I still doubt they went 170mph, LS1's barely pull that of with better aerodynamics and more power and more gear.

 

Don't know about that. I think the 3rd gen TA's had better aerodynamics. As for power, the TTA had way more torque. HP edge was to the LS1.

LS1's are governed to 160, TTA's had no speed limiter.

I'd have to find a stock dyno for a TTA but I did have mine dynoed with minor mods. K&N, 160 thermo, MAF pipe, cat pipe, Thrasher 92 chip running 18psi(stock was 16.5psi). Stock injectors, turbo, intercooler, downpipe, cat-back, etc. I pulled 318rwhp and 455rwtq. Times I was running at that time was a best of 12.15@111 with a 1.69 short time.

But like I said, a couple of years after they were made, PAS stated that a stock TTA would put down 280rwhp and 380rwtq.

 

i want a TTA maybe that'll be my next project car... lol

 

look at those nascar boats, 200mph on 700 hp. it's not so hard to do 170, just a matter of the correct gearing and some very minor aerodynamic mods. I'd give it a shot.

 

Better aero? The 3rd gen TA's averaged around .31 CD, with the best around .299. No LS1 can touch that.

More power? Rwhp numbers are similar.

More gear? The TTA is better geared to go that quick.

Besides, that 170+ was a documented fact on a race track, not some 5th wheel testing from a car rag.

NEVER underestimate the TTA. I've ridden in a 100% stock TTA and it was easily as quick as any near stock LS1.

 

Not to cause friction here ,but there is a differance between "FAST" & "QUICK". A car can be fast and not quick,and a car can be quick and not fast. Sounds like the topic is "FAST" not "QUICK".........

 

Actually. 170 is not unbelievable from a 3rd gen TA with the power those made. At high speeds, aerodynamics and drag are more important than HP. Many LS1 cars will only dyno at 280-300 hp (enough to be nearly meaningless at those speeds). The turbo TA was probably very close in HP to that as well. The 3rd gen TA's were rated to have a CD of .31 and 21.5 square feet of frontal area. The math says that 377 hp will put that car through 200 mph (just considering air drag, not tire drag etc). Since air drag increases exponentially as speed increases (it takes much more hp to do 190 than 180, possibly more than 150 hp for that 10 mph) it takes alot of HP to get near 200, but 170 is "far" away from the drag produced at 200 (it probably takes less than 1/2 the hp to run 170 that it takes to run 200), it is reasonable to think a TA could get there. An LS1 car, at 300 hp to the wheels, will run about 164-ish. The same hp on a 3rd gen body would likley go 170 with no other changes. For reference, my 89 Formula would run 142 with the 170 hp TBI 305 (and a few mods, but it still ran 16's in the 1/4). I know of an LS1 car that was still pulling at an indicated 153 mph with the tops out and the windows down (that is alot of extra drag). Based on some of these examples and various calculations, I think it entirely possible to see 170 from a turbo TA.

One of these days, I'm going to own one of those cars (and put a manual trans in it).

 

Actually, on the dyno, my car was putting down about 280 to the wheels at 158 mph (when it hit the speed limiter). So, 280 to the wheels will get you to the LS1 speed of 160-ish at least.

 

Right, I understand the difference. I use that myself, along with the "motor" = electrical and "engine" = mechanical terminology.

Regardless, the TTA is easily as "quick" and as "fast" as your average LS1. Car and Driver (I know its a mag ) still claims that the 89 TTA is the "quickest" and "fastest" factory F-Body they have ever tested, including the late model SS/WS6 cars.

 

TTA's have a speed limiter, 255 mph.

 

They might have said that but 90% of the other magazines say that the LS1 cars were finally faster than the 89 TTA. Stock the TTA was good for mid 13's so 90% of LS1 cars are faster.

 

Well the topic is/was on top speed...IT has been proven and most SALT FLAT racers will take a 3rd gen car over a 4th gen car for top end charge. It is true the co-drag on the 3rd gen is less...so it takes less Hp to make it go faster (TOPEND)...

It can be debated over and over again... th e TTA and LS1 vehicle are very quick from a 1/4 mile and light to light stand point.
So it is not necessary to to judge this factor. We all know both car are capable of mid 13s in the 1/4 or better with right driver and conditions. Over all I would think a LS1 car (vs TTA) would have the advantage stock to stock both with auto and a average driver.

 

I have an LS1, and a 2002 at that. I'd still be hesitant to bet on a race between my car and a stock Turbo TA, from 0 to top speed, I suspect I'd lose. Not by alot, but I bet the difference is more than you think. Everyone seems to expect them to run doorhandle to doorhandle up to 160, I am guessing the TA would be a car length (or 5) ahead by then, and I suspect that I (with speed limiter removed) would not run it down on the top end either. Just a guess. I'd love to say LS1's are faster, but I really don't believe that. They may be quicker in the 1/4 (or not), but I don't think they will win a top speed contest with a Turbo TA.

My thoughts (I've been wrong before).

 

0 to 60 - TTA

1/4 - LS1

Top speed - Not fair to compare a car with a limiter vs. one essentially without one. Likewise, to compare two performance cars with tire technology 13 yrs apart ( I'd like to see an LS1 car run low 13's with Goodyear Gatorbacks ) The debate will never end.

 

It's possible you could be running down hill with a 90mph tail wind. LOL! Probable NO!

Gatorbacks are the biggest joke since solid rubber tires..