I found a Formula I think I might buy for the parts. It has TPI, 140mph speedo, 700r4, disc rear end, etc.
Tell me about this car, gear ratio, posi, etc. What are the good parts I should check for.

This car should be posi and hopefully BW 9bolt rear with 323 gears. If not then probably ten bolt with 308 gears assuming its the 350 being it has 140mph speedo. Check 8th # on VIN if its 8 then it is originally a 350.

OK, so an 8 would mean 350 and otherwise it's a 305 then.

F-305 TPI,8-350TPI,E-305 TBI

If it's an '87, wouldn't it have the 3.27 9 bolt? I'm more of a Camaro guy so I don't know these Formula values.

Yes.

1st year back for the 350 and being a formula, dare I say its somewhat of a "rare" car..

In 1987, in the US of A

Formula 350 WILL have: 3.27 Borg & Warner 9 bolt axle

The Formula LB9/M5 will have a 3.45 Borg & Warner 9 Bolt Axle

The Formula LB9/A4 should only have the 2.73 axle ( There was no performance axle option)

Each of these would have the 140 speedo.

Without more information we have no idea what you are looking at, it could be anything from an LB9 to L98 etc...

Well, I'm thinking about buying it and keeping some of the parts, selling others. I'd like that TPI on my smallblock powered S10 Blazer daily driver. Rear gears needed for the wife's S10 showtruck (it has 4.10's), might swap the disc setup too, then keep the block and 700r4 for future projects. Other parts probably not too useful to me as both my cars are 82 & 83 models.

Obviously if it turns out to be a 350 it will be parked in line with other projects to restore. Can buy it for $575.......what do you think??

[QUOTE=roadthrills;5865274]Well, I'm thinking about buying it and keeping some of the parts, selling others. I'd like that TPI on my smallblock powered S10 Blazer daily driver. Rear gears needed for the wife's S10 showtruck (it has 4.10's), might swap the disc setup too, then keep the block and 700r4 for future projects. Other parts probably not too useful to me as both my cars are 82 & 83 models.

Obviously if it turns out to be a 350 it will be parked in line with other projects to restore. Can buy it for $575.......what do you think??[/QUOTE

I bought a Formula 350 for $600 or $700 a few years back, it didn't run, ended up being a inline fuse by the starter... (I guess it has been 10 years ago

The rear axle gears would probably not work in the S-10, I believe they all used the Saginaw axle, if a Formula 350 it would have the Borg & Warner. Swapping the rear brakes would also be problematic as the brackets are completely different, and honestly the 10.5" discs are crap for stopping power unless it is a manual.

Just went and looked it over again. Original, straight, rust free, black Formula with silver bottom separated by a red pinstripe. Vin "F" so I guess it's a 305 but still TPI. Both rear corners of the hood are bent up because of the bad hood struts. Taillights and spoiler in good shape. Odometer showing 123,000 and looks to be correct. Motor turns over by hand at the crank pully, everything underhood is complete and connected. No title, no keys. Talked them down to $500.

I have an educated guess that it is a Hard top, no T-tops too...

You might have lucked out on the axle, I am not sure but it might be a Saginaw... The gears should work in the S-10... I would check tho, I know the 1982 & 1983 axles are different than the 1987, also later years have a different number of splines... So depending on what you need out of the carrier, it might be fine in the S-10

John

Correct, hardtop. If it's 7.5 10 bolt I can swap the gears and carrier. Not too worried about the splines I can swap out the spider gears if necessary I guess. The S10 is 28 spline but I actually have a set of 26 spline axles that I'd rather not use.

I think what you will find is a 2.73 gear in there...

Also the reason why I knew it was a Hard top was all TPI Formulas were hard tops in 1987 with the exception of those with a 5 speed... All LB9 & L98 with the auto were hard tops...

John

Nice info, thanks. The 2.73 should work out great with the 275/40-17 tires on the S10. The 350 in the s10 is probably putting down 325-350 hp. It's a std cab shortbed 2wd. You just light the tires any time you throttle it with the 4.10's and it turns 3000 rpm running 55mph.

Well, it's home. I'll get a pic tomorrow. It HAS the 9 bolt rear and Inoticed some huge-mongous sway bars while strapping it to the trailer.

Formulas are all WS6 and will have the big swaybars.
The 9bolt in there is odd, esp if its a 305 auto..
Do you have a pic of the rpo code sticker in the console?

No sticker and original armrest was gone.

i bought a 87 formula with a lg4 305 for $600. last year, it had turbo 350 that was slipping and had a makeshift crossmember for the torque arm bar but i had a rusted out 87 iroc with a built 700r4 and stock crossmember, just swapped it over. since then the lg4 is gone and has been replaced by an lb9 305 with tpi and 7730 ecm and a homemade harness.

and yea i dont have the factory arm rest so i have no RPO codes to go by.

Here it is. Everything seemed ok except for oil being a little dirty and low. Got a battery in it and it cranked over good with fuel pump humming. Hhmmmmm........NO SPARK. Tested module and coil, both good, had 12v, good grounds, coil wire ohmed good, found no continuity from coil connector to carbon inside cap! Got that fixed and she fired up, YAY! Engine seems to have good throttle response and no funny noises, I think I did alright with this one.