89 Formula Body & Paint
#51
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
I believe they were dipped. My body guy was discussing with me how blasting can deform them (heat). He sent them out to a firm he knows - he said they could do it cheaper and more efficiently than he could. They reconditioned all the eyelet holes as well - some were ripped from a rear-end collision. $350 for both. They are primered - just need a little wet sanding.
Interior: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...r-rebuild.html
Suspension: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...g-vetruck.html
LS2 swap: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...-ls2-89-a.html
Interior: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...r-rebuild.html
Suspension: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...g-vetruck.html
LS2 swap: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...-ls2-89-a.html
#52
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
Wood blocks glassed in on the wing.
Third pic shows rubber grommet recessed in the wing for the brake light wires.
Third pic shows rubber grommet recessed in the wing for the brake light wires.
#53
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
And another rubber grommet on the deck lid which protrudes into the recessed one in the wing.
FYI: That's a '55 Chev convertible in the background. My body guy's next personal project. He is impressed with my LSX swap, so he is going to take out the frame (vert frames are valuable & sell it), swap in a corvette frame & suspension with an LSX.
FYI: That's a '55 Chev convertible in the background. My body guy's next personal project. He is impressed with my LSX swap, so he is going to take out the frame (vert frames are valuable & sell it), swap in a corvette frame & suspension with an LSX.
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Final Sand Pics
Driver's door is empty of internals, so it doesn't shut tight. I snugged but did not tighten the rear wing (just for transport). Hood I never push down. Just so you don't get fooled by gaps.
Car will be transported on Mon. Woohoo!
Car will be transported on Mon. Woohoo!
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Sprayed!!
Sealant
Base - Factory Red
3 Coats of Clear
Baked
Hood & bumpers will be painted, tomorrow.
Base - Factory Red
3 Coats of Clear
Baked
Hood & bumpers will be painted, tomorrow.
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
Painter is spraying bumpers, hood, and wing while I was there.
Should be able to bring it back on Mon - weather permitting.
I really like the Spies Hecher paint! Painter said usually he applies only two coats of clear as more loses sharpness and clarity. My car does not have sharp lines - more curvy, and I like the 3 coats.
Should be able to bring it back on Mon - weather permitting.
I really like the Spies Hecher paint! Painter said usually he applies only two coats of clear as more loses sharpness and clarity. My car does not have sharp lines - more curvy, and I like the 3 coats.
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Back at the Ranch!
Brought it home from the shop, today. What a good feeling.
I wanted to buff it, but my body guy said it doesn't need it. The paint is flat! Car will be driven so...
I'll wait, and get on with assembly. Wing is not full tightened down in these pics, just put on for transport. I need to trim the gaskets, now.
I wanted to buff it, but my body guy said it doesn't need it. The paint is flat! Car will be driven so...
I'll wait, and get on with assembly. Wing is not full tightened down in these pics, just put on for transport. I need to trim the gaskets, now.
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Car: 1989 Pontiac Trans Am GTA
Engine: cammed LS1
Transmission: Monster SS 4L65E
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt posi w/ 3.70 gears
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
Looks great! I need to find a good paint & body shop like that in my area.
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Car: 88IROCZ
Engine: 5.7 ZZ4
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" w/4:11 Posi
Re: Back at the Ranch!
Brought it home from the shop, today. What a good feeling.
I wanted to buff it, but my body guy said it doesn't need it. The paint is flat! Car will be driven so...
I'll wait, and get on with assembly. Wing is not full tightened down in these pics, just put on for transport. I need to trim the gaskets, now.
I wanted to buff it, but my body guy said it doesn't need it. The paint is flat! Car will be driven so...
I'll wait, and get on with assembly. Wing is not full tightened down in these pics, just put on for transport. I need to trim the gaskets, now.
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Car: 84 camaro, 88 trans am, 98 camaro
Engine: Modded , stock, LSX modded
Transmission: 700r4, 700r4, t-56
Axle/Gears: 327, 308, 373
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
That turned out great!
#69
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
Yes, very happy. Key was body guy giving the painter a good canvas - no mechanical sanding! Made a huge difference.
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
Rear bumper & lights back on - this is like Christmas putting it all back together!
I'll need a lens cleaning kit, too.
I'll need a lens cleaning kit, too.
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
Some pics of the wing in final position. Wing tips are stiff and will not vibrate against anything. Really happy the way the extensions worked out. All four feet look equally matched, and four bolts attaching the wing.
#73
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
Mirrors, door handles, locks, side markers all on.
Front bumper cover is on with top two attachment points from the stamped steel piece across the nose. How did the bottom two attachment points (cover to fender) go on? Don't have any brackets laying around anywhere.
Front bumper cover is on with top two attachment points from the stamped steel piece across the nose. How did the bottom two attachment points (cover to fender) go on? Don't have any brackets laying around anywhere.
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
The front bumper cover should have a stamped part on each side with 2? metal studs in it and uses a 10-11mm nut on fender side with a captured washer.
<<<<-------look.. for tail light polishing i use 3M perfect-it for dark colors and a foam waffle pad. It works great.
Spies Hecher paint is good stuff.
<<<<-------look.. for tail light polishing i use 3M perfect-it for dark colors and a foam waffle pad. It works great.
Spies Hecher paint is good stuff.
Last edited by TTOP350; 03-07-2013 at 05:57 PM.
#76
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
Still can't find that bracket with the studs - JY tomorrow.
I could not find the sealing pads that go under the t-top bar. Found some Norex butyl coated foam rope. It should compress down further than my straight butyl rope. Looks like this: http://www.alestech.com/k3a203-3-16-...tem_13262.html
I could not find the sealing pads that go under the t-top bar. Found some Norex butyl coated foam rope. It should compress down further than my straight butyl rope. Looks like this: http://www.alestech.com/k3a203-3-16-...tem_13262.html
#77
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
Made it to the JY. There is no bracket! The stamped piece that goes all the way across has two studs on it. Here is a pic from a car in the JY. You can't see the top stud, but you can see the second. The bottom two are bolts that screw into a clip. Now I found out where those extra bolts & clips go
Some cars at the yard had the brackets with all four studs and the stamped piece had hole tabs to fit in between. No idea why there are two kinds, but you never know till you know.
Some cars at the yard had the brackets with all four studs and the stamped piece had hole tabs to fit in between. No idea why there are two kinds, but you never know till you know.
#78
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
Finally scraped together the dough for the GM OEM weatherstripping. Got one side done and ran out of adhesive - tomorrow. I'm getting close to the finish line!
Car's is getting a little dusty in the shop. Been 60 days since paint so I'm ready.
Car's is getting a little dusty in the shop. Been 60 days since paint so I'm ready.
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
LOL on the bracket. Its been over 15yrs since I painted my 89 sooo I guess I'm wrong!
Good choice on the GM rubber parts, its the only way to go plus you now have the updated 2nd design stuff.
Good choice on the GM rubber parts, its the only way to go plus you now have the updated 2nd design stuff.
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
You never know till you have to know! I even tried to take off a couple of those brackets at the JY, snapped all the rusty studs, so I gave up and stayed with the stock clips (never wrong).
Finished, today! Car's dusty, but I'll wait till the trees leaf out for some outdoor pics to finish this thread.
I know everyone has their own opinions on using a 4th Gen wing, but I really like the way it turned out. Now to build a track wing next winter.
Finished, today! Car's dusty, but I'll wait till the trees leaf out for some outdoor pics to finish this thread.
I know everyone has their own opinions on using a 4th Gen wing, but I really like the way it turned out. Now to build a track wing next winter.
#81
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Car: '89 Formula
Engine: LS2
Transmission: 4L65E
Axle/Gears: MW 3.42 12 Bolt
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
Put on the body side molding, today. First, I put the pointed ends on and made sure they were aligned right over the body line so the points end right on the line. Second, I stretched masking tape from one end to the other in order to have a straight line for reference. Third, I put the door moldings on in line with the tape. Fourth, hit it with a heat gun.
For me, it's not just functional, I like the aesthetic look.
For me, it's not just functional, I like the aesthetic look.
#82
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Car: 1989 Pontiac Trans Am GTA
Engine: cammed LS1
Transmission: Monster SS 4L65E
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt posi w/ 3.70 gears
Re: 89 Formula Body & Paint
Looks great! I have the side moldings & 4th gen wing on mine too. Great minds...
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