by there the next day. Here's some pics... NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
I posted this late last summer on Ls2.com.....but I should have shared this here as well. So, a guy I know had a GORGEOUS 1989 Turbo Trans Am with only 7,100 original miles on it in a garage along with a red 1982 Corvette with 11k miles, and a 1982 Collector Edition Corvette with 14k miles. All 3 cars were just like brand new. Owner is the pickiest guy I have ever seen. For example, he would put masking tape around the wheelwell edges when he'd drive the TTA, and he'd recline the seat all the way back before he'd get in and out of it so his butt wouldn't wear the leather side bolsters on the seat. He was working on starting the red 82 Vette, and it backfired and started something on fire and it burned the entire garage down, with those precious jems inside. It about made me sick to my stomach when I drove by there the next day. Here's some pics... NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
Last edited by dagwood; 03-25-2018 at 02:14 PM.
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: 1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
Horrible. Still some good parts on that TTA. I bought a gta drivetrain from a car that looked just like that. Ran very well after a cleanup and new fluids!
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Car: 1983 Z28
Engine: 385 Fastburn
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: BorgWarner 9-bolt posi, 3.27 gears
Re: 1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
What a shame. However, that TTA body still looks rather solid. If someone jumped on that shell before it becomes a ball of rust you could have a good build. Not a TTA, no, but still.
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: 1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
I think he told me he had $25 g on the TTA, $22g on the collector edition vette, a d $20g on the red vette for insurance.
#16
Re: 1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
I can't imagine anything being usable on that car. I look at it like this, how much overheating does it take to warp or crack a cylinder head just by driving the car? By the looks of this damage, the entire car has experienced several thousand degrees of intense prolonged heat. Every metal object that's left in that car is compromised.
It's also interesting how the door handles, locks and mirrors are gone. I don't even see the steel hatch panel or surround anywhere. Hot fire indeed.
It's also interesting how the door handles, locks and mirrors are gone. I don't even see the steel hatch panel or surround anywhere. Hot fire indeed.
Last edited by kentuckyKITT; 03-28-2018 at 06:10 PM.
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Car: '82 z28
Engine: L83 5.7
Transmission: 700r4-1985
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: 1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
engines are probably salvageable on all 3 cars-especially the vettes,fire didn't burn all that hot under the hoods-hardly any melted aluminum,even on the TTA-probably still oil in the pans of each and some coolant left in the blocks.
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Car: 1989 IROC-Z. Original owner
Engine: LB9. Dual Cats. Big Cam
Transmission: World Class T-5
Axle/Gears: BW 3.45
Re: 1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
I'm not sure how a backfire could have cause this fire.
#19
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: 1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
I know, me too. Maybe he was pouring fuel down the throttle bodies to keep it running and it backfired and lit the cup of fuel in his hand and he spilled it all over? I dont know. I should have asked exactly how it started. He burned the crap out of his hands and face trying to put the fire out. He was wrapped up like a mummy for quite a while. I talked to him about a month or so ago and he's full of scars.
Last edited by dagwood; 03-28-2018 at 07:42 PM.
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Car: 1989 IROC-Z. Original owner
Engine: LB9. Dual Cats. Big Cam
Transmission: World Class T-5
Axle/Gears: BW 3.45
Re: 1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
I know, me too. I don't know if he had a can of gas, oe spilled gas behind the car or what. He burned the **** out of his hands and face trying to put the fire out. He was wrapped up like a mummy for quite a while. I talked to him about a month or so ago and he's full of scars.
I rebuilt the TBs on my '83 Crossfire. I forgot to put in one tiny O ring on one of them and when I started the car with the hood up, a stream of gas hit the windshield. I killed the car immediately, but I could see a fire starting like that. The air cleaner cover is still on the red car, so something like that couldn't happen.
#21
Re: 1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
And the boiling point of a 50/50 coolant mix in atmospheric pressure is about 230°. So all of the coolant boiled off.
EDIT, found an Amsoil MSDS that lists their 10w30 oil as having a fire point of 264°F. https://www.amsoil.com/msds/ase.pdf?zo=1181889
Some of those rims look like they got soft enough to deform. So even if it wasn't hot enough to approach the melting point of aluminum rims.
I think the engines could be rebuilt, but I'm sure there is damage to all of them.
Poor TTA.
Last edited by Thirdgen89GTA; 03-28-2018 at 07:54 PM.
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Car: 1986 Camaro Drag Car
Engine: 383 on Ethanol
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.90 Currie 9 inch
Re: 1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
I was surprised to see that the red car had a tire that still had air in it
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Re: 1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
Cars burn up FAST. Kitchen size extinguishers are most likely going to just **** off a fire once it's established. I'd recommend everyone have a considerable sized extinguisher in the garage.
Also, another thing to keep in mind, that probably won't cross your mind when you're fighting a fire.... If your fire is electrical, say your headers get a wire hot, the insulation burns and shorts to ground, you can put that fire out multiple times, but until you disconnect the battery or the power source melts, it'll keep burning.
IF your Fireball happens to have a manual transmission, set the parking brake and put the shifter in neutral, BEFORE you get out to fight the fire. You'll look REALLY stupid when the starter wires melt and your burning car takes off in gear while your legs flail in the wind out the window while you're trying to get the shifter out of gear.
Just a few thoughts, from a one time passenger in an automotive Fireball.
Also, another thing to keep in mind, that probably won't cross your mind when you're fighting a fire.... If your fire is electrical, say your headers get a wire hot, the insulation burns and shorts to ground, you can put that fire out multiple times, but until you disconnect the battery or the power source melts, it'll keep burning.
IF your Fireball happens to have a manual transmission, set the parking brake and put the shifter in neutral, BEFORE you get out to fight the fire. You'll look REALLY stupid when the starter wires melt and your burning car takes off in gear while your legs flail in the wind out the window while you're trying to get the shifter out of gear.
Just a few thoughts, from a one time passenger in an automotive Fireball.
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Re: 1989 TTA DESTROYED.....and 2 Corvettes
Wow. That is a shame. Sometimes common sense prevails over someone being OCD about cars. I have an extinguisher in each car and about 3 or 4 other larger ones in the corners of my garage. May be overkill but if something would happen I can say I tried.
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