That DIY attitude and starting with a Pontiac that was factory equipped with fantastic styling and a top shelf suspension and braking system has enabled Gary to enjoy his SE T/A without having to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner to finance it. All Rights Reserved. Carburetors were too antiquated to take full advantage of the forced air from a turbo. Click here to see what other super-cool rides we found in there. The 301 was a poor excuse of an engine, let alone a Pontiac. History: Quad City Springs provided new springs, and the four-wheel disc brakes were rebuilt as well. This car runs great and has been very well cared for. 2023 Hearst Autos, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This way the car is still really nice to drive and is still fast, and it's more fuel efficiency. Home Pontiac Firebird 1981 Pontiac Firebird, A new Efficiency System complements Firebirds aerodynamics. 1981 Firebird sales brochure. There are 84 Pontiac Firebird - 2nd Gen for sale across all model years (1970 to 1981) and variants, 67 are Trans Am and 4 are model year 1981. Pontiac offered the new turbocharged 4.9-liter as an option in the Formula Firebird and Trans Am, coupled exclusively to a three-speed automatic and a relatively tall 3.08:1 final drive ratio. GM was making a corporation-wide effort to reduce engine proliferation, and by executive fiat, Pontiac was out of the V-8 businessinstead supplying the Firebird and Camaro's pitiful 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, while the V-8 option came from Chevrolet, a 305-cid (5.0-liter) small-block in either 145-horsepower carbureted or 165-horsepower fuel-injected form. I own a 301T car and it suffers mightily from turbo lag, but at a 30 mph roll it will hang with a stock 6.6L TA all day long. Before we get into the resto work and mods done to this T/A, it's important to note that Gary is a Pontiac guy who likes to do his own work. Once sufficiently cooled to bring more densely packed air into the engine, up to 16.5 psi of boost is on hand. On the show field, the SE T/A has taken multiple First Place trophies and earned 275 points of a possible 300 at a regional POCI event. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. . Government regulations via the EPA and CAFE standards along with the shortage of oil made it all but imposible for any car maker to introduce any vehicle that was advertised as a muscle car. Finding high-octane fuel could be a challenge, with some unscrupulous gas stations pumping regular unleaded fuel out of their super unleaded pumps. Air is picked up by a four-inch-diameter duct just above the front air dam, flows unimpeded to the carburetor, where fuel is added, and then turns through 90 degrees in the plenum to enter the turbo compressor in a horizontal stream. All of factory wear items were replaced and CE subframe connectors, Monroe shocks, and Lakewood traction bars were added. Second, there was no manual. They didnt realize until dynoing the engine that those heads actually flowed better than the GN as-installed heads! Nope, Chevy developed a turbocharged version of the Corvairs air-cooled six way back in 1962. Referenced to 1979's performance peaka 400 T/A four-speedacceleration times are longer by 1.5 seconds, and about 10 mph has been lost from both quarter-mile and flat-out speeds. And yet despite changing consumer tastes, Firebird sales climbed steadily throughout the late 1970s. So in other word the W72 Trans Ams perfromance was Mighty impressive considering all the horsepower robbing pollution control devices and its heavy weight.The 1979 W72 Trans Ams horsepower was underrated. Automobile was not yet in existence, but our sister publication MotorTrend assembled as many turbo cars as it could for a group test. The WS6 was the cream of the auto-industry's handling crop, and with a 1.25-inch sway bar up front paired with a 0.750-inch bar in the rear, 14:1 constant-ratio high-effort steering, specific springs, bushings, and shocks, and four-wheel disc brakes, even like-era Corvette owners had to take notice of the Pontiac's handling prowess. We can provide anything you need for your Muscle car! I've been building, driving, racing, and restoring Trans Ams for over 30 years and have owned 13 Pontiacs, yet I still enjoy going to car shows and putting my T/A on display because it gives me a feeling of pride. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. Quick Specs Stock # S3622. After both the Grand National and the Turbo Trans Am GTA, it was easy for General Motors to see the potential of forced induction in performance applications, setting the stage for the supercharged and turbocharged LS/LT engines to arrive soon. Accounting for nearly half of all Trans Am production for the year, 33,493 were produced. To have the turbo installed on the 301 engine, they had to make a total new 301 engine that has a big T molded in to the Metal and was made stronger and thicker to make sure it could handle the boost of the turbo. 70,571 Miles 1G2AW87T1BL139173 VIN 4.9 Liter Turbo. PHS Documented Car It was in 1980, these days they probably could get 500 H.P. ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN THE REAR SEATING POSITIONS CONTAIN FIRST LOCK POSITIONS WHICH WILL NOT LOCK WHEN USED BY SMALLER PASSENGERS. The 5.0 liter for 1981 could not ordered with an automatic transmission. In 1980 and '81, the Turbo 301 was the powerplant of choice in Formulas and Trans Ams, including all 5,700 '80 Indy Pace Car editions. Owing to its limited production of only. Power: 205 hp @ 4000 rpm Required fields are marked *. The base engine was a 231 CID six-cylinder that produced 110 horsepower, and the base V8 was a 265 CID motor that was rated at 120 horsepower. Low octane fuel kicked the 4.9 Turbo's knock sensor into action, cutting the power. Muscle Car Specifications Performance Model 1981 Pontiac Firebird Engine Used 301ci/210hp Zero to Sixty 8.3 sec Quarter Mile 17.0 sec @ 82.1 mph In the sales brochure for the 1981 Firebird, Burt Reynolds sits atop a black and gold Trans Am talking on a CB radio. The car is complete and fresh and really enjoyable. (Also, that's exactlly what Buick did with its turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6.). It would take six more years for the domestic automakers to produce even a Mighty Corvette that could muster this kind of Horsepower to be able to perform as strongly and as well all around as the 1981 Turbo Trans Am. But reviews of the motor were dismal, and would be eliminated the following year with the introduction of the third generation cars. Join our Discord to interact with us and chat about cars and specs. These cars are beginning to skyrocket in value just like previous Trans Am models so they present great future return on investible potential. The 1981 Turbo Cars were considered slightly better than the 1980 builds. This transmission still shifts really nice and holds the horsepower good, The rear ratio of the Rear Axle is 3:08 and that makes this car really comfortable for the Highways to cruise, this is a real Cruise Rear ratio. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. These are standard specifications - not necessarily specifications for the vehicle(s) in the photo(s). In the GM test lab, turbocharging solved both the emissions and fuel efficiency issues. For muscle car fans, the 1980-81 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo is the most famous example of the engineering optimism so pervasive at General Motors. This was a turbo V8 and it only made 210bhp? In 2009, the season kicked off for the SE T/A with a Second Place in the SE Modified class at the Trans Am Nats, and two Best of Shows followed. The 1970s transformed a lot of traditional thinking about automobile design and engineering, so you can look at the Turbo Trans Am as an evolutionary link between the 1960s musclecar heyday and nascent automotive tech like computer-controlled ignition systems. The Corvair? Take Pontiac for instance, and its experimentation with a turbocharged V8 engine that was available in the 1980 and 1981 Trans Am and Firebird Formula. Turbo Charged 301ci \ 4.9L - V8 They only come along once in a while. What Others Are Reading History Of The Turbocharged Buick 3.8L V6, GM's Mightiest '80s Muscle Car Motor UCC Truck Show 2023: Maximum Performance Under Big-Time Pressure. The LU8 engine option would return for 1981, however horsepower and torque dropped slightly to 200 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. First, was its high sensitivity to the octane of pump gas, which resulted in detonation in some cases that was discussed in a few magazine road tests. Beautiful Black Finish 1981 Pontiac Trans-am Turbo 4,9 Liter V8 with automatic transmission. The base model was the second best selling Firebird behind the Trans Am, and production was at 20,541 for the year. We got a real vintage HEMI 426 cui big block V8 in stock! It made 150 horsepower and 210 lb.-ft. of torque. Chalk the loss up to this year's tightened emissions laws if you're planning any correspondence with your elected representatives. According to ProfessCars estimation this Pontiac is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 sec, from 0 . What was to blame? This car is 4999 mm / 196.8 in long, 1854 mm / 73 in wide and 1257 mm / 49.5 in high. Some cars are very much cheaper to insure than others. From the Archive: Pumping up five-liter muscles to deliver six-liter performance. By Don Sherman View Photos Aaron. Other engine options also remained the same in 1981 as they had been the previous year. The total invoice amount is $ 10,340.81 A lot of options! . In other words Pontiac with the LU8 managed to make a reliable fuel efficient V8 which kept performance fans happy back in 1980 and 1981. THE CARD WILL INDICATE WHETHER THE SEAT BELTS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. Once the mixture is in the chambers, the Ohio race-prepped forged crank, Eagle 6.800-inch H-beam forged rods, and Ross forged pistons wrapped in Total Seal gapless rings put the squeeze on to the tune of 10.8:1 compression. - On request we can also sell the car with Dutch plates or assist with TUV (H) With all that newfound power under the hood, the T/A feels like a different car. They speculate that Pontiac might have developed an electronic fuel injection system, switched from a draw-through to a blow-through turbo setup, and added an intercooler, and we think that's a plausible prediction; Pontiac was known for its performance engineering. - New Front Seat Covers Consider the cost of insuring a car before you buy, if the lower rate insurance is your highest priority. As Tested: $9000 (est. 15" Gold Turbine Wheels Before we close, we should absolutely mention the Turbo T/As hood, because its both nostalgic and futuristic at the same time. Combustion remains evactuate via the 1.77-inch Ferrea exhaust valves and 2-inch-diameter primary Hooker Super Comp ceramic headers with 3.5-inch collectors. In fact, in the early '80s at just 22 years old, he built a '67 Firebird 400 with a 462, a 6-71 Dyers blower, and a four-speed. Reviews 1980 Pontiac Firebird Turbo Trans Am: The Chicken and the Snail From the Archive: Pumping up five-liter muscles to deliver six-liter performance. Trucks Invade the 2023 HOT ROD Power TourMega Gallery! It had a lower deck height than traditional Pontiac V8s. Pontiac 1970-1981 Pontiac Firebird 2nd generation all versions catalogue What Makes This 1949 Buick Sacramentos Best Custom of 2023? A massive bulge on the driver's side of the hood, required to clear the relocated carburetor and turbocharger, distinguished turbocharged Firebirds and Trans Ams from the rest of the flock. For Trading in your current classic car please contact our sales department. Even though the LU8 was available on the 1980-1981 Firebird Formula, it will be remembered for being the top performance motor of the 1980-1981 Trans Am. 1981 Turbo Trans AM 301ci - V8, Turbo Charged, WS6, PHS, 77K miles, Black. Not currently for sale This 1981 Pontiac Firebird Turbo Trans AM did not meet reserve. Read This. Rear Window Defroster The decal fowl is now on a new flight plan.css-xtkis1{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#1C5f8B;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;font-weight:bold;}.css-xtkis1:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}out of a rather primitive past to a future where speed and efficiency are precisely matched in importance. The twist is put to the crank and through the TCI 3,500-rpm-stall, 10-inch converter; Hayden-cooled race-prepped TCI Turbo 400 trans; rebalanced driveshaft; and 3.73 Richmond-geared, 10-bolt GM Posi rear and Moser axles. Todays modern synthetics do not have the same negative impact making the engine performance better and reliable. 3) in 1981, the model with 2-door fastback coupe body and V-8 4942 cm3 / 301.6 cui, 149 kW / 203 PS / 200 hp (SAE net) engine offered since September 1980 for North America . The best the 1980 Ford Mustang had to offer was a 2.3 liter Turbo 4 cylinder rated at around 132 horsepower and 143 lb-ft of torque. But Smokey and the Bandit II was not nearly as successful as the original movie, and the 1981 Firebird didnt really compare with the 1977 model. What top speed ? Check the tables below for detailed outside and inside dimensions, output, fuel economy and performance data. The car comes with front and rear disc brakes & Power Steering & Power Brake Assistance. This car runs great and has been very well cared for. A Rochester Quadrajet carburetor feeds the turbo's hungry mouth through a carefully designed cast-aluminum plenum chamber. Yet in real world applications, the technology was still a few years away from large-scale adoption. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. While the top engine choice, the Turbo 301, debuted in '80 at 210 hp (200 hp in '81) making a statement on paper by only dropping 10 hp from the '79 W72 400's rating, on the street and at the dragstrip, the 301 couldn't match the numbers of its older, bigger brother. "Burt Reynolds made it famous and my SE is a crowd favorite at the shows I attend. Pistons are cast-aluminum, but they've been redesigned (along with the wrist pins) for greater strength. This article is about Pontiacs mighty Turbo T/A. "I built the engine and repainted the car and did nearly all the work myself," he recalls. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Faced with two "easy" alternatives to kick off the Eightiesbuilding stone-slow Firebirds or borrowing engines from another GM divisionPontiac avoided both, and instead allotted more than a few engineering dollars to discover some fresh horsepower. We can also make selling your car fast, smooth and simple. The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is a coup with 2 doors and a front mounted powerplant which delivers its power to the rear wheels. Suspension, F/R: control arms/rigid axle And keep in mind that, the car you're looking at here today, was also looked atby others yesterday. May include vehicles that have minor, removable modifications such as aftermarket wheels, exhaust, or accessories such as . 1977-1984 Buick Electra When Buick Had Character, 1978-1995 Porsche 928 Germanys Muscle Car, 1975-1982 Ford Granada Going Upscale on a Budget . Automatic. Of course their is the WS6 option on this Trans AM. 1. took off the resonators; 2. readjusted waste gate; 3. changed the carburetor (had a check engine light from then on); 4. reworked the distributor; 5. introduced me to octane boost. It shouldn't surprise you that Gary built the engine himself. I did a lot of street racing but no dragstrip, so I dont know what a quarter mile time would look like, but no big block cars ever beat me. An auto journalist back in the day summed up the LU8 perfectly by saying it felt more like a 350 cubic-inch V8 which was a compliment. The turbo Bird must carry around its old, heavy body for two more model years in spite of the fact that all the medium-to-big engines fit for this sort of duty are out of production. Wow, cool story. Worth noting the W72 400 was standard in the 1977 Pontiac Can Am and optional in the 1977-1979 Firebird Formula and Trans Am. Maximum claimed speed is 165 km/h (103 mph). So much spark has been backed out by the anti-detonation electronics that the horsepower curve droops like licorice in the sun. Upon hearing the first few rattles of detonation, the transducer tells an electronic module first to back off spark advance, and then immediately thereafter to restore just enough to keep ignition timing at the threshold of detonation. Well, it had its share of other, non turbo-related troubles. Performance wasn't quite in the old 400's league, with the car about a second and a half slower in the quarter mile, though that wasn't entirely the turbo engine's faultthe 400 could be had with a four-speed stick and a 3.23:1 final drive ratio, while the Trans Am Turbo was stuck with an automatic and a 3.08 rear end.
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