I want to buy/sell a TTA. Where can I find/sell one?
When purchasing a TTA what should I look for?
What is a TTA worth today?
What is the TTA Mail List and how do I join?
Where can I get more information about my TTA?
How do I determine my TTA's build sequence number?
Which K&N Air Filter should I get for my TTA?
Which muffler should I get for my TTA?
What is the correct touch-up paint to use?
Where can I get T-top Sun Shades?
How do I re-attach my emblems?
How does the "Y" fitting connect to the wastegate control hoses?
Can I install a Delco CD player and have it work with my steering wheel controls?
Did TTAs only come equipped with an automatic transmission?
If the TTA really made 300 HP why did GM rate it at "only" 250 HP?
I want to buy/sell a TTA. Where can I find/sell one?
Two popular places are Hemmings Motor News, and the GN-Type TurboTRader page. AutoWeek and other car magazines list TTAs in their classified sections from time to time.
When purchasing a TTA what should I look for?
Other than the usual wear & tear items, make certain the car has all the emblems and other hard-to-find pieces. For example, the stainless steel exhaust tips, original wheels, intercooler duct (not cracked), hoses (in good condition) etc. If the car has been modified, determine what was done, and whether the original parts are part of the deal. Ask if any other spare parts or service manuals come with the car.
Check the service records, oil change intervals, etc. It's very important regular oil changes were done, preferably using a quality synthetic. Check for oil leaks, especially the rear main seals which are notorious for leaking on these motors.
Take it for a drive and make sure the motor sounds & feels healthy. Any signs of detonation would be cause for further investigation. During your test drive, pay attention to the gear shifts, they should be positive, with no "flaring" especially between the 2-3 shift. This should be tested at part throttle and wide-open throttle conditions.
Does it have T-Tops? If it does, are they Lexan (plastic) or glass? The glass tops are more desirable, because the Lexan tops tended to split with age, and are easily scratched. Pull the T-Tops and look at the weatherstripping. Does the key work in the T-top locks? Is the soft T-Top storage case in the back of the car?
Open the filler door and inspect the fuel tank filler neck. If it is obviously off center, most likely the tank has been dropped for one reason or another (possibly a high-flow fuel pump, which is not a bad thing as long as you know about it).
Look for signs of cracking in the rear spoiler. Replacement spoilers are difficult and expensive to replace as production has been discontinued.
The spare tire stowage compartment is under the right rear trim panel. Are the spare, jack, and tools in place? Is the CO2 canister charged? Does the spare fit?
Take a good look at the braided stainless flex coupling between the downpipe & cat. If it's damaged or leaking, a new one can be expensive.
Test the radio; verify the power antenna works. If the radio display says "LOC" press the mute button on the steering wheel.
Test all the seat adjustment buttons, verify the lumbar support & side bolsters work.
Test the headlights (do they raise & lower swiftly?)
Does the car come with the owner's kit? The kit is valuable, to replace it would cost several hundred dollars - if you can find one. The pace car door & windshield stickers were not applied at the factory, they were included in this kit.
You can expect to pay at least $22K for a no-mileage TTA to about $8K for one with high miles in rough shape. The majority of TTAs were equipped with T-tops & leather, so the rarer cars with cloth and/or hardtop command a modest premium. Documented Indy Festival TTAs can fetch a higher price as well. Overall, most TTAs sell in the $15K-$20K range. Although prices had remained stable for for the past few years, recently there has been an upward trend. A mint condition TTA with 3K miles quickly sold for $20K recently.
What is the TTA Mail List and how do I join?
The TTA mail list is an email-based forum for discussions of particular interest to owners and enthusiasts of the 20th Anniversary Turbo Trans Am. The TTA Maillist Page has information on joining the list.
Where can I get more information about my TTA?
GN/TType mail list - An online group of over 1,000 Grand National, Regal T-Type and Turbo Trans Am enthusiasts.
3rd Gen F-body mail list - For 3rd Gen F-body owners, covering Firebirds, Trans Ams, and Camaros from 1982-1992.
What is my TTA's build sequence number?
Unlike a Buick GNX, whose sequence number is featured prominently on the dash and owner's book, your TTA's sequence number is nowhere to be found on the vehicle or on any of the materials provided by Pontiac. Why Pontiac chose to downplay the sequence number is a mystery, but your TTA's sequence number need not be.
The TTA site and members of the TTA mailing list have been researching these numbers, and have been successful in mapping them out to within a small "window" and in many cases, exactly. We have documented build numbers of over 95% of all TTAs made. Find out yours at the TTA site's build number page.
If you already know your build number please email us. Often a single number will unlock an entire series of other numbers.
Also, Pontiac Historical Services offers a TTA information packet which includes press releases, a press photo and the car's sequence number. There is a fee for this service.
Which K&N Air Filter should I get for my TTA?
The 8" K&N (p/n RE-0910) is time-tested, proven and fits well. The nose of the filter can be gently squeezed and fitted into the inner fender area for cold-air pickup.
Which muffler should I get for my TTA?
A Walker Ultra Flow (p/n WLK-17266, $110 from Summit) is polished stainless, high quality, and has no droning sound a lot of other mufflers have with the turbo motor.
The Walker TTA 3" cat-back exhaust system consists of these parts:
Walker Part #44074 First intermediate pipe
Walker Part #43248 Over-axle pipe
Walker Part #17296 Muffler
Walker Part #44279 Universal TailpipeOr, for a mandrel bent 2 1/2" cat back system under a single part number:
Walker Part # 17494.
For more information call Walker Dyno Max Tech Support at 810-852-9347
What is the correct touch-up paint to use?
The correct GM touch-up paint is 1#1052906, White, Code 40, WA8554.
Where can I get T-top Sun Shades?
They are available from GM, kit p/n10071496, color: beechwood. If you aren't a fan of T-tops, or just want some relief from the sun, these padded inserts fit under the glass tops and will keep the interior cooler and quieter. Note: these have been discontinued by GM and are getting hard to find.
How do I re-attach my emblems?
Get a roll of 3M Scotch Mount Double Coated Acrylic Foam Tape (Gray) - "OEM approved." It's also sold as 3M Emblem and Body Molding tape. A 3' x 1/2" roll costs about $4. You can recognize the stuff by the red film which separates the layers of tape. It's the same material used by GM on your emblems, except that it comes in rolls and is not die-cut to shape. This is no problem, as you'll see. You'll also need a sharp X-acto knife or razor blade and some alcohol or adhesive solvent.
Clean all of the old tape off the emblem and the car. Use solvent or alcohol to get it completely clean. Then apply the tape to the emblem in strips, leaving the red film on at this point. Cover the emblem completely with tape. Rub the tape a bit to set it. Then, flip the emblem over and use your x-acto knife to trim the tape around the edges and openings. Neatness counts here. A new blade helps a lot. Once the excess tape has been trimmed,the emblem is ready to attach.
The tape is very sticky so you need to place the emblem precisely. If you have a good eye, you can just stick it to the car. You can try to align it to the residual shadow that usually shows on the paint. Or, try this: apply two strips of artist's tape (masking tape will also work) to the face of the emblem leaving about 6" hanging upward. Then hang the emblem on the fender. Take a few steps back to make sure it's properly positioned. Now, flip the emblem up (leaving the artists tape in place), peel the red film, and set the emblem back in its final position. Finally, remove the artist's tape and apply pressure to the emblem to set it nice and tight. That's it.
How does the "Y" fitting connect to the wastegate control hoses?
The restrictor should be towards the line coming from the turbo compressor outlet:
solenoid | | | | | /| / | / | / = <- restrictor is here / | / | / | actuator turbo
Can I install a Delco CD player and have it work with my steering wheel controls?
In 1989 there was an available CD for Trans Am, but it did not offer steering wheel controls. In 1990-91 Trans Ams, the CD player did have steering wheel controls. However, these players use a different control signal protocol and were therefore incompatible with the 1989 steering wheel.
Nevertheless, there have been reports of people who have gotten a CD player which works with the 1989 TTA steering wheel. One such unit is p/n 12340956. This is a plug & play unit, with the correct color grey faceplate. No special wiring adapter is needed. For more information, call Ron Martin at 1-800-222-5509. Ron is a GM Delco rep and has a great deal of expertise in this area.
Did TTAs only come equipped with an automatic transmission?
Yes. A manual trans prototype was built but wasn't produced for a number of reasons, including cost and reduced performance.
If the TTA really made 300 HP why did GM rate it at "only" 250 HP?
The generally accepted explanation is GM's unwritten rule which states no passenger vehicle shall have a higher horsepower rating than that year's Corvette.
In 1989 the Corvette was rated at 255 HP.