For those unfamiliar with the 1989 Turbo Trans Am, they are a limited edition Trans Am with an LC2 3.8 liter ohv SFI turbocharged V6 similar to the LC2 found in the Buick Grand Nationals and Buick GNXs. They are the first Indianapolis 500 Pace Cars that didn't need a single performance modification to pace the Indy 500.
Turbo Trans Ams only came in White with Beechwood (tan) interior. The only options available were leather and t-tops, of which my TTA has both. A total of 1550 TTAs were availble for public purchase. There were 1324 leather + t-top TTAs built.
All TTAs were equipped with TH2004R automatic transmissions. The TTA was rated by GM's own dyno to put out 301hp bone stock but had to be under-rated at 250hp/350tq so as not to step on the 1989 Corvette's toes (255hp). While testing for pace car duties, a TTA was reported to hit 171 mph on a straightaway at Indy.
There are 3-4k miles on the professionally rebuilt LC2 with TA49 turbo. It hasn't been dynoed, but it has clicked off 12.2 1/4 miles @ 118mph on 0 boost launches and terrible 60's before tuning was perfected and without many of the current mods. In a 3400lb car, that's roughly 445hp. The engine was rebuilt to handle over 600hp- it's ready to swap a bigger turbo onto. The TA49 is good for 475-525hp. There are ~92k miles on the odometer. This is not a museum piece, I wanted a car I wouldn't be afraid to put miles on or modify. Although I've put maybe 500 miles on it since October 2004 (~300 miles in just the drive home)... I wouldn't hesitate to drive it across the country or enter it in a local car show.
Engine
Rebuilt Buick 3.8 liter LC2 V6
John's Performance vacuum block
John's Performance adjustable push rods
John's Performance 206/206 camshaft
JE forged pistons
Federal Mogul piston rings
Federal Mogul crankshaft bearings
Federal Mogul connecting rod bearings
Federal Mogul camshaft bearings
John's Performance 70mm throttle body
John's Performance 100lb valve springs
Bored/honed/magnafluxed/resurfaced/balanced block
ARP bolts
Perma-cool oil cooler
Manual boost controller
K&N air filter
3" up pipe
CAS front mounted intercooler
SMC alcohol injection kit
TA-49 3-bolt turbo (slightly larger than factory TA-46)
John's Performance 5lb wastegate spring
43.5lb fuel injectors
ATR 3" downpipe
3" Test pipe
Hooker 3" cat-back
Transmission/Rear Axle
rebuilt TH2004R
Jeg's transmission cooler with fan
Perma-Cool transmission oil cooler
Precision Industries 2800 rpm stall converter
DDD shift kit
Australian 9 bolt limited slip rear axle
Stock 3.27 gear
Suspension
1LE suspension and brake package
Edelbrock shocks
Edelbrock springs
Edelbrock trailing arms
Edelbrock panhard rod
Airlift inflatable drag-bag
John's Performance torque strap
Jegs SFCs
Jegs torque arm
Line-lock
Stainless steel brake lines
Hoosier DOT slicks
Exterior
Tinted windows
Factory-replacement fiberglas spoiler
TTA hood pad
91-92 GTA tail lights
Interior
Re-upholstered Leather seats
TTA specific floor mats
White faced gauges
AutoMeter knock gauge with audible tone
AuotMeter A/F ratio gauge
AutoMeter boost gauge
12 disc CD changer
After tuning, there's no reason why this car shouldn't be well into the 11s on slicks. On street tires at 50mph, it fishtails when the boost hits at part throttle. I'm having trouble building boost off the line. The tires just want to spin even with brand new brakes and a good stall converter. I also need to get the line-lock working better. It also sees false knock at anything over half throttle. So basically, I haven't been able to go WOT unless I ease slowly into the throttle. Once this thing gets tuned it'll be a beast. Time/money conspire against me.
It's an awesome sleeper because most people think it's just a white 305TPI GTA. As time goes on, it seems fewer and fewer people even know what a TTA is. Others just hate any third-generation Firebird and dismiss it. I'll also occasionally hear about TTAs, "Great engine, too bad the rest of the car sucks." Some other people have no idea what a Turbo Buick is and are disappointed that I "swapped" a six cylinder into a GTA-- or put GTA body parts on a six cylinder Firebird. Not to mention the numerous arguments I've gotten into with parts guys insisting GM/Pontiac never made a six cylinder Trans Am.
There really isn't much to do the car as it sits aside from perfecting the tune. Someday, I'll probably get an AlkyControl alcohol injection kit, bigger turbo/injectors/stall converter and some aftermarket wheels. I'm thinking of some lightweight CCW Classic Black anodized 17x9.5f, 17x11r. Then some other small cosmetic stuff like a metal MAF pipe, new heat blanket for the coolant overflow tank, turbo heat shield, new floormats, sunvisors, etc.
Eventually, I want to get it repainted in the brightest white I can find. It's too modified and the mileage is too high to worry about keeping it 100% original. Besides, that was never a priority.
For more TTA information:
For more TTA info, go to:
89TTA and
TurboBuick
Page 2: pics of specific mods and Pedro with official press release text and press comments
