Just picked this up today, 87K on the clock and the deal of the century. You'll never believe what I payed for it.

1989 Firebird Formula

It's not that special just a 305tpi/auto/2.73 but I'm in love with it allready. As soon as my Monte sells it's getting painted. I just couldn't pass up on the deal and the mileage. It's totally bone stock and it's going to stay that way, I have enough modified thirdgens

-Jim

looks like a nice project...so how much did you get it for

sweet man!

I see potential dripping all over that car. I can't wait to see it evolve from here.

Whats on your immediate to-do list?

Well first thing to do is fix the steering box, The frame cracked under neath it and the bolts all snapped. Bolt sare out, just have to get replacements and weld it back together. Then a GOOD CLEANING lol, guy was chain smoker. Next is paint. After I finish the s/c I'll probably do the full exhaust (headers/cat/cat back) I really want to leave this car stock. Also I think my ronals may make their way from the s/c to this after the paint





And the price was $650

WOW!!! and i thought that our cars were good deals (mine in **** poor shape for $200 and Kodys in just a little bit better shape for $400). that thing looks amazing for the small amount of cash! jee-wiz! only thing i would have wanted different was a 5spd. i'm slowly falling in love with the forumlas and i'm thinking a bird may need to be my next thirdgen (keeping my white car of course)

I would have loved a 5spd car too, I'm so tired of auto's but still such a great deal I could not pass it up

Steering box is getting braced pretty good, I have pictures of every step, I'll put them up later tonight. Anyone think it would be a good idea to have a project section. I think it would be neat to start a thread and have your car start to finish. Some cars (like my z) are a never ending project but for people that are doing alot within a year could post in and we could see the changes and before and afters. Since my formula should be done in the next month or 2 I'll keep posting it's progress in here.

-Jim

keep us updated bro, i'd like to see it! you gonna get 'er painted and whatnot as well?

Yeah, the day the monte sells it's going for an estimate and then it as fast as it can go in the shop. I want a clean cruiser GFX HATERS UNITE! (btw)

Well here are some pics of the damage and the repair, only thing I'm missing is the after pics. The car is welded up better then stock and everything is over supported now with the brackets. Also I added a TDS wonderbar, great piece and had enough adjustment in it with the slotted holes that I had no problem with the driverside sway bar brackets being spaced out 1/8th.

Damage...



Brackets...


sorry I forgot to grab a pic of the bottom bracket but it was big enough to be bolted through the factory k member to chassis brace and the bottom sway bar bracket brace, besides the steering box bolts running through it.

The car drives and steers fine now. After doing a tuneup and getting the car running well I noticed an odd sound and a nasty vibration, guess who didn't tell me about the bent flexplate! I'm fixing that sunday and hopefully they didn't drive it long enough to hurt the main bearings or the trans

The car looks a little better washed, got all of the potting soil out of the rear spoiler (car sat under a window box) and I degreased the motor a little





still not bad for $650 just slowly turning into less of a deal. Hopefully this is it for now and then it can goto the paint booth for some nice Victory Red paint. Trying to get the car ready for Carlisle since the blue s/c won't make it.


-Jim

Sweet 15" rims Jim

those are 16" wheels

yup teh 16x8 wheels and it actually had 3 out of the 4 WS6 caps and only missing 2 of those plastic lug covers. Surprising around here, usually there stolen fall off on the potholes or never put back on by the shops.

haha, darn. I thought they were 16 in the first picture he showed me, but that last picture posted of the car make the wheels look real small.


and Jim, I've got 3 camaro centercaps spare if you need one lol

looks great, a formula is definently my choice if i got a bird. Steering box swaps are fun btw! world of difference going from a RS box to an Iroc box(gf's car). Though i guess you had a little bit more project with that. Gotta have that wonderbar in there also.

Nice car

You have my favorite heritage edition color combo, I was going todo my 86 z like that but since I got the formula I have to let it go. all the parts from that are making there way onto the formula slowly.

-Jim

nice car, better (steal) deal.

Well the bent flexplate turned into a trashed front pump on the 700r4, made a few phone calls, got a good 700r4 within 2 minutes on a sunday, talk about luck. Car is now running and driving fine, going to test the car out this week and then off to the paint shop.

-Jim

That's my favorite year and style for the Firebirds. Nice to see it get an owner who will fix it right and not just trash it. Keep us posted on your progress - although it looks darn good in pictures as is.

Thanks alot! Going to setup the appointment for the body shop thursday or friday! Also if anyone is making the trip to the GM nats at Carlisle the car will be there, only about a month left.

-Jim

Sweet deal! After some new shiney paint that's going to be a sharp car!

Well here it is, stripped and ready to go into the shop. The spoiler is just laying on there, and I had to leave the t-tops and seals in becuase alot of rain was predicted for Monday, the end of the power buldge is out, sidemirrors were removed. I really wanted to pull the bumpers off but hadn't talked to them about it, so I left them on. It's now had all the top surfaces stripped, body work has been started, then it's going in for primer. Should have it by friday. I decided to leave the door strips off but am having them painted incase I choose to put them back on.

Also picked up a set of T/A taillights

staying red?

yeah stock red, was going to change it, but didn't want the jambs to be off See my S/C peaking out...

Well stopped by to get a look at it today and looks like i'll have it back tomorrow minus the spoiler. Their having problems getting the cracks out of the rubber , should have it by Friday though. When it's all together I'll post pics up, probably in a new post though.

-Jim

Cool. It looks like you washed up where the tranny fluid got on the ground when WE put the new tranny in. Cars looking good .... I need to get mine in for a sprayin soon to keep ahead of you.

Looks awesome!I say that was a screaming deal.

See the finished project here