Ok, Yesterday I was at the local gas station filling up when I here this evil sounding 3rd gen TransAm pull up. This thing was absolutely the baddest third gen I have seen on the streets around here, OHIO. I start talking to him and ask him to go run them and we agreed on a location. This car had everything possible done to her, 408 brodix heads and intake, TK0 600 6speed, dana60 rear, 125 wet shot from a carb plate. Exterior and interior looked great also, he had a new WS6 Lt1 style hood and black paint black rims, wilwood calipers front and back, full adjustable LCA's and torque arm, tubular k-member uper lower control arms. Runs 93mph in the 1/8th spinning since the car was more setup for road racing. Anyways we went out and ran them first from 4000rpms in second on my tack, he gave me the jump also. Right off the bat he pulled a 1/2 car threw second then once we both hit 3rd gear he put another car on me. Once I was at the top of 3rd power shifting into 4th i would stop his pull from about 90mph to a 145mph. We reraced 6 more times with him 1 1/2 cars by 140 everytime all motor. I loved watching that 408 jump out in front of me until about 90mph until i would stop his pull in top of 3rd to 4th redline. Then to make it really nasty he sprayed me on the last race and put instant 10 cars on me threw 3rd and i just would give up even trying threw 4th. He was the coolest guy I have met with one of the nastiest 3rd gens I have seen running around here. He runs a local performance shop in Westvirgina (Mags performance) if any one is in the area. He told me to follow him and proceeded to show me his REAL Street car, blown big block in a mini tubbed stingray. I about jizzed my pants when I saw that beast, Drool factor on both of his toys. The only way I even hung with him is my car weighs 3340 to his loaded 3600+ 3rd gen. He was totally cool about showing me anything I wanted on both cars. He told me he thought I was spraying him when we first ran until I showed him my nitrous main line unhooked while going down the road. I could get pictures and probably videos of this car in action next time I see him. This has been the best race ever for me in the old LT1 car and I felt good bringing the underdog to the table against nasty 408 power.

 

What does your car run? I would be expecting solid low 11's or better with a nice older school setup and he really only pulled a few cars on you.

You win some...you lose some.

 

Any 3rd gen V8 will have to be "built" to beat a LT1 or LS1

 

I could not tell you what my car runs Cantonracer????????? Its my DD for work so I just built it up to have fun on the street. Couple buddies run 11.9's@108 75shot ontop of GTP3.8/pulley/boltons other runs 12.15's in a fox mustang with nice heads&cam. My car has always pulled both of those cars in any gear, thats all I could ever base it on. I was born in Canton and have tons of family there, I would love to check your car out. I have been lurking here for probably 5 years on this message board so I have watched your car get built up over the years. I was bummed out when you got on that Lightning kick, I thought you were going to abandon the Z-28, LOL. Your car is impressive for going threw a T-400, we need to meet up so you can drag my car behind your beast. Also where did you get it tuned? I need to get a tune for my cam and heads, and your only around hour and a half from me.
josh

 

I honestly dont know how I was pacing him in the uppper gears? Maybe he has a better gear ratio down low and not as tight as a T-56 3rd to 4th shift? I was running out of RPM's in 4th while his was still pulling when I would shut down? He had a TKO-600 6 Speed so maybe different internal ratios than T-56. Either way he would crush my car like he was toying with me, for all I know he was Sandbagging it.

 

Put the pipe down, that or pass it. You routinely say dumb sh@& and are out of line. "Thurdgens" can be wicked fast, their aftermarket is superior to the LT1 and maybe on par with the LS1. Thats right I remember, you have the unstoppable LT1 that has whooped 2 TTA, HAHA.

 

Exactly, they are just a good old small block chevy with 50 years of technology behind it in them. This guy was running your typical 5.7 short rod 400 block, setup with some aluminum heads on top of it, very good heads by the way it ran. I will get a detailed build of it so we know what heads and intake cam combo he was running. I love third gens more than any of them and I have one of each generation between Pops and me. I got refused by a best friend trying to buy his 91 Z-28 L98 23,000 original miles babied. I had $7500 cash in hand and he wouldnt let her go so I ended up with my current beater TA

 

I say dumb ****...I speak the truth, ANY third gen will HAVE to be modded to keep with a LT1 or a LS1. I've owned an IROC w/ a TPI 350 and I'll tell you my LT1 would walk that thing time after time, so dont think I look down on thirdgens cause I love the IROCS, a Camaro is a Camaro to me and I love them all from the Iron Duke all the way up to the first gen Yenko Camaro.

 

TTA and Firehawk count?

TPI isn't bad. Of course when you compare to the almighty LS1 and the now "crappy" LT1, TPI looks slow and worthless. When in fact, it's still very potent and cheap to make fast. There is a guy named GTAMATT on TGO and his '89 stock headed/cam/TPI GTA went a 12.8@105 or so. Imagine what a cam, heads, and an improved LTR setup what he would do.

I know LT1 is ahead of TPI, but I love TPI and I would trade my '96 Formula for an equal condition L98 T/A anyday.