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I've just recently bought my first 3rd Gen Firebird Formula.
It's a 1989 model in red with the 305 engine in it. It's recently had around £2500 ($4000) spent on new tyres, new exhaust and brakes and it is in all round very good condition. It's only covered 37500 miles in it's life and it shows. It's such a smooth and sweet car.
My plans are to keep it fairly original as nice examples over here are getting very rare. I may get the exhaust changed for something a little...less subtle shall we say.
My dad had an '88 Formula 350 when I was 11 and I absolutely loved it so when this one came up for sale I jumped at the chance to go and see it.
Anyway, I'll surely post updates on the car as I go along and there's already a few little bits I need help with which I'll discuss in the appropriate thread.
£2500 for this is a steal ! Was it on eBay recently ? I recall seeing a red Formula with a 91-92 rear spoiler.
The car was more than £2500. It's had that amount spent on improving it.
The car itself was £6750, I part exchanged a Ford Capri for it.
It is most likely the one you saw on eBay. It has the 91/92 spoiler on the back as the original was in a bad state, it was removed and one of those spoiler was applied. I may see about putting an '89 spoiler on it when I acquire more money.
My bad, I read too fast. Still not very expensive for so little miles.
The 85-90 Aero spoilers are poorly built, they have an inner metal structure that rusts and expands the foam making it look terrible. The only viable solution is to get an aftermarket fiberglass spoiler.
My bad, I read too fast. Still not very expensive for so little miles.
The 85-90 Aero spoilers are poorly built, they have an inner metal structure that rusts and expands the foam making it look terrible. The only viable solution is to get an aftermarket fiberglass spoiler.
This car did have one of the original spoilers on which had cracked so that's probably why it was changed. In this case I may just leave the current one on if they're built to a better standard.
As we say here in Texas, Saaaaweeeet! Which side is the steering wheel on? Wonder if they also flip the hood bulge to match !
It's still a LHD. They're legal over here, I just have to get used to driving on that side now, bit I'm not finding it that difficult.
Originally Posted by Bullydawg
I'm about 2.5 hours away by Peterborough and have a few Accel superrams here if you decide you want to do a few upgrades...
Thanks for that! I may take you up on the offer when I come into some more money and if my insurance will allow it without it hiking the price up too much.
Nice Formula! It looks really clean. Take good care of it. What exhaust is under the car now?
I believe it's a custom made exhaust but to the original specifications. I'm thinking of changing the back section to something a bit louder and get bigger tailpipes so it looks more aggressive. I had a custom made exhaust system on my Capri from a local company so I'll likely use them again.
They have THESE...over THERE!!! Of course they do, welcome to 3rdgen. Gratz on the find!! And hope to see some more of that ride. Enjoy your acquisition
I believe it's a custom made exhaust but to the original specifications. I'm thinking of changing the back section to something a bit louder and get bigger tailpipes so it looks more aggressive. I had a custom made exhaust system on my Capri from a local company so I'll likely use them again.
Oh okay! I'd like to see pictures of the custom made exhaust system if it's possible, before you switch to the bigger one.
Oh okay! I'd like to see pictures of the custom made exhaust system if it's possible, before you switch to the bigger one.
I'll grab a few more photos of the car over the weekend. I won't be changing the exhaust anytime soon. It'll be garaged for the winter at the end of October so I'll have some time to save up some money.
Well, a bit later than promised. Here are a few more photos of the car.
It's going to a local mechanic I've used on all my cars for a "shifty" so I can see how well the engine is running. I've noticed a couple of times after firing it up, it throws out a lot of smoke and I drove it yesterday and it ran at rather high revs.
Thank you for the pictures. The tail pipes kind of look like the factory ones except it doesn't has the distinct slant cut on the end tips. The only ones I know who does have them factory shaped are those from ATP. Do you know now why the car is throwing a lot of smoke?
Thank you for the pictures. The tail pipes kind of look like the factory ones except it doesn't has the distinct slant cut on the end tips. The only ones I know who does have them factory shaped are those from ATP. Do you know now why the car is throwing a lot of smoke?
I will be changing those when I have the money to do so, then it will be a touch louder
I took it to my mechanic this week and he said that it maybe something to do with the fuel and the engine not been fully warmed up. As for it kicking smoke out when it's fully cold, I am not sure.
Well it's kind of normal if you see white smoke (steam) out of the exhaust tips while it's in cold start with this low tempered weather in the morning and evening. Once the engine fully warms up the steam will be gone. The higher revs can be from multiple causes like maybe a vacuum leak, spark plugs, defective fuel pump, clogged cat., slipping transmission... Probably nothing too serious with the Formula and can be easily fixed. Maybe someone has better suggestions.
Well it's kind of normal if you see white smoke (steam) out of the exhaust tips while it's in cold start with this low tempered weather in the morning and evening. Once the engine fully warms up the steam will be gone. The higher revs can be from multiple causes like maybe a vacuum leak, spark plugs, defective fuel pump, clogged cat., slipping transmission... Probably nothing too serious with the Formula and can be easily fixed. Maybe someone has better suggestions.
Yeah I thought it was rather normal for it to do that when it's cold, my two Capris did the same thing when they were cold. I must have been confused from a thread in the TPI section regarding it. Those are possible reasons why it maybe revving high on startup. My mechanic reckons it's some form of anti stall system but he's no expert on Firebirds but he knows a good running engine when he sees one and he has no worries of anything being seriously wrong.
nice tidy car
dose the smoke smell oily or just water vapour?
steam is normal on cold start, especially if no cat fitted
not uncommon to get a little oil smoke on initial start up for a few seconds
are oil and water levels staying the same? if so then no worries
got an 89 style spoiler but in fibreglass on mine from hawks 3rd gen. nice but over £400 with vat and shipping
nice tidy car
dose the smoke smell oily or just water vapour?
steam is normal on cold start, especially if no cat fitted
not uncommon to get a little oil smoke on initial start up for a few seconds
are oil and water levels staying the same? if so then no worries
got an 89 style spoiler but in fibreglass on mine from hawks 3rd gen. nice but over £400 with vat and shipping
It doesn't smell oily on startup, only when it's warmed up. All the levels are staying the same aswell. I'll be taking it for a bit of a drive on Sunday and I'll give it a bit of a blast as it's had some injector cleaner put in it.
I did changed the oil and filter last year and I used CASTROL - MAGNATEC engine oil. I can't remember if it was 10W-40 or else. One thing for sure is that the engine ran better and smoother than before. The car had all it's engine oil fill and change with CASTROL from 1983 till 2005. I own the car since summer 2012, so what oil was used after is a mystery to me.
I did changed the oil and filter last year and I used CASTROL - MAGNATEC engine oil. I can't remember if it was 10W-40 or else. One thing for sure is that the engine ran better and smoother than before. The car had all it's engine oil fill and change with CASTROL from 1983 till 2005. I own the car since summer 2012, so what oil was used after is a mystery to me.
I checked the oil that's currently in it, it's full of 5W-30 I believe which looks incredibly thin. I may try 10W-40 if yours ran smoother using that oil.
Originally Posted by UKPROCHARGEDGTA
probably sticking idle valve
Possibly. If it is, is that an expensive replacement? I shall be giving it a run out to York on Sunday so that should give it a chance to stretch it's legs and hopefully sort out any issues.
I checked the oil that's currently in it, it's full of 5W-30 I believe which looks incredibly thin. I may try 10W-40 if yours ran smoother using that oil.
I forgot to mention that I did the intake gasket new because the engine had a leak. I also replaced the thermostat with a 180° one, flushed the radiator, replaced the upper and lower radiator hoses, added new antifreeze and replaced the radiator cap with a new one.
Remember that your Formula has a Tuned Port Injection 305 engine and mine has a Rochester Quadrajet Carb on the 305 engine. I don't know but 5W-30 seems to be too thin for that size of engine and age.
I forgot to mention that I did the intake gasket new because the engine had a leak. I also replaced the thermostat with a 180° one, flushed the radiator, replaced the upper and lower radiator hoses, added new antifreeze and replaced the radiator cap with a new one.
Remember that your Formula has a Tuned Port Injection 305 engine and mine has a Rochester Quadrajet Carb on the 305 engine. I don't know but 5W-30 seems to be too thin for that size of engine and age.
Ah ok. I did think 5W-30 may have been too thin, I may swap the oil for 10W and see if it runs any better.
Been driving it a couple of times lately and noticed that when I start it from cold the engine seems to struggle maintaining a constant idle speed. It sounds as though it's about to stall but then carries on running and the CEL is on. Then once that light goes off and it's warmed up slightly it's fine. It also doesn't lower the idle speed once it's warmed up, I have to turn it off and turn it back on again.
could be, it should adjust idle speed continually
have you checked for fault codes on the ses light?
I don't have a code reader unfortunately. It will be getting put away in the garage for the winter soon so I'll likely get the codes looked at when it comes back on the road next spring. Where do I plug a connector in to read any fault codes?
under dash next to and to right of steering column
there is a thread on here in tech section tells you how to read codes and what they mean
you don't need a code reader just a short wire or split pin to bridge terminals
or you can get a connector and disc for your laptop off ebay cheap enough
Picked the car up today after £250 of exhaust replacement happened. She sounds fantastic! Now I'll be taking trips the long way around on purpose. It's had a custom made stainless steel rear silencer and tailpipes made from a place local to me. I'm happy at how understated it looks but the sound certainly isn't.
And here is a video of what it sounded like before and how it sounds now.
09-29-2015, 01:56 PM
Of course they do, welcome to 3rdgen. Gratz on the find!! And hope to see some more of that ride. Enjoy your acquisition 
