Car details :
Year : 1988
Make : Pontiac
Model : Formula
Engine size : Original - TPI 305 LB9
Now - TPI 350 L98
Transmission : THM700R4 - Rebuilt with shift kit
Rearend : 3.73 Posi Rear Disc 10-bolt

I will bring everyone up to speed :

I found this car sitting on the side of the road up by my house, I was looking to sell my 1989 IROC-Z, and buy a TPI powered IROC / GTA / Formula.

I found a buyer for the IROC for $4500.00, and inquired about the Formula. The guy claimed it to be a 5.7L L98, and the underhood sticker backed up that claim, although the VIN engine letter, did not. I test drove the car, and it felt very torquey and powerfull (althought I was used to a 5.0L TBI motor, I guess it would, haha.) I asked him, what he wanted for the car, and he told me $4500. So I pretty much traded cars without adding $1.00 to the bill, heh . He also threw in a Pontiac jacket, full GM parts and service cataloge the GM dealers would have, and some Haynes/Chilton Manuals.

The car ran great, drove it to do etest, failed HC and after we pulled it out I heard a loud whine from the rear and it would sputter and stall, let it cool, and it would fire right up. So I determined the Fuel pump to be garbage, I called the guy just to ask what parts he had in it. He said it was a new tank (which is true) and a new holley pump (also true). I checked the Fuel Presser, as it has an adjustible regulator, he had it at 53PSI at idle and spiking 60PSI and WOT. Way more then a TPI car should have, and eventually over heated, killed the pump, also caused it to failed Etest. I adjusted the fuel PSI, replaced the pump (cut a door into top of floor in trunk and did it that way to save dropping entire rearend). Car drove and ran great after, also passed etest with flying colours!

Got the car insured and plated.. for 1 full day before :

I drove the car, and the first day of having it fully road ready, the rearend blew up. Blew the pinion into very many peices. So I called the guy again, because stock it would have a 9bolt rearend, it had a 10bolt in there, so I wanted to know what to buy for replacment parts). He said he felt very bad, and never forseen these issues! He said he was moving to scottland and has a ton of parts left over from a parts car he had gutted (1989 GTA), the parts included a rearend and that I could collect it for no charge. I went over to his place that weekend and I got :

L98 350 Motor
THM700R4 Trans
3.73 Posi 10bolt rearend
A TON of third gen parts, interior peices/panels, clips, headlight doors, goldlace GTA wheels, EVERYTHING!

I was very happy at what an honest guy he was, so I packed all my goodies away, and installed the new rearend.

The rearend was good, but noisey.. I drove it for a month, tore it down and installed brand new bearing set and gaskets, and a new ring/pinion 3.73 setup, now it is as quiet as a baby.

Took the car to Sparta to get some passes in, ran 16.14 @ 85!!! Started to check block codes, and found it to have a 305! At this time, 2nd gear was getting a little spoungy, so I pulled it off the road, to my buddys shop.

I tore the 350 he gave me down, and pastigauged it : checked out good. He claimed it had 80,000km on it, and it looked like BRAND new inside, 0 sludge, very shiney and good looking internals. He also claimed a mild street cam. I couldn't veryify cam as no #'s on end, and I didnt feel like pulling it out. I also sent in my spare THM700R4 for a rebuild and got a shiftkit, and new clutch discs installed.

Mods I did to the 350 :

Lt1 #24 Inejctors
Ported and Gasket Matched the TPI system
CAI K&N Intake
3" Flowmaster Exhuast
MSD Cap/Rotor
New Ign. Module
New Plugs/Wires
12* Intial Advance on Timing
This summer getting a custom Laptop Tune completed

Took the car for a spin after the installation, and the car runs very good, and is VERY potent! Videos :
http://img532.imageshack.us/my.php?image=002ff0.flv
http://img532.imageshack.us/my.php?image=011ew6.flv

Most recently I have added 2000 Corvette C5 Rims.

Working on my new Formula 350 body decals (went with 97 Formula style) *They are BLACK when coating is off*
Outside Before with dads Z28:


Outside Now (still snow, I dont have any good pics with new rims)



Engine Before :


Engine Now :


My Cluster :

 

Its a very nice car, and nice story.
I believe in all 3rd gens the 9 bolt was not guaranteed.
I believe they always had the option to be ordered with a 10 bolt instead.

I have had Trans-Ams with 9 bolts and some with 10 bolts.
My 89 Formula had a 10 bolt.

In regards to your 350 being a 305. Over time that has to be the number one lie told by people selling their cars.
Sometimes they don’t even know themselves; sometimes they are just passing on the lie from the previous owner.

Below is my common list of lies told my people selling their 3rd gens:

It has a 350
It has no rust.
The engine has been rebuilt, but for some reason I have no proof.
These are new tires.
The miles are only highway miles and was driven by a little old lady.
There are many more, but you get my point.

When I look at a car, I always tell myself, do not assume anything and nothing is what it is said to be without proof.

Sure, if the engine looks old, and the VIN says its a 305 and the guy says its a 305, good chance its a 305. But if they say its been rebuilt but cannot prove it, just assume its not.

In short, if they cannot prove it, just assume its not what they say it is, then if you still buy it, you won’t be disappointed and potentially can be impressed if what they said actually is true.

Just my 2 cents

 

those decals are gonna be sweet, but you will need 91-92 front/rear bumpers for it to look good. i think we can all agree that the 91-92 bumpers look better than the 85-90 though

 

that engine bay looks awesome with black paint and that new 350 in it!

 

slow times with that 305 TPI! My old IROC w/ TBI did 15.9 (slight stall, shift kit, servo)

But now you have the 350--so that hardly matters.

Lower it next! Want to see how your decals look when you get them on.

 

nice ride....350 88 formulas are the best !!!!!!!!

 

I thought your old '89 was an RS?

 

Radio is in as of today, subs and amp all hooked up. Pounds like crazy! Got the gauges in, and all panels installed.
Outside look at everything back installed....*needs vaccuum*




---
Painted the lower air damn flat black, looks much better then the white that it was :




Videos :
http://img532.imageshack.us/my.php?image=033gy7.flv
http://img532.imageshack.us/flvplayer.swf?f=T028wb9
http://img532.imageshack.us/flvplayer.swf?f=T027xi5

 

 

that air dam looks better now, and the interior looks very clean as well. i need to get a hold of an older non-airbag steering wheel... they look much better, and mine isn't hooked up anyway.

 

Thanks, Yah I like it better, interior is slick now, I am looking for a Grant Wheel, maybe I'll sell you mine?

 

when you put your new decals on id like to see some pics of that cause i was thinking it would look sick on my car, possibly havent decided yet.

 

VERY nice

 

did you redo your gauge colors yourself? Its look great.

 

did u ever get the decals on

 

Yes I did, sorry bout not posting :

I think they turned out great, I love the look!

 

dude those look sweet, if i end up replacing the decals cause sometimes it looks cleaner that way, i will probably use those.

 

where u get the decals?