jerminator96

I was just wondering what has more handling potential, a 2nd gen transam or a 4th gen camaro? I have a chance to buy either and I just want to know which one could be made into a better road racer, or which one would be easier to do so. Thanks guys.

Jeremy

Dave K

How much money do you want to put into it. Any vehicle can be made to handle well with enough investment. The 2nd gen will take a lot more investing but if you like that era it'd probably be worth it.

jerminator96

That is really what I need to know, which vehicle will handle better with off the shelf components and at what cost. I was looking at buying upper and lower tubular control arms, tube K-member, shocks and springs, STB, new sway bars, and what ever else i need on the rear end.

RE AND CHERYL

It will cost you a bundle just to bring the 2nd gen TA up to 4th gen performance levels. if you want a serious handleing ride, I wouldn't waste my time and money on the 2nd gen car.

Re'

jerminator96

Even if you were planning on replacing the a-arms, shocks and springs (or struts), k-members, and various other components on both cars? Are the upgrades for the 4th gen just that much better or is the general design of the second generation suspension so poor that it cant be saved by the aftermarket?

jerminator96

By the way, it's fairly inconsequential now because I decided to go with the 4th gen. Still something i want to know anyway.

Dave K

Just from a quick look at the 2ng gen suspension it looks like the front end is a decent design... so with aftermarket components you can probably get the same basic performance as an aftermarket 4th gen front suspension setup (which is quite good) but you'd probably have to back-half the car to straighten out the rear ($$$).

Of course once you decide to go that route you can go IRS for not a whole lot more money and likely end up with a very nice handling car. Assuming you weren't looking at a mint all origonal vehicle, you'd easily more than double the cost of the car getting all this work done. I have a friend that just set up an old Buick for road racing, he spent a lot more than 10k on the rear suspension alone... and that wasn't even going IRS, just a solid live axle/coilover design.

jerminator96

Wow, good to know. I'm definately not looking to spend 10 grand. Maybe 3 spaced out over a period of time. I'll probably end up spending 5-6K on a fourth gen after suspension, rear end, and brakes. Just out ot curiousity does anyone know how much torque/Hp a decent IRS rear end can handle? I'm looking at around 650 flywheel horsepower when i go forced induction, but maybe alot more. Thanks,

Jeremy