1989 Turbo Trans Am
#1
09-21-2012, 11:25 PM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,153
1989 Turbo Trans Am
IT LIVES!!!
I had to share this, I only regret I did not build an ongoing thread for it this year. My friend Jeff has a 1989 Turbo Trans Am. Brief history for those not familiar with it, was the Indy Pace Car for '89, has a drivetrain 90% identical to a Grand National (different heads I think is the main big thing), one of 1555 TOTAL car produced.
He bought this car years ago, drove it one summer. It was leaking oil, thought to be the rear main seal. So, him and another friend of ours pulled the drive train (original plans to re-gasket and re-seal). Since learned the trans was damaged, later found it had a salvage title. He decided due to some "tarnish" on it's collector status, let's go modded! Partly as a result of his mod plans, the car has been out of service for 9 years (granted, my Camaro has been longer, but mine needs more work). This time was due to parts on immense back order (such as the cam he wanted was on back order for like 1.5 years before it showed, and it was an item that without it, the mods need altered).
The car has a bigger turbo on it, new lifters, push rods, cam and some other changes with a new trans!
Well, the last couple of months have been re-assembly!! Today, he slapped the temp tag on it and we took it for a drive!!! It was pretty cool! Down side is, he went easy on it for TWO important reasons:
1 - The car is in need of a tune BADLY. The mods change how it runs and the stock chip has a little trouble with it.
2 - The F-body chassis, specifically with T-Tops is known to have issues with the torque the v8 350 put out (GM did not remedy those issues until '89). I don't know what the anticipated torque output is, but the HP is estimated to be over 500HP at this point (once tuned right). He really does not want to lay into it until he gets the UMI subframe connectors on it (which for anyone going beyond stock, those are a MUST have).
Even though he did not lay into and drove it pretty easily, it was awesome to roll in a 3rd gen F-Body again!!!
I had to share this, I only regret I did not build an ongoing thread for it this year. My friend Jeff has a 1989 Turbo Trans Am. Brief history for those not familiar with it, was the Indy Pace Car for '89, has a drivetrain 90% identical to a Grand National (different heads I think is the main big thing), one of 1555 TOTAL car produced.
He bought this car years ago, drove it one summer. It was leaking oil, thought to be the rear main seal. So, him and another friend of ours pulled the drive train (original plans to re-gasket and re-seal). Since learned the trans was damaged, later found it had a salvage title. He decided due to some "tarnish" on it's collector status, let's go modded! Partly as a result of his mod plans, the car has been out of service for 9 years (granted, my Camaro has been longer, but mine needs more work). This time was due to parts on immense back order (such as the cam he wanted was on back order for like 1.5 years before it showed, and it was an item that without it, the mods need altered).
The car has a bigger turbo on it, new lifters, push rods, cam and some other changes with a new trans!
Well, the last couple of months have been re-assembly!! Today, he slapped the temp tag on it and we took it for a drive!!! It was pretty cool! Down side is, he went easy on it for TWO important reasons:
1 - The car is in need of a tune BADLY. The mods change how it runs and the stock chip has a little trouble with it.
2 - The F-body chassis, specifically with T-Tops is known to have issues with the torque the v8 350 put out (GM did not remedy those issues until '89). I don't know what the anticipated torque output is, but the HP is estimated to be over 500HP at this point (once tuned right). He really does not want to lay into it until he gets the UMI subframe connectors on it (which for anyone going beyond stock, those are a MUST have).
Even though he did not lay into and drove it pretty easily, it was awesome to roll in a 3rd gen F-Body again!!!
#3
09-21-2012, 11:50 PM
I love those cars. I see one at my credit union all the time. I cant find the pic I have of it but its just like this one. Are they all white or did they come in other colors?
#5
09-24-2012, 11:44 AM
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mentor, Ohio
Posts: 12,153
The Turbo T/A's all came in white. I believe it was optional leather or cloth interior (his is leather, I believe cloth is the "rare" one). The decals on the doors came with the car but as I understand were put on at the owner's request.
There is a guy that brings one to the DownTown Willoughby Car Show every June. His is MINT (has like 12,000 miles on it, babied). He told Jeff and I this year when he bought his new, he bought some of the collectible stuff GM offered to owners in a catalog. But he learned he should have bought MORE. One item he did not buy was the leather coat (about $70 at the time he said). He mentioned those coats now sell on eBay for about $700+. His moral of the story.... When you buy a collector car (and you KNOW it's a limited car), buy a bunch of the extras!
We're hoping to bring the car to the 2013 GM Nationals! There were NONE of these at the 2012 GM Nats.....
There is a guy that brings one to the DownTown Willoughby Car Show every June. His is MINT (has like 12,000 miles on it, babied). He told Jeff and I this year when he bought his new, he bought some of the collectible stuff GM offered to owners in a catalog. But he learned he should have bought MORE. One item he did not buy was the leather coat (about $70 at the time he said). He mentioned those coats now sell on eBay for about $700+. His moral of the story.... When you buy a collector car (and you KNOW it's a limited car), buy a bunch of the extras!
We're hoping to bring the car to the 2013 GM Nationals! There were NONE of these at the 2012 GM Nats.....
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