Hello, I am new to the perfomance car scene. I am being offered a 1989 pontial firebird Formula with 103,000 miles for $1,200. The car looks & runs great but i am unsre of the performance factor. It has a 5.7 liter engine that looks like the same as the corvettes & 5 speed tranny. Is this a good car or a clunker waiting to self destruct? I am currently driving a 1997 grand prix gtp with the supercharged V6. Will this firebird have a noticable power feel? Thank you for your time

------------------
chrisandro1@yahoo.com

 

um a 350 5.7 shouldnt have a 5 speed. and if its got tbi then it really isnt a 350 at all its probably a 305 unless someone switched it out (if thats possible?) i drive a car just like that (the firebird) and ive driven my g/f gtp and no. sad to say i do think it could stomp my bird flat.
Snuffit

 

if it looks like the vette motor then im going to transfer this to the tpi board. but first...

if you like the look of the car, then i would get it, if the exterior is in good shape. A small block 350 with tuned port injection might not beat a gtp as it is in stock form, bet the small block chevy engine is the most easily modified. and a modified 350tpi can and will smoke a gtp.

 

It is not a 5.0 but really a 5.7 liter with a stick shift which I am assuming is a 5 speed yet I have never driven stick yet.

 

Whats TPI & TBI. I know thats this motor is TPI. Thank You

 

The stick only came with 305/5.0's. The 350/5.7 would chew it up. Get the VIN and run it on this site to find out what it REALLY is. Also, it should say "FORMULA 350" along the door, otherwise, it's a 5.0.

-Reno

------------------
89 Formula

 

if it's a WC T-5, then I wouldn't worry too much about the 350 breaking the tranny. But then again, that all depends on how you drive, the condition of the tranny, etc..etc..

I have (along with many others) a T5 behind my 350, and my T5 has held up quite well with the abuse. But like all things, wear and tear (and "learning" how to shift without the clutch) has taken its toll, and the tranny is out for a rebuild.

I have enjoyed and never regretted losing the automatic for the manual. If the car is in good shape overall, I'd say "BUY IT!". I would.