raynehr

Just purchased for $1600 350TPI and a 700 R4. After some injectors, FPR, and a tune up, it runs great!!

CharcoalBird

iTrader: (4)

Jealous. That is a good deal if it is a 350. Could do without the sunroof though. What are your plans? You may be able to salvage that paint...well...at least make it look better with some TLC.

raynehr

She is a 350, WS6. Ran the block numbers and VIN. It is so unmolested, the interior has no tears or worn marks, the headliner is drooping and the sunroof trim is hanging, but doesn't leak. Even the back hatch shocks and automatic latch still work. I bought the car and the guy couldn't figure out the fuel problem, which I solved with a new set of South Bay injectors. We are out on the market looking for a house, the prerequisite for the house is it must have a functional garage, and that's when the car becomes a project. I would like to finish the car along the lines of a pro touring type layout. I believe in keeping them drivable, but a Vortec Supercharger shouldn't be out of the question. She probally will get painted next spring, good friend of mine does body work and I just gotta talk him into it.

PS. All in all its a solid replacement for the Eclipse sitting behind it.. LOL

raynehr

Today was the first day I had it out on the road legally, at stop lights she tries to stall on me, but other than that, it runs well! Fuel gauge is pegged on full no matter how much is in the tank, so gotta tweak that too. A few minor bugs to work out but a quality ride.

dwhess504

Awesome DEAL!!! I would have bought that in a heartbeat as well! You will have to drop the tank and change out the sender. Also try changing the fuel filter that can be a cause of fuel starvation.

FormulaL98

Sweet deal! The car looks really clean, cant beat a running driving 350 car for under 2k. Any word on why it dosent have the scooped "turbo" hood on it?

raynehr

FormulaL98 - I don't think that they came with the scooped hood in 1991 and 1992 since they changed the nose piece in 1991. Unsure tho.

DWhess504 - We are getting dumped buckets on for the last week here, so I cant get out and work on her. Luckily there is an access door under the carpet in the back hatch for the fuel pump and it has had a pump and filter put on in the last month. I think when the guy put the pump in before I bought it, he didn't plug up the sender, or maybe he bent the arm and its stuck up top. I will find out as soon as this rain breaks for a day.

raynehr

Thanks for all the likes though. It has a vacuum leak, I think I missed a line under the throttle body when I put the upper plenum back on. I hear a hissing and I believe that's the stalling at stop lights problem. I will keep this thread updated periodically.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

ALL FORMULAs came with the turbo hood. Someone swapped it out at some point. Not a huge issue, find a good one and slap it on.
It should also have 5.7 liter decals on each side of the "turbo bulge" if it is a 350 car.

Good looking car, other than that moon roof.. Dear god, yyyyyyyy???? lol

raynehr

Not a huge fan of the moon roof, but I prefer it over T-Tops Because if I ever do decide to build it stupid, its better for twisting reasons.

Not sure why it don't have the turbo bulge. That's fine though. I know that the hood has been rattle canned on the outside, but underneath its the same color as the body. I have been up under it and it doesn't seem to have any wreck repair, Vin check says no major issues. Had a Trans replaced early in its life... either way, im good with it.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Does she still have the emissions sticker on the bottom of the hood?

IROCgiraffe

iTrader: (3)

Awesome find! Congrats!

raynehr

No, it actually doesn't. You may absolutely be right, it is very possible not the original hood. I know she is a 350, ran the block numbers, which are a pain to get to, but crawled up on the back of a cold motor with a flashlight and a can of degreaser. Vin also confirms it. Im not trying to keep it original, so Im fine with the hood. Is a pretty good mystery though.

raynehr

Thanks IROCgiraffe!

anesthes

iTrader: (12)

Nice find!

-- Joe

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

raynehr, open your PM box so we can send you questions and things

Javier87z28

iTrader: (1)

Nice Formula man!!

Zane M

iTrader: (1)

Very nice!

raynehr

Will do, sorry fellas..

raynehr

Had a small problem of the car stalling at stop lights. Since I had been working on the fuel system so much I was guessing it had something to do in that area. Found that it was a bit out of time and now she will sit there and purr like a kitten all day at 550ish.. Found it needs a transmission mount, when ya get in it hard from a stop the driveshaft/tailshaft is bucking up and smacking the tunnel. Currently letting her cool so I can fix that minor malfunction.

raynehr

This Friday evening I will be going to get a baseline on the car at our local drag strip. We have 2 1/8th mile strips near us. Ill try to get a video and post some pics of timeslips and car. Will see you guys then!

raynehr

A few pictures after a quick bath with the vanity tags.

(This one shows the busted back wing with the bad previous owner patch job)


and one with the Eclipse photo bombing....

raynehr

Well it was a very successful track night. The Firebird performed like a champ. Anyone want to guess on 1/8th mile times stock? It does have Bosch 3 22lb injectors and an AFPR, that's it.


First, here is a video of me bustin up a GT.

http://s478.photobucket.com/user/ray...40471.mp4.html

This was the best run of the night.



First run was 9.18, second 9.16, and third was 9.14. I ran some others with a passenger in the car and ran 9.3. Just me in the car ran 9.1x all night long. There was 2 other F-bodies there, both gen 4, there was a black WS-6 running 8.8, and an LT-1 gen 4 running 9.2. I was running better times than the LT-1, so PROUD of that!! Both those 9.3 runs I ran with a passenger I ran against Mustangs, won both.. So happy eating ovals!

raynehr

Had to stick a starter and alternator on the Formula. Alternator was an Advance unit, the starter was from RAREELECTRICAL.com. Highly recommend. Read here..

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/afte...i-starter.html

raynehr

Update : When I bought the car, its been sitting for a few years and the tires are dry rotting a bit, but they held air and good tread. I figured I would drive them until I couldn't anymore. We park on the street here and I ran up on our teeny tiny little curb and ripped the sidewall out of a rear. Ordered 2 BFG g-force Comp 2's for the rear. Also I am trimming the car out in a little bit of red paint. Ill post some pictures after I do some wet sanding.

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

wheres the power bulge hood?

raynehr

You are not the first to ask, and honestly I have no idea where it is. The car sat for about 4 years before I got my hands on it. It has had a lot of knick knacks wrong with it but nothing out of my skill level (so far). I do wish I had a power bulge, but I also am not a showroom kinda guy, I like them to look good, but Id much rather build them to scream down a dragstrip.

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

Now you can get a RA I or RA II hood...lol

raynehr

I do have a whole range of options... Might just leave that one on it... hadn't thought that far ahead yet. The final plan is to vortec supercharge it way down the line in the future, might be nice just to hide it under a V6 stock hood... LOL, keep it a little sleeper..

ash_cool

awesome video!! always great to see a 3rd gen smoking a mustang. keep us posted on your work with her.

raynehr

Gladly, when I had the Nova a few years back, we used to race around here not for pink slips but for hood ornaments. I had about 40 GT logos and another 30 or so of the Horses. Kept them in the glove box, and would occasionally open the glove box and let them tumble to the floorboard to show another Mustang owner that thought his car was hot S%^*. I lost a few too, but won a lot more!

raynehr

I have made a huge order to a few different companies. Pieced together a whole new front suspension including tie rod ends, inner and outer, ball joints, struts, wheel bearings, a wonder bar, and front tires. Just had knee surgery so I have a feeling I will be sitting here staring at the parts after they arrive for a couple weeks until I can get on my feet enough to have an install day. Will try to post some pictures during the install process.

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

Where did you go for what parts? I need to redo my Fromulas front end rebuild also.

raynehr

I ordered the Timkin wheel bearings (inner and outer), Raybestos professional ball joints, Moog tie rod ends (inner and outer) and KYB struts from Rockauto.com. Google "Rockauto.com coupon codes" for an additional 5%. Grand total of just under $240. Tires came from tirebuyer.com. Ordered my other 2 BFG Comp 2 G-forces to match the rear for just under $255. The wonder bar came from Summit. I also ordered a set of 1.6 roller rockers for the car, grand total of $120 from Summit. After a $60 alignment, it should handle and perform better than stock and maybe gain a couple tenths.

raynehr

Parts have arrived. Now I just get to sit and stare at them while my knee recuperates. Let them sit and collect dust for a couple weeks until I am able to install.

raynehr

After 13 1/2 hours of installing, Its all on. The ball joints were not so bad, separating them from the steering knuckle was the hardest part. Used the Autozone ball joint press to push them in and out and worked great! I recommend that tool. The worst part was the passenger side strut. I put a wrench on the lower nut and a wrench on the upper strut piston, and the strut piston stripped, tried vice grips to no avail, so I broke out the grinder and ground the nut off until the strut fell out the bottom. The KYB's have an allen head in the top of the strut piston, which I prefer, and they seemed to be hardened better than whatever cheap crap was on the car. One ball joint was definitely bad, 3 tie rod ends were in need of replacement, and one strut would not hardly rebound at all. So this was job was really needed. Also changed the two front brake hoses, drained out all the black brake fluid and re-bled the front and rear brakes. Don't forget to order your wheel seals for the front rotors like I did.. Just forgetful... The front end is now nice and stiff, the play in the wheel is gone. For $250 bucks on Rockauto, it was WELL worth every penny! I have NOT done the tires, wonderbar, or rocker arms yet. I just got to the front end parts.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Proper glue to fix the rear spoiler, if you have the rest of the broken spoiler parts.

raynehr

Hey, thanks for the tip! Not sure what I am going to do with the rear yet. I'm not an originality type of guy, I just want it to look good and go fast. I have been pondering putting a Camaro lip spoiler on the rear and remove the wing. The body work and spit shine probably wont happen until next spring. House repairs have us tapped out until next year.

raynehr

Car is beginning to nickel and dime me to death. The smog pump started grinding, so I pulled it off. I had already removed the piping so it was just a few bolts and a new belt. This article worked perfectly.. HIGHLY RECOMMEND https://www.thirdgen.org/serpentine.

Driving home, the exhaust broke in half in the intermediate pipe, so its parked for a while while money accumulates and I am gonna do it right. Headers, 3" twin pipes dumping behind the passenger side rear tire. Looking for headers for a decent price, shortys only.

Thanks!

IROCgiraffe

iTrader: (3)

No one said cars are cheap :-)

raynehr

Oh yea, im plenty aware. :P I don't mind spending the money on the car, IMO its worth it. The issue is we are in process of remodeling the house to get it on the market and money is being DUMPED into it and there is none to spare for the bird right now. I have nothing but time tho...

89Formula3

Thats a helluva deal u got.

Love that color too.

fozzi58

Wow - I got robbed - $1200 and it doesn't run. But I got T's and a turbo bulge hood! lmao

Congrats on the steal and good luck.

Bigredneck419

Hey y'all I'm 19 I'm a car addict . Can y'all help me please. I have a 91 firebird and it has said to be a formula. Now I can't tell I called a place and ran the vin they said it does have that option. Now I was looking at this red one here and btw must say looks good. Mine looks exactly like his without the sun roof . But mine doesn't have the formula decal on the side . Mine even has the half side scoop and the chipped spoiler. The people who had it before me put a high rise intake and carb on it . I have a feeling this isn't the original motor . And I can't tell wat motor is in it . I've had so many 350s but this too me seems as tho it's a 305 I really would like to find out . I read on her that your vin should be 1g2fs and that means it's a formula idk and my 8th letter is a E please tell me wat I have lol. I'm 19 I've gone through more cars that women go through under britches . Text even I don't mind just need some profession help my back yard mechanic skills isn't enough to figure this out 8136242198 I really appreciate it

raynehr

Thanks, but the bill on this car is now close to $2500. I have put some money into it just to get her road worthy and still need front tires for her. Its a labor of love though. Im not in it for the money, im in it for the shear pleasure of driving it HARD!

raynehr

Hey, I can try to help what little I know about them. Shoot me some pics and I will take a look over. If you want to know if you have a 305/350 look for that catalyst sticker under the hood, it will say in the lower righthand corner 5.0 or 5.7L. If you don't have a catalyst sticker, or RPO codes in your center console lid, then you need to run the block numbers.

raynehr

PS, Everything I have read is there is no real visual difference. You have to feel it by driving it or run the VIN, or RPO codes, or Catalyst sticker... Google the VIN and see what it comes back as..

raynehr

When I bought this car, I knew it had an exhaust leak, but just let it go. Well about a month ago I was coming home and it finally broke right behind the cat collector. Ordered a 3" Glasspack from Summit and a tip, pulled the old exhaust off the car from the cat collector (since 1991 and 1992 models have 2 cats) back, clamped the glasspack to the cat collector, it slipped right over, and welded a turndown to the other end of the glasspack to dump right out to the ground about a foot in front of the rear end. As I had the car up on jacks, I noticed an antifreeze leak. Chased it down to the weep hole in the water pump, so went back to RockAuto and placed yet another order, it showed up today. Really love RockAuto, Upper&Lower radiator hose, Premium thermostat, Radiator cap with lever, thermostat housing gasket and NEW water pump for only $52 and change.

IROCgiraffe

iTrader: (3)

RockAuto rocks!

86TA355SR

iTrader: (1)

Always loved these Formulas!