Author Topic: Firebird Choice  (Read 788 times)

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Offline Dynoroom

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Re: Firebird Choice
« Reply #15 on: May 03, 2025, 11:08:44 PM »
The fact is the 3rd gen Firebird is more aerodynamic than the gen IV. The reason the Kugels used a 3rd gen was directly because we had tunnel aero information from GM on both models. The fact is you will need upwards of 150 more hp to run the same speed in a gen 4 as a gen 3 (ask Dave MacDonald).
Michael LeFevers
Kugel and LeFevers Pontiac Firebird

Without Data You're Just Another Guy With An Opinion!

Racing is just a series of "Problem Solving" events that allow you to spend money & make noise...

Offline jacksoni

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Re: Firebird Choice
« Reply #16 on: May 05, 2025, 03:26:27 PM »
Gary Eaker, who started life as an aerodynamacist for GM and then for Hendrick Motorsports and who is now owner of the Aerodyne and A2 wind tunnels near Mooresville, NC, used  Gen 3 firebird at first with just a small air dam to go about 230 with 650 NA hp and then a "special" somewhat modified nose to go 295 and a turbo SB supposedly in the 1200 range. My car is basically a copy of his and went 170+ with a 2liter 4 cyl. I have some tunnel time that equaled to slightly better than what he got in GC configuration but beats what he got though in Alt and CC configuration which is of course a bit different. You have to be careful comparing tunnels though as, like dynos, they can give different numbers in different capability, locations and set up (not to mention $$$$$/hour.) And rather than saying look at the great Cd number I got, look at the total drag and lift numbers which in combination with the frontal area and some formulas give the calculated Coefficient of Drag.
Jack Iliff
 G/BGS-250.235 1987
 G/GC- 193.550 2021
  G/FAlt- 193.934 2021 (196.033 best)
 G/GMS-182.144 2019

Offline Escue

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Re: Firebird Choice
« Reply #17 on: May 08, 2025, 07:55:33 PM »
I appreciate your insight and advise. Thank you.