jimmy2s83

OK so I just bought this car. It will be the 5th Third gen I have owned.

Found it on CL and thought it was going to be a bit of a basket case by the short abrupt description and not the best photos.

He said it was a stock 350 TPI with rear disc brake so I look at the car and sure enough L98 RPO code. Not only that but WS6 suspension and a G80 Posi!

I will be in full possesion of this beauty Tuesday and begin to get her road worthy. Exhaust has been redone as it was more throaty than a stock would be. It has sat for a about a year not being started regular. Charged the battery and it fired right up.

I did some research and supposably according to one magazine it claimed only 2300 Forumlas had the 350 option. Any way to confirm the production numbers on a car like this?

okfoz

That would be 1987 only... The actual number I got from GM was 2,384...

BTW, all Formulas have WS6

All Formula 350's should have G80, and the 3.27 or 3.23 (depending on year).

Still a great find, especially if it is a Yellow one

I owned a a Bright Blue (it was more dark blue) one back a few years ago... sold it to fund my 89 Vert.

Jason E

Now that wifey agreed it was ok to keep my 86, I'm still eyeing a Formula 350 or LB9 5 speed and considering selling my 88 TA. The older I get, the more I appreciate the simpler lines of the Formula.

jimmy2s83

2300 for 1987 only would make more sense. The article didn't seem to specify that.
If I saw the RPO correctly the rear ratio was 3.42.
I can confirm the RPO this afternoon when I have the car.
Will post pics as well.
Thanks for the help.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I just looked at a red/silver bottom 87 formula 350 hardtop yesterday. A friend of mine has a blue/silver bottom 87 formula 350..
74k ish miles
the paint is shot.
Doors shut veeery nice.
86 hatch on it,not sure on the story y.
The shortblock was replaced with 1 from GM 4ish years ago.
Rear disc car (junk iron calipers)
It has fairly nice interior other than a cracked dashpad
Car is solid other than the vin tag has rusted off !!!!
The car hasn't run in 2years because of a possible fuel pump..
It has the hood prop rod mod installed on the core support..
Its a decent price..
I'm just not big on red, hardtops or the pre serp belt setups..

Linson

a comment and a few word of advise:

comment: it seems like only yesterday that you had decided on selling the '86 (which, in stock form has less to offer than the '88) and keeping the '88 while wrestling with whether to lightly modify it.

words of advise: i think that your new preference for the simpler, cleaner lines of the Formula is correct - but you dont need a TA and a Formula. you could sell both cars, buy a Formula, and mod it. i mean, who really needs FIVE late model F-bodies? diversify your fleet, dude.

in a Formula, i would go for '88 or newer for two reasons: 1) the 87's convex wheels are kind of ugly compared to the concave wheels of the '88+ models. 2) in an '87 you are far more likely to end up with some sort of two-tone paint job (typically grey on the bottom) which will make a car who's styling still holds up today, seem dated.

selling off some of the redundancy can open up space for new projects or just make your life easier, less cluttered.

okfoz

Honestly the reason I like my Formulas is they are more simple. The Trans Am never really did it for me, it was just overdone on the outside... Unlike some, I really like the looks of the black bumper-etts, it breaks up the lines a little but honestly it would probably look good without them too...

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

It would be nice if Bruce could get all these bumpers made with the newer plastic so they wouldn't deform like our stockers...
Could also do them with and without bumperets.

Jason E

Yeah, I tend to be wishy-washy...its the story of my life when it comes to cars. I mean, I have a demo through work...I don't even need ONE car. What can I say...I like cars, I love 3rd/4th gen cars, and no matter how many new and different cars I drive through work, I still prefer them best.

I have considered pretty much every sporty GM/Ford/Chrysler product produced in the past 20 years, thinking maybe I'd want to try something different. I keep coming back to the same old thing, and love them. I'm like a cat on a hot tin roof because inherently, I'm always looking for "the deal" as much as I'm looking for "the car." I absolutely robbed both my TAs when I bought them, and the money invested in them has been more than offset by the "smiles per mile." I gravitate towards keeping my 86 because of what it is...a smooth, quiet, comfortable car with a solid structure with a buttery-smooth powertrain. Its the most comfortable F car I've ever owned, with the base suspension/hardtop/automatic combo.

Conversely, my 88 is an entirely different animal. Its probably the most fun third gen I've ever owned. The t-tops rattle, but I consider them essential for all-out fun. I love rowing the gears, and I love the extra power with the 5 speed 305. The WS6 package on that car is crisp, and grips beautifully...at the same time, the ride is significantly harsher than the 86.

Each has a purpose, and each makes me happy in different ways. I won't lie...part of my attraction to the 86 is the $5k+ restoration I just did to it. Its gorgeous. I like taking something less than savory, and making it pop...and that's what this car is. The only reason selling it came up is because I felt I would need to make room for my 2000 SS that's coming home next month. The reality is, wifey said I should buy a lift and keep it.

Who am I to argue?

I may sell it eventually...I don't know. This Summer, I simply want to cruise in it and enjoy the fruits of my labor. I can't wait to hop in and go for a ride...its just such an unexpectedly smooth and enjoyable ride. Its hard to pick one to sell...the 86 and 88 TAs I've already explained. My IROC is my dream car, and I will die with it. My Z28 has been around for 11 years, and is like a part of me. The SS? I will die with that one too.

2 are sacred, 3 are just damn fun...and like others here that have multiple F bodies, I seem to have no issue with making a business case for any of them

okfoz

I really think it takes away to eliminate the bumperets

flippermtc

iTrader: (1)

I like it without myself.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I kinda like it both ways!!! Its a lil diff but kind of kewel...

you forgot to do the hood insert in yellow instead of black.. ;-)

okfoz

It is kind of like a mustache, some people like them some people don't...

Linson

i wouldnt say that TAs are over-done. TAs are cool too, but yeah, there is a certain sleekness to a Formula that TA's and IROCs dont quite have. i think that it is partly due to the way the "power buldge" blends in to the rest of the hood. then, the lack of ground effects give the car a leaner, more stripped down appearance, creating the car that all the meat-no fat essence, although weight and performance differences are probably pretty neglegible.

while TAs are slightly more "upscale" for whatever reason, i reject the idea that TA's are super heavy and just laden with unnecessary options. i mean, how much can some ground effects and an electric seat motor possibly weigh?

as for IROCs, i like those alot too. they have slightly more of a "bruiser" aura about them - sort of like they were carved from the same block of wood as a 5.0 Mustang, whereas a Formula was created via extensive wind tunnel testing.

so, yeah, three somewhat distinct flavors, but all still basically the same car.

okfoz

I think the Ground effects and the other "standard" Items on the TA adds about 100# or so... By the time you add screws, fasteners, brackets, and such it starts adding up...

BTW, the Formula was born from the GTO Idea, of a Base car with a Big engine option.

John

jimmy2s83

Drove my Formula home yesterday!

So I have only driven an 89 Camaro RS with a 305 TBI and more recently a 91 Firebird with a 5 speed and 305 TBI. The 5 speed had over 200K on it.

This Formula 350 with only 92K on it is just a beast. The differance in power shocked me. I seriously didn't think it would be that much of a differance.
I had an 86 TA with a 305 TPI but never had the chance to drive it on the road when someone offered to buy it as is for more than I had into it.

This car still has some things before being a daily driver. I could hear the exhaust leaking some where and the car has a surge when in park. Found the O2 senser broke off leaving a nice open hole in the manifold. Going to get that fixed and then see how the surge in park is.
Could use some paint as well but mechanics first.

Linson

hundred plus pounds - yeah, i guess that's somethin'.

and i like it. of the three widely available performance options (IROC/Z28, Trans Am, and Formula, the Formula (Formula 350 in particular) is hands down my favorite.

okfoz

My 87 also has a surge... Its odd, it will be fine and then when it gets hot. If I drive it from Home to work or work to home it usually is no problem... BUt take it on a long trip and it will appear, it will actually get so bad that it will stall... I might try o2 sensor... I kind of suspect an air leak of some sort some where, but not sure where it would be... I have also noticed that my steering pump pulley has a little rattle in it... I have considered that possibly that it might be the rattle as there is an RPM range of about 700 from when it will do it, the ECM thinks spark knock, retards timing and then it gets into an osculation...

John

JOhn

GTA50

Okay, so now we really know that you are not a GTA fan - can I tell Frankie LOL

okfoz

GTA's, Trans Am's, Z28's & IROC are all just OK, but you can keep them, I do not think I would trade my Yellow Formula for any of those...



JOhn

dharris89

I looked for over a year to find a low mile black on black formula 350. Wouldn't have it any other way.

jimmy2s83

Took mine out on the road today.
Still so impressed with the 350. Making me wonder if anything besides the exhaust has been done to it. Response to the throttle is just amazing.
The more I drive it the more I like it.