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By popular demand, I am starting this thread about my recent find.
Three weeks ago I found a 1987 Formula Firebird posted on Craigslist. The car was a one owner, and had been garaged since 2004 for (allegedly) failing emissions inspection. Quite possible though since it was around that time that Texas introduced the rigid emissions inspection laws.
So, short version, I got in touch with the seller and picked the car up from them a week later. $875.00 CASH!!! They also had a neighbor who owned a tow truck who brought it close to 60 miles to my house for $100!!
So, to date, here's what has been done:
Spark Plugs changed and oil squirted into cylinders before installing new plugs.
Oil Change
Replaced upper radiator hose and flushed coolant
Replaced sway bar links (original bushings had hardened and shattered)
MAJOR cleaning event with my two boys.
Replaced all engine belts (yes, found the hidden power steering bolt LOL).
Rebuilt carb which had solid gunk in the fuel ports.
Changed transmission fluid, pan gasket, and filter.
Currently fighting the installation of the new mechanical fuel pump. Original one blew shortly after first startup last week.
2 tone white, not super common to see, also it has the Firebird badges which were not on the Formula, but everything else looks Formula. Odd indeed.
Curious if you have the RPO codes can see if it was 'converted' to a Formula? I'm thinking they thought the Firebird badges were cool and just added them on after-the-fact.
2 tone white, not super common to see, also it has the Firebird badges which were not on the Formula, but everything else looks Formula. Odd indeed.
Curious if you have the RPO codes can see if it was 'converted' to a Formula? I'm thinking they thought the Firebird badges were cool and just added them on after-the-fact.
Some very early formulas did get the firebird emblems b4 protocol was changed.
Amazing that you found an '87 that still had a carburetor. I thought for sure that GM had swapped over to TBI or TPI by that time. Your car looks to be a fairly basic Formula, i.e., no T-tops, a 5.0 engine, auto trans, and only power windows. I don't mean anything derogatory by this statement. I actually see all those features as a plus. You may have a roller camshaft engine. You would know if the valve cover hold downs are center bolt; otherwise it is a flat tappet cam. For what you paid, you got a lot of car in really good shape.
Yes I realized that the price was definitely a steal!
Here's today's progress:
So I got the mechanical fuel pump replaced (with a lot of help from a friend).
Put new fuel lines and tried to start. Had to use starting fluid since almost no fuel is getting into the front fuel lines.
Best diagnosis I can come up with is that the fuel pump relay has gone out. No continuity on any of the relay leads. So new relay ordered and should be here this week.
Ok, so here is an update on my work on the Firebird:
2 weeks ago I got it started up for the first time in 13 years. Car ran fine, but I noticed that there was fuel leaking from the mechanical fuel pump up front.
Last weekend I changed the pump and the front fuel lines out. Noticed that the carb was not getting fuel. Car starts and runs beautifully if I spray starter fluid in the carb.
I also noticed that the wires to the fuel pump relay were frayed on a couple of them. Last night I changed out the wiring harness and the relay.
Still no fuel to the carb.
I know that there is the potential that the sending unit in the tank may have gone out, but trying to see if there is anything else that may be causing this problem.
Is it getting any fuel at all? If so id say replace the fuel filter, who knows whats in it after 13 years of sitting. Probably sucked whatever was sitting at the bottom of the tank right up and clogged it when you had it running.
My '84 had an electric pusher pump in the tank and a mechanical pump on the engine as well. Maybe it was part of the 305 H.O. package? Does your car have an 8000 RPM speedometer, by chance?
Changed out the inline fuse going back to the tank. Check voltage and it is good. Checked battery and alternator and they are good.
Ordered a new in-tank sender assembly. Got to be that since I have ruled everything else out. If the car sits for a few hours for a few hours it will start for a few seconds then shuts off.
Also, when I turn the ignition to the on position I hear a loud clicking coming from the carburetor.
Not to sound too much like an idiot but what could this be?
Mixture Control Solenoid. It's a computer controlled feedback carb...uses a solenoid to lean the mixture at less than wide open throttle (WOT). At WOT, the solenoid is essentially off, allowing a full rich mixture for power.
When you replaced the fuel lines at the block mounted mechanical pump, did you (or the previous owner) get them mixed up? In other words, is the pump trying to suck the fuel out of the carb and return it to the tank?
Doubtful since one line is smaller than the other, but I will definitely check that. Thinking the problem is the sending unit since it will pull a small amount of fuel if it has sat for a while, then nothing.
If the lines were reversed it would not pull anything to the carb.
This weekend I cut the inevitable hole above the gas tank, and changed out the fuel sending unit.
The car starts up and runs for about 15 seconds then dies. I changed the fuel filter (again) with the same results.
Pulled the carb and it had fuel in it. I'm now thinking that the carburetor has to be replaced next since both the mechanical and electric pumps are new as well as the fuel pump relay and harness.
So, the clicking that was coming from the mixture control solenoid was NOT a normal thing.
Once I unplugged the MCS, the car started up and ran like it had never been sitting!
Originally Posted by PlanoDragon
I unplugged it in order to troubleshoot the problem. Not like I'm going to drive it like that.
There was probably a rookie tuning it up, who cranked down the rich stop. This is probably preventing the primaries from pulsing and properly fueling low speed operation. It absolutely should be pulsing / clicking.
04-30-2017, 07:44 AM
I forget what it is but its ok. 
