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I've been PM'd, about a Nomination for Car of the Month. Thank you Linson. This stuff is a bit new to me, I certainly appreciate it. I guess I need to say a bit about the car. This is a 1989 Pontiac Firebird GTA. I've owned various versions of these cars since they became available in 82, and I love them, both the Camaro and the Firebird. My brothers always had Camaros, and since I started it all in 77 with a Trans Am I continued that line. This could get long because it was loads of work so I think I'd best just list the features of the car.
-Motown Aluminum 427, AFR heads, with miniram modified for the heads, CC custom grind camshaft, 1.6 CC rockers, custom stainless headers with 2” primaries and a full 3” stainless exhaust through Super 40 3” mufflers.-Turbo 400 with Gear Vendors OD, modified stock aluminum DS-Aluminum Dana 44 Independent Rear, Richmond Gears 3.75:1, Aldan Eagle DA coilovers-Modified front suspension with Firestone airbags, Tokico SA struts, BellTech 2” drop spindles-Simmons Racing 3pce wheels, Titanium fasteners, 10.5X18 front, 12.5X18 rear, custom hubs, Wilwood Spec 37 GT-72 14” Rotors front and rear, Brembo monoblock GT6 front and GT4 rear calipers, Hoosier R3S03, 275 35 X 18 front, 335 30X18 rear.-Interior is stock with modified Corbeau seats, 5 point harnesses, Roll cage is integrated with the unit body front and rear. The car is featured in a thread I started a couple of weeks ago, much more comprehensive than what I have room for here, “A Firebird GTA the way they should have built it… if you want to see some more.I really hope you like it, trust me, it was a Labour of LOVE….
I apologize in advance for this possibly unnecessary trip down memory lane, but I'm addicted to context.
Thanks for the nomination. I am not one to pass up an opportunity to show off & talk about my Formula.
Here's how it all started: I didn't learn how to drive a car until I bought my first one - an '87 base Firebird when I was 20 years old (1995). When shopping for my first car, I was specifically looking at 3rd Gen Firebirds - something about the look of them.
As the years went by and my '87 became a failed hot rod & polished turd, I came to realize that what I really desired was an ['88-'92] Formula - something about the look of them.
And before long, I knew that the ideal car for me was a 1989 Formula 350 (best options, biggest available engine, preferred Mass Air metering).
The key to [me] being able to make this car what it is (a nice LS swapped Third Gen) is the solid condition of the car when I got it. When I got the car, it was not mechanically sound after having sat for nearly two decades, but, the interior was perfect; it didn't have rust; it didn't need paint; it didn't need body work, and it had ridiculously low miles. This freed me up to focus on the power train, not once, but twice. I always advise people wanting to embark on a similar project to start with a solid foundation even if it means paying more money up front. Sure, it doesn't have to apply to everybody, but if you're on TGO asking "should I?" then it applies to you.
Before I stop reminiscing and get on with the here and now, I specifically recall the excited "I have a Formula!" feeling the first time I saw her on the back of a flatbed transport (2010).
Then came disappointment: The gas in the tank was varnished. The oil in the pan was sludge. I went to the mat and then moved forward. I sued the seller and won, but never saw a dime. I had the defunct engine completely overhauled with quality performance parts, a mild, [full build] that should have yielded at least 350 horsepower. It ended up being probably more like 300 horsepower, and with all of TPI's drawbacks and limitations. With the rebuilt L98, it was now a nice car and a good running car...that could go fast, but the performance level was another disappointment, so I went to the mat again.
This is how she looked when she arrived. I dropped her off at what was my "go to" shop once it became clear she needed more than just a tune up. It would be about 18 months before she was finally on the road.
1989 Formula 350
Its pretty much past the point of trying to list every modification that's been made to the car, but here are most of the major ones and a bunch of minor ones:
Cammed LS3 engine built by Nutter Racing Engines, Vancouver, WA
Plug & Play wiring harness by Greg Jestico (88Greg) Vancouver, B.C. Canada
Hooker Blackheart longtube 1 7/8" headers
Hawks Black Midnight Series AFPR/fuel line kit, custom mounting bracket
IMO, this build is the perfect blend of old school and newer technology......I'm happy you did NOT go with an LS swap!
This car is incredible and it should be featured in Hot Rod or GM high Tech (if they are still around?) Well done !!
Absolutely some beautiful cars here built by talented guys.
I'm shocked and ashamed, this nomination caused me to realize I really don't have many good pictures of the car in it's current configuration. However it has been featured in GM High Tech Performance magazine (now owned by Super Chevy) two times. The second time it was an article that I wrote and photographed. So I'm going to post a few recent pix of the car in it's current configuration (this time of year is not conducive to be getting it out for a photo shoot LOL) and the rest of the info and pictures can be provided in the web links below. I've owned this car since I was 16, when my dad bought it as a totaled wreck. I'm not going to go all the way back and scan in old pix from the late 90s, so we'll just stick to the last 10 years or so. The articles tell the story on me and the car, so I won't repeat them here. Yes I've put over 100k miles on this car since 1998, and yes all those miles have been on this current paint job. The car survived my high school and college years amazingly well considering some of the poor choices I made a time or two. It sill makes me laugh like an idiot, and even still scares me every now and then. The car is likely to be the center of my focus again very soon as I've stopped taking customer cars on as side jobs and I'll be finished with my '88 IROC daily driver soon. Next on the list for this car is some interior updates, Wilwood front brake swap, freshen the trans and maybe get back to some autocross events.
Dang! We got some cool cars this month! Too bad they're all competing against each other because I think they'd sweep the titles if spread out during the year.
Re: Absolutely some beautiful cars here built by talented guys.
When I look at these cars, I see people who express themselves in their car. We all bought something that we found attractive, then whether we intended to or not we change them into that expression. Even though a purist might deny that they change anything, the car then becomes an expression of them, purist. I see fantastic expressions of people here, and for the most part this is work we have performed ourselves, because, after all, no one can do as well..... That's what makes it an expression, that what makes it art. These are beautiful cars, Congrats to the nominees.
My neighbor growing up bought a Maui blue Formula 350 brand new and I’ve always had a soft spot for those.. I wished my parents were cool enough to do something like that..
That LS looks great in there..
427seven’s GTA is also looks like one of the meanest cars on the site..
I’d need video to decide! Ha ha
1MeanZ, awesome looking car.. I’ll have to check those links out.. Would be cool to see inside and under the hood..
Re: Absolutely some beautiful cars here built by talented guys.
When I look at these cars, I see people who express themselves in their car. We all bought something that we found attractive, then whether we intended to or not we change them into that expression. Even though a purist might deny that they change anything, the car then becomes an expression of them, purist. I see fantastic expressions of people here, and for the most part this is work we have performed ourselves, because, after all, no one can do as well..... That's what makes it an expression, that what makes it art. These are beautiful cars, Congrats to the nominees.
Thank you. And I agree.
The process was very trying at times, but in retrospect, its some of the coolest **** I've done and I look forward to doing it again.
IMO, this build is the perfect blend of old school and newer technology......I'm happy you did NOT go with an LS swap!
This car is incredible and it should be featured in Hot Rod or GM high Tech (if they are still around?) Well done !!
The car and the engine don't know what they are, whether it's a 1st gen or an LS is just for the people. The combination of parts just does what it's designed by people to do. The original small block is what third gens came with and I share your opinion. That's an opinion I would use to make choices for myself, nothing taken from anyone who makes other choices, well, unless you wanted to put motivation in one of these from - like a Japanese TOYlet or something.....
We should have made videos part of the requirements this month lol would have loved to see and hear these cars in action.
Totally should have been a requirement. Is there a video of Linson's Blackheart exhaust anywhere on TGO by chance? The cars that don't win this month hopefully get a second chance later in the year, tough group to pick from!
Last edited by Crusader; Feb 26, 2019 at 12:38 AM.
Reason: spelling
The car and the engine don't know what they are, whether it's a 1st gen or an LS is just for the people. The combination of parts just does what it's designed by people to do. The original small block is what third gens came with and I share your opinion. That's an opinion I would use to make choices for myself, nothing taken from anyone who makes other choices, well, unless you wanted to put motivation in one of these from - like a Japanese TOYlet or something.....
This is what makes these cars great. You guys put your "stamp" on these vehicles and no matter the different opinions on the sum of parts, the outcome is a thing of beauty and speed!
I am a formula guy at heart, I owned a 2nd gen formula in the past, I nominated a formula last month...guess which car got my vote this month!
Totally should have been a requirement. Is there a video of Linson's Blackheart exhaust anywhere on TGO by chance? The cars that don't win this month hopefully get a second chance later in there year, tough group to pick from!
These are the videos that I have:
Unfortunately, I haven't shot a video of of me really flooring it. I break the tires loose a little in one vid, but that was just a mere tap on the the throttle.
And unfortunately the weather here is sh*t right now for shooting any new videos. But I definitely want to do a video of me getting on it in front of my house, to compare with a similar video from when I had my L98. I'm guessing a lot more tire smoke on the next one.
Here's some videos:
Re: Absolutely some beautiful cars here built by talented guys.
When I look at these cars, I see people who express themselves in their car. We all bought something that we found attractive, then whether we intended to or not we change them into that expression. Even though a purist might deny that they change anything, the car then becomes an expression of them, purist. I see fantastic expressions of people here, and for the most part this is work we have performed ourselves, because, after all, no one can do as well..... That's what makes it an expression, that what makes it art. These are beautiful cars, Congrats to the nominees.
Totally should have been a requirement. Is there a video of Linson's Blackheart exhaust anywhere on TGO by chance? The cars that don't win this month hopefully get a second chance later in there year, tough group to pick from!
If it wasn't February, i'd be able to oblige that request! I have a video of my car idling from last summer, but it's too large to upload here and I don't have it loaded to youtube yet.
Yah, to be clear, much better pix of my interior and engine bay are in the links I posted. I figured a magazine article was just as good or better than me telling a story here and posting the same pictures....
These are the videos that I have:
Unfortunately, I haven't shot a video of of me really flooring it. I break the tires loose a little in one vid, but that was just a mere tap on the the throttle.
And unfortunately the weather here is sh*t right now for shooting any new videos. But I definitely want to do a video of me getting on it in front of my house, to compare with a similar video from when I had my L98. I'm guessing a lot more tire smoke on the next one.
Here's some videos:
