[transam1972]

excluding the 4 wheel disc brakes...and has anyone driven both cars?...how well does an early T/A fitted with radials handle compared to a 1979 400 WS6?...I know a 1972 T/A has a 1 1/4' front sway bar and a 7/8" rear bar...did not the bars go down in size?...what was the final steering box ratio in 1979?...wouldn't the larger bars out perform the smaller ones?

[SD73]

I've owned both cars and I can say from my experience, they felt very close. The sway bars were the same in both front and rear as well. The rear bars were smaller in '74, but they returned to size in later years. I've listed the steering ratios in your other thread and they both seem very close as well.

[transam1972]

around 1980 ..a room mate had a 1980 Turbo Pace car..,light years ahead of my 1976 T/A as far as sound insulation,ride just how it felt to be inside...red lights on the dash!..it disturbed me..yet it was a slug!..and yet a real T/A,early 70s next to a 1979,blows it away, and I do not mean engine wise...why?..were the early 70s's built better..then got cheap?...then G.M. invested $ in the car..hence the big $ price increase?..were the early 70's cars built better than a 1979?

[2manyT/A'S]

The early T/A's were built as an "enthusiasts car" with maximum perfomance & handling with what was available to them at the time.....

In the mid-70's...when the sales picked up.........they "homogonized" some things and "lamed it up" to cater to the mainstream buyers.....woman....grocery getters,etc.....

That what the new WS6 package was all about in 78....working both sides of the street....

[Formulabruce]

1 car every 45 seconds was production line speed
Fit and finish was horrible on all the second gen's
WS-6 had wider wheels, which gave same size tire a bit more squat, and less roll.
Obvious horsepower differences.
Obvious steering box differences
79 had ,lower CG with rear frame changes from older cars.
'79 was heavier than a similar '72 ( estimated) but '73 was another 150 pounds ( in the front end)
Handling, the '79 ws-6 would be a little better with the 8 inch wheels and the Goodyear radials, vs the ol' Firestone 500's on 7 inch rims...
Have owned and driven both..

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

The early T/A's were built as an "enthusiasts car" with maximum perfomance & handling with what was available to them at the time.....

In the mid-70's...when the sales picked up.........they "homogonized" some things and "lamed it up" to cater to the mainstream buyers.....woman....grocery getters,etc.....

That what the new WS6 package was all about in 78....working both sides of the street....

Well said, I'll add, the 1970 Trans Am didnt even qualify in stock form for SCCA racing as the CU limit was moved up to 350 in 1970, from previous 305 cu in.. Oddly enough, ALL Pontiac 350's were actually 355 cu in. from the factory. << there is some trivia for ya at car shows....

[Larry Navarro]

both cars, my old '73 SD and current '79 WS6 were totally different in the handling department.
I attribute the difference due to the heavy front nose of the '73.

[transam1972]

not the front sway bar bushings, but didn't the WS 6 package use urethane front sway bar end links?....I am considering adding those....and I am not saying I would, but a company called Delphi makes a hi performance steering box at 2 1/2 turns lock to lock...that's as far as I would go for mods

[2manyT/A'S]

The urethane sway bar link bushings were a serious part of WS6 suspension.....78-81

ALL my cars ultimately get them....just installed a set in the 71 I'm working on ...Moog #K6630.......

Don't even think about it...just do it.

Urethane saddle bushings are available which are also a nice upgrade.

[rexs73gto]

I had a 73 455 std. car with A/C & all the options you could have on it. It was faster then my 79 400 4 spd. car but the 79 definetly roar better & was much more comfortable for a long drive. My 79 was no slug but my 73 was much faster & seemed to dip in on heavy turns, to much weight on the front end. I had BFG's on my 73 & goodyears on the 79. So for me my vote would b for my 79 if I had to go for a long drive but if I want to go out to have a little fun my 73 was faster. I want both back & can't really say which one was better overall.

[74 SD455 Formula]

I would have liked to race a 73 455 Formula in stock forum vs. my old 79 400 4spd. Formula with the only change being the exhaust. 79's have that stupid 2 into 1 back into 2 exhaust with a cat. converter. Take the conveter out and the car was much more faster than you may think.And of coarse both cars having 323 or 342 rear gears.

[blue71ta]

Originally Posted by transam1972

not the front sway bar bushings, but didn't the WS 6 package use urethane front sway bar end links?....I am considering adding those....and I am not saying I would, but a company called Delphi makes a hi performance steering box at 2 1/2 turns lock to lock...that's as far as I would go for mods

your '72 T/A already has a quick ratio steering box from the factory, so I wouldn't change that out

[transam1972]

I do know that...I was hoping to find out if the 1979 units were vastly improved...according to the specs I have,1972 should already be 2.5 lock to lock...whether that Delphi unit would make a superior difference, I don't know(ratio 12:1=2.5 lock to lock and it is $579...I put that on a boy can dream list

[Dens71TA]

'72 would have the variable ratio box which was the quick steering box for the time but not as quick as the later fixed ratio WS6 14:1 and 12.7:1 boxes. Its been so long[4 years) since I've driven my '71 T/A but I remember a definite difference in the steering compared to my old '81 T/A WS6(14:1) and my '82 and '84 3rd-gen WS6(12.7:1) cars. The later cars are much quicker and more "road feel" in the steering.

[Father&Son73T/A]

Well I have both, a 73 TA L75 auto 3;42 and a 79 W72 WS6 survivor.
They feel close in handling,but the 79 WS6 is a little bit tighter in the turns,the quick ratio steering is only slightly noticeable if that.
The torque of the L75 will leave the W72 in the dust,but the W72 is no slouch though,they are both fun cars to drive.

[74 SD455 Formula]

Duane,
There's no comparing when it come to handling.The 79 with a WS6 will out preform the 70-73 F-bodies ( in stock forum ),but if you remove the the exhaust on a 79 and put a true dual exhaust (2 1/2") on it the 220 HP come's to life. I know as I have had both as well. JMO