Back in the saddle again!
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 918
Likes: 7
From: Mt. Vernon, WA
Car: 1988 Firebird Formula
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45
Back in the saddle again!
Well after over a year of looking for another Firebird I am once again the owner of a black 88 - this time a Formula. Factory TPI 5-speed combo with t-tops. I found this one on Craigslist in Virginia and bought it sight unseen (not fun) and had it shipped across country to its new home. The new bird is my 4th Firebird, 3rd Thirdgen, 2nd 88 and 1st Formula.
Only reason I called on this car is that it met my best case scenario for options: Black on gray, Tuned Port factory 5-speed, rear disc brakes and the 3.45 Posi 9 bolt rear. Add to that the kicker: the car only had 72,698 miles on it (I am also only the 4th owner). The paint is a little rough and it does have some surface rust on the roof, but overall in really good shape. I even really like how the Cragars look, though I have never been one to care for aftermarket wheels on f-bodys. Could be a subconscious deal there as my Dad has the 15” version of the Cragars on his 67 Mustang.
First mod is my birthday/Christmas gift(s) installed tonight: a Pro 5.0 shifter and black anodized aluminum shift **** with the phoenix bird engraving and future plans include a new paint job and if finances allow an LS1/T-56 swap.
The New Bird:
Ready to take the older kids on their first ride:
New shifter waiting to be installed:
Nice thing with my drive into work being only 3.5 miles, I’ll be able to drive the car all the time and be lucky to put 3,000 miles a year on it. Which will probably take 8-9 years to hit the 100,000 mile marker.
Only reason I called on this car is that it met my best case scenario for options: Black on gray, Tuned Port factory 5-speed, rear disc brakes and the 3.45 Posi 9 bolt rear. Add to that the kicker: the car only had 72,698 miles on it (I am also only the 4th owner). The paint is a little rough and it does have some surface rust on the roof, but overall in really good shape. I even really like how the Cragars look, though I have never been one to care for aftermarket wheels on f-bodys. Could be a subconscious deal there as my Dad has the 15” version of the Cragars on his 67 Mustang.
First mod is my birthday/Christmas gift(s) installed tonight: a Pro 5.0 shifter and black anodized aluminum shift **** with the phoenix bird engraving and future plans include a new paint job and if finances allow an LS1/T-56 swap.
The New Bird:
Ready to take the older kids on their first ride:
New shifter waiting to be installed:
Nice thing with my drive into work being only 3.5 miles, I’ll be able to drive the car all the time and be lucky to put 3,000 miles a year on it. Which will probably take 8-9 years to hit the 100,000 mile marker.
Last edited by Crusader; Jan 28, 2019 at 11:00 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 608
Likes: 147
From: Oakville, Ontario
Car: 1991 GTA T-Top / 2014 Mustang GT
Engine: 5L TPI
Transmission: WCT5
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Back in the saddle again!
Congrats on the new addition! That's a pretty awesome combo too, especially on a Formula 
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 918
Likes: 7
From: Mt. Vernon, WA
Car: 1988 Firebird Formula
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45
Re: Back in the saddle again!
Thanks! It has been a blast to drive for sure. The car sure feels much stronger than my GTA (stock 305/Auto/3.27 converted to 5-speed) did.
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