3rd Gen drag racing?
11-24-2009, 06:27 PM
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3rd Gen drag racing? Hey guys how good is a 3rd gen to build for drag racing? I had my 2000 WS6 and loved it till it went through a puddle into a pole and such, I am looking into how much I would need to spend to get it in the low elevens N/A with the chance of a turbo. how good are there motors I truley know absolutly NOTHING about them like I did my fourth gen so any info would be great
11-24-2009, 08:45 PM
#2
I like 3rd gens in Camaro and Firebird even though I think the bird is more aerodynamic. They have pretty much the same suspension setup as a 4th gen with a torque arm and all and the rear is a 10 bolt so its just a weak. As far as motors I wouldnt waste much time with one seeing that they came mostly with 305's. I would just do a Gen 1 motor like a 350(383) or a 400 SBC, or swap in a LS motor if you budget allows. They are also lighter than a forth gen.
If i was looking to build a drag car I would look for one someone started with a cage or some suspensions mods as a roller because that will save you time and money. If you cant find that you can find them with blown motors or trannies in pretty much stock form for about 500.
If i was looking to build a drag car I would look for one someone started with a cage or some suspensions mods as a roller because that will save you time and money. If you cant find that you can find them with blown motors or trannies in pretty much stock form for about 500.
11-24-2009, 09:36 PM
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I like 3rd gens in Camaro and Firebird even though I think the bird is more aerodynamic. They have pretty much the same suspension setup as a 4th gen with a torque arm and all and the rear is a 10 bolt so its just a weak. As far as motors I wouldnt waste much time with one seeing that they came mostly with 305's. I would just do a Gen 1 motor like a 350(383) or a 400 SBC, or swap in a LS motor if you budget allows. They are also lighter than a forth gen.
If i was looking to build a drag car I would look for one someone started with a cage or some suspensions mods as a roller because that will save you time and money. If you cant find that you can find them with blown motors or trannies in pretty much stock form for about 500.
If i was looking to build a drag car I would look for one someone started with a cage or some suspensions mods as a roller because that will save you time and money. If you cant find that you can find them with blown motors or trannies in pretty much stock form for about 500.
exactly. stock motors are no good.
11-24-2009, 09:42 PM
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I am currently looking at the link below as a street/drag car but seeing as I don't know **** about those motors I will put a LQ4/LQ9 in what ever I get if I go that route.
My problem is I dont like alot of cars I have done plenty of research for LQ/LS series motors and now I am nudging my way in the turbo scene I would really LOVe to find a firebird 98 and up that needs a motor and trans but people want a ridiculous amount of money for something that needs alot of work and time
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/1469028078.html
My problem is I dont like alot of cars I have done plenty of research for LQ/LS series motors and now I am nudging my way in the turbo scene I would really LOVe to find a firebird 98 and up that needs a motor and trans but people want a ridiculous amount of money for something that needs alot of work and time
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/1469028078.html
11-28-2009, 02:23 PM
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my buddys got a 83 camaro with an ls1 in it makes 640 hp turbo 400 trans, its got a strange 12 bolt rear, tubular front k member coil over conversion shocks up front full 10 point cage. havent tooken it to the track yet but its a good car to turn into a dragster.
11-28-2009, 03:10 PM
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Rear suspension is pretty much inerchangeable with a 4th gen, front is a modified macpherson strut design that works very well. Many 1987-1992 models had L98 engines which could be used as a bisis for an 11 second motor. If I were building one with a gen 1 small block I'd look into the Dart 372" shortblocks for $2975, or the 400" for a few hunder more, and pick a cam/top end combo that suits your needs. Personally I've seen quite a few budget LQ4 builds run really hard and would suggest going that route, all of the swap parts are readily available.
I'm partial to the birds
http://www.fquick.com/garages/viewga...wimg&id=253760
I'm partial to the birds
http://www.fquick.com/garages/viewga...wimg&id=253760
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11-29-2009, 12:01 PM
#8
My 83 has a BBC in it with about 800hp on the bottle........... Third gens are cheap these days unless it is really nice and they are lighter then 4th gens's.
A lot of them out there for sale as rollers with work allready done.
P.S. I think the only thing difference in the rear department is the rear end is not the same width as the 4th gen rear.
Lots of info out there on BBC and LS swaps out there. LCA's, PHR, ect ect are the same as the 4th gen's.
A lot of them out there for sale as rollers with work allready done.
P.S. I think the only thing difference in the rear department is the rear end is not the same width as the 4th gen rear.
Lots of info out there on BBC and LS swaps out there. LCA's, PHR, ect ect are the same as the 4th gen's.
11-30-2009, 01:09 PM
#9
another thing for an affordable shock/strut package the strange fox body stuff will work on a third gen with minimal effort. the strut front ends on them make them a lot simpler in the front than a 4th gen, and have considerably more room to work under the hood. stick an LS motor with a turbo in it and go fly!
12-05-2009, 01:46 AM
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I own a '91 RS, a '91 z28, and a '99 Trans am. My '99 is great, but the 3rd gens are my favorites. I can't wait to get the aluminum block LS motor swapped into my RS - but there is a reason my TA has gotten so much more attention.
By the time you get everything together to swap an LS motor into a 3rd gen, you are talking quite a bit of extra money and work. The cost use to work itself out, that is, a few years ago, it was fairly easy to find a very good condition RS for $3,000 or so but finding an LS1 4th gen for less than $10,000 was considerbly harder to do. But now, it's a different story - nice 3rd gens have held their value, while 4th gens racking up the miles can be had for a good price.
So I guess, from a $$ aspect, it really depends what all you would have done to a fourth gen anyways vs what you will do to the third gen. For example, I believe Hawks 3rd Gen is the only place that actually manufactures LT headers for an LS1 to fit in a 3rd gen and go for over $1000. And you will need a tubular k member with integrated LS1 motor mounts etc. But if you had already planned on going with an expensive header and tubular k member regardless of the car, the cost is the same. At that point it just comes down to the extras like the wiring harness, fuel tank and lines, etc.
As far as the origonal question - there are plenty of bad a$$ 3rd gen drag cars. Very similar to fourth gens suspension wise, with a little more room to work with under the hood
By the time you get everything together to swap an LS motor into a 3rd gen, you are talking quite a bit of extra money and work. The cost use to work itself out, that is, a few years ago, it was fairly easy to find a very good condition RS for $3,000 or so but finding an LS1 4th gen for less than $10,000 was considerbly harder to do. But now, it's a different story - nice 3rd gens have held their value, while 4th gens racking up the miles can be had for a good price.
So I guess, from a $$ aspect, it really depends what all you would have done to a fourth gen anyways vs what you will do to the third gen. For example, I believe Hawks 3rd Gen is the only place that actually manufactures LT headers for an LS1 to fit in a 3rd gen and go for over $1000. And you will need a tubular k member with integrated LS1 motor mounts etc. But if you had already planned on going with an expensive header and tubular k member regardless of the car, the cost is the same. At that point it just comes down to the extras like the wiring harness, fuel tank and lines, etc.
As far as the origonal question - there are plenty of bad a$$ 3rd gen drag cars. Very similar to fourth gens suspension wise, with a little more room to work with under the hood
12-12-2009, 08:17 AM
#11
You're gonna spend $15-25k to build either. That Firebird you posted from Craigslist is a 2nd gen. Third gen were from 83-93? All are unibody.
If you got a second or third gen (because you liked the looks better), I would swap in an LS platform of some type. I'd also recommend a 4L80 and 12bolt or 9inch rear.
Good luck
If you got a second or third gen (because you liked the looks better), I would swap in an LS platform of some type. I'd also recommend a 4L80 and 12bolt or 9inch rear.
Good luck
12-12-2009, 01:31 PM
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You're gonna spend $15-25k to build either. That Firebird you posted from Craigslist is a 2nd gen. Third gen were from 83-93? All are unibody.
If you got a second or third gen (because you liked the looks better), I would swap in an LS platform of some type. I'd also recommend a 4L80 and 12bolt or 9inch rear.
Good luck
If you got a second or third gen (because you liked the looks better), I would swap in an LS platform of some type. I'd also recommend a 4L80 and 12bolt or 9inch rear.
Good luck
