Was at the local Reilly's Auto Store and they had these laying around in the back. They appear to be discontinued. But for $150 brand new in box the are a steal. I couldn't find them online... similar ones were $400-$500. this is a review of someone else that put some of these on. Thinking about painting them. http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/aftermarket-product-review/1427-review-edelbrock-tes-6875-a.html
Stand by for more details....
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Tune-Up
Getting ready to do a tune-up and it looks like it is going to be easier to get to the spark plugs from underneath the car rather than the top.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Wikipedia Article for 1989 Pontica Firebird (third generation)
1989 was the biggest year for Pontiac with respect to press coverage,
promotions, and performance. It was not well known at the time, but in
1989, Pontiac produced the quickest[10] and fastest[11] American production car. The "Excitement Division" was also asked to provide a car to pace the 73rd running of the Indianapolis 500;
sadly, it would be the final time a Pontiac would ever receive that
honor. The Trans Am model was now 20 years old, and it was time for
another anniversary edition, with this special 20th Anniversary Trans Am
to be based on the existing Trans Am GTA. Through a unique partnership
between Pontiac and an engineering firm called Prototype Automotive
Services (PAS), the Trans Am GTA was equipped with a more powerful
version of the turbocharged Buick 3.8L V6, originally developed for the Buick Regal Grand National,
and the Turbo Trans Am (TTA) became the vehicle Pontiac supplied to
pace the Indianapolis 500. Ultimately, 1,555 TTA replicas, rated at
250 hp, were produced for sale, five of those being test cars. But after
Car and Driver
magazine tested the car, logging a 0–60 mph run in 4.6 seconds, and a
standing quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds at 101 mph, they called the 250 hp
rating "exceedingly modest," estimating the actual output to be "closer
to 300 hp." They also subsequently reported that it was the "quickest
0–60 sprinter available in any US production-car showroom – at any
price."[12] The Car and Driver
evaluation produced the best acceleration performance of any main
stream publication to test a regular TTA press car from the Pontiac
fleet, partly because Car and Driver realized that the turbo
boost must be "preloaded" to get maximum performance figures. But
short-distance sprinting was not all this car could do well. Early in
1989, Motor Trend
ran their top speed test article "Flat-out Fastest American Cars II-the
Sequel." During this test, the TTA did 162 mph, and was the fastest
production car evaluated in the test. However, Motor Trend declared the winner to be a 1989 Corvette ZR-1,
which went much faster, but was not a production car (it was a
prototype that Chevrolet intended to release for production in 1989, but
did not come out until 1990).[13]
So by a slight technicality, the TTA could be called the flat-out
quickest (0–60 4.6 sec.) and fastest (162 mph) American production car
in 1989. It is interesting to note that the only constraint on the top
speed of 162 mph was that the TTA was being limited by the engine redline
and automatic transmission (with which all TTA's were equipped). When
PAS installed a ZF 6-speed manual transmission into one of the cars,
they were able to reach 181 mph.[14]
Perhaps more importantly than the performance tests provided by the
industry magazines was the fact that these cars were capable of much
faster acceleration times – with minimal modifications. In fact, with
$300 in new parts installed, 12.5-second quarter-mile runs were
achievable – without manually shifting gears or the need to trailer the
vehicle to the track! Because of this, the TTA has gained a cult
following among amateur racing enthusiasts.
Pontiac sub-contracted the job of engineering the TTA engine modifications to PAS. The narrow engine bay of the Trans Am required the use of different cylinder heads, which happened to have better flow characteristics than the old Buick heads. Special stainless steel headers were made specifically for the project as well. The heads, headers, along with more refined tuning of the boost and fuel curves, all added up to a more powerful package than the older Buicks. PAS was also in charge of testing and assembling the engines. Most TTA's came with T-tops and leather interior, but there were also hardtops and cloth-interior cars. And every TTA had an automatic transmission – the TH200-4R, equipped with overdrive and a torque converter clutch. The three actual pace cars were randomly selected from the production run, and sent to Indianapolis to pace the race. Thus, the pace car replicas were closer to the actual pace cars than any replica previously offered; the only difference between the replicas and the three actual pace cars was the addition of strobe lights and safety equipment to the latter. In addition, the TTA was relatively economical to drive; it returned 24 mpg on the highway, while the only cars (besides the Lotus Esprit Turbo SE) that could approach its performance at the time (Ferraris, Lamborghinis, etc.) were far more costly, and providing only around 10 to 12 mpg. As has been proven to be the case in subsequent years, relying on a small engine for cruising, and a turbocharger for power, provides an exciting driving experience while returning impressive fuel mileage.
Firebirds optioned with T-tops received new acrylic plastic tops made by Leximar for GM. The new tops were lighter in weight and tinted darker, but were more dome shaped and aged rapidly. GM replaced many sets with tops made of glass under warranty, but the acrylic tops continued as standard-issue through 1992. All Firebirds optioned with rear disc brakes now received PBR brake calipers and larger brake rotors, which resolved issues encountered with previous-model rear discs and increased stopping power. Introduction of GM's Vehicle Anti Theft System (VATS) or PASS-Key made all Firebirds more theft-resistant. The system was adapted from GM's higher-end Corvette and Cadillac vehicles in response to an escalating trend among car thieves to target the Camaro and Firebird. VATS incorporated a small resistor into the ignition key shaft which was read by a sensor when the key was inserted. VATS-equipped cars also displayed anti-theft system warning decals in the lower rear corners of the side windows. A new CD player was offered, shoulder belts were added in the back seat, and the convertible model carried over.
TTA production figures:
1989 Firebird Convertible production figures From 1989 ASC order logs
324 Produced (Data from 1989 ASC order logs)
As a side note there are a known 4 L98 Powered Camaros made in 1987, making the total number of L98 Powered Firebird and Camaro Convertibles produced some of the rarest and sought after third Gens made with a total of under 200 produced for both lines all years combined.
SOURCE: Pontiac Firebird (third generation)
Pontiac sub-contracted the job of engineering the TTA engine modifications to PAS. The narrow engine bay of the Trans Am required the use of different cylinder heads, which happened to have better flow characteristics than the old Buick heads. Special stainless steel headers were made specifically for the project as well. The heads, headers, along with more refined tuning of the boost and fuel curves, all added up to a more powerful package than the older Buicks. PAS was also in charge of testing and assembling the engines. Most TTA's came with T-tops and leather interior, but there were also hardtops and cloth-interior cars. And every TTA had an automatic transmission – the TH200-4R, equipped with overdrive and a torque converter clutch. The three actual pace cars were randomly selected from the production run, and sent to Indianapolis to pace the race. Thus, the pace car replicas were closer to the actual pace cars than any replica previously offered; the only difference between the replicas and the three actual pace cars was the addition of strobe lights and safety equipment to the latter. In addition, the TTA was relatively economical to drive; it returned 24 mpg on the highway, while the only cars (besides the Lotus Esprit Turbo SE) that could approach its performance at the time (Ferraris, Lamborghinis, etc.) were far more costly, and providing only around 10 to 12 mpg. As has been proven to be the case in subsequent years, relying on a small engine for cruising, and a turbocharger for power, provides an exciting driving experience while returning impressive fuel mileage.
Firebirds optioned with T-tops received new acrylic plastic tops made by Leximar for GM. The new tops were lighter in weight and tinted darker, but were more dome shaped and aged rapidly. GM replaced many sets with tops made of glass under warranty, but the acrylic tops continued as standard-issue through 1992. All Firebirds optioned with rear disc brakes now received PBR brake calipers and larger brake rotors, which resolved issues encountered with previous-model rear discs and increased stopping power. Introduction of GM's Vehicle Anti Theft System (VATS) or PASS-Key made all Firebirds more theft-resistant. The system was adapted from GM's higher-end Corvette and Cadillac vehicles in response to an escalating trend among car thieves to target the Camaro and Firebird. VATS incorporated a small resistor into the ignition key shaft which was read by a sensor when the key was inserted. VATS-equipped cars also displayed anti-theft system warning decals in the lower rear corners of the side windows. A new CD player was offered, shoulder belts were added in the back seat, and the convertible model carried over.
TTA production figures:
- 1,323 T-Top & Leather Interior
- 187 T-Top & Cloth Interior
- 24 Hardtop & Leather Interior
- 15 Hardtop & Cloth Interior (Base)
- 3 Test Cars / T-Top & Cloth Interior
- 1 ASC Convertible Leather int
- 1 Test Car / ASC Convertible Cloth int
- 1 Test Car / Hardtop & Leather Interior
1989 Firebird Convertible production figures From 1989 ASC order logs
- 2 – TURBO TRANS AM (V6 Turbo)
- 141 – GTA or Trans Am -w/L98 (350 TPI)
- 42 – FORMULA 350 – w/L98 (350 TPI)
- 9 – GTA or Trans Am LB9 "F" (305 TPI)
- 16 – FORMULA – W/LB9 (305 TPI)
- 4 – Trans Am LO3 "E" (305 TBI)
- 58 – Firebird or Formula – W/LO3 (305 TBI)
- 37 – Firebird – W/LB8 (2.8L V6)
- 10 – Exported
- 5 – Unknown
324 Produced (Data from 1989 ASC order logs)
As a side note there are a known 4 L98 Powered Camaros made in 1987, making the total number of L98 Powered Firebird and Camaro Convertibles produced some of the rarest and sought after third Gens made with a total of under 200 produced for both lines all years combined.
SOURCE: Pontiac Firebird (third generation)
10,000 miles later
I have been driving the car now for about 10,000 miles and we have replaced the water pump, smog pump, tensioner pulley, throttle body rebuild kit, whole front end (someone must have been towing this baby because the bumper pads that protect when you bottom the car out were broke in half, and the paint is rock chipped bad), new stereo (kenwood deck, x2 jl audio 12in subs, and two alpine amps...sounds pretty good now I just need to upgrade the 6x9s and the front speakers), new exhaust from cat to muffler, spark plugs, cap and rotor, and battery.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula
I purchased a 1989 Pontiac Firebird Formula the spec are as follows:
Awesome Firebird page thirdgen.com
- 305 TBI
- original alloy wheels...(scored the brand new tires...they were $220 les schwab tires)
- 4-speed automatic transmission
- 136,xxx miles
Awesome Firebird page thirdgen.com
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