Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
#1
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Car: 1988 Firbird formula 350
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Nine Bolt
Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Been looking for a long time, finally bought one today (6/26/12). Here she is:
General overview pix attached;
(it's a 1988, one owner Texas car, 117,782 miles when I picked it up)
General overview pix attached;
(it's a 1988, one owner Texas car, 117,782 miles when I picked it up)
Last edited by lonestar7; 06-28-2012 at 02:30 PM. Reason: added info
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Car: 99 WS6 / 00 SS / 11 CTS-V / 13 300
Engine: LS1 / LS1 / LSA / 5.7 Hemi
Transmission: 4L60E / T-56 / 6L80E / W5A80
Axle/Gears: 3.23 / 3.42 Auburn / 3.23 / 2.62
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Beautiful...what are your plans for it? If I was you I'd drive it sparingly and keep it in a garage for nice days.
Enjoy it.
Enjoy it.
#7
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: 5.0 TBI L03 V8
Transmission: Rebuilt 700R4 W/ Corvette shift kit
Axle/Gears: 2:73 open
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Nice man. Beautiful find.
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#8
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Car: 1989 Iroc-z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Auto 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt - 2.77
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Very nice find. Stuff you pointed out thats bad, looks to me like normal wear and tear. Overall its in great shape. Enjoy your new ride.
#13
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Car: 89 rs, 86 Trans Am
Engine: RS-V6... Trans Am-LG4
Transmission: RS-T5... Trans Am 700r4
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
great car! Needs very little.
Can't wait to see it in person, I hope you can bring it to the roundup in 2013
Can't wait to see it in person, I hope you can bring it to the roundup in 2013
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Car: 89 Black IROC-Z convertible
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: Auto
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Looks good. A little TLC will go a long ways on that one.
#17
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Car: 1987 T/A WS6 T-Tops/92 RS
Engine: LB9/3.1
Transmission: 700R4/700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73/3.23
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Nice looking car and besides the paint your spoiler is in alot better shape than mine and I have alot less miles. some TLC and she will be a killer lookng car.
#20
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Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Very nice find! An 88 Forumla 350 in Medium Orange Metallic. You may not realize it but that is a rare combo. You would be hard pressed to find another car in the country with that color and combo.
Last edited by burnout88; 06-27-2012 at 09:17 PM.
#22
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Car: 1988 Firbird formula 350
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Nine Bolt
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Took a few shots in bright sunlight with my phone when I went home for lunch. It's the first time I've seen it in bright sun with most of the dirt washed off. It's hard to get a shot that shows the color the way it looks to the eye, these are as close as I've got so far, but still looks more "Coppertone" in real life. It must have looked quite spectacular in the sun when it was new and really shinny.
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Car: 89 Black IROC-Z convertible
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: Auto
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
I use a dashmat, windshield sunscreen, and keep the back seat folded down. Mine are still in great shape. That and I park it in the shade whenever possible.
#26
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Looks great
#27
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Car: 99 WS6 / 00 SS / 11 CTS-V / 13 300
Engine: LS1 / LS1 / LSA / 5.7 Hemi
Transmission: 4L60E / T-56 / 6L80E / W5A80
Axle/Gears: 3.23 / 3.42 Auburn / 3.23 / 2.62
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
I know I'm jumping the gun here, but you make sure you PM me when you wanna sell it
My father has a 2002 Formula in the same color with 9,000 miles on it. Either he or I would LOVE this car...
My father has a 2002 Formula in the same color with 9,000 miles on it. Either he or I would LOVE this car...
#28
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Car: 1988 Firbird formula 350
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Nine Bolt
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
I was getting an erratic SES light, mainly when starting the engine cold. I did a code read this evening, got code 34, MAF issue, will run the MAF diagnostics later to see if it needs replacing. I was also noticing a rattle when I got off the interstate on the trip back yesterday. Sounded like a loose shock or sway bar on the rear axle. I crawled around under it this evening and sure enough, the drivers side sway bar link was loose, lost it's top nut completely. The right side one is also loose but the nut is still there. I checked the front sway bar too, and it is also loose as I suspected from the rattle in the front I noted on the original test drive. I went and bought new end links and bushings tonight. it will be this weekend before I can work on it, but I'm going to check the tie rod ends, ball joints, control arm bushings and other underbody stuff while I'm at it. Can't believe it drives as well as it does with all that stuff loose, can't wait to see how it handles when I get the all fixed. A bit of good news is that a lot of the small whitish spots on the lower fenders that I thought was stone chip damage is actually some sort of deposit on top of the paint. It's fairly hard, you can almost scrape it off with a fingernail. Could be he ran through some wet concrete? Pavement marking paint? I don't know, but if I can get most of it off without damaging the paint, it will look a lot better up close.
#29
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Car: 1988 GTA
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
The missing nut on the end link is the same as not having a sway bar at all. You will notice a huge difference after repair, the WS6 suspension includes a 36mm bar. Good thing you are checking all the other steering and suspension joints while you are under there, these cars handle great when everything is tight.
#30
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Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Never even seen one in person. That's gotta be the best stock color out there. Besides black of course.
#31
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Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
I was getting an erratic SES light, mainly when starting the engine cold. I did a code read this evening, got code 34, MAF issue, will run the MAF diagnostics later to see if it needs replacing. I was also noticing a rattle when I got off the interstate on the trip back yesterday. Sounded like a loose shock or sway bar on the rear axle. I crawled around under it this evening and sure enough, the drivers side sway bar link was loose, lost it's top nut completely. The right side one is also loose but the nut is still there. I checked the front sway bar too, and it is also loose as I suspected from the rattle in the front I noted on the original test drive. I went and bought new end links and bushings tonight. it will be this weekend before I can work on it, but I'm going to check the tie rod ends, ball joints, control arm bushings and other underbody stuff while I'm at it. Can't believe it drives as well as it does with all that stuff loose, can't wait to see how it handles when I get the all fixed. A bit of good news is that a lot of the small whitish spots on the lower fenders that I thought was stone chip damage is actually some sort of deposit on top of the paint. It's fairly hard, you can almost scrape it off with a fingernail. Could be he ran through some wet concrete? Pavement marking paint? I don't know, but if I can get most of it off without damaging the paint, it will look a lot better up close.
#32
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
85 firebird 5speed v6 hard top
85 MR MSE trans am ttop
90 camaro v6 hard top
92 firebird convertible v6
and now currently a 85 z28 ttop 5.o TPI///also for sale or trade for a formula 87-92
#33
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Car: 1988 Firbird formula 350
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Nine Bolt
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
The missing nut on the end link is the same as not having a sway bar at all. You will notice a huge difference after repair, the WS6 suspension includes a 36mm bar. Good thing you are checking all the other steering and suspension joints while you are under there, these cars handle great when everything is tight.
#36
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Also make sure you put the poly swaybar endlinks back in the car. They are a yellow poly from the factory. If they are as beatup as your saying I'm guessing your struts and shocks are worn also. The more I look at your car the more I want it! nice find
#37
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Car: 99 WS6 / 00 SS / 11 CTS-V / 13 300
Engine: LS1 / LS1 / LSA / 5.7 Hemi
Transmission: 4L60E / T-56 / 6L80E / W5A80
Axle/Gears: 3.23 / 3.42 Auburn / 3.23 / 2.62
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
The top post says 177k...is that a typo? I thought you said it had 118k...
#39
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Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Just an fyi on the code 34. More then likely it is not the MAF itself. I have actually never had a code 34 turnout to be the MAF itself. I went through this with my 88 and my friends 87 and another friends 89. Each time it turned out to be caused by bad fuel injectors.
Pick up a test fuel pressure gauge and screw it into the test port on the fuel rail. It your fuel pressure bleeds down to zero right after shutting off the car the nozzles on the injectors are leaking. Also, check the injector coils with an ohm meter.
This is the #1 cause of a code 34. Not the MAF or circuit itself.
Pick up a test fuel pressure gauge and screw it into the test port on the fuel rail. It your fuel pressure bleeds down to zero right after shutting off the car the nozzles on the injectors are leaking. Also, check the injector coils with an ohm meter.
This is the #1 cause of a code 34. Not the MAF or circuit itself.
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Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Great looking car. I'm a bigger Camaro fan, but I really, really like the clean lines of 87 - 90 Formulas -- before they got the Batmobile nose treatment.
#42
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Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
WS6 with 16" wheels=36mm swaybar. Before I go to a junkyard I take a piece of plastic I cut a 36mm slot into. Then if I see a thirdgen that looks like it's a real iroc or ws6 car I slide my homemade plastic gauge over the swaybar. If it's snug, it's what you want.
#43
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Car: 1988 Firbird formula 350
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Nine Bolt
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Just an fyi on the code 34. More then likely it is not the MAF itself. I have actually never had a code 34 turnout to be the MAF itself. I went through this with my 88 and my friends 87 and another friends 89. Each time it turned out to be caused by bad fuel injectors.
Pick up a test fuel pressure gauge and screw it into the test port on the fuel rail. It your fuel pressure bleeds down to zero right after shutting off the car the nozzles on the injectors are leaking. Also, check the injector coils with an ohm meter.
This is the #1 cause of a code 34. Not the MAF or circuit itself.
Pick up a test fuel pressure gauge and screw it into the test port on the fuel rail. It your fuel pressure bleeds down to zero right after shutting off the car the nozzles on the injectors are leaking. Also, check the injector coils with an ohm meter.
This is the #1 cause of a code 34. Not the MAF or circuit itself.
#44
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Car: 1988 Firbird formula 350
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Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Nine Bolt
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
If you have the right size open end wrench, you can you can use that to size the sway bars too. I researched it and the rear one is supposed to be 24MM and the front is 36MM. I've got a 24MM open end but not a 36MM, I'll just use my calipers to measure it. I ordered the Energy urethane end links for the front and back bars, they should come in today. I'm still looking for the front bar bushings, I found 1-5/16", 34MM, 1-3/8", 1-7/16", but no 36MM which is very close to 1-13/16"
#45
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Car: 1988 Firbird formula 350
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Nine Bolt
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Wow, I just discovered that I have the power antenna option from the RPO tag. Of course, it doesn't work. The low segment has a little kink in it and it jammed up. I just thought it was a manual antenna that was bent and wouldn't retract. I think the motor is probably fried too.
#46
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Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Thanks, I'll do that. I've been reading up on old postings about code 34 and downloaded a copy of the GM TPI service manual. Looks like a number of things can generate the code 34, I'll just have work through it. The engine is running fine, get a slight miss or uneven idle sometimes especially when it's cold. One thing I did notice, last evening I pulled the intake hoses off to look at the MAF, there was the distinct smell of gas fumes coming from the intake manafold even though the car had not been started since the day before. Is that normal or could that indicate leaky injectors?
Ask for help if you need it.
#47
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Car: 1988 Firbird formula 350
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 Nine Bolt
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Not normal. You should not have a fuel smell in the upper intake. Could be the injectors. Also, their is a vaccum line from the fuel pressure regulator going to the upper intake. Pull that off and make sure the regulator is not letting raw fuel into the upper intake via the vaccum line. If it is replace the regulator. Inspect the line at both ends for fuel.
Ask for help if you need it.
Ask for help if you need it.
#49
Re: Got My First 3rd Gen Home Today.
Wow, I just discovered that I have the power antenna option from the RPO tag. Of course, it doesn't work. The low segment has a little kink in it and it jammed up. I just thought it was a manual antenna that was bent and wouldn't retract. I think the motor is probably fried too.
#50
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