Kyle F

OK I know where I can get a 89 Tubo T/A . It has a salvaged title and has not been started for 2 years. It is in driveable condition, just hasn't been started. So here is my Question is it worth $3000? What will I have to expect to fix before it will be driveable. Also is it ever going to be worth anything if I restore it to original condition because its got a salvaged title?

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86 Trans Am 355 TPI Rebuilt 700R4 with Corvette servo, modified valve body, and a B&M Torque Converter (2000 rpm stall w/ lock up), 87 350 block bored .30 with new crank. Reworked 305 heads with 3-angle valve job. Added in the rebuild was an SLP TPI cam, BBK 58mm Throttle Body,MSD 6A, Hypertech Power Coil, 1.5 Crane roller tipped rocker arms, SLP Intake Runners and Port matching in upper intake including fully ported plenum, TPIS adjustable fuel pressure regulator @ 46psi, Hooker shorty style headers w/ Thermotech heat wrapping, Custom 3” exhaust with Flowmaster muffler and chrome quad tips, Hypertech Thermomaster Computer chip, K&N open element cone filter on modified MAF per TPIS specs, MSD Wires, removal of A/C hardware and added a 1LE firewall cover installed. Also there has been a PST front suspension kit with Hotchkis strut tower brace added. Soon to have Intrax lowering springs.
http://geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Garage/9548/kyle.html

Kills:
95 Talon TSI, 96 Probe GT, 91 T/A L98, 89 RS, 86 Mustang GT, 88 Mustang LX 5.0, 92 Thunderbird V8. couple or ricers that I think were Civics or Preludes not sure what year, 95 Celica GT-S, 94 Chevy 1/4 ton 350, one of those NASCAR F150's

The Third Gen Will Never be Forgotten

Vortex_89rs

Given the opportunity, I would buy it.

Vman

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1969 Camaro Sport Coupe
383, 700R4, leather, everything black but the lights

Previous owner of an 89 RS Camaro
2.8L V6, 700R4

Black 86 'bird

Me too. That would be the only thing to make me get rid of what I got now. Where did you find it at? I looked a traderonline.com a week or two ago for the heck of it.

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The famous "one wheel peel"
My only mod: Flowmaster 40 series

[This message has been edited by Black 86 'bird (edited March 04, 2001).]

FAST RS

No offence but i would slap you upside the head for not takein it.

RenoLB8

I'm gonna go with Fast RS on this one. The salvage title will keep it from any real value in the future, but if anything, that's freeing, I would think. You don't have to keep the original paint or interior or anything then. As long as it's value as a TTA is shot, you can go nuts with it. you'd definately be blowing an excellent oppurtunity if you pass this one up though. TTA's are THE fastest F-bodies to date.

-Reno

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'88 Firebird LB8
"Cerberus"
"You think you're weak and maybe I'm the cure, but I've got 6 pistons in my engine, and I got one for ya...it's a long shot"
http://www.angelfire.com/il/Firebird28/index.html

Kyle F

Yea I know how great the car is and all, but with it not being ran for 2 years, will it be so withered away in all the seals and stuff that it would cost me big $$$ just to make it road worthy?

Ovrclck350

Kyle. For 3000 It'd be worth it. ****, I'd replace most of that stuff anyways once I got it. Get it if you can. If not, tell one of us where we can get it.

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Smile, you're in my rearview I'm joking, I have a v6.
See pics @ Billy's Firebird
92 Bird 3.1L Auto
Best $750 I ever spent....
DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!
Kills:
93 Mustang LX (Before Mods),98 or 99 Dodge Stratus (tough one, edged out at 40),
92 Camaro RS 305 TBI-Not too fair, his fuel pump went out 2 days later. Nice car, but not running right. 97+ Honda somethin or another...modded....kept at my door the entire way
Close Calls
94 Grand Am 3.1 V6, 92 Cavalier 3.1 V6
01 Porsche 911 Turbo (Had em till first gear)
Mods-Jet Stage 2 Performance Chip, Accel Cap/Rotor, Accel 8.8 MM Wires, Accell Coil, AC Delco Rapidfire Plugs, Dynomax Catback, K&N
AIM name OVRCLCK350

Kyle F

Well if I can get it, I will. If not I will make an aler post on most of the Boards. I am going through another person who found it first to get to the owner. Hopefully I get the phone number today.

KED85

Salvage title should only matter to the "next" owner. You are buying a piece of GM History.
It may go up in value big time, if they do stop the F-Bodies.
3K, sounds way to high.
Hey it's your money, tho. And yes, it will cost $$$ to bring it back to good contiion, but, that's only the engine. Rest of stuff is decorative items for that specific car.
Underneath, it's still a 3rd gen. Out in LA, those things are a dime a dozen, without rust, too (not the TTA).

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

HIX5000

The other night I was watching a special on car dealerships that salvage vehicles. If you register the car in a different state the salvage might dissapear off the title. The dealerships were able to do this with flood and salvage vehicles.

Kyle F

I know I live close to the kentucky border. I just dont have a kentuck address to title over to there and then back into OHIO.

KED85

Check Hemmings. The bible of old car want ads, at your local newstand.
There is a place that does that service, if that detail is that important.
I'd rather see you spend the $$ on a gasket kit, myself.

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

Graeme'sFirebird

20 psi or tta850 ? Ur guys's opinions please.

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1994 Camaro z28
6 speed, LT1
Ati supercharger, 10 lbs boost,Flowmaster Exhaust, Doug Rippie high flow 24lb injectors, 160 thermostat, Hypertech PP+, 52MM throttle body, Hotchkins strut tower brace, Crane HI-6s Ignition with a Crane HI-6TR timing retard controller and a B&M Ripper Shifter, Hypertech power programmed


" I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to NOT run at all ".

20-psi

Just read the post and I would buy this car for myself. My car has been sitting for 3 years now waiting to get put back together. It needs help but it needed that before due to the fire it had and the 104K hard miles I put on it. I don't know much about the salvage title but don't pass this one up you can turn it into sometime special easily if its still running.

Keep me posted. Pete

HIX5000

I'm sure this is stupid question but, what makes this car so special?

Ovrclck350

The Turbo Trans Am is the fastest stock thirdgen built. It has a Buick 3.8L Turbo engine in it. They were limited production (around 2500 i believe), and all of the TTA's produced were white.

Someone else probably has more information than I can give you.

Garmer

PLAIN AND SIMPLE, IF YOU EVER LOOK AT ONE OF THOSE ENGINES, YOUR MOUTH DROPS, THE BEST!!

If I could afford one/ find one, I would love to have one! Also a GN kicks *** , I read somewhere that there 0-60 where faster than the European Cars?!?!?

25th anniversarry RS

2 years isnt that long, my camaro sat for a year and a half.. I have a 65 pontiac that sat for 12 years. I read an article on a 89 turbo trans am that has some extremely low milage on it, the car hadnt been run since 1989 or 90 and they started it in 99 i believe, they said the only problem was the fuel injectors were trying to clog up, but 2 years shouldn't do that, just change the fluids, put some fresh gas in her and go from there.

RenoLB8

Correction: Not fastest thirdgen, fastest F-body, EVER, from the factory. And it's a V6

-Reno

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'88 Firebird LB8
"Cerberus"
"You think you're weak and maybe I'm the cure, but I've got 6 pistons in my engine, and I got one for ya...it's a long shot"
http://www.angelfire.com/il/Firebird28/index.html

Ovrclck350

Sorry Ked. I just wasn't sure if the newer Firehawk's could take em.

Kyle F

Nope still the fastest of all time. I can't seem to get a hold of this guy. Its pissing me off. I am so damn close I can taste it.

There were only 1500 built, one paced the race and the back up car was givin to the race winner.
0-60 time was 5.5sec and 1/4 mile was 13.5 stock.

I am sure a f-body will beat that time soon. they are at like 13.8 now in the SS's and Ram Airs stock. I know I have seen test where they can get them faster, but GM claims 13.8's because as we all know some are faster than others.
Just spitting out soem info.
Oh yes it is a V6, but its a 3800 90* V6

dudelovett

Weren't the 92 Firehawks faster?

I guess they wouldn't count though because they weren't exactly "production" F-Bodies

And I'm not too sure about it being the fastest F-body ever....I think the 68 Firebird RA 400 II, 69 Camaro SS, 69 Camaro ZL-1 or maybe even the 73 TA 455 Super Duty could give the TTA a good run for the title of fastest F-body EVER.

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1991 Firebird Formula
305 TPI, Auto, Accel Cap & Rotor, K&N Filter, Grant GT Steering Wheel, 5% Rear tint, Pontiac Windshield Decal, Fresh paint
No real mods yet!

Former owner of an 88 2.8 Firebird....RIP

[This message has been edited by dudelovett (edited March 06, 2001).]

Vortex_89rs

I thought there were 1555 built......?

Vman

20-psi

In the box that came with each of the 1555 cars, they had the factory writeup that stated it went 13.50. To pace the Indy 500, it had to be able to perform certain functions like be able to go 13.50 or quicker in the quarter mile, go from 35 to 100 within a certain time, the driver needed to be able to excape the car with the windows up, that's why it had to be a convertable or t-tops. ALL these things were acheived with the 89 TTA with NO modifications what so ever, it was the first car to do this and is the only 4-seater ever. The other cars were either a Corvette or Viper, ALL other cars had to be modified. I had the Pace car book from Indy that has all the facts.

My TTA #609 went 13.55 its first weekend out and with minor adjusting and a chip. It ran 12.42 @111.

Can any of the cars perform this good for such little tuning?

Pete

Ovrclck350

HAHA, the TTA WAS slower than the 91-92 Firehawk's in the 1/4 mile. Top Spee however....another story. And yes, there were 1555 TTA's built.

PERFORMANCE Firehawk

In the June 1991 issue of Car & Driver the following performance was measured:
0 to 60 mph 4.6 sec
1/4 mile 13.2 sec @ 107 mph
70 to 0 braking 164 feet
Lateral Gs 0.92
Top Speed 158 mph
Fuel Milage who cares!

TTA INFO
TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY TRANS AM
Engine
3.8L SFI V6 HIGH OUTPUT 300+hp @ 4400 rpm, 340 lbs-ft torque @ 2800 rpm;electronic sequential fuel injection;tuned aluminum intake manifold; specific cylinder heads;cross drilled crankshaft;Direct fire Ignition with electronic spark control;Garrett T3 turbocharger with electronic wastgate control;streamlined tubular stainless steel exhaust manifolds and special high-efficiency intercooler.

TRANSMISSION
Specially calibrated 4-speed automatic, with performance-optimized shift points

Road Performance Figures
0-60 5.4 sec
1/4 mile et 13.5 sec
1/4 mile speed 101.??
Top speed 161
Braking, 60-0 139 ft.
Lateral accelerations, g's 0.86
Weight/horsepower ratio 13.4:1

RenoLB8

But, as someone mentioned above, a Firehawk is not a "from the factory" production Firebird. Sink as much money into a TTA as SLP does in a Formula to get a Firehawk, And you'd be in the high 2's, low 3's (not teens, mind you)

-Reno

TTA850

Hmmm...well I would get it even if it dosent run.You could part it out for more than $3K.I'd buy it for myself if I had the chance.

BTW,it is hard to tell which is really the fastest f-body ever.Everyone is gonna argue the new LS1's are and magazines tested TTA's back in 89 really couldnt drive them,I have seen bone stock TTA's run 13.0-13.1@105+mph.

I ran #850 once last year and with an intercooler full of oil and a desparate need for a tuneup it ran 13.68@100 on a 85* day with near 100% humidity.I never ran it again.

Steve

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TTA#124-129,bone stock.Cloth/T-Top Festival car
TTA#850,bone stock,best 13.68@100
TTA#861(almost sold),near stock,best 11.99@112.26
TGTA#01,nowhere near stock,9's or bust
Pics and info on My Cars
TTA850@TurboBuicks.com

MikeysLil86camaro

I drove TTA #1010, bone stock, and I was running low 6's! Thats right, I ran 6.23@178mph! Ok, I really didn't, but that would be cool. Just think of how close to impossible that is! Im actually thinking of doing a 2.8>3.8 swap next winter, when im 18, my car is off the road and Im old enough to take out a loan for myself.
Now, heres a good question, completely non-tech at all:
In "Smokey and the bandit", did the turbo trans am have a 3.8? Sorry to sound ignorant, I just dont know if a 3.8 was available in 1977. Hey, that car was definately awesome, if anyone saw that movie!
"Let's see what he's got under the hood...not much!"

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1986 Camaro Sport Coupe MPFI v6

Very, very soon, the 91 rs transformation!!
Will be painted red with 91 RS ground effects attached.

v6 to 350 tpi crate swap planned for the future...
Or maybe... a 3.8L turbo...? hmmm...

[This message has been edited by MikeysLil86camaro (edited March 07, 2001).]

CaliCamaroRS

hmmmmm, i dunno about 1977 but '80 and '81 had a turbo 301c.i. V8. Car Craft rated it one of the worst v8's of all time. it ran 17's with 210 HP.

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Dan
1990 3.1L RS
80 Series Flowmaster
It's fast(er than a 3 cyl metro)

[This message has been edited by CaliCamaroRS (edited March 07, 2001).]

Grim Reaper

Actually, I beg to differ about the Firehawk. It DID have a specific RPO code, thus qualifying it as "regular production".

The RPO code was B4U. It is also the only 350 3rd Gen with a manual (and a 6 speed at that). But it is considered regular production.

KED85

The 20th anniversary TTA was the fastest offered car, from GM at that time.
Faster that the Corvette of 1989.
Now, the Smokey cars, were 400cids.
That was a SMOG STRANGLED 400 of Pontiac heritage, which is way different that the later Trans Ams of the 70's/80's.
Those later TA of 70's/80's SOME were Olds 403 blocks, not very desirable performance wise, either.
The 301 (I believe) was an Olds block, too.
Also not desirable.
The Pontiac 400 are desirable BECAUSE they can be made into 455 blocks by switching internal parts, here & there. Blocks remain the same (like the 2.8/3.1 stuff).
BUT from the factory at that time (mid late 70's) ONLY the Corvette and Firebird Trans Am carried the performance flag (don't count the Pinto/MustangII), as well as they could. The Camaro Z-28 came back to life in 1977. It was not fast, yet America was learning how to appreciate how a car could turn a corner. We worshipped European cars, then. Do you recall that late 70's Dodge Lil Red Truck (360 cid) was as fast as the Corvette from that period?
America, back then had smog pig engines, lousy smog equipment on the engines (that made them diesel upon turning off & valve clatter up a slight incline) and lousy economy and now it's worshipped!! (That 70's Show!)
Hey, atleast I had great sex (Free love/Disco/NO fear of AIDS) and great concerts!
Sorry, off topic, but true!!
Oh, still have great sex, got a 6 month old to prove it !
Concerts? What band is worth seeing perform, today?
None, to my standards. Flame on that last statement if ya wanna.
I've seem so many concerts, lousy hearing to prove it, too!

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

Kyle F

Pearl Jam is very worthy of seeing in concert.

KED85

Yeah, I have heard that about Pearl Jam.
Actually wish I had seen the Beastie Boys, their first concert tour, with the girls in the cages and the inflatible *****

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

Ovrclck350

Kyle, did you get the car or not?/??

turbo497

wow 3k????? I'll buy that sucker right now and give it to one of my kids. It would just have to sit another 11 to 15 years until thier old enough to drive.

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3.8 turbo 20th anniversary transam #497 first owed by Clifford Williams, Bass player from rock band AC/DC

Kyle F

I just made the $500 deposit today. I am getting the car delivered in two weeks due to some tie up with the bank, But THE CAR IS NOW MINE!!!!!!!

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FOR SALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
86 Trans Am 355 TPI Rebuilt 700R4 with Corvette servo, modified valve body, and a B&M Torque Converter (2000 rpm stall w/ lock up), 87 350 block bored .30 with new crank. Reworked 305 heads with 3-angle valve job. Added in the rebuild was an SLP TPI cam, BBK 58mm Throttle Body,MSD 6A, Hypertech Power Coil, 1.5 Crane roller tipped rocker arms, SLP Intake Runners and Port matching in upper intake including fully ported plenum, TPIS adjustable fuel pressure regulator @ 46psi, Hooker shorty style headers w/ Thermotech heat wrapping, Custom 3” exhaust with Flowmaster muffler and chrome quad tips, Hypertech Thermomaster Computer chip, K&N open element cone filter on modified MAF per TPIS specs, MSD Wires, removal of A/C hardware and added a 1LE firewall cover installed. Also there has been a PST front suspension kit with Hotchkis strut tower brace added. Soon to have Intrax lowering springs.
http://geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Garage/9548/kyle.html

Kills:
95 Talon TSI, 96 Probe GT, 91 T/A L98, 89 RS, 86 Mustang GT, 88 Mustang LX 5.0, 92 Thunderbird V8. couple or ricers that I think were Civics or Preludes not sure what year, 95 Celica GT-S, 94 Chevy 1/4 ton 350, one of those NASCAR F150's

The Third Gen Will Never be Forgotten

Ovrclck350

Congrats Kyle.

Bye the way, I went to look at 01 Trans Am's today (for fun) and I picked up a brochure for the 10th anniversary Firehawk's. This is taken DIRECTLY out of the brochure.
"...consider the ferocious Suer Duty and 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Ams. Fast forward to 2001, only one Firebird was quicker than those legendary 'Birds. The one you're looking at now." (the 2001 Firehawk). Just thought I'd share.

Kyle F

What was the stated 1/4 mile time?

Ovrclck350

It didn't say....that's all it said. They said that they have 335 Horseower "On Tap" These new Hawk's are BAD. they even added a Auburn High Torque Differential , And the 35mm Front swaybar, 21 mm rear swaybar, and dual heat extractor's on the hood, to help keep the engine cool.. I WANT I WANT

Kyle F

Well If I am not mistaken the TTA had a 36mm and 25mm rear. I am not sure I dont have my book with me rigfht now. If I remember correctly the TTA was basically a alaround better performer than most Corvettes even with the solid rear axle. I wish I had the book so I could look it up and make sure I had the info right. If you want the right info email me and I will look it up in my book and see. I still think on the track the TTa will actually win.
One thing that mafe the TTa so fast was its ability to launch with only the Torque of a V6 on 16X8 tires. Then oce it got moving and the Turbo kicked in well now you had loads of power and torque.