Why did I only get a 350?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
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From: Highlands Ranch Colorado
Why did I only get a 350?
After watching the movie Smoky and the Bandit for the 100th time I started thinking about the Pontiac Trans Am in the movie. I believe it was a 1978. In 78 and 79 those Trans Ams came with a 6.6 liter V8. 6.6 equals approximately 400 cubic inches (I think Pontiac called it a 403). My question is:
· Why did the Trans Am come with 400 cubic inches and my Corvette only come with a 350?
· Did the Trans Am have more horsepower and torque than the L-48 or the L82?
· Was it quicker 0-60 or in the quarter mile?
I thought that GM :chevy always but the biggest and best engines in the Vette. Can anyone help me out here?
· Why did the Trans Am come with 400 cubic inches and my Corvette only come with a 350?
· Did the Trans Am have more horsepower and torque than the L-48 or the L82?
· Was it quicker 0-60 or in the quarter mile?
I thought that GM :chevy always but the biggest and best engines in the Vette. Can anyone help me out here?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Valencia (near LA) CA
Re: Why did I only get a 350? (Ken's 78)
I don't know, but when I had my '72 350 Vette My friends 6.6 Smokey and the Bandit car blew me away :(
I think my '89 Firebird Formula 350 faster than the '89 Corvette, but that doesn't mean that I would have rather had the Firebird, I just couldn't afford a Vette. I think the Corvettes had a little more HP in '89, but the Formula weighed less, and had good street racing gears
Then there was the Grand National, Syclone, and Aniversary editon Trans Am. They were faster than the Corvettes.
So I guess GM had to build the ZR-1 keep the Vette ahead, and now the Z06.
It's nice to know that you don't have to rich to have a fast car!
~Jay
I think my '89 Firebird Formula 350 faster than the '89 Corvette, but that doesn't mean that I would have rather had the Firebird, I just couldn't afford a Vette. I think the Corvettes had a little more HP in '89, but the Formula weighed less, and had good street racing gears
Then there was the Grand National, Syclone, and Aniversary editon Trans Am. They were faster than the Corvettes.
So I guess GM had to build the ZR-1 keep the Vette ahead, and now the Z06.
It's nice to know that you don't have to rich to have a fast car!
~Jay
Le Mans Master
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From: Bloomington MN
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Re: Why did I only get a 350? (Ken's 78)
· Why did the Trans Am come with 400 cubic inches and my Corvette only come with a 350? I thought that GM :chevy always but the biggest and best engines in the Vette. Can anyone help me out here?
AC
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Why did I only get a 350? (A C)
Bandit drove a 1977 Black Bird Edition Trans-Am.
Many times GM has had bigger better engines than what was in the Vette. And usually that was the downfall to these engines as Chevrolet always wanted the Vettes to be the best they could sell.
Good examples are:
Buick Regal T/A
Buick Grand National
Buick Grand National GNX
GMC Syclone
GMC Typhoon
Pontiac Trans-Am GTA Indy pace car with the Buick V6 turbo -- don't remember the year (1989 I think)
Many times GM has had bigger better engines than what was in the Vette. And usually that was the downfall to these engines as Chevrolet always wanted the Vettes to be the best they could sell.
Good examples are:
Buick Regal T/A
Buick Grand National
Buick Grand National GNX
GMC Syclone
GMC Typhoon
Pontiac Trans-Am GTA Indy pace car with the Buick V6 turbo -- don't remember the year (1989 I think)
Le Mans Master
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Re: Why did I only get a 350? (A C)
When Buick introduced the GNX, they had one at the Detroit Auto Show with a bumper sticker that read I brake for Corvettes :lol:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: CA
Re: Why did I only get a 350? (Ken's 78)
FYI - That 403 (6.6) is an Olds motor. GM had to find a suitable sub because it was no longer building that Pontiac 455.
T/A's were heavy & smogged out pretty bad. It needed the extra cubes to get it moving. The Olds 403's aren't the beefiest motors either. Small block chevys have more meat on the bottom end :yesnod:
One more thing - the motor in that "Smokey T/A" was far from stock.
[Modified by 71coupe, 3:55 PM 9/6/2001]
T/A's were heavy & smogged out pretty bad. It needed the extra cubes to get it moving. The Olds 403's aren't the beefiest motors either. Small block chevys have more meat on the bottom end :yesnod:
One more thing - the motor in that "Smokey T/A" was far from stock.
[Modified by 71coupe, 3:55 PM 9/6/2001]
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St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Why did I only get a 350? (71coupe)
I think '76 was the last year for the 455. I bought one that year and I'll tell you it was built for appearances only. The good years for the early TA's was between '70 and '74. The SD455 was an awesome engine. Somehow I thought that's what I was buying. Instead I got a stationwagon engine:( with a 4sp. It wasn't a screamer.
The TA Burt drove was either modified or they used great engine sounds. I'm sure there were no CATS onboard!
I had an '82 also and it too was a dog. Performance cars suffered between '75 and about '86.----the dark years.
The TA Burt drove was either modified or they used great engine sounds. I'm sure there were no CATS onboard!
I had an '82 also and it too was a dog. Performance cars suffered between '75 and about '86.----the dark years.
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Re: Why did I only get a 350? (Ken's 78)
Chevrolet never advertised to have the biggest engine, just because I assume it's a 'Sports Car' and not necessarily a great drag strip car. I don't think Chevrolet ever really had a great deal of expierence in drag racing. But also the engines back then were different as well. totally different blocks and heads and they were cast at different locations as well. Chevy small blocks came from Flint, MI I think and I have no idea were Pontiac engines were cast? :confused:
Always Shiftin'
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Re: Why did I only get a 350? (71coupe)
71Coupe,
The 403 ci Olds motor was used in '79 as the base engine for the Trans Am. In '79 they also had a higher performance 400 ci pontiac big block.
In '77 and '78 the Trans Am was equipped with two versions of the 400 ci, the base ("6.6 Litre" on the shaker hood) and the high performance ("TA/6.6" on the shaker hood). I do not remember the specifics, but the TA/6.6 cars with the WS6 package and 4 speed was a pretty formidable muscle car!!
I had a '77 (TA/6.6 w/ 4spd) and '79 (400 w/ 4 spd) back in the early 80's. My first corvette was a '79 L-48 w/ 4 spd. Both my TAs would have out performed my '79. :( The late '70s L82 Corvettes would probably hold their own with the TAs! :yesnod:
Love that GM POWER!!! :cheers:
The 403 ci Olds motor was used in '79 as the base engine for the Trans Am. In '79 they also had a higher performance 400 ci pontiac big block.
In '77 and '78 the Trans Am was equipped with two versions of the 400 ci, the base ("6.6 Litre" on the shaker hood) and the high performance ("TA/6.6" on the shaker hood). I do not remember the specifics, but the TA/6.6 cars with the WS6 package and 4 speed was a pretty formidable muscle car!!
I had a '77 (TA/6.6 w/ 4spd) and '79 (400 w/ 4 spd) back in the early 80's. My first corvette was a '79 L-48 w/ 4 spd. Both my TAs would have out performed my '79. :( The late '70s L82 Corvettes would probably hold their own with the TAs! :yesnod:
Love that GM POWER!!! :cheers:
Race Director
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From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: Why did I only get a 350? (Ken's 78)
In general the other guys need 400 c.i. to keep up w/ a 350 Chevy.
Had a 70s T/A, was on the 3rd set of tires before 24k when it was stolen.
It would handle.
:cool:
Had a 70s T/A, was on the 3rd set of tires before 24k when it was stolen.
It would handle.
:cool:
Team Owner
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From: Thomson Georgia
Re: Why did I only get a 350? (QikStik)
My 67 400 4speed firebird converttible would NOT handle but In a Straight Line WATCH OUT....I smoked many a corvette with alsmost 365 hp from the factory and the m-21 close ratio 4 speed.....What a fun car!! :yesnod: :yesnod: :D
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Re: Why did I only get a 350? (keytech)
When I first picked up my vette I didn't get 3 miles from the dealership where I was sitting 1st at a red light when some bubba looking red neck in a black trans am was making a left. As he came on my left side he smiled and said.. "Any time man.. Any time.." My first feeling was.. let's go.. but I had my 7yr old daughter in the car and I didn't know what my car could do... (also felt I'd get a whoopin):p: I just smiled back and waved.. I think he was jelious cause I was getting more looks than him..
Race Director
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From: Plano TX
Re: Why did I only get a 350? (Ken's 78)
Some more info on the Smokey&The Bandit TA:
In 1977 the only engine options were the 403 olds at (I believe) 180hp and the 400 Pontiac at 200hp. Not exactly enough for the wild burnouts and racing scenes.
What they did was to take a stock 1973 455 Super Duty engine and pop it into the car. The 1977 engines may not have been much to brag about, but the '73 455 SD was a powerful mill. Magazine tests in '73 put the 73 TA with the super duty in the 13's! Keep in mind the tires of the era... For comparison, the '71 LS-5 Vette only ran a 14.1.
I still remember one scene in the movie where they peel out in 1st (stick shift) for a significant distance, then grab second and peel out again just like in 1st.
In 1977 the only engine options were the 403 olds at (I believe) 180hp and the 400 Pontiac at 200hp. Not exactly enough for the wild burnouts and racing scenes.
What they did was to take a stock 1973 455 Super Duty engine and pop it into the car. The 1977 engines may not have been much to brag about, but the '73 455 SD was a powerful mill. Magazine tests in '73 put the 73 TA with the super duty in the 13's! Keep in mind the tires of the era... For comparison, the '71 LS-5 Vette only ran a 14.1.
I still remember one scene in the movie where they peel out in 1st (stick shift) for a significant distance, then grab second and peel out again just like in 1st.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: CA
Re: Why did I only get a 350? (QikStik)
QikStik - The '79 T/A with the tow package got the best 403. The regular 403's had "windowed" main bulkheads. The 79 with the tow package got the rare "solid" webs. They were only about 2000 made, and they were considerably stronger.
403's have a big bore / short stroke & make great street motors. If you are interested in Olds motors (I have '70 w30 455 in my 59 Chev & it launches like a Pro Stock) check out 442.com
http://www.442.com/
403's have a big bore / short stroke & make great street motors. If you are interested in Olds motors (I have '70 w30 455 in my 59 Chev & it launches like a Pro Stock) check out 442.com
http://www.442.com/
Always Shiftin'
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Re: Why did I only get a 350? (71coupe)
71coupe,
Thanks for info. I had never heard of the special 403 tow package??? :confused:
I thought the link might be interesting reading for you.
http://www.iwaynet.net/~gl%26lisk/1979ta.html
I don't remember the exact horsepower of the 403 (around 180 - 190), but the rare Pontiac 400 was rated at 220 HP and was discontinued after '79. You could only get it with a 4 speed transmission. I had a red hardtop w/ the ws6 package. Pretty awesome vehicle.
Mark
Thanks for info. I had never heard of the special 403 tow package??? :confused:
I thought the link might be interesting reading for you.
http://www.iwaynet.net/~gl%26lisk/1979ta.html
I don't remember the exact horsepower of the 403 (around 180 - 190), but the rare Pontiac 400 was rated at 220 HP and was discontinued after '79. You could only get it with a 4 speed transmission. I had a red hardtop w/ the ws6 package. Pretty awesome vehicle.
Mark
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: CA
Re: Why did I only get a 350? (QikStik)
According to this article (see link), the beefy version of the 403 only came in the Trans Am when you checked the "Towing Package" in the options.
http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofblk.htm...ks 1964 - 1990
http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/ofblk.htm...ks 1964 - 1990
Safety Car
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From: NorCal
Re: Why did I only get a 350? (Ken's 78)
The 403 Olds in the late 70's T/A's was hampered by a choked down single exhaust, timing curve that favored emissions, NO breathing (the scoop was blocked!), and bad shift points. I had a cottage industry going during that period that involved putting duals with a set of Hookers on, opening the scoop, recurving the distributor and hooking the advance up to ported vaccum, and a B&M shift kit in the THM350. Those guys had more fun with the unsuspecting masses than should be allowed! Not much of a rpm engine, but torque up the wazoo and they handled real well for a car that big. I'm keeping my eyes open for a 301 (Pontiac engine) turbo to slide a 455 in with the turbo setup. That ought to keep me interested :smash:
Hans
Hans