This is my dilemna....
My '91 5.7L Formula Firebird, I love this car, it's beautiful.
I don't want to see it become a heap of junk but I'm on a tight budget(recent college grad).

It has 148,633 miles, no dents or rust, great body.
Keep the car fix it up, or sell it,or fix it up and then sell ?????
Will this car run much longer?
I know I could easily do much of the cosmetic work myself.
I'm a small girl with little car knowledge, I can't afford to have a car stop on a highway at night on me.

So far I know it needs: a Muffler, transmission gasket, window motors, new tires soon, has a new battery but it keeps getting drained (don't know why), partial paint job (manufacturer's goof up BUT roof and hood were redone in '97).

PLEASE HELP!
need your advice.

 

how long have you had the car? how well (to your knowledge) has the car been maintained over the years?

where do you live? do you have annual inspections and or emissions? you might know a person from the boards locally who would be more than happy to help you with any repairs.

 

My inspection and emission is good till June, (I'm in Virginia).
I just found two guys that can help me with some of the fixing...
Do you think such a car can last much longer??? Even with 148,000+ miles on it? Is it safe, do you think?
thanks so much for your replies... anymore advice? I'M ALL EARS!

 

Oh, also, as far as I know, it's first two owners maintained it well. It's been in my family for 5 years, I just got it last year, it started having battery problems when I got it.

 

if you keep it in constant good tune you wont have major problems. a hose may leak here and there but nothing a set of ratchets and screw drivers cant fix. just really be a stickler about tune ups and such.

trust me, losing a formula 350 isnt good at all

 

Well, those motors probably go anywhere from 30,000 miles up to 250,000 depending on how well you take care of them. You risk breaking down in any car, ive many-a-time seen a recent model car stuck on the side of the road. I say just keep it and take care of it. The things you said you needed are all really minor (besides the paint) a trans gasket will run you about $35, (might as well do the filter while its apart) 25 for the gasket and filter and another $10 worth of fluid, thats assuming these two helpfull guys do it for you. Mufflers arn't expensive either, most car parts arn't, its the labor cost that kills. Arn't you allowed to carry conceled weapons in Virginia? Get a gun for the car lol

 

LOL... I never knew car fanatics were so funny (thanks!)

I guess the best thing I can do know is to get a check up, right?
Is there somewhere I can look to find someone honest?

 

actually. since you're in virginia, you may have better luck searching in the mid-atlantic board. most of the virginia guys hang around over there.

 

ok, will do.

 

KEEP IT AND FIX IT!!!

 

Gotta suggestion for ya on this...

I was having the same problem. How is the condition of your center console? I didn't realize it, but the light for the center console was constantly burning (because the part that kept it down broke). I just pulled the light bulb out and fixed the problem. After I did that, no more power drains.

As for your situation, think about this... How much will you get for your Bird? What are you planning on getting to replace it? If you can only afford to get a pos car, then I'd keep the Bird. At least with the Bird you know (at least I think you do...) that it's reliable for now. When you buy a used car, esp one with high miles, you never know what you're getting into.

I was concidering selling my Bird and getting a '02 t/a ws6. I decided not to because 1, I really wanna hang on to my Bird because since it's the '91 model, it's gonna be rare someday. And 2, because I didn't feel like having a car payment and having my insurance go up. At least now (even tho I'm completely redoing the car) I know that if something would come up, I don't have to worry about a car payment and getting my car repo'd if I can't pay.

I love my car so much - even tho so much needs done to it right now Interior has a lot of water damage.

If you do need to sell it, just keep in mind, you can always get another one down the road!!

 

As for your battery problem you may need to replace the alternator.

 

Ya my alternator killed my battery. Check the alternator. I installed a brand new battery/alternator and Im getting good volts now. Also see if someone you know can perform a tune up on it. The things youve mentioned are really nothing at all. Im looking to get a 350 in my car if Im to keep it. Id say keep it. If need be get a local body man to paint it.Look around these boards. Check out the awesome rides! Maybe itll inspire you to hook up your ride!

Nate

 

Well if you decide to get rid of it, let me know

personally I would keep it. Nice car

 

Thanks guys for all your advice, i'll let you know the whats and how it goes.

 

the car is worthless and you sould just give it to me for free and not think twice about it





















i would keep it and fix it nothing like a formula 350 :lala:

 

If you really love the car I would fix it and keep it. If it needs enough that you are afraid to drive it then that's another story.

The mileage wouldn't scare me into selling it.

I have a beat up old '90 Ford Probe with 230,000 miles on it and although it isn't nice, I have no problem jumping in it and driving a couple of hundred miles for a concert or whatever. Axe

 

ill trade you a 92 25th anniversary camaro RS v8 5 spd with red leather 16 inch wheels f41 with alot of new parts, high miles though about 150k its a nice car though and is super solid, id rather have a firebird though

 

as for yur nattery prob either something is staying on and killing it or u got a junk battery or a dead ground.

like if yur radio is wired to were it has to be turned on n off by its power botton or any other accessory or somethgin of that nature.
like dome light or consoule light as mentioned above.

yur alternator shouldnt kill yur battery unless u are drivin and it just gets dead cuz w/ bad alt and decent or good battery lets say u out riding round. no alt and u runnin on straight battery power itll last a while but the more electronics u use lights brakes even radio that kinda thing the les time u got before it dies.

however once u come home for the night and park a good battery unless totally drained n sometimes even completely will charge itself by setting.

mine does cuz i play my system to much w/ the car not runnin itll die set all night go out start right up.

as for dead grounds thoose are harder to pin point. one way ive seen so far to tell is yur batterys dead n someone hooks up the jumper cables and it trys to kill there car then thats a dead ground.

sometimes soon as they hook cables to yur car n theres itl do it sometimes its only when u try and crank yurs over then it will.

take it down to local autozone let me put the alternator and battery (complete charging system) on there machine itll tell ya if ya got bad battery or alt.

they got a good one i have a hand held one to check that.

but for grounds i dont know how to tell u other then start fomr yur battery and check all grounds that u can see ones mounted to the frame or body or anythgin metal like motor frame body.

and make sure yur cold wire fomr yur battery is grounded good. check it 1st then check the ones closest to the battery and work yur way out.

sorry tho i live in wv or id help ya out what part va u from?
im in lower part of wv to the west near ky and va.

ps plz look over my bad typing lol

names chris
definately keep the bird.
the reason u want to sale yurs (not bein very dependable) is reason many sale there cars.

 

or you could just trade me for my camaro its got leather :P

 

Mileage can be deceiving. My motor threw a rod at 87k.