First Time F-Body From FL, '94 T/A
09-08-2010, 08:38 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 300
First Time F-Body From FL, '94 T/A
Alright, so at first I was looking for a 3rd gen Camaro with a stroker 383 or a high mileage New Edge Mustang GT. Well, after much thought and research, I went with neither (as you can probably tell from the title). I started looking for fourth gen Z28 Camaro's with 6 speed manuals. But the only ones I could find had already been sold. So I kept looking for anything with an LT1 and T-56 manual transmission and came upon 2 Trans Ams. Both were bright red with t-tops. Only one was a '93 with 103K miles and one was a '94 with 110k miles. I looked into it and found the '93 was an oddball year in the 4th gen world (many differences between '93 and '94-'97) so I went with the '94. Here are the specs:
1994 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (Bright Red w/ t-tops and black leather interior)
LT1 5.7L V8
T-56 6 speed Manual
K&N Intake
Longtube Headers
Magnaflow Dual Exhaust
Black WS6 Rims
Estimated 305 hp/ 260 rwhp and 3400 lbs. curb weight (11.15 lbs/hp)
Needs some cosmetic work to the interior, as would be expected for a 16 year old car. But I estimate by February it should be in near perfect condition. I gave my Vic to my mom, since she always loved it. Now I just have to figure out how to drive stick. lol. My dad was giving me lessons today. I can shift perfectly, except for the N to 1st shift. Well, enough talk, here's the pics.
1994 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (Bright Red w/ t-tops and black leather interior)
LT1 5.7L V8
T-56 6 speed Manual
K&N Intake
Longtube Headers
Magnaflow Dual Exhaust
Black WS6 Rims
Estimated 305 hp/ 260 rwhp and 3400 lbs. curb weight (11.15 lbs/hp)
Needs some cosmetic work to the interior, as would be expected for a 16 year old car. But I estimate by February it should be in near perfect condition. I gave my Vic to my mom, since she always loved it. Now I just have to figure out how to drive stick. lol. My dad was giving me lessons today. I can shift perfectly, except for the N to 1st shift. Well, enough talk, here's the pics.
09-08-2010, 11:06 PM
#3
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Okemos, MI
Posts: 9,485
Great looking car!
As far as getting going in first, here's what you need to know.
First of all, go by yourself. Have someone drive you out there if necessary, but while you're figuring it out, nobody should be in the car with you. You don't need the stress, embarrassment every time you screw up, etc.
Second, forget about the gas pedal. Getting going in first gear is all about the clutch, so that's what you need to focus on. You can add gas later, once you've aced the clutch. Have the car stopped on flat ground with nothing around. A big open parking lot, a deserted road, whatever. Push the clutch to the floor, put the shifter in first, and make sure you're not on the brake. Remember, keep the right foot off the gas. Now, start letting the clutch pedal up, slowly. Really slowly. It should take at least five seconds, and more like ten, to go the whole distance. There's a relatively long range of pedal travel that does absolutely nothing. That's normal. It's your job to learn where that range ends. When you reach that point, the car will start to move forward. Hold the clutch there for a second, and the car's speed will increase to maybe 3-5 mph (remember, this is all without you touching the gas pedal!). Once you're up to speed, you can let the clutch pedal out the rest of the way. If the car lurches, you let the pedal out the rest of the way too soon.
Practice that over and over. After a while, you should be able to get the car moving and the clutch pedal completely released in 2-3 seconds total. It takes most people no more than half an hour to go from complete newbie to pretty darn good at it, as long as you do exactly what I've described here.
Once you reach that point, start adding the gas pedal to the equation. For starters, don't touch the gas until you've already reached the point where the clutch starts to engage, but also don't wait until it's time to let off completely. Be gentle and smooth, and practice it a few dozen times.
Once you're really good at it, go try it on a road with a bit more traffic, and when you get used to having cars behind you, go try it going uphill. Once you've mastered that, you're all set!
As far as getting going in first, here's what you need to know.
First of all, go by yourself. Have someone drive you out there if necessary, but while you're figuring it out, nobody should be in the car with you. You don't need the stress, embarrassment every time you screw up, etc.
Second, forget about the gas pedal. Getting going in first gear is all about the clutch, so that's what you need to focus on. You can add gas later, once you've aced the clutch. Have the car stopped on flat ground with nothing around. A big open parking lot, a deserted road, whatever. Push the clutch to the floor, put the shifter in first, and make sure you're not on the brake. Remember, keep the right foot off the gas. Now, start letting the clutch pedal up, slowly. Really slowly. It should take at least five seconds, and more like ten, to go the whole distance. There's a relatively long range of pedal travel that does absolutely nothing. That's normal. It's your job to learn where that range ends. When you reach that point, the car will start to move forward. Hold the clutch there for a second, and the car's speed will increase to maybe 3-5 mph (remember, this is all without you touching the gas pedal!). Once you're up to speed, you can let the clutch pedal out the rest of the way. If the car lurches, you let the pedal out the rest of the way too soon.
Practice that over and over. After a while, you should be able to get the car moving and the clutch pedal completely released in 2-3 seconds total. It takes most people no more than half an hour to go from complete newbie to pretty darn good at it, as long as you do exactly what I've described here.
Once you reach that point, start adding the gas pedal to the equation. For starters, don't touch the gas until you've already reached the point where the clutch starts to engage, but also don't wait until it's time to let off completely. Be gentle and smooth, and practice it a few dozen times.
Once you're really good at it, go try it on a road with a bit more traffic, and when you get used to having cars behind you, go try it going uphill. Once you've mastered that, you're all set!
09-10-2010, 08:05 AM
#8
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 300
Thanks for the welcome guys. And JakeRobb thanks for the tips. I'm going to try it out as soon as I get a chance. I was going to go now, but my battery died on me. Oh, well. I've got Sunday off. So, hopefully by Monday I'll be able to not stall out. Thanks again.
09-10-2010, 11:11 AM
#9
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 300
Alright. So I replaced the battery and took some time to drive around. Really focused on releasing the clutch nice and softly. It went pretty good. I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. It didn't stall out as much. Still need lots of practice, which with a car like this is should be pretty fun. Well, thanks again for the tips. Also, what are the recommended shift points? Like 3000 if you are cruising or higher (4000-ish) when you're running it. Also, had a couple of scares. Shifting from 3-2. Immediately put it in N, don't think I hurt anything. Well, thanks again.
Last edited by dodge69874; 09-10-2010 at 11:13 AM.
10-05-2010, 09:52 AM
#15
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 3
Alright, so at first I was looking for a 3rd gen Camaro with a stroker 383 or a high mileage New Edge Mustang GT. Well, after much thought and research, I went with neither (as you can probably tell from the title). I started looking for fourth gen Z28 Camaro's with 6 speed manuals. But the only ones I could find had already been sold. So I kept looking for anything with an LT1 and T-56 manual transmission and came upon 2 Trans Ams. Both were bright red with t-tops. Only one was a '93 with 103K miles and one was a '94 with 110k miles. I looked into it and found the '93 was an oddball year in the 4th gen world (many differences between '93 and '94-'97) so I went with the '94. Here are the specs:
1994 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (Bright Red w/ t-tops and black leather interior)
LT1 5.7L V8
T-56 6 speed Manual
K&N Intake
Longtube Headers
Magnaflow Dual Exhaust
Black WS6 Rims
Estimated 305 hp/ 260 rwhp and 3400 lbs. curb weight (11.15 lbs/hp)
Needs some cosmetic work to the interior, as would be expected for a 16 year old car. But I estimate by February it should be in near perfect condition. I gave my Vic to my mom, since she always loved it. Now I just have to figure out how to drive stick. lol. My dad was giving me lessons today. I can shift perfectly, except for the N to 1st shift. Well, enough talk, here's the pics.
1994 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (Bright Red w/ t-tops and black leather interior)
LT1 5.7L V8
T-56 6 speed Manual
K&N Intake
Longtube Headers
Magnaflow Dual Exhaust
Black WS6 Rims
Estimated 305 hp/ 260 rwhp and 3400 lbs. curb weight (11.15 lbs/hp)
Needs some cosmetic work to the interior, as would be expected for a 16 year old car. But I estimate by February it should be in near perfect condition. I gave my Vic to my mom, since she always loved it. Now I just have to figure out how to drive stick. lol. My dad was giving me lessons today. I can shift perfectly, except for the N to 1st shift. Well, enough talk, here's the pics.