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from page 1 September 8, 2002 I got an opportunity to run my car at a local drag racing track. I was hoping for a 14 second time slip. I was let down. 15.084@89.999mph. Wow that’s slow! My last runs down the track with my 1978 Trans Am where in the 13.2s@105 mph, so that’s quite a difference. Well now I was determined to help bring this car up to the performance levels of the modern day performance-oriented cars.
I returned to the track exactly 3 weeks later with a fresh tune up to properly baseline the GTAs track performance. That day netted me these times:
| 60
foot |
1/8
mile |
1/4
mile |
MPH |
| 2.149 |
9.64 |
15.132 |
90.516 |
| 2.179 |
9.64 |
15.092 |
91.142 |
| 2.046 |
9.324 |
14.713 |
91.398 |
| 2.113 |
9.48 |
14.906 |
90.357 |
| 2.179 |
9.589 |
15.032 |
90.759 |
| 2.14 |
9.536 |
14.996 |
91.066 |
The 14.71 was obviously from the better 60ft time achieved through some track prep prior to that run. Now at least I had a real idea of what this car was capable of stock. This was the end of the season for 2002.
In 2003 I purchased a Hypertech chip, equipment to “burn” my own chips and 2002 Trans Am WS6 take off muffler. With the muffler waiting to be installed I made my own tune on one chip and took that and the Hypertech chip with me to the track. First runs were with my chip installed, the Hypertech was used in the last 2:
| 60
foot |
1/8
mile |
1/4
mile |
MPH |
| 2.147 |
9.44 |
14.779 |
93.729 |
| 2.224 |
9.495 |
14.847 |
93.281 |
| 2.306 |
9.627 |
14.946 |
92.397 |
| 2.185 |
9.445 |
14.79 |
93.169 |
| 2.436 |
9.796 |
15.159 |
92.91 |
My chip netted me the highest MPH and best ET so the Hypertech chip was delegated to dust collecting duty after this.
I returned 3 weeks later with the muffler, no catalytic converter and a new custom tune:
60
foot |
1/8
mile |
1/4
mile |
MPH |
2.326 |
9.459 |
14.646 |
96.086 |
2.351 |
9.596 |
14.84 |
95.035 |
2.271 |
9.417 |
14.656 |
95.116 |
As the times indicate my car was getting more powerful and much harder to launch. Wheel hop was apparent and the car was spinning like mad. I only made 3 runs that day and track prep was non existent so maybe with some more track time I could have netted a 14.5 run. Nevertheless one thing was clear, chassis and suspension work was needed.
Up until here the only modifications was a custom tune chip, an OEM 2002 Trans Am muffler, no catalytic converter and the results were a 5 MPH increase and 4/10s of a second faster. That’s a 50 HP increase from a muffler and a chip!
page
3...
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| Crossed
braced torque arm |
 |
| I
decided to opt for strengthening stock suspenion
components instead of purchasing high end parts.
The end results are the similar except for the lack
of weight savings! |
 |
| These
frame connectors are custom built units done by
HP Performance. |
 |
| They're
bolt-ins instead of weld-in, but they really hug
the floor pan. The chassis felt much stiffer with
these installed. |
 |
| Once
again I decided to box the stock lower control arms. |
 |
| They
were installed with a new set of polyurethane
bushings. |
 |
| The
panhard bar got similar treatment, boxed and polyurethane
bushings. |
|
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