SatinSilverAV6

iTrader: (2)

Had a great run with this younger guy in a 94-97 Pontiac Firebird Formula LT1. I did a little bit of research on the vehicle and Pontiac only made 201 Formula Firbirds in 1993. that was the only year that the Formula came with the TH700R4 auto. I am guessing it was a later year due to that. It had the hood scoop and the formula writing on the side underneath the body side molding area. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Firebird (The car looked just like the blue one in the picture from 1996.)

On to the race! I was driving along towards my aunt and uncles house for dinner with my dad in the car. I noticed in my rear view mirror that there was a Firebird coming up fast behind me. He seemed to be driving somewhat aggressively and all I could think about was the street opens up to two lanes at the light and then merges back to one about a 1/4 mile after the stop light. Sure enough the light turns red. Im in the left lane and the pontiac takes the right lane. I look over to my right and there is a younger guy in a pontiac firebird formula with a nice V8 rumble exiting his exhausts. First off I am thinking I am going to get my ass handed to me because I know that the latter years are equipped with the LS1, whether it be a WS6 or Formula (those cars are easily in the mid-high 13s in auto or 6MT!). I knew that previous formulas were equipped with the LT1 and were much slower but didn't know what year Pontiac switched engines. I can easily denote the difference with the camaros but the pontiacs I am not as familiar with. Anyway, I am prepared and ready for the green light. I let off the brake and get ready for the throttle. I see he is doing the same. Light goes green and I get a great reaction time! I get a slight jump off the line and I see he is right on my tail. By the end of 1st gear he is at my rear bumper. As I am pulling through 2nd gear I extend the lead by about 1 full car length. Through 3rd gear up until about 80MPH I keep about a 1.5 car length lead. My eyes were locked on my side view mirror! I was expecting him to pull back after the start and pass me but to my surprise that wasn't the case! I gave him a thumbs up out of the moonroof and he gave me nothing in return! I think he was pissed haha.

I did some research on that specific model on dragtimes.com and could only find lightly to extremely modded Formulas. The lightly modded formulas with basic breathing mods and or performance tuning/chips were running 14.3 - 14.7 from 94MPH to 100MPH depending on conditons and mods. With my mods I can definitely see why the race ended up the way it did. I bet he didn't expect to come in 2nd place though!

TLove It!

iTrader: (1)

Back when I was the kid's age who was driving the Firebird (long time ago), I'd have been routing for the Bird. Now adays; I love to see an unassuming Honda/Acura kick the Rumblin Firechicken's rear

Sonnick

Nice run man! Sounds like the car is running strong. What did your dad have to say about this? Lol.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Good write up...

SatinSilverAV6

iTrader: (2)

Thanks guys!!

Sonnick - Stronger than ever! I want to go back to the track. I haven't been back with the pulley or the J-pipe. I got my itch for speed from my dad, so he was expecting no less from me haha. He had a big grin on his face and said "I bet he wasn't expecting that!"

BEAR-AvHistory

Congrats...sounds like a good one.

Sonnick

Lol that's great.

anx1300c

iTrader: (2)

Good stuff. The performance cars of 15-20 years ago are pretty much exceeded by a lot of today's family haulers. I mean when the 6MT TL came out in late '03, it didn't really give up anything to a '91 L98 Vette in the power department. I was just reading an article on the V6 Camry and they stated how it was quicker than an E34 M5 from the early 90's. Makes you wonder where we'll be 15-20 years from now.

FastLS6speed

Any time I see anything to do with an LT1 vs. Threads I always assume the LT1 lost! In the statement of the older sports cars being slower than the newer family cars that is so tru! Even my car is begining to seem slow compaired to some of the newer cars!

Dave_B

It's about what I expected from the race. Back in the day, I had a 275hp base 94 Z28 4AT (4L60E tranny). It ran 14.3s@98mph with a 2.0 60' stock which is what my 260hp G35 5AT did stock. With an intake (legit 15whp), 3" single out catback, Borla Y-pipe, electronic shift improver, and a chip, the car managed 13.7s@102mph with a high 1.9 60'.

Z28s and Formula Firebirds tend to run similiar times because they have the same weights, option for option. The Trans Am Firebird is fractionally slower because it has additional equipment like articulating seats.

The 93-94 F-bodies had 275hp.

The 95-97 F-bodies had 285hp due to revisions in the exhaust.

The WS6/SS F-bodies had 305hp due to revisions in the intake and exhaust. A basic Z28 or Firebird could get the same power or more by simply upgrading the OEM intake and exhaust.

Stock low to mid 14s was pretty typical for all these LT1 F-bodies, regardless of tranny. Getting deep into the 13s is pretty easy simple bolt-ons and tires. 12s takes a bit more work, but still relatively easy, especially with the auto cars (gears, high stall TC, slicks).

RUF87

Nice job I almost felt like I was there.

Ruf

RUF87

Yep, it's sad. The performance wars of today have passed the muscle car era . . in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I still live the style, torque and nasty sounding cars. But today's technology puts cars of today at a new level.

It won't be long I'll be looking to get a newer car, or add NOS, SC or Turbo.

Ruf