The newer GTP's, they're not using the L67, are they?  I heard they're using something else, but basically it's still a 3800 with a blower.

My old daily beater was an '89 SE, with the n/a 3.1, man I loved that car...  I sure wouldn't mind a TGP or an STE (most likely an STE, I'm sick of two-door cars now) for a daily ride, to avoid racking up the mileage on the TTA.

Quote from: pvt num 11The newer GTP's, they're not using the L67, are they?  I heard they're using something else, but basically it's still a 3800 with a blower.

My old daily beater was an '89 SE, with the n/a 3.1, man I loved that car...  I sure wouldn't mind a TGP or an STE (most likely an STE, I'm sick of two-door cars now) for a daily ride, to avoid racking up the mileage on the TTA.

Newer GTP's use the L32, also called the Series III 3800.  Its basically an L67 except it has different rods (IIRC they are actually a little weaker) and it has the Gen V M90 blower instead of the Gen III the Series II L67's got.  

TGP's are great beaters IMO especially if you have a quick summer car.  I know there are a lot of people on here that hate thinking about TGP's as beaters, but they are nice cars so you don't have to lose much luxury or speed, and they are cheap.  My dad bought his TGP so he wouldn't have to drive his GTP in the winter or bad weather and he loves it.  They are cheap, and its actually fairly quick so it doesn't feel rediculously slow when he gets in it after driving the GTP.  I'll be using my TSTE as a beater next winter (not this winter) after I get a new engine in my '86 TA and get some body work done and new wheels and all that.  The TA will be my summer ride, and the STE will be something thats comfortable a quick to drive the rest of the time.

Shawn

yea, TGP's or ws in general arnt worth enough to really warrent driving only on weekends on perfect days, i use mine for daily driver, body damage and mechanical issues are repairable, so thell never *really* die

The Series III engine actually has the stronger rods as far as I know Shawn.  I seem to remember some guys using them in their performance buildups anyways.

My TGP will never become a daily driver, I plan to keep it as it is now for a long long time. 8)  That's not to say I don't drive it at all though.....I've put a bit shy of 2K on the car in the past 18 months.

I need some new pictures, haven't taken any of the car since around May...which is unusual for me. :drinking:
http://home.alltel.net/mfewtrail/images/turbo_gp.jpg

My goal has been always to make my car a daily driver. but it has been a monthly driver  :shock:  :lol:  a month on the road followed by a month off the road. the month off the road costs me $100 to $1000  never more, never less.

But over all I have spent less money than a new car which is what everyone tells me I need.

Fixing it is never more than car payments.

The TGP is worth dumping money into, unlike my Frod.

Quote from: mfewtrailThe Series III engine actually has the stronger rods as far as I know Shawn.  I seem to remember some guys using them in their performance buildups anyways.

When it first came out everyone was using the rods in their builds, and then IIRC someone did some research and found out they were weaker or something. There was a big argument about it on clubgp and I can't remember what the final conclusion was, but either way, its not like the rods in the Series II are weak so it doesn't much matter.

Shawn

Quote from: dbtk2TGP's are great beaters IMO especially if you have a quick summer car.  I know there are a lot of people on here that hate thinking about TGP's as beaters...

Well.....no offense, but....your dad is using a TGP as a beater to save a run of the mill, '97 & up GTP.  I'm not trying to downplay what his GP means to him, or anything.  I understand he put a lot of time, effort and money into it, and that's great.  But....in the end, it is still just a dime a dozen car that will have plenty available for sale in decent shape YEARS down the road to mod like mad, if one so desires, unlike the much more scarcely scattered decent shape TGPs/TSTEs.  I'm not saying it shouldn't be driven at all in the winter, or anything to that nature (if that's what I was saying, I'd be a hypocrite).  I realize that these are the only cars for many members, here.  But to purposely buy a TGP with the sole intention of using it for crappy whether, especially to save an "ordinary" vehicle....well....that's just wrong IMO.

Quote from: dbtk2they are nice cars so you don't have to lose much luxury or speed, and they are cheap.

So are '92 & up Bonneville SSEi's.  So are many other cars, for that matter.  I guess I just have a hard time understanding why, with so many choices out there to fulfill those needs, one would go out and seek a rare, unique car to serve the purpose of a beater.

wow, passion, lol, yea, it seems a little wierd to get a beater for a run of the mill car, then use a rare car as a beater

Quote from: dbtk2

Quote from: mfewtrailThe Series III engine actually has the stronger rods as far as I know Shawn.  I seem to remember some guys using them in their performance buildups anyways.

When it first came out everyone was using the rods in their builds, and then IIRC someone did some research and found out they were weaker or something. There was a big argument about it on clubgp and I can't remember what the final conclusion was, but either way, its not like the rods in the Series II are weak so it doesn't much matter.

Shawn

Ah, I just caught up on that info a little while ago by searching the board.  The L32 rods are the weak ones like you said.

Hey..I just notice that TTA doesn't have a Wallet Master (Power Master) :D  .  So its BETTER than a GN..  :lol: .

I wonder how GM wieght down the TTA and GN? Or is it a conspiracy  :shock: .

Speaking of Rare Beaters.. I know of two people here in town that use Caddilac Alantes as beaters.  :o  .
IF I had a Enzo Fararri..I would beat the F*&* out of it. $100K+ ..dam stright im getting my moneys worth. My GTU..you know im dogging that thing. Aint modding it to puss foot it  :wink: . Now if it was a Model T or something more rare like OUR Prototype Turbo GP..then yea.. I'd keep that thing car show or museum only. But like a certin late night host that drives turbine engine bikes and Turbo oldmobiles..I would cruze in them now and then.  :)

Considering I use my TTA as a daily driver (Sacrilege!  Blasphemer!  Heretic!  Heathen!) I wouldn't really mind if I had an STE for daily use, rare or not.  I guess I have expensive tastes in cars.  Winters?  In Hawaii?  More like 'the rainy season'...  Snow is unheard of here on Oahu.

Wallet Master...?   :?:  I'm afraid I'm nto familiar with the Powermaster...  If you mean the speed limiter that all G-bodies came with, then no, the TTA does not have a speed limiter at 117 MPH or whatever rediculous low number they set the G-body ECM's at.  Not that I've seen a hundred in my TTA yet, my alignment is a bit off and I'd really hate to wreck it in a fit of stupidity.

well, the STE's and Grand prixs period are W-bodies 88+, and the Powermaster is a braking system, that things always go wrong constantly and everything is outragously exspensive

Quote from: RareGMFanWell.....no offense, but....your dad is using a TGP as a beater to save a run of the mill, '97 & up GTP.  I'm not trying to downplay what his GP means to him, or anything.  I understand he put a lot of time, effort and money into it, and that's great.  But....in the end, it is still just a dime a dozen car that will have plenty available for sale in decent shape YEARS down the road to mod like mad, if one so desires, unlike the much more scarcely scattered decent shape TGPs/TSTEs.  I'm not saying it shouldn't be driven at all in the winter, or anything to that nature (if that's what I was saying, I'd be a hypocrite).  I realize that these are the only cars for many members, here.  But to purposely buy a TGP with the sole intention of using it for crappy whether, especially to save an "ordinary" vehicle....well....that's just wrong IMO.

Quote from: dbtk2they are nice cars so you don't have to lose much luxury or speed, and they are cheap.

So are '92 & up Bonneville SSEi's.  So are many other cars, for that matter.  I guess I just have a hard time understanding why, with so many choices out there to fulfill those needs, one would go out and seek a rare, unique car to serve the purpose of a beater.

Well, first off let me explain a few things.  His GTP is a 2002 40th Anniversary GTP, it has the two tone interior, special hood, roof fences, spoiler, wheels, etc..., its not just a "run of the mill GTP".  Also, the car ran 12.08 when it had the stock cam in it, it now has an XP cam in it, so when he gets it to the track it should run ~11.6's or so.  On dry pavement you can't get traction at WOT until over 50mph, and with half throttle you can't get traction until 30 or so, in the rain you can barely drive it, I can't imagine what it would be like in the snow, its just not something you can really drive in the winter, and WHY ruin a $30k car with the salt (espeically one with $10k+ in mods) when you can drive around in a $1500 car that without a lot of work to preserve it, will never really be worth much.  I don't think you would drive around an 11 second car in the winter, but I don't know you very well so maybe you would???

There is nothing wrong with an SSEi to drive around or lots of other cars, however he was looking on ebay one night for a beater, it was around October of '02, saw a TGP on there with 103k for $1500, bought it and went and picked it up, he was just looking for a cheap car, he wasn't even looking for something quick at the time, its just what he stumbled across, and its not like most people on here store theirs in the winter anyways.  Some do, and there is nothing wrong with that, but you don't give the people who use theirs as a daily driver shit.  My dads is basically his daily driver except on nice days when he wants to drive his other car.  Its not like he doesn't take care of the TGP, it just sees winters and bad weather.  He maintains it like any other car, parks it away from other cars to keep door dings off of it, it has nice tires on it, obviously he runs premium in it, he did a few performance mods even, and does normal tune ups and all that.  Basically its a daily driver.  When my dad went to pick up the TGP it just happened to be a nice car (its not really nice, but better than most I see around here) and thats what he drove.  If it would've been an SSEi then maybe thats what he would've bought.  When he bought the car he had no clue it was rare, we had no idea at all, it wasn't until after he bought it that we found out it was rare, and then why sell it just due to the fact that it was rare.  Its not like he went out an looked for a TGP, thats what he stumbled across.  Thats how I got interested in them and found this forum, and then found my STE and so forth.

Shawn

I actually use My TGP as a daily driver too. But then again mine looks like crap. The paints chipping off, the interior is completely worn out, all the interior pannels are getting redone with new upholstery, but every mechanical part is in perfect shape (Power Master works proporly, Speedometer has been recalibrated, and the engine is sound). But if I had the chance I would drive my 1967 Plymouth Belvedere as a dailly driver also. Even in the SNOW! But thats just because everyone looks at the car when I'm driving down the road. Or because I'm just crazy.

Wasn't the TTA the only Trans Am to be used as a Nascar Pace Car? I also heard it was the Quickest production Trans Am built even against the 2002 model year (but I could be wrong about this).

No, I'm pretty sure an LS1 car is faster, especially the newer ones, but not by much.  In good tune, they still run 13's stock, which is stock LS1 territory, give or take a little.  I still hae a healthy respect for a late-model LS1 car, especially if it's a stick - better rear gearing.

I'd have to check on if they were the only Trans Am for Indy, I don't know for certain, they might have had one back in the seventies or something.  I could be thinking of Daytona, though.