81 era ttas.........

[irockwithdirt]

I've always liked these cars for some reason. Despite their looks I know the 301 is a complete POS!!. Weren't they prone to bust cranks? History would prolly be alot diffrent if they had turbo'ed a 305 in it

Just wondered if anyone ever really did or even tried to do much with one of these cars, wether it be with the 301 or not.

 

[Slow91z]

I've heard of a couple of people that do some cool stuff with them, but I have no clue how...It's my strong opinion that all turbo cars should be fuel injected, unless the card is tuned for WOT only, and it's a full drag car.

 

[1badTTA]

Not sure the guy's name, but someone has gotten one to run 12.41 in an NHRA pure stock class. He said it took alot of tuning and headgaskets to get there, but it was with all stock parts.

I have one (now it's a parts car) that did run descent with simple things like adj wastegate and better air cleaner setup, but wasn't really that fast. Probably would have ran in the mid 15's.

There are alot of things that could be done to one, but it would require alot of work.

 

[Little6pack]

Originally posted by 1badTTA
There are alot of things that could be done to one, but it would require alot of work.

SO true & not worth the effort.

I owned an 81 body with pontiac 400 transplant.
It had the turbo hood which threw everyone into thinking
it was turboed.. (well it was from the factory & prior to
the engine swap)

 

[b4black]

I think this is a very misunderstood engine. Why learn how to tune a 301T when you just go with a 6.6 Liter V8? Not many performed well becuase nobody bothered to try and figure them out. They where high tech cars driven by people looking for a low tech muscle car.

It's not the carb that's the problem (there are plenty of turbo cars that have gone damn fast with carburetors). Try tuning without a knock gauge. Try tuning without a message board like this to run to when things go wrong. Try tuning with no aftermarket support. You have to be a leader, 'cause there's no one to follow.

For those that have tried, there are some that have performed very well. 16's factory stock - 13's in the ¼ are very realistic. And Neil Smedley has gone into the 12's with his NHRA record holder.

 

[b4black]

Originally posted by Slow91z
I've heard of a couple of people that do some cool stuff with them, but I have no clue how...It's my strong opinion that all turbo cars should be fuel injected, unless the card is tuned for WOT only, and it's a full drag car.

I love to know what this strong opinion is based on. I've been running a carb for a while now and have heard it all. I have found none of it to be true so far. I have dropped over two seconds off my factory stock time and have yet to touch the carb (the electronic carb at that). Everything I have done has improved WOT with NO detrimental effects to non-WOT driving. I drive the car everyday to work and it cruises beautifully.


Just like a SFI car, boost up- knock down. Simple.

 

[Little6pack]

Originally posted by b4black
I Not many performed well becuase nobody bothered to try and figure them out. They where high tech cars driven by people looking for a low tech muscle car.

Well most buyer who paid the NEW price in 81 for a ttA
figured they were getting a fast car that did not require work.

How many new owners go out & make mods to a car that is under warrenty. Yeah I know there are a handfull that will
play with the new GTP, Lightings & cobras. But a lot of years
& magazine articles later tells you what to do.

Back in 81 I think folks were puzzeled by the turbos then.

 

[b4black]

I agree 100%. And buy the time the warrenty was over, the SFI Buick V6's were around. Why play with a old Firebird, when a new Regal could kick it butt as is.

Not only were the turbos puzzling, those darn computers were making it impossible for the average shade tree mechanic to do anything. (Now we think they are simple ).

People like what they know. Back then, people knew there was no replacement for displacement.

 

[irockwithdirt]

I guess my whole idea behind this thread was wondering why pontiac would pick an engine with little if any performance potential (please correct me if I am wrong), to use as a basis for a turbocharged transam.

Granted I never owned a car with a 301 in it, and most of my memory of it is that of a beer swelling teenage gearhead , but I know I remember something of the sort of a balancing problem with them.

305's were already in the firebirds and I can only imagine with the parts availability and interchange of the SBC what would have become of these cars. Thoughts of a 400sbc dish pistoned, vortec headed, stock appearance tta...........

Maybe I just think too much

 

[Little6pack]

Originally posted by irockwithdirt
I guess my whole idea behind this thread was wondering why pontiac would pick an engine with little if any performance potential (please correct me if I am wrong), to use as a basis for a turbocharged transam.

Yup that motor was PONTIAC last Brain Fart.. Since the real Pontiac motor was discontinued in 78/79.

I often wondered if pontiac had waited it out & placed FI on the 400 or 455 how it would have been?
or even better bring back that cast & use it in the new GTO with all of todays goodies

 

[Pronto]

The 301 was designed to be a lightweight low emissions engine with no performance thought given to it. It does make the Olds 307 look like a killer though.