1981TA
06-28-2012, 11:55 PM
So, the Trans Am is finally plated and legal, and no longer confined to road courses. This last week, my friend and I decided to visit another buddy in the countryside to get some parts... and why not take the ol' beast for a little shakedown?
The TA is a factory no-AC car with a carbed 2001 LS1, C5 T56, LTH, Spec 2+ clutch, light flywheel and pressure plate, aluminum drive shaft, 3.23 rear, Wilwood brakes, Global West suspension and considerable weight reduction (tips the scales @2950 without driver). It isn't gutted, though the race seats and 5-point harnesses might be a tip off to the wary. We're still playing with the carb tuning. It's close, but not quite nailed.
The other car is a bone stock 2009 G8 GT.
The first run was from a roll @ 60, no traffic, on a 4 lane freeway. I'm driving the G8, my friend is driving the TA. I come off a ramp in front, we clear slower traffic, and with him a couple lengths behind, we both punch it He got me by an easy 5 lengths by the time we hit 110.
The second run was also from a roll, starting at 70. He counts off three fingers (ever see the sticker that says "Horn broke, watch for finger" ? ). Roughly the same result.
Third run was from a stop, after we cross the border from the Peoples Republic of Cook, and into the free land of Hoosier, Mexico. He was lined up behind me at a light. I was a bitch, cut a perfect light and launched without warning. After the initial surprise, he reeled me in. By the time I hit 90, he had me by a couple lengths.
We then stopped at a place just north of a sod farm overlooking the glorious Gulf of California, where we BSed a bit, and discussed the imminent demise of the TAs rear end. It was the one thing I hadn't rebuilt or replaced yet, and the clutch packs were beginning to make odd noises on low speed turns. The buddy where we stopped had a ready supply of parts, and we wheeled and dealed into a clean 10 bolt 8.5 housing, new posi carrier and new gears. So, we just needed to order axles, bearings, shims and seals. It's good to have friends like this.:D
On the way home, we got our 4th run, and I thought "AH HA! I finally gotcha," as I managed to stay even in a 40 to 90 roll. Then my friend tells me he blew a downshift at the beginning and ran the entire thing in 4th gear. :mad:
ok... we count down to the one finger salute again, this time with him in 3rd, and I got spanked. 40 to 120, he wins by a bus and a half.
We got the cars home, and the rear end was making louder indigestion noises on the corners. Soooo... time for a change. I ordered Moser 30-spline non c-clip axles, Moser/Ford housing ends, and an overhaul kit yesterday. Provided my wife doesn't see the price tag for that, I should be alive to report the results in a couple weeks. :nod:
With luck, I might get it to the No Limit Raceway in Morocco (US 41 Dragstrip) too. My eyes are set on a HPDE in July at Joliet Autobahn
The TA is a factory no-AC car with a carbed 2001 LS1, C5 T56, LTH, Spec 2+ clutch, light flywheel and pressure plate, aluminum drive shaft, 3.23 rear, Wilwood brakes, Global West suspension and considerable weight reduction (tips the scales @2950 without driver). It isn't gutted, though the race seats and 5-point harnesses might be a tip off to the wary. We're still playing with the carb tuning. It's close, but not quite nailed.
The other car is a bone stock 2009 G8 GT.
The first run was from a roll @ 60, no traffic, on a 4 lane freeway. I'm driving the G8, my friend is driving the TA. I come off a ramp in front, we clear slower traffic, and with him a couple lengths behind, we both punch it He got me by an easy 5 lengths by the time we hit 110.
The second run was also from a roll, starting at 70. He counts off three fingers (ever see the sticker that says "Horn broke, watch for finger" ? ). Roughly the same result.
Third run was from a stop, after we cross the border from the Peoples Republic of Cook, and into the free land of Hoosier, Mexico. He was lined up behind me at a light. I was a bitch, cut a perfect light and launched without warning. After the initial surprise, he reeled me in. By the time I hit 90, he had me by a couple lengths.
We then stopped at a place just north of a sod farm overlooking the glorious Gulf of California, where we BSed a bit, and discussed the imminent demise of the TAs rear end. It was the one thing I hadn't rebuilt or replaced yet, and the clutch packs were beginning to make odd noises on low speed turns. The buddy where we stopped had a ready supply of parts, and we wheeled and dealed into a clean 10 bolt 8.5 housing, new posi carrier and new gears. So, we just needed to order axles, bearings, shims and seals. It's good to have friends like this.:D
On the way home, we got our 4th run, and I thought "AH HA! I finally gotcha," as I managed to stay even in a 40 to 90 roll. Then my friend tells me he blew a downshift at the beginning and ran the entire thing in 4th gear. :mad:
ok... we count down to the one finger salute again, this time with him in 3rd, and I got spanked. 40 to 120, he wins by a bus and a half.
We got the cars home, and the rear end was making louder indigestion noises on the corners. Soooo... time for a change. I ordered Moser 30-spline non c-clip axles, Moser/Ford housing ends, and an overhaul kit yesterday. Provided my wife doesn't see the price tag for that, I should be alive to report the results in a couple weeks. :nod:
With luck, I might get it to the No Limit Raceway in Morocco (US 41 Dragstrip) too. My eyes are set on a HPDE in July at Joliet Autobahn