Pontiac Firebird 1967-2002 Birds of a feather flock together

Trans Am > Formula ?

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Old 04-17-2007, 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Formula_X
I'd like to put out there that I am in the process of changing my Formula into a Trans Am, so far the only thing I have left to change is the front bumper and the sideskirts... and I can tell you already, the car is NOT as quick as it was when it was a Formula, even with only the T/A bumper and the T/A hatch it feels considerably slower. Definitely a noticable SOTP difference, the car has slowed down. So, this being the same exact car with different body parts, I'd have to say Formulas are indeed quicker than Trans Ams. The T/A bumper and hatch were alot heavier than the Formula parts! And I still don't even have all the T/A parts on yet, I will continue to weight it down further. I know where you read that and that website is bogus, if the guy got a quicker time from the T/A it must be because the T/A's engine runs stronger than the Formula's engine in that particular case, every car is different. But, like Nine Ball said, it's simple physics... if you race two identical cars but one is lighter, the lighter car will be quicker. The only reason I'm doing the conversion is because I like the way Trans Ams look better than the Formulas, even though I'm putting extra weight on my car by doing this.
That little bit of spoiler adds that much weight to make it noticeable? The bumpers are damn near the same. I just can't imagine anyone being able to notice it. Now a ricer, going from none, to a whole bunch, that makes sense.
Old 04-17-2007, 02:32 PM
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ehhh beyond the confussion and bs....i love my T/A
Old 04-17-2007, 03:35 PM
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the t/a hatch is 38 pounds heavier than the formula hatch i weighed them with glass in them
Old 04-17-2007, 03:40 PM
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as far as the hole t/a package id say weighs maybe 100to 150 pounds more than the formula. yet its more areodynamic so i would not say one is faster than the other or because they are the same car and will perform the same look at camaros the look way diffrent yet they perform the same. cars bein faster are on a case by case scerario not a brass gerneralization
Old 04-17-2007, 03:53 PM
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T/A=looks
Formula=performance
And I am not biased in any way, of course.
Old 04-17-2007, 03:59 PM
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T/A is typically ~100 lbs heavier than a Formula. Even the rear hatch shocks are different part #'s since the T/A hatch is heavier. Don't forget the side skirts, lower hanging rear bumper, etc....

T/As are not more aerodynamic than Formulas either, it is purely cosmetics.

SS/WS6 aren't any quicker than the base model cars, the 17" wheels actually make you run a little slower than the stock 16s. The quickest factory LS1 f-bodies are the no-option base model Z28 hardtops.
Old 04-17-2007, 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Nine Ball
T/As are not more aerodynamic than Formulas either, it is purely cosmetics.
i always thought, just from the looks, the TA rear spoiler would help eliminate a very SLIGHT amount of lift in the rear. guess not
Old 04-17-2007, 04:08 PM
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Wait a mintue. You guys are saying the WS-6 ram air option does absolutely nothing? Doesn't give any more power?
Old 04-17-2007, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by xXSilencerXx
Wait a mintue. You guys are saying the WS-6 ram air option does absolutely nothing? Doesn't give any more power?
100% correct
Old 04-17-2007, 04:17 PM
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Wow. I did not know that. So what the hell is the point of it? Fake marketing? HOw does the WS-6 supposedly get higher power ratings? And is there any advantage of the WS-6?

Also on a side note. I bought a WS-6 style "functional" ram air hood. Does that mean my hood is actually better than the real thing?
Old 04-17-2007, 04:17 PM
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How strange, considering the only other major inlet of air is under the front bumper. The ram air dump is much more direct to the filter/intake. Granted it's not actual direct ram air, but it has to provide a better air source than disturbed underbody air. This has to keep the engine compartment slightly more pressurised (but maybe not enough to make a performance difference). Is this backed up by actual track data with both options installed on the same car, or is it a bunch of BS like this particular thread is full of? Doesn't matter the actual answer though...the hood looks kick ***!
Old 04-17-2007, 04:24 PM
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the t/a hatch made my car more stable at speeds more than 75mph i imagine with sideskirts it would make some sort diffrence the hatch does
Old 04-17-2007, 06:40 PM
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Both Pontiac and Chevrolet both said the increase in power was more from allowing the engine bay to clear hot underhood temps.

In 01 the LS1 Formula was rated at 310, the WS6 was 325. They both dyno the same and the 15hp increase is barely noticeable when at speeds due to the weight difference.

The one area I do disagree is on the weight side. The TA came stock with T-tops, Leather, and the whole ground effects kit.

The guy I raced said his WS6 weighed in right at 3680 pounds, my Formula is right at 3440 pounds. If the hatch is 38 pounds more I can only think the t-tops weight more than the plastic roof, the leather and power seats weigh more than the cloth Formula interior, and then the rest of the ground effects kit.

Lets say 150 pounds though, that is almost .15 tenths in the 1/4. Plus I read somewhere that the Formula had a Cd of .31 and the WS6 TA had a Cd of .34. This was because of the larger frontal area on teh WS6 cars due to the higher hood height.

There are alot of variables that can affect the outcome of a race between these two cars.
Old 04-17-2007, 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by 2000badbird
the t/a hatch made my car more stable at speeds more than 75mph i imagine with sideskirts it would make some sort diffrence the hatch does


Are you a former import owner or what? Stability at 75 mph is pretty silly, your car would be just as stable without a hatch at all, maybe even no hood either....at 75 mph.

Talk 175 mph and we'll pay more attention.

BTW, the faster f-body drag racers typically get rid of their T/A wing and go with more low profile Formula or sheetmetal wings for a reason. It isn't because the T/A wing works better.
Old 04-17-2007, 08:08 PM
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could it be the t/a is quicker because of aerodynamics??
Old 04-17-2007, 08:17 PM
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where has it been shown that stock for stock that the TA is quicker? The TA has worse aerodynamics than the Formula so that would not make it quicker.
Old 04-17-2007, 08:18 PM
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Originally Posted by xXSilencerXx
Wait a mintue. You guys are saying the WS-6 ram air option does absolutely nothing? Doesn't give any more power?
No,you gotta have the Ram Air stickers on the sides to attain the extra 5 hp.You can't do it with just the hood.Gotta have the stickers,everybody knows this.Look in my sig,I got mine.
Old 04-17-2007, 08:18 PM
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Curse Pontiac's Advertisment Division for causing all this strife and confusion
Old 04-17-2007, 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by EVILWS6
No,you gotta have the Ram Air stickers on the sides to attain the extra 5 hp.You can't do it with just the hood.Gotta have the stickers,everybody knows this.Look in my sig,I got mine.
Oh ok. That's why I haven't noticed the increase in power since my hood.....no sticker, LMAO.
Old 04-17-2007, 09:47 PM
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God, this tread is turning into something it wasn't too meant to be, but it's making me laugh good!



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