Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
#1
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
My dream of one day getting my car back on the road is finally coming true. I put her in storage in Houston starting in 1993, and then on and off for a few years, and then forever until 2015 thinking I was ready. She then sat my Austin garage for another 3.5 years. Then more life obstacles got in the way, and it wasn't until this spring of 2019 when I really started getting her back to life. Fired her up this spring, and the injectors went out. So essentially took top half of engine out, and put new valve seals while in there. Most everything else has been lots and lots of cleaning.
Haven't really started on the restoration part yet, except for the usual items that break, headliner, headlights, hatch motor, antenna and now radio. Which by the way, wasn't needed when I put her into storage. Time just takes its toll on things.
Also converted a/c to r134 which is working way better than I expected. The next plan is to go full SLP shorties/TOTL exhaust, 3.43 J65 rear end, 1LE factory spindles, disks up front, aluminum drive shaft. Everything will be factory/period correct. But that is a way off yet. I'm pretty tired from all this cleaning!
Here come a few photos.
Haven't really started on the restoration part yet, except for the usual items that break, headliner, headlights, hatch motor, antenna and now radio. Which by the way, wasn't needed when I put her into storage. Time just takes its toll on things.
Also converted a/c to r134 which is working way better than I expected. The next plan is to go full SLP shorties/TOTL exhaust, 3.43 J65 rear end, 1LE factory spindles, disks up front, aluminum drive shaft. Everything will be factory/period correct. But that is a way off yet. I'm pretty tired from all this cleaning!
Here come a few photos.
The following users liked this post:
82talightblue (09-15-2020)
#4
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
My old headliner was actually in pretty good shape, just starting to sag, but it was time. I asked my headliner pro to reuse the old factory tape.
#5
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Got some new floor mats from ACC, still have the factory originals, but don't want to sully them.
#6
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Been cleaning the seats with a Bissen, amazing how much dirt is in there after 30 years! They are springing back to life very nicely. You can compare with the parts that never say the light of day.
#7
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
The factory spoiler still on. Don't know what I'm gonna do with it. Sure would like to find someone who can rebuild/repair it. I think it is saveable.
Trending Topics
#9
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Radio out for repair - had the caps replaced, turned it on and then the power button went out!
#10
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Some motor shots, will be tucking an Edlebrock intake under this at some point, along with SLP shortie exhaust and heads unknown. Anyone have a spare set of SLP heads they are not using?
The following users liked this post:
TTOP350 (09-01-2019)
#12
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
New Budge indoor cover. Very soft and luxurious. Outside is like an athletic shirt, inside is cotton. Even comes with a pink bow!
The following users liked this post:
punzak9 (08-31-2019)
#14
Member
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Your car looks amazing! Great work restoring the paint. Looks like new inside and out!
#15
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: East Moline, IL
Posts: 461
Received 169 Likes
on
134 Posts
Car: 88 T/A, 91 Formula, 94 Firehawk
Engine: 400 Pontiac, 5.0 TPI, 5.7 LT1
Transmission: 700R4, T5, T56
Axle/Gears: 4.10, 3.42, 3.42
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Beautiful car man!! Looks like it was put away straight off a dealer lot! Love that blue!
#16
Member
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Just absolutely stunning. Love that shade of blue.
Louis
Louis
#17
Supreme Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Northern NY
Posts: 1,116
Received 401 Likes
on
314 Posts
Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7 L98
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Borg Warner 9 bolt 3.27
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Beautiful car, where did you find that budge cover? It looks like it fits good. I’m looking for a nice garage cover for my GTA
#18
Supreme Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Il
Posts: 11,733
Received 795 Likes
on
528 Posts
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: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
That is super clean, outstanding job!!!
#19
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
#24
Supreme Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Northern NY
Posts: 1,116
Received 401 Likes
on
314 Posts
Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7 L98
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Borg Warner 9 bolt 3.27
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Thanks for the info, today I ordered the budge cover as well. Went with the 5 layer even though it will be garaged in the winter. Has that nice fleece looking material inside. Looks like it will be a quality item.
The following users liked this post:
Bow_Tied (10-04-2021)
#27
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Still probably not as bad as mentioning the Motive Power Bleeder...
With that said, the more I look at my old spoiler and the more research I do on repairing it...
#28
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
I'm sure it can be done if it is not too far gone, the biggest obstacle would be retaining the exact original form - otherwise what is the point. bumpers get repaired all day long, creating that type of material should not be an issue. just doing it so the original form is retained could be hard to do. For the price of a fiberglass spoiler and shipping costs, there is a pretty large budget to work with.
#29
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
My original thought was to remove as much of the loose degraded material as I could from the splines ( The wing itself is in pretty good shape ) and use a two part foam (if it’s a lot of material) or light weight epoxy filler if it’s less.
My main concern is how it will expand/contract with the original material.
My main concern is how it will expand/contract with the original material.
#30
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
My original thought was to remove as much of the loose degraded material as I could from the splines ( The wing itself is in pretty good shape ) and use a two part foam (if it’s a lot of material) or light weight epoxy filler if it’s less.
My main concern is how it will expand/contract with the original material.
My main concern is how it will expand/contract with the original material.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Polyurethan...AAAOSw1cJdE9Im
#31
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: New England
Posts: 2,406
Received 191 Likes
on
129 Posts
Car: 1988 IROC Z Convertible
Engine: 305 TPI (LB9)
Transmission: 700 R4
Axle/Gears: G80 GU2
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Car looks beautiful! That’s my favorite color on a Formula and I always liked those wheels too. Such a good look..
Engine bay looks super clean as well... Nice detailing!
Engine bay looks super clean as well... Nice detailing!
#32
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Thanks! Was only able to do accessories and intake up. Would love to pull the motor and do the heads down. I'm currently working on cleaning factory under-coating. I tried to take a photo, but it was dusk when I took these photos so it didn't turn out very well, too dark. i'll tell ya, to clean that up is a job. need a soft brush(s) of different lengths, sizes and lots of all purpose cleaner and a hose. having a lift helps a lot too. I'm spending about 4 hours per wheel well, if not more. You can't go fast, or risk tearing it up and you get soaking wet in the process. Afterwards I've been applying some Meguires Hyper-dressing to protect it and waxing the exposed underbody. Funny, that stuff smells like a porto-potty, they really need to change the aroma.
#33
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: New England
Posts: 2,406
Received 191 Likes
on
129 Posts
Car: 1988 IROC Z Convertible
Engine: 305 TPI (LB9)
Transmission: 700 R4
Axle/Gears: G80 GU2
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
My car was dealer undercoated as well when new.. Probably because it was an Illinois car.. Never ended up getting driven in winter and the second owner said he never got it wet.. Not sure what the point of getting the undercoating was.. I can see the paint color through the undercoating in certain areas..
If you can get rid of yours successfully, definitely put up pics and let me know how you did it!
If you can get rid of yours successfully, definitely put up pics and let me know how you did it!
#34
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
I'm pretty certain this is factory undercoating. its only located in wheel wells and spare tire. the rest of the underbody is just gray primer/paint over-spray.
#35
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: New England
Posts: 2,406
Received 191 Likes
on
129 Posts
Car: 1988 IROC Z Convertible
Engine: 305 TPI (LB9)
Transmission: 700 R4
Axle/Gears: G80 GU2
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Oh, that’s better than what I have... The original owner of my IROC got the dealer undercoating so I can see the flame red overspray on the primer, but then there’s a spray of undercoating from 1988 on top of that..
There’s absolutely no rust under there and it’s pretty clean.. Even the front end parts, control arms, rear end, etc.. no rust even on the bolts under there.. Just have that pesky undercoating..
There’s absolutely no rust under there and it’s pretty clean.. Even the front end parts, control arms, rear end, etc.. no rust even on the bolts under there.. Just have that pesky undercoating..
#36
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
I don't understand exactly where the metal is located in the spoiler and what part rusts. Seems like you could weld in new metal, then recover with a polyurethane sheet and then perform traditional urethane bumper repair. You could re-cover the new metal with something like this: (maybe we should start a separate thread on this and get some more input from others)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Polyurethan...AAAOSw1cJdE9Im
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Polyurethan...AAAOSw1cJdE9Im
I do have my old spoiler on a big table in my basement. It’s a perfect place to do a little surgery and see if we can nail down the construction method.
#37
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Just started it, over here: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...ap-around.html
#38
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
deleted
Last edited by LiquidBlue; 09-18-2019 at 09:42 AM. Reason: didn't mean to post this hear
#39
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,923
Received 178 Likes
on
136 Posts
Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: MD8
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
deleted
Last edited by LiquidBlue; 09-18-2019 at 09:43 AM. Reason: didn't mean to post here
The following users liked this post:
TTOP350 (09-18-2019)
The following users liked this post:
modracer (06-17-2023)
#42
Supreme Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Il
Posts: 11,733
Received 795 Likes
on
528 Posts
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: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
mmmmmmm vintage speed parts and holy schnikies that's clean all over!!
#44
Supreme Member
iTrader: (11)
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: MICHIGAN
Posts: 4,645
Received 756 Likes
on
581 Posts
Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: L03
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 2.73 Open
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Yeah, what is this "work" that you speak of? Looks pretty damn nice under there.
The following users liked this post:
TTOP350 (10-27-2019)
The following 3 users liked this post by LiquidBlue:
The following users liked this post:
LiquidBlue (10-31-2019)
The following 2 users liked this post by LiquidBlue:
George Klass (09-01-2020), RKeats (06-16-2020)
#50
Senior Member
Re: Liquid Blue - Ready for flight after 25 years
Both look like they haven't aged a day since 1993!
The following users liked this post:
NoEmissions84TA (10-15-2021)