first time posting but i thought there might be someone out there with a quick solution before i tear apart my trunk looking for a leak. Lots of rain lately and the bird is driven daily so i don't know if water is leaking in or blowing in. yes the "glove box" is wet too and the water is coming in that side. The struts are tired and a bit of water comes in when i lift the lid in the rain but not this much. Thanks! oh yeah 1987 Firebird Formula-(black hardtop)

 

could be the weather stripping around the hatch. it could be worn and leaking. could be also a hole in the wheel well, and water could be spraying up into the "glove box" and trunk. inpect the weather stripping and wheel well and go from there.

nice to see another Londoner on board. good luck with the water leak.

 

Isn't it tho

What part of London ya in 87LG4FORMULA

 

Also I have seen alot of Fbody cars leaking through the mounting holes for the tailights. Infact 75% of them that I have repaired for trunk leaks all turned out to be just that. You will be able to tell if it is a leak form above by the stain marks from the water running down through the dust on the sheet metal inside the trunk.

How to:

I just remove them, clean everything really good. and then put a nice bead of silcone around the holes where the mounting screws go for the tailights, I then gently set the tailights back in, but do not tighten them up just yet. Let the silicone set for about a hour, and then tighten them up slightly...not to tight.

HTH?? "Hope This Helps"

 

i will pull the tail lights this weekend (1 light out anyway) and see if that helps. Everything else seems ok and the body is rust free but who knows. Maybe i will check the seal on the hatch but i know the hatch closes a bit crooked (up on the pass side)
I live in White Hills near Hyde Park and work in the east so the car gets out to play every day. Today it taught a Miata what the other four cylinders are for. I have been of to Sparta a few times and met Hawk, Tom, Luich. My little brother runs the turbo v8 fiero out there so i bought the bird to join in the fun. 17.6 @80mph is not that fun so this winter should see a few improvements.

Custom airbox with k&n filter, formula hood breathes fresh air now, msd hei, taylor wires into ngks, new tires tomorrow and of course black fuzzy dice

 

Hey man, how's it going

U can find us on http://www.kwfbody.com/phpBB2/index.php also

 

I'm in the totally opposite end of the city in white oaks. Drive mine daily too but my work is only about a 2 minute drive. Car isn't going to see much more action tho. Putting it away in the next few weeks but still have one little trip planned to Toronto for a little house warming party. What do ya have planned for winter mods?

 

The rims are going in to Jim's next week for refurbishing and new rubber is going on the back to fix the spinning at takeoff. Next when $ permits is a shift kit and whatever else will help the sloppy shifts. i will need some feedback on what has worked for others before i do that. The motor stays for a while but i will not spend money on a LG4 so i was thinking cat-back 3". if i get away with all that this winter i will be impressed. Unfortunately Mrs. Formula said no to a winter beater, but yes to oilguard and winter tires so that will have to do for now. when i bought this car i never thought i would get this attached to it or spend this much time and money on it but...

Hey Hawk i still get over to KWF site when i get a chance, gotta love havin 3 kids tho. late nite surfin or early morning wrenching?

 

The best thing you can do to an LG4 is put some headers on it and a cut out. This is not money wasted because if you invest in a nice set they can always be bolted onto your monster 383 later.

 

agreed. headers are key. i like hedman long tubes. they work well for me.

 

Headers are definitely on the wish list! Next project is the shift kit tho. I miss my stick shifts and that seems the best way to get my head pushed into the headrest.
Anyone have any advice for those of us who drive through the winter? On the worst days i wil drive the mini-van and i do car-pool to save gas 160 klic per

 

did i mention the twins love the keyboard. lots of buttons!
Anyway i rust proofed and took the rims off to be redone but im worried about my currently rustless (well almost) bird
Thanx

taillight fix tommorrow i hope

 

U got the part # for the headman long tubes?

 

If you have virutally no rust and have the time and ability to get under your car to paint it with POR-15 that'd be alot better than the oil guards out there. Protects better than anything else and should last up to 15yrs at least I believe. Actually make the underside look really nice too.

As for tires... not sure what size wheels you have but something in the range of 205/60/XX to 215/60/XX in size should work well. I know blizzaks are a popular chocie and work pretty good.

Hope your heater core isn't leaking! Mine was when I bought my car last winter. I replaced it over a month ago and sure enough this new one with the QC'd sticker is leaking again already I even reinforced the neck soldiering and did a mock pressure test before putting it in! I think an autox I went to the other weekend put a little extra pressure on the core and sprung the leak. ANYWAY, hope it's not leaking. Kinda a pain to get out the first time.

 

68460, my friend. they hang no lower than the oil pan.

 

Thanx man

 

So it turns out the weatherstrip on the drivers side is being crushed by the cockeyed hatch and now leaks near the bottom just over the glove box. The trunk does not have any water mark in the dust by tailites. Anyone know how to realign the hatch. It closes up a bit on the pass side. the power hatch still works although it clicks before it shuts off.
Got winter tires on. Kinda like the ride on 15" for a change
Tim

 

There's an article here on hatch alignment.

 

THANX
LOOKS TRICKY, WISH ME LUCK!
TIM

 

If ya need any help feel free to ask. I'm always looking for an excuse to work on a good car.

 

I may just take you up on that. It is great getting to know other people who appreciate third gens (if i get one more knight rider joke at work i will hurt someone ) and this job does intimidate me. my temporary fix (read rolled up paper to stretch rubber) is almost working. So perhaps i will check the forecast for the next couple of weekends and give you a call (post) if the rain lets up
Thanks
Tim

 

sounds good