Difference between GTRA, GTWC, and GTS

[Tom Kirkham]

I am trying to figure out the differences between the various versions of the cars. Is this correct?

GTRA
EBW (Electron Beam Welded) frame
T-46 transmission
Tremec 3550
Mustang 5.0 engine
25 Gal fuel cell
17 inch rims
cable clutch
Corbeau seats
350 F 200 R springs
equal length upper A-arm
5/8 rod ends in trailing links
fiberglass body

GTRA -Sebring
Australian Falcon 5.0

GTRA-Texas
Explorer 5.0 w/GT40P heads
31 gal fuel cell

GTWC
DOM (Drawn Over Mandrel) Tubing
4.6 4V engine
ABS body
Brembo Brakes
Pi Dash
Penske Shocks
hydraulic clutch

GTS
351 W engine 400 HP
550 F 350 R springs
Penske Shocks
Diff cooler
Rear Sway bar
offset upper A-arm
3/4 rod ends in trailing links
ABS body
Tremec TKO600
cable clutch
18 inch rims

[C-Sicz]

Seems accurate, but the GTRA - Road Atlanta is left out. I think there are probably some variations to all. For example, my GTRA has DOM tubing (per inspection I was told), Koni adjustables, Brembo brakes, and the PI dash that you only have listed for the GTWC car

[gamacdon]

i was told by Nathan Liber (the sales guy at Panoz) all texas cars are DOM tubing

[eric1h]

The GTWC bodies are not all ABS, nor do they have a hydraulic clutch
The GTWC also had Sparco Pro 2000 seats, offset upper A-arm , and I think 550/350lb springs

So full list of specs for the GTWC

GTWC
DOM (Drawn Over Mandrel) Tubing
4.6 4V engine
Fiberglass body
Brembo Brakes
Pi Dash
Penske Shocks
cable clutch
550/350lbs springs
offset A arms
Sparco Pro2000 seat(just one)
25gal fuel cell
18" rims
Tremec 3550

[DrBro]

Also, the GTWC has a 32 gallon fuel cell I believe.

[Gatorac]

I think you've gone into a bit too much detail on the differences. There were changes to specs throughout the production of the cars. For example

GTRA cars started with erw tubing and went to dom. The frame and roll cage design changed after only a few cars. Some have Explorer motors, some have Austrailian Falcon motors, some have ???? Early cars where glass, but may not be glass anymore as accident damage was repaired. Some cars were built from scrap parts and may have no history at all. Most of the cars started with hydraulic clutches and were converted later, not converted or even converted back. Fuel cells are a crap shoot. My GTRA had a 32 gallon tank. Davids had a 25 gallon tank. Mine now has a 22 gallon tank. A-arms were changed througout the life of the car, whatever was in the parts bin. I've heard some didn't even have the same type of arms on both sides. I think you get the idea.

[JML68]

The Road Atlanta GTRA's had and ERW (electric resisitance welded) not ERB cages!
The Texas GTRA's, the GTWC's, and the GTS all have DOM roll cages. The Sebring cars were right in that transition period and I honestly can't remember whether they were ERW or DOM. We also supplied several replacment chassis to the school over the years so it is not impossible that you could find "a" Road Atlanta GTRA with DOM tubing.
The GTRA transmissions were originally T-5's or the world class T-5. Many, though not all have been upgraded to one of the stronger Tremec's over the years.
The GTWC originally was delivered with the T-45 reworked with Roush carbon synchro rings. I believe these were all later upgraded by the school to one of the Tremecs.
The Road Atlanta cars were delivered with fiberglass bodies with the "spastic trout" nose. The Sebring, Texas and all GTS cars have the ABS plastic panels that we still use today. The GTWC's had fiberglass bodies without the "spastic trout" nose and with a hood bulge.
The Road Atlanta batch orginally had "Outlaw" calipers & Coleman rotors but everything ultimately ended up with Brembo calipers. All the school cars were converted to PFC rotors when they secured PFC sponsorship. The GTS uses Brembo rotors.
The GTWC's were origianlly delivered with Penske shocks, though I belive they were all changed to Koni's, like all of the school cars, when the school got Koni sponsorship.
All cars were delivered with hydraulic clutches though many were converted to cable. The GTS still used a hydraulic clutch slave and with the fittment of a special double seal o-ring we came up with, has finally resolved it's durability issues, with no help from the slave cylinder manufacturer!
All cars had a rear sway bar, though they were later removed from the Texas cars. The school changed spring rates over the years on most of the cars.
All the cars started with 17" rims and DOT based tires. The GTWC's and the GTS ended up going slicks then to 18" rims and slicks.
Hope that helps.
John

[g8rbob]

"Spastic Trout" Nose

I know what the current ABS nose looks like
I know what the fiberglass nose on our GTWC looks like - it also has a "hood buldge" rivetted on

Sounds like there is a third nose out there

It's funny 'cause folks used to call the nose on my '99 VR-4 3000GT a "dying CATFISH"

[eric1h]

Originally Posted by JML68

The Road Atlanta GTRA's had and ERW (electric resisitance welded) not ERB cages!
The Texas GTRA's, the GTWC's, and the GTS all have DOM roll cages. The Sebring cars were right in that transition period and I honestly can't remember whether they were ERW or DOM. We also supplied several replacment chassis to the school over the years so it is not impossible that you could find "a" Road Atlanta GTRA with DOM tubing.
The GTRA transmissions were originally T-5's or the world class T-5. Many, though not all have been upgraded to one of the stronger Tremec's over the years.
The GTWC originally was delivered with the T-45 reworked with Roush carbon synchro rings. I believe these were all later upgraded by the school to one of the Tremecs.
The Road Atlanta cars were delivered with fiberglass bodies with the "spastic trout" nose. The Sebring, Texas and all GTS cars have the ABS plastic panels that we still use today. The GTWC's had fiberglass bodies without the "spastic trout" nose and with a hood bulge.
The Road Atlanta batch orginally had "Outlaw" calipers & Coleman rotors but everything ultimately ended up with Brembo calipers. All the school cars were converted to PFC rotors when they secured PFC sponsorship. The GTS uses Brembo rotors.
The GTWC's were origianlly delivered with Penske shocks, though I belive they were all changed to Koni's, like all of the school cars, when the school got Koni sponsorship.
All cars were delivered with hydraulic clutches though many were converted to cable. The GTS still used a hydraulic clutch slave and with the fittment of a special double seal o-ring we came up with, has finally resolved it's durability issues, with no help from the slave cylinder manufacturer!
All cars had a rear sway bar, though they were later removed from the Texas cars. The school changed spring rates over the years on most of the cars.
All the cars started with 17" rims and DOT based tires. The GTWC's and the GTS ended up going slicks then to 18" rims and slicks.
Hope that helps.
John

Thanks John! I asssume your're John L. from Panoz? Great information.

Does Panoz Sell the parts for the hydrolic clucth conversion on the GTWC cars?

[Cobra4B]

FYI my Sebring car has DOM tubing and a plastic body... only my trunk lid is fiberglass.

Like said... lots of variation throughout the years.

[JML68]

Eric1h, Yes I'm John L. from Panoz. We still use the hydraulic clutch (with the new improved seal) on the GTS cars and I believe it interchanges on the the GTWC and the GTRA's. The seal I spec'd out late last year seems to have addressed the cylinder reliability issue, since no one calls complaining anymore!

Cobra4B. Someone at the school got lazy on your car and must have put a fiberglass one on it after a wreck. We never mixed plastic and fiberglass and after that initial batch of fiberglass cars for Road Atlanta and the batch of GTWC's, we exclusively used the ABS panels.

John

[Cobra4B]

^ I like the glass trunk lid... it uses 3 of those screws along the top and 2 rubber t-handle hook things on the back. Never had an issue with it comming loose like others have had with the plastic ones. The rest of my car is plastic.