[GA] 1987 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350

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01-15-2010, 02:39 PM

SpeedyGeek

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Location: Chattanooga, Tn

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Car: 87 Formula

Engine: BluePrint 355 w/ 600cfm Carb

Transmission: 700R4

Axle/Gears: New axles, Yukon 3.73 & Eaton Posi

1987 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350

This is a 1987 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350. It is 95% rebuilt, meaning the following has not been done, otherwise it is finished...

The engine compartment was not painted.
It needs a headliner kit.
The A/C needs to be converted to R134a and charged, otherwise it was working 100% when pulled from the 90 I swapped it from.

I spent 2 years on this project and have personally gone over every part on this car to make sure that every single thing that needed to be replaced was replaced. Some parts that didn’t need replacing got replaced anyway just because I wanted almost everything to be new. It started out as a swap. I already had a 1990 Formula with a 305 TBI and I wanted to rebuild a firebird but I wanted it to have t-tops and be carbureted. So I bought this 1987 Formula to rebuild using all of the good parts from the 1990 Formula. I gutted both cars, just about everything on the 87 was tossed out. The only things original to this 87 Formula are the shell, tops, transmission and rear end. The previous owner had just rebuilt the transmission just before I bought it and I had the axles replaced in the rear end. Other than that everything else on the car got replaced either by good parts from the 90 or by new parts. After putting the 90 engine into the 87 I realized the 305 wasn’t what I wanted after all as far as performance goes, so I replaced that engine with a new Blueprint 355, which meant replacing just about everything else in the drive train.

This car had 258,205 miles on it when I bought it and started the rebuild. The speedometer only went up to 80mph. This car gets up to 80mph in no time so that gauge had to go. I put in the speedometer from my 1990 Formula because it goes up to 140mph. The odometer that was on that gauge had 176,168 miles on it. The new engine was put in at 180,650 miles. The speedometer currently has 183,047 miles on it. So, the actual shell of the car has a total of 265,084 miles on it and the new engine has 2,397 miles on it.

All the parts listed below that were purchased by me and installed have less than 7,000 miles use out of them. There are only 2,397 miles on this new engine and it is still in the break-in stage. Break-in stage calls for an oil change at 500 miles, this has been done already. Blueprint Engines break-in also requires no long hard accelerations and alternating the speed every few minutes (don't cruise at 70mph for an hour). I have followed these requirements and they need to be followed until the engine has 3,000 miles on it. Until then you can punch it, just not through all gears all at once, no racing yet. Break-in will be over in 603 miles. At that point it will need an oil change.

Current Specs

Engine: Blueprint 355ci/ 385HP/ 405TQ (dyno sheet provided)
4-bolt main block
Square and parallel decked
Align honed main bearing bore
Cylinders sonic tested for thickness
Cylinders honed on a computer controlled machine to within .0002'' straightness and roundness
New 5-quart oil pan
Brass freeze plugs
Pistons: Keith Black hypereutectic
Compression: 9.5:1
SCAT 3.48'' stroke cast iron crankshaft
Chevy 5.7'' heavy beam rods with 150,000psi bolts
Hastings Moly rings
Clevite bearings
Internally balanced rotating assembly
Melling high volume oil pump
Heavy duty double roller timing set
GM Vortec cast iron heads
Hardened retainers and 1.25'' diameter valve springs
2.02'' swirl polished intake valves
1.60'' swirl polished exhaust valves
Hardened pushrods
Hydraulic Flat Tappet Cam
Duration @ .050'' Lift: 224 Intake / 230 Exhaust
Lift: .480'' Intake / .486'' Exhaust
Lobe Separation: 110°
Carb: Edelbrock Performer 600cfm
Intake: Edelbrock Performer EPS
B&M Flexplate
Exhaust: Flowtech Shorties, Flowmaster 80 series muffler
Transmission: 700R4
Torque Converter: 2600RPM
Wheels: 16x8 Centerline Galaxy
Tires: BF Goodrich G-Force Sport 245/50HR-16

Below is a list of all parts purchased and installed in this car. Some of the labor was not done by me but by a shop. I have all receipts.

Rear Hatch Latch
Edelbrock Carburator (1406) 600cfm w/ electric choke
ACC Carpet Set w/ sound deadeners
Lokar ED-5001 Dipstick
T-Top Weatherstrip
Power Window Switches
Tranny Mount
Torque Converter (2600 RPM)
Edelbrock Cruise Control Bracket Kit (1484)
Vapor Canister (VC106)
Stabilizer Bar Link Kit
Door Lock Actuators & Plastic Clips
Spare Tire Cover
Center Dash Switch Panel
Map Pouch
Radio Pod
Door Lock Buttons
Brake Shoes
Wheel Cylinders
Brake Drum Hardware Kit
Fuses
Cig Lighter
Remove Cat Converter & weld in pipe
Flowmaster 80 Series Crossflow muffler
Aluminum Radiator
Brake Job
Black Plastic Clips for wheel wells
Plastic Clips for bumper cover
Blower Motor Relay
Headlight Control Module
Windshield Swap
Tires (BFGoodrich g-Force Sport - 245/50ZR-16)
KYB Shocks & Struts (KYB GR-2 struts and KYB Gas-A-Just shocks)
Hose Connectors
Hose Clamps
Heater Hose
Fuel Pump
Steel braided fuel line
Carb Fuel Line Fitting
Fuel Pump Plate Gasket
Fuel Feed & Return Hoses
Sway Bar Link Kit - Front
Install Struts (Sentry Station - Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.)
Alignment (Sentry Station - Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.)
Replace Passenger Side Lower Ball Joint (Sentry Station - Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.)
MSD StreetFire Distributor
New Axles (Hudlow - Rossville, Ga)
Balance Drive Shaft (Hudlow - Rossville, Ga)
New U-Joint (Hudlow - Rossville, Ga)
Turn Signal Flasher
Washer Pump
Centerline Galaxy Wheels
Locking Header Bolts (Percy’s 760-21001)
Motor Mounts (311-7-506)
BluePrint 355 Engine (BP3550CT1)
Vortec Intake gasket (375-1255)
FlexPlate (B&M 130-20238)
Water Neck (969-9468) & Header Gaskets (760-66011)
Oil Cap (350-4415)
Edelbrock Intake Manifold Vortec/EPS (EDL-2716)
Throttle Cable Bracket (EDL-8032)
Water Pump (Flow Kooler BRA-1773)
Wire Looms (SUM-890214)
Engine Installation (Pull 305 to install 355)
Harmonic Balancer (Dorman 594-121)
Spoiler
Air Dam & Fluid Bottles
Decals
MSD Coil (8225)
MSD HEI Module (83645)
Body Work
Headlight Control Module (spare)
Spectre Air Cleaner
Spark Plug Wire Looms (Moroso MOR-72195)
Window Regulators
Window regulator installation and window adjustment (Glass Masters - Chattanooga, Tn)
Thermostat (180 degree) and gasket
190 Degree Fan Switch
Lower Radiator Hose and coolant
Window Tint
Tweeters
T-Top bag
Rear Trunk Panel
Cruise Control Servo & Cable
Accelerator Cable
Console Top

Originally these cars had a boring paint job, boring wheels and only 170hp. This car has a fresh new paint job, custom wheels you’re not likely to see again on other cars and has 385hp and cost me a lot less than buying a new one when they were available. The engine still has a 30 month/ 50,000 mile warranty that will transfer over to new owner. The engine was purchased in March 2009 and only has 2,397 miles on it. During the engine break-in period I followed all of the guidelines set by Blueprint Engines. I used the oil they said to use, got it changed when they said to and avoided long hard accelerations. This car is extremely fast and powerful, it's like riding a rocket. Every time I take it out I get looks and compliments. The engine runs strong and quick. The shop that put in the new axles looked over the entire rear end and said everything else was in perfect shape. That and so I'd get better gas mileage is why I didn't bother changing the gears. The car was painted just after the engine was put in. It is a 2003 Ford Metallic Dark Blue with 8 coats of paint and 5 clear coats. I have a can of paint to go with the car and the color code is on the can. The car got all new weatherstripping of the highest quality available after the car was painted. New strong window motors were installed and the door windows were aligned by the area's best glass shop. The stereo is a Sony Xplod CD player with a detachable face plate and aux jack. An iPod power cord is wired under the center console, it comes out a small hole inside the console under the lid so you can plug it in and rest the ipod between the power window switches. By doing this the cigarette lighter is not in use and the iPod stays still on the console (the power cord and window switches hold it still). The iPod or any other device can be plugged into the front aux jack on the stereo. All speakers are new and of higher quality than the originals and tweeters were installed in the doors.

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The camera is only shaking because it was taken from my iphone

I paid over $14,000 for everything from start to finish. All receipts will be given with the car as well as all of the photos of the project. I would love to keep this car, it is exactly the way I wanted it but I am moving to California soon and for obvious reasons, it is not a California friendly car. So I must sell it, otherwise I'd keep it.

This car has a clear title, no salvages, no leins.

I am asking $12,000 obo

423-313-1503

Last edited by SpeedyGeek; 02-01-2010 at 12:16 PM.