What's new
By:
TurboTransAm.com

Register today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Scott Kelly's Website comments

Hi Scott - On Thanksiving day I happened to be talking to my brother who lives in Lapeer, MI. He mentioned that there was one less Viper on the road because he saw one that was burning up while he was out running around. Small world! Darn shame after all that restoration work. I am ordering a fire extinguisher right away!
 
Scott wrote to TTop350: "I don’t know who did anything with the Firehawk cars but there are several tube bending companies that will scan your stock lines and make new ones. PM michbc3 as I talked to him about making lines and he is pursuing it."

Inline Tube in Shelby Twp, MI can make new TTA fuel lines:
http://inlinetube.com/ They might even have existing stock or the computer code already written for their machine. My requirement is not quite stock. I plan to have them make a new fuel supply line in the same shape as factory, but in a larger diameter. I want the car to be mostly stock appearing and avoid the use of braided fuel lines. I talked to Inline about this at a car show where they had a booth and they said: no problem! I hope to get this done next summer when I upgrade the fuel pump.
 
michbc3 said:
Scott wrote to TTop350: "I don’t know who did anything with the Firehawk cars but there are several tube bending companies that will scan your stock lines and make new ones. PM michbc3 as I talked to him about making lines and he is pursuing it."

Inline Tube in Shelby Twp, MI can make new TTA fuel lines:
http://inlinetube.com/ They might even have existing stock or the computer code already written for their machine. My requirement is not quite stock. I plan to have them make a new fuel supply line in the same shape as factory, but in a larger diameter. I want the car to be mostly stock appearing and avoid the use of braided fuel lines. I talked to Inline about this at a car show where they had a booth and they said: no problem! I hope to get this done next summer when I upgrade the fuel pump.
Click to expand...

I had classictube.com reproduce the engine compartmenet fuel hardlines years ago and they supply either stainless (as I use on mine) or OEM steel lines ... they can do any lines we need also have the transmission oil cooler line reproduced as well as the power steering cooler lines.
 
Inline probably has the same machine as classictube.com. Being in Shelby Twp, MI, Inline Tube is local to me when I'm on my multi-month summer vacations in Michigan. I obviously will be using the larger line size all the way back into the fuel tank and pump.
 
I have talked with both companys about this awhile back at SEMA but the problem is I don't have lines to copy on this project, Just pictures.
The project is fuel lines for a 92 Firehawk T-Ram. It also has a few billet aluminum fuel blocks/psi reg/banjo type bolts on the front and rear that need reproduced.
The fuel line kit that comes with the SLP T Ram isn't correct for the kit used on the real cars. I had FireHawk #13 in my garage for quite awhile so I have some very good pictures to go by. Along with pics from other Hawks..
FYI I'm cloning a 92 compition firehawk from a Jamacian Yellow TTop 92 Formula. I have most of the parts and Im hunting down suppliers for the detail parts now.
 
Last edited:
Scott,

Two questions you might be able to help with:

- Do you have this document (see this thread MVMA - Motor Vehicle Manufacturer Document 1989 - Turbo Trans Am Forum) and if so any chance we could share a PDF version of it as it got some interesting information.

- In this thread I posted some press photos (see Early Engine Bay Press Photo - Spot the Differences :-) - Turbo Trans Am Forum is this one of the pilot cars or one of the mules? I suspect a mule given the parts used as commented on in the thread.
 
Happy New Year!
I hope all you Turbo Trans Am owners had a great holiday and Santa brought you the correct parts for your cars!
I have worked hard over the last couple of months on the VIN lists for your cars. These lists were originally made on the old IBM Daisy Wheel printers and unfortunately they would not just scan it. After having many people try different software and equipment I gave up on the idea of putting them into Excel. So what you will see on the site soon is a PDF of each of the 32 page printout that I have with part of the VIN removed for security. I also marked on them the car numbers in intervals of 10 as well as the festival cars, my car and the 3 real pace cars.
This should keep Jan busy for the next couple of weeks putting them into Excel. Please use this document to verify your sequence number as built by the Van Nuys Assembly Plant. Keep in mind that this list is not necessarily the order in which they were shipped from PAS. We did not worry about the sequence of the cars when we built them. These sheets also indicate the order number, dealer codes and target build dates. I have the dealer code list somewhere and will add that as well so you can tell which dealer they went to.
I also am posting the photos of my car. Mr. Mark Hood of Texas now has it and sent me some current photos of it. Unfortunately I did not keep this car all these years.
Now to the PMs
Jan, you will have all the VINs as soon as my IT Admin gets them posted.
On the MWVA Document, there is no such document for the TTA since it was a limited volume production car which under the law is restricted to less the 9,999 cars in a model year. This is how we were able to get away without crash testing as well. We had to complete engineering analysis for NHTSA to verify that we did nothing to take the car out of compliance.
On the process sheets, I will get to these some day but I CANNOT be on the computer for more than an hour a day so please be patient. I only have the process sheets for what we did on the TTA, not the rest of the car. When I see more UN-modified cars I will believe that these sheets are a priority. By the way, the process sheets for the TTA are called PADs which stands for Product Assembly Documents, for the Syclone and Typhoon they are called PDMs or Product Description Manual.
I have so many more items that the owners of the TTAs will appreciate that you are not aware of that I would like to get done first. (including a couple of videos)
I will put a sample of all the vehicle documents on the website soon but keep in mind that I will not scan everything as I would have to work 40 hours a week on this for months to do it right.
On the Photo of the TTA with early parts, that car was 28F127 which is it’s prototype number. That car was one of the first batch of development vehicles for this project and was built specifically for the press. Over time we updated that car several times to keep it current. The photo you show was published in quite a few magazines and was the first the public heard about the project. I will list all the development cars on the site but all have been destroyed except for the first car which is now the TTA HO in the GM Museum. By the way, please refer to them as Development Vehicles instead of “Mules” I don’t know where that term came from but I assure you we don’t use it in Detroit. You can see 28F127 on the website under testing section as well
Part of my job was to monitor all of the Development Vehicles for location, parts levels, tests prepared for and running, shipping etc.
Glenn, on rebuilding your TTA engine, Billy Briggs built all the prototype engines at PAS for these cars and he now has his own shop. I talked to Billy about rebuilding TTA, Syclone and Typhoon engines and he would be happy to do it. He now has his Dynos running so he could do your break-in and leak check before you reinstall it.
His information is: Motor City Speed,248-669-5810 and his website is motorcityspeedonline.com. Tell him I sent you!
On PAS getting running again, I have had some setbacks with a customer of our writing company which cost me and I spent a lot on the Supercharged Viper which didn’t help. I have located a couple of potential buildings and will continue to move forward in 2012. I have several cars scheduled to work on over the next couple of months to start building a client base. At PAS we also had one of nine Porsche 944 Turbos that we raced for Porsche in 1986. I spoke to the race driver that bought the car from us in the late 80s and he will be bringing this car in for suspension work. This car held the track record at one of the local SCCA tracks back in the day. Also, the Twin-Turbo Trans Am and the real Indy Pace Car maybe coming as well over the summer. On top of the GM cars I have a Ferrari 308, a Ferrari 365 2+2 and a 1965 GTO tri-power on the schedule. Most of you know of Prototype Automotive Services as a prototype company but as Jan has found, we also raced Trans Ams in the IMSA Firehawk Series in which we took the Championship in 1989. As I try to put PAS back together I intend to also work on road-racing cars as well.
Have a great day and thank you for your passion for the Turbo Trans Am,

Scott
 
Scott,

Happy New Year to you and yours as well !

Will be interesting to explore the VIN list and the information on there, and I will work on updating my Excel database accordingly and correct any missing or incorrect information I might have in there. Big thank you from us all for doing this.

For the MVMA - per this post MVMA - Motor Vehicle Manufacturer Document 1989 - Turbo Trans Am Forum - reading to content of the one I do have it seems like this one is not really the crash test stuff rather the engine details and other information (brakes etc) so hency my question if there's an updated version that also includes the TTA engine details; as you see from the post there seems to be two different versions out and about so that's why I thought there might have been an update done to it including the 3.8L V6 as well.

With regards to 28F127 - and I guess this post Early Engine Bay Press Photo - Spot the Differences :-) - Turbo Trans Am Forum - so was that an early test vehicle and not one of the 5 pilots then? I guess it's the one pictured in your test trip?

You know we (well me at least) love all these historic documents and information so when you get around to scan and post them we really appreciate it as we don't want any of this information to get lost over time; so glad it's all in good hands and that we will all eventually be able to see it all.

Yep your hardtop TTA is in very good hands, I've spoken to Mark as well and he's a really good guy and the car seems to be as nice these days as when you took delivery.

Appreciate everything you do for us, so keep us posted on any updates and news like you done so far!

Cheers

Jan
 
PAS1 said:
When I see more UN-modified cars I will believe that these sheets are a priority.
Click to expand...

Scott,

I've noticed you've negatively mentioned modifying these cars more than once now. I know you have a very personal history with these cars, but I have to point out that the availability of 20-year old parts forces some of us to make changes. For me in particular, there just aren't enough notchback/beechwood parts to fix everything. Jan has been very helpful in pointing me in the right direction, but parts are still exceedingly scarce.

Front seats and seatbelts are the most difficult to find. I may be able to salvage the driver's seat if I cannibalize the passenger's and figure out what's wrong with the linkages. I'll need at least one complete set of seat foam. But a full set of seatbelts is looking very difficult to source. I've found some front belts, but no rears, and not a single receiver. My tensioners are worthless and the webbing all very badly sun bleached leaving me to question it's effectiveness. I think some of my receivers may not even be beechwood, one of them looks too red.

Additionally, there are some shortcomings with the cars that could stand to be fixed. A weak subframe and nylon timing gears are the first to come to mind. My door sills have wear on them from the door rubbing while the car is parked on an uneven surface. It's so bad I can't close my door when the car is jacked up on one side. Simo's engine is in for repair because his timing gear gave out. (I have to say that my car has otherwise survived pretty well for the abuse it's seen.)

So, I want to say I really appreciate the effort you've made to provide us with the history of these cars, and as an engineer myself I appreciate whatever information you provide us on the engineering as well. But maybe cut us some slack when it comes to the modifications.

-Scott
GMI Grad '06
 
Ok guys I had the time to post twice in one day but it will be rare. I have just returned from the Doctor on injecting my back with a medicine to reduce the pain which means I can play on the computer more.
Jan, as I pointed out, we were not required to do many things that you will find for mass produced cars. I will check with the engineer responsible and get back to you but I never saw one of these for any of our cars.
On the Pilot cars versus the development cars, the difference is that all the developments cars, including the two flame red and the one black car were for the testing and validation of the components as well as the overall package. All the GM owned development vehicles have been destroyed. Pilot cars were/are done to wring out the production processes and train the assembly workers. To make this valid, cars must be built from scratch using as many production parts off of production tooling as possible. The 5 pilot cars have Pontiac serial numbers since they were not to be sellable cars. We bought the cars from GM and changed the engines and I think the transmissions to production. The 4 T-top cars were used in many of the magazines prior to the TTAs going in to production. 213666 was used at the LA and Las Vegas auto shows and in at least one magazine article.
Scott, the faults that you are finding with the cars are still as frustrating today as they were when we built them. As an engineer you know that cars are developed as a package and any modification to that package after it is validated MAY impact the reliability and durability of the car.
That and you will find that over time modified cars will not retain their value. My other frustration is that most aftermarket tuner parts are not validated to any standard and I don’t like seeing cars where the owner has spent a lot of money on these parts only to have the car sitting in the garage on a nice day rather than enjoying it. When your name is on the car you don’t want to see anyone unhappy with it so I must take stand to leave the cars as stock as possible. Replacing parts to keep the cars safe and operational is not a modification in my book.
On the rockers, I had an arguments with Pontiac on this and ended up changing how the rocker molding was installed on all the Trans Ams from there on. The frames were always flexy fliers and that is why I recommend full roll cages in these cars which makes them handle much better since the suspension can actually work without transmitting stresses unevenly into the frame.
One of the reasons for putting PAS back together is to help you guys with the parts you need and other than the seat belts (liability issues) I think we should be able to keep your cars looking good. On the timing gear, please post a photo with how many miles and what else is done to the engine and let me talk to Bill Owen. He may have a recommendation I can pass on.
On the seats, let me do some research and see what can be done, I will have to work with a leather manufacturer to get the finish and texture correct and then see if we can either make a kit for the owner to change them or maybe and exchange service. The only difference from a TTA and a normal Trans Am is the rear seats, other than that you could use GTA seats if you can find them.
What kind of engineer are you? Who do you work for now?
One of this years tasks is to figure out a way for the TTA, Syclone and Typhoon guys to record what parts they need so we can work on the business case for each. I will be making TTA plug wires this year and should be able to make them for under $100 a set with clips and boots. I always hated the clip on the passenger valve cover so I would like to fix it now (it was supposed to be spring steel so it would stay in place).
Jan, is there a way to do a list arrangement on this website that can track which owners need what parts?
Have a good day
Scott
 
Scott,

For the seat upholstery we do have two sources avalible today which many of us been using:

Either Hawks Thirdgen:
87-92 Turbo Trans Am GTA Notchback Lumbar Style Seat Upholstery Kit Katzkin Leather


Or Jax Seat Covers (I got these in mine):
1989 Turbo Trans Am | Jax Seat Cover

What we don't have avlible (yet) are the seat foam for the front seats and the rear seat back rests ... avalible for the standard seats from Hawks Seat Foam, 82-92 Camaro / Firebird Rear Seats Folding SPLIT Back-Rest Bottom Buckets


I have to look and see what we can do with regards to a list arrangement for parts ... should we focus just on TTA specific parts or anything for the car?

Jan
 
PAS1 said:
Scott, the faults that you are finding with the cars are still as frustrating today as they were when we built them. As an engineer you know that cars are developed as a package and any modification to that package after it is validated MAY impact the reliability and durability of the car.
Click to expand...

This I completely understand.

PAS1 said:
That and you will find that over time modified cars will not retain their value. My other frustration is that most aftermarket tuner parts are not validated to any standard and I don’t like seeing cars where the owner has spent a lot of money on these parts only to have the car sitting in the garage on a nice day rather than enjoying it. When your name is on the car you don’t want to see anyone unhappy with it so I must take stand to leave the cars as stock as possible. Replacing parts to keep the cars safe and operational is not a modification in my book.
Click to expand...

I also understand this. My car has 96k on the clock. Someone enjoyed it. And you can bet I will be doing the same when it's put back together.

PAS1 said:
On the rockers, I had an arguments with Pontiac on this and ended up changing how the rocker molding was installed on all the Trans Ams from there on. The frames were always flexy fliers and that is why I recommend full roll cages in these cars which makes them handle much better since the suspension can actually work without transmitting stresses unevenly into the frame.
Click to expand...

A full roll cage (with door bars) is a little difficult to daily drive. I wouldn't mind losing the use of my back seats, but I don't want to be cutting any ultra-rare beechwood trim. Believe me, I've looked into and considered the Autopower cages.

PAS1 said:
One of the reasons for putting PAS back together is to help you guys with the parts you need and other than the seat belts (liability issues) I think we should be able to keep your cars looking good. On the timing gear, please post a photo with how many miles and what else is done to the engine and let me talk to Bill Owen. He may have a recommendation I can pass on.
Click to expand...

I've never opened my engine, maybe Simo can get his builder to snap a picture (or maybe he already has one) of the stripped gear.

Edit: I found this image of a stripped turbo buick gear.

PAS1 said:
On the seats, let me do some research and see what can be done, I will have to work with a leather manufacturer to get the finish and texture correct and then see if we can either make a kit for the owner to change them or maybe and exchange service. The only difference from a TTA and a normal Trans Am is the rear seats, other than that you could use GTA seats if you can find them.
Click to expand...

Katskin produces a "good-enough" re-cover option. My issues are that the covers were so destroyed I have rotting foam. I'm missing a headrest knob and both seats flop forward. Mechanical issues I can probably solve. I need the foam! I intend on salvaging all the good parts from my two front seats and hopefully I'll have one good seat out of it. I'd be happy to send you what's left (95% of the seat, just cosmetically damaged) if it will help you re-develop replacement parts.

PAS1 said:
What kind of engineer are you? Who do you work for now?
Click to expand...

Electrical Engineer, I did micro controller circuit design and programming. But for the last 5-6 years I've been in aerospace.

PAS1 said:
One of this years tasks is to figure out a way for the TTA, Syclone and Typhoon guys to record what parts they need so we can work on the business case for each. I will be making TTA plug wires this year and should be able to make them for under $100 a set with clips and boots. I always hated the clip on the passenger valve cover so I would like to fix it now (it was supposed to be spring steel so it would stay in place).
Jan, is there a way to do a list arrangement on this website that can track which owners need what parts?
Have a good day
Scott
Click to expand...

Put me down for plug wires. My car didn't have them when I bought it.

If I can ask you a favor, living in CA I'm interested in any information or documentation you might have in regards to emissions when the car was engineered. CARB is a b!tch.
 
Last edited:
Jan,
List everything for the cars as the requests that Scott’s making are going to be typical and most aftermarket places won’t have parts for your cars. Some of the parts will be too expensive to make one or two of but if TTA owners could get together and order 50 cars sets or more at a time it would pay for me to re-engineer them, get them into the CAD system and try to get the original manufacturer to make them in a small quantity. I will not mug you guys on the parts and they will be made in the US ONLY.
Scott,
When we built rollbars for the IMSA cars the rules stated that they had to be remove-able. We designed, built and installed our own with bolted sleeves that could be removed. I have had several requests so far to do these but the best way to do them is car by car due to production variations. Also, if anyone does this without leveling the chassis first, run away. I had a newbie weld a roll bar in with a car on the lift once and the doors wouldn’t close when it was back on the ground. The roll cages that we made did not require the cutting of the interior in the race cars with no door panels but I had to modify only the door panels only in the TTA HO and the Twin-Turbo. By the way, roll bars can be “interesting” on date nights
On the California cert., CARB was a PITA for all our cars but we achieved 50 state certifications so you should not be having an issue. PAS was a certified manufacturer with the EPA and CARB as well as building all the TTAs in California.
On the suspension, I will have to dig through some boxes but if I remember right, the suspension system is a standard WS6 for a 305 GTA, the stock springs have a plastic tag with a code that tells what it is. As for the spring rate I know I have them somewhere.
We tried to introduce as few new parts into the plant as possible to keep the anti-TTA folks at GM quiet!
I did look at your car on your website after I replied and it looks like it is not in that bad of shape. Most of it looks original and unmodified. Under the hood is dirty but not bad at all. The rare parts you have to worry about is the Gas Tank/Sender, Front Brakes, and the Air Filter assembly.
Have fun,
Scott
 
Scott and Scott :-)

Here's the spring codes .. front yellow and rear white ... these are the reproduction stickers I had made for mine ...

As you say Scott these are standard springs used on other 3rd Gen's; I got the chart somewhere with the details on which models came with these, I know the rears are very common. Should have the spring rates somewhere as well. I'll see what I have and post it later.
 

Attachments

  • PICT0005.jpg
    PICT0005.jpg
    29.2 KB · Views: 21
  • PICT0053.jpg
    PICT0053.jpg
    29 KB · Views: 18
Hi Scott
Still have 603 - not running as needs heater core which blew and I guess radiator and hoses? Would love to get TTA on ebay but don't hzve the cash. Should I just put this car in storage, save and ship it to you when I have more monry? What would it cost to rebuild thr engine and probably the turbo. Part of my problem is when the car was repainted, they stole parts like the fasteners for.the fender, painted the leather instead of replacing got paint on the vinyl, took the door stickers, and God knows what else.

If I got the heater core and radiator and got it running.and sold it - without putting the parts I have gotten so far, Walbro 340 fuel pump, timing chain, bought 2 rear wheels from Rich since they powdercoated them and wrong color, still need front proper color. , have TPS, and stock spark plugs but not wires, and used radio (still have to test if it works, and bought TTA bag since they covered mine with paint.
Positive is Have all emblems map one too, nos oil filter and think.most of car is stock, original owner put a different computer chip in but don't think he did any modifications that were major. I also got the lower airr dam reflector.
Car is at mechznic I like who has lot of experience on buick grand national engines and also muscle cars and races cars. Don't think he has worked on TTA's.
and can't ride. Sent me to physical therapy/meds hope it works.
Hope you are feeling better.
Lynn
603?
If I could take a lot of pictures oc inside and outside could you advise. Feel between a rock and a hard place and I LOVE these cars.
Also I relate to your back problems. In pain 24/7 and told yesterday I have a unstable vertebrae znd #5 is moving forward. My other passion is my horse
 
Sorry for screwed up message. Question was if I did bare minimum to get it running with heater cote and radiator - do you have any idea how much I could get for it to get a low mileage one like you, Rich, and others recommend? Then hopefully be able to get non raced non modified low mileage TTA?
Thanks
Lynn
603
 
Ok, just to further what I was saying before (my agenda)

Hard to find stock parts:
Front Seats (seat cushions specifically)
Rear Seats (?)
Beechwood Interior panels
Seat Belts (liability issues, I know)
Rear "Turbo" Label
Intercooler shroud
Coolant bottle heat shield
Radiator Hoses (CAR still has some, but how many are left?)
Stock crossover pipe (mine is D shaped now)
stock flex pipe (not interested in a generic)

Stock parts known to fail over time:
20th Anniv. Spark Plug Wires
Nylon toothed timing gear

Everything else I can think of is common Firebird or Turbo Buick.
 
TTA579 said:
Ok, just to further what I was saying before (my agenda)

Hard to find stock parts:
Front Seats (seat cushions specifically)
Rear Seats (?)
Beechwood Interior panels
Seat Belts (liability issues, I know)
Rear "Turbo" Label
Intercooler shroud - carmotorsports.com
Coolant bottle heat shield - gnbodyparts.com
Radiator Hoses (CAR still has some, but how many are left?) - Gates made these and only got 2 of the 4 left in stock so maybe get them to do another run as they got the tooling and just depleting their stock at the moment since mid last year
Stock crossover pipe (mine is D shaped now)
stock flex pipe (not interested in a generic)

Stock parts known to fail over time:
20th Anniv. Spark Plug Wires
Nylon toothed timing gear

Everything else I can think of is common Firebird or Turbo Buick.
Click to expand...

And
Transmission VSS sender/sensor (I'll post the part number later)

I have had the following done by classictube:
Engine fuel lines; hardlines from the fuel injector setup (TTA specific)
Powersteering cooler lines (fits many 3rd Gens with these lines running infront of the radiator)
They also have (another TTA owner sent them his OEM lines to scan) the transmission cooler lines (TTA specific)
And the powersteering lines both the hardline and the rubber line

Both classictube and inlinetube got the correct brake lines (front and rear) as well as the fuel and vent line (front to rear) for our cars as they are the same as many other 3rd gens
 
I took a pair of GTA Ultima seats and took them apart for the formed cushions and other parts of the seats. Still have it. What a pain in the ass to take apart.
 
I was looking at a pair of 4th gen seats and the foam looks very similar if not identical. The headrests are different, but the back/bottom cushions look close. They warrant some investigation. Of course, properly upholstered Corbeau GTS II or Recaro Specialist would fool the casual observer too.

One more part that's difficult to replace: the MAF. There are translator options, but good stock MAFs are hard to find.
 
Vacuum hoses specially the hoses for the EGR valve and solenioid as they are preformed. So all of the ones on the driver side intake/valvecover area.
 
PAS1 said:
Happy New Year!
I hope all you Turbo Trans Am owners had a great holiday and Santa brought you the correct parts for your cars!
I have worked hard over the last couple of months on the VIN lists for your cars. These lists were originally made on the old IBM Daisy Wheel printers and unfortunately they would not just scan it. After having many people try different software and equipment I gave up on the idea of putting them into Excel. So what you will see on the site soon is a PDF of each of the 32 page printout that I have with part of the VIN removed for security. I also marked on them the car numbers in intervals of 10 as well as the festival cars, my car and the 3 real pace cars.
This should keep Jan busy for the next couple of weeks putting them into Excel. Please use this document to verify your sequence number as built by the Van Nuys Assembly Plant. Keep in mind that this list is not necessarily the order in which they were shipped from PAS. We did not worry about the sequence of the cars when we built them. These sheets also indicate the order number, dealer codes and target build dates. I have the dealer code list somewhere and will add that as well so you can tell which dealer they went to.
I also am posting the photos of my car. Mr. Mark Hood of Texas now has it and sent me some current photos of it. Unfortunately I did not keep this car all these years.
Now to the PMs
Jan, you will have all the VINs as soon as my IT Admin gets them posted.
On the MWVA Document, there is no such document for the TTA since it was a limited volume production car which under the law is restricted to less the 9,999 cars in a model year. This is how we were able to get away without crash testing as well. We had to complete engineering analysis for NHTSA to verify that we did nothing to take the car out of compliance.
On the process sheets, I will get to these some day but I CANNOT be on the computer for more than an hour a day so please be patient. I only have the process sheets for what we did on the TTA, not the rest of the car. When I see more UN-modified cars I will believe that these sheets are a priority. By the way, the process sheets for the TTA are called PADs which stands for Product Assembly Documents, for the Syclone and Typhoon they are called PDMs or Product Description Manual.
I have so many more items that the owners of the TTAs will appreciate that you are not aware of that I would like to get done first. (including a couple of videos)
I will put a sample of all the vehicle documents on the website soon but keep in mind that I will not scan everything as I would have to work 40 hours a week on this for months to do it right.
On the Photo of the TTA with early parts, that car was 28F127 which is it’s prototype number. That car was one of the first batch of development vehicles for this project and was built specifically for the press. Over time we updated that car several times to keep it current. The photo you show was published in quite a few magazines and was the first the public heard about the project. I will list all the development cars on the site but all have been destroyed except for the first car which is now the TTA HO in the GM Museum. By the way, please refer to them as Development Vehicles instead of “Mules” I don’t know where that term came from but I assure you we don’t use it in Detroit. You can see 28F127 on the website under testing section as well
Part of my job was to monitor all of the Development Vehicles for location, parts levels, tests prepared for and running, shipping etc.
Glenn, on rebuilding your TTA engine, Billy Briggs built all the prototype engines at PAS for these cars and he now has his own shop. I talked to Billy about rebuilding TTA, Syclone and Typhoon engines and he would be happy to do it. He now has his Dynos running so he could do your break-in and leak check before you reinstall it.
His information is: Motor City Speed,248-669-5810 and his website is motorcityspeedonline.com. Tell him I sent you!
On PAS getting running again, I have had some setbacks with a customer of our writing company which cost me and I spent a lot on the Supercharged Viper which didn’t help. I have located a couple of potential buildings and will continue to move forward in 2012. I have several cars scheduled to work on over the next couple of months to start building a client base. At PAS we also had one of nine Porsche 944 Turbos that we raced for Porsche in 1986. I spoke to the race driver that bought the car from us in the late 80s and he will be bringing this car in for suspension work. This car held the track record at one of the local SCCA tracks back in the day. Also, the Twin-Turbo Trans Am and the real Indy Pace Car maybe coming as well over the summer. On top of the GM cars I have a Ferrari 308, a Ferrari 365 2+2 and a 1965 GTO tri-power on the schedule. Most of you know of Prototype Automotive Services as a prototype company but as Jan has found, we also raced Trans Ams in the IMSA Firehawk Series in which we took the Championship in 1989. As I try to put PAS back together I intend to also work on road-racing cars as well.
Have a great day and thank you for your passion for the Turbo Trans Am,

Scott
Click to expand...

Hi Scott,

Thank you so much for putting the TTA build information on your website.

I don't know if you found the dealer code list, but if you could post that to your site when you do that would be awesome. I know a lot of us are researching their vehicles, and some of us are reverse researching old vehicles, myself included and having the dealer code will help greatly. I have google searched the topic and have found some of the dealer codes but they are hit and miss.

Thanks again for your help and spending some of your time with all of us who love your car.

Regards,
Kris
 
TTA579 said:
I was looking at a pair of 4th gen seats and the foam looks very similar if not identical. The headrests are different, but the back/bottom cushions look close. They warrant some investigation. Of course, properly upholstered Corbeau GTS II or Recaro Specialist would fool the casual observer too.

One more part that's difficult to replace: the MAF. There are translator options, but good stock MAFs are hard to find.
Click to expand...

I have confirmed that LT1 Trans Am seats have the same bottom and back cushions as the GTA "Ultima" seats. In fact they are nearly identical, having only different headrests. It looks like a lot of the plastic is the same, but they never came in Beechwood.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top