What was quicker back in the day?

[Transamws6]

Yea, just a quick question.

Back in the 80's when the 5.0 mustangs and Iroc Z's were like the two quickest pony cars in america what was the quicker car?

Was it a 350tpi Iroc Z
Or the 5.0 mustang gt with the 5 spd.?

My dad had a black 1990 5.spd gt up until 1996 or 1997 and said he used to stomp iroc's all the time back then, he also used to beat the C4 vettes to but he had a few mods. But he swears that a stock GT was faster than the stock Iroc's.

Just wondering which one is truly faster stock? Thought i'd ask a bigger crowd.

[Marc 85Z28]

The 87-88 speed density Mustangs with a 5 speed would probably beat most of the new similar year 350 TPI (L98s). But by 89-92 when the L98s got dual cats and later speed density, the 5.0s couldn't touch them. L98 cars tested as fast as mid 14s, while the 5.0 Mustangs were high 14 second cars.

Most IROCs were 305s, either TPI or TBI. Most came with autos, so they made 200HP or less. They got pushed around ALOT. A properly equipped 305 TPI car ran even with the 5.0s.

Finally, if he had 2.73 gears like most did, he wasn't running with the L98, F or Y body. At least not without the usual pullies, intake, exhaust, and gears.

[86 IROC-Z]

pretty sure the stang was the better car for a long time

[86 IROC-Z]

Most IROCs were 305s, either TPI or TBI. Most came with autos, so they made 200HP or less. A properly equipped 305 TPI car ran even with the 5.0s.

Yep, mine is a 305 TPI and was rated @ 190hp

[0rion]

GT's owned the roads in the mid 80's. My brother had an 85 that even beat most vettes back then. I believe ( but not positive) it stayed that way until the LT1's came out. There were a few exceptions....the buicks and turbo TA were a couple but weren't as common as the iroc's or GTA's.

[justinmc978]

5liter fox bodys owned the streets in the 80's,

they were the 'best of the worst' as the 80s sucked for all v8s performance wise, ever notice how turboed 6 cylinders were just as fast as the v8s back then?

[Marc 85Z28]

GT's owned the roads in the mid 80's. My brother had an 85 that even beat most vettes back then. I believe ( but not positive) it stayed that way until the LT1's came out. There were a few exceptions....the buicks and turbo TA were a couple but weren't as common as the iroc's or GTA's.

An 85? That was carbed and the car barely weezed into the mid 15s, while the 305 TPI in 85 (with the good cam) flirted with 14s.

Again, the 87-88 5.0s ran the best. The 87-88 L98s ran the worst. Still, the L98 is strong enough to claim victory:

http://www.thirdgen.org/rt-camaroiroczvsmustangho-1988

The Mustang lost performance in later years with the MAF system, while the L98 got dual cats and ditched the MAF and got MUCH quicker. This also shows one of the weaker, yet properly optioned 305 TPIs running dead even with the 5.0.

[0rion]

Just for arguements sake. I also was out racing in that 85 stang and know what we raced on the streets and know what we beat. Beat a ton of f-bodies and some vettes.

0-60 and 1320 times

1985 Ford Mustang GT 6.4 14.9 (C&D, Jan. 85)
1987 Ford Mustang GT 6.4 14.4 (Automobile, April 87)
1988 Ford Mustang GT 6.4 15.0 (MT Jan '88)
1989 Ford Mustang GT 5.0l Manual 6.2 14.8 (MT Jan '89)
1990 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 6.4 14.9
1991 Ford Mustang GT 7.3 15.6
1992 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 6.2 14.8
1993 Ford Mustang Cobra 5.9 14.5
1993 Ford Mustang GT (auto) 8.0 16.1
1994 Ford Mustang Cobra 5.4 14.0
1994 Ford Mustang GT 6.1 14.9 (C&D Dec '93)


1985 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z28 7.0 15.2
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z 6.6 14.9
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z L98 6.8 15.3
1988 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z 7.0 15.5
1990 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z 5.8 14.4
1990 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 6.5 15.0
1992 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 6.7 15.2

1983 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 9.2 17.0
1984 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am HO 7.9 16.1
1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA (auto) 7.1 15.5
1988 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA 7.4 15.9
1989 Pontiac 20th Anniv. Trans Am 5.1 14.2
1991 Pontiac Firebird Formula 6.5 14.8
1991 Pontiac Trans Am Conv. 7.0 15.4
1993 Pontiac Firebird Firehawk 4.9 13.5
1993 Pontiac Firebird Formula 6.1 14.7
1993 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 6.3 14.8

1984 Chevrolet Corvette 6.7 15.1
1985 Chevrolet Corvette 5.7 14.1
1986 Chevrolet Corvette 5.8 14.4
1986 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 6.0 14.5
1988 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 6.0 14.6
1988 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 6.0 14.6
1990 Chevrolet Corvette 5.7 14.3
1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 4.4 12.8
1991 Chevrolet Corvette L98 5.3 13.9
1991 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster 5.6 14.1
1992 Chevrolet Corvette LT1 5.7 14.1
1992 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 5.6 13.9

[wheeliE-maxx]

5liter fox bodys owned the streets in the 80's,

they were the 'best of the worst' as the 80s sucked for all v8s performance wise, ever notice how turboed 6 cylinders were just as fast as the v8s back then?

My mom whooped some v8 ass with her '85 300zx turbo five speed. Including vettes, 5.0, etc. Then she moved on to a '94 t/a six speed after a truck

[Murder after Midnight]

My cousin said the 86-87 grandnational,(which he also prclaims as the best muscle car ever) ruled the 80's is the true?

[cammed goat]

Grand Nats were rated at 240hp at the crank I believe. The GNXs weren't built the same and to this day, magazines will list the HP rating as:

N/A
???

[nhraformula]

My cousin said the 86-87 grandnational,(which he also prclaims as the best muscle car ever) ruled the 80's is the true?

yup, pretty much so.

Now back to mustangs vs. Irocs. I had a 89 Iroc with a G92 option package and used to take Mustangs.
Basically stangs were the winners of the pony car wars up until the late 80s and then the camaro took over.

[Smittro]

5liter fox bodys owned the streets in the 80's,

they were the 'best of the worst' as the 80s sucked for all v8s performance wise, ever notice how turboed 6 cylinders were just as fast as the v8s back then?

There was ONE GM N/A v6 motor (@ that time) that also rivaled some of the pony cars of the day too...

[nhraformula]

There was ONE GM N/A v6 motor that also rivaled some of the pony cars of the day too...

Well there was also a car called the dodge omni glh that really surprised alot of of muscle car owners with its 4 banger engine

[Smittro]

Well there was also a car called the dodge omni glh that really surprised alot of of muscle car owners with its 4 banger engine

Yupper I remeber them too..I'm seeing if anyone can guess the motor and cars I spoke of..hehe

[big hammer]

Yupper I remeber them too..I'm seeing if anyone can guess the motor and cars I spoke of..hehe

fiero?

[big hammer]

anything with a 305 TBI ruled the streets. ANYTHING! i have spoken.

[Smittro]

fiero?

No sir..close very warm...

[big hammer]

No sir..close very warm...

fiera?

[Smittro]

anything with a 305 TBI ruled the streets. ANYTHING! i have spoken.

The car and engine I'm speaking of was not the fastest but it was able to beat up on a few of the pony cars from gm and ford..