Which 3rd Gen Firebird Formula Should I Buy?

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5) 11/08/2020 at 18:22 • Filed to: None

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I got it in my head recently that I want a third gen Firebird Formula. I’ve found three cheap ones semi local to me in various specs and states of disrepair, so help me pick one!

This one is actually a pair of Firebirds, but the one pictured is an ‘89 Formula 350. Big ol rot hole in the driver’s floor, comes with an ‘88 parts car. $1500 for the pair, not a fabulous price, and located in CT a little ways away from me.

This is the first one I found, and the most local. An ‘89 car about 20 minutes from me, but a TBI 305 car, the worst motor available. Plus side is it runs, plus side to that is it runs like shit so it’ll need replacing. Recently patched floors, $900.

The latest challenger, this is an ‘87 Formula 350. It’s the furthest away, in PA, but is the cleanest and generally nicest of the three. Doesn’t run, engine is semi disassembled because it has a broken spark plug which isn’t much fun to get at on these cars. Interior is VERY clean, and interestingly it’s optioned with t-tops and crank windows, which amuses me. Bonus points to this car for being located in the town of Bath, PA...I went to Bath to buy an ‘88 IROC-Z when I was about 18. I also like the earlier style wheels on this car. $1200.

Those are the three current challengers. If I wanted to look at Trans Ams there are more, but I prefer the simpler body and standard WS6 package of the Formula. I’d rank them in the inverse of the order presented, ‘87 350, ‘89 305, ‘89 350 for how much I like them.

What do we think?

onlytwowheels > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 18:35

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The 3rd, it is more  desirable due to the 350.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > onlytwowheels 11/08/2020 at 18:37

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I agree, also in nicer shape than the other 350 car. Blue ‘89 would have better brakes...I’d like to get VINs for both and do CompNine reports on them, see if they had any interesting options. 

MM54 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 18:38

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First or third. Probably the third one.

dogisbadob > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 18:40

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The best one that has T-tops :p

Even if the engine sucks, you can always replace it. At least they’re easier to work on than a 4th gen

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 18:42

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I think you should get a cheap Challenger instead:

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=552028046&zip=90210&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3Fzip%3D90210%26city%3DBeverly%2BHills%26incremental%3Dall%26modelCodeList%3DCHALLENGER%26makeCodeList%3DDODGE%26sortBy%3Drelevance%26location%3D%255Bobject%2BObject%255D%26maxPrice%3D5000%26state%3DCA%26firstRecord%3D0%26marketExtension%3Dinclude%26searchRadius%3D0%26isNewSearch%3Dfalse&numRecords=25&maxPrice=5000&firstRecord=0&modelCodeList=CHALLENGER&makeCodeList=DODGE&searchRadius=0&makeCode1=DODGE&modelCode1=CHALLENGER&clickType=listing

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > dogisbadob 11/08/2020 at 18:42

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That’s why I like the blue one...engine doesn’t matter if I’m just gonna swap it anyway. T-tops were a must too, I wouldn’t look at one without them. 

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > MM54 11/08/2020 at 18:43

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Third is the nicest car and best deal, it being the furthest away is the main knock against it. If they were the same distance away it would be a no brainer.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 11/08/2020 at 18:45

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The way my mental illness is setup, it really only allows me to be into one manufacturer of vehicles for some reason. If I bought a Mopar I’d have to sell my Suburban, my J2000 race car, and possibly my wife’s Escalade to do so. 

dogisbadob > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 18:51

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Oh also, the 90-92 cars have awesome cupholders on each door,. They are huge and awesome! You might be able to install them on 82-89 models, but the cupholders on the newer cars is worth knowing

And plastic T-tops started in 87 or 88. They are much lighter and easier to use than the glass, but they scratch easily, so a people complained and got a glass replacement set. If scratches don’t bother you, it’s worth going for the plastic.

Improved t-top seals started with 89 or 90

flatisflat > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 18:53

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Distance be damned, third option is the best.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 18:55

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But in your post above, you said “challenger”... TWICE

:-0

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > dogisbadob 11/08/2020 at 18:57

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I think I read the plastic tops were for ‘89. Now that I’m thinking about it, I don’t remember any of the 3rd gens I’m familiar with having any cup holders at all, but they were ‘87 and ‘88 cars. I had a ‘92 Trans Am, but so briefly I don’t remember anything about it except that it had barbed wire pin striping. 

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 11/08/2020 at 18:57

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Subconscious desire for a Mopar, confirmed. 

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > onlytwowheels 11/08/2020 at 18:59

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Which is like saying “Of these pieces of crap, this one is the most desireable piece of crap!”

onlytwowheels > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 19:00

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I believe you can get all the specs off the Service Parts Identification decal.

Back in 1988 I went to several Pontiac dealers looking for a Firebird Formula with a 5 speed. None were to be found, so I thought about getting the Formula 350 t o make up for the lack of manual trans. Somehow my eyes drifted toward a Fiero Formula at one dealership. Next thing you know, I’m leaving the dealership with a Fiero Formula. N ot what I went there for, and probably should have stayed with the original plan.

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 19:10

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If it's going to be a project, why not go for a 1st gen?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 19:11

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At those prices, why not buy all three and knit together one satisfactory example?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 19:11

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Have you seen this?

www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo

dogisbadob > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 19:17

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The 90-92 Firebird/Trans Am has them, but not the Camaro

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > John Norris (AngryDrifter) 11/08/2020 at 19:20

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I was born in 1984, first gen F-bodies do nothing for me. 80s cars are much more appealing to me. Also I don’t want to spend $8k for a first gen in the kind of shape these ones are in for $1000. 

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/08/2020 at 19:21

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I prefer shitboxes. Satisfactory is far too nice for me, haha. 

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > dogisbadob 11/08/2020 at 19:37

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Interesting. 4th gen has that one dumb cup holder right behind the shifter, I always hated it...almost better to just not have one. I also just generally don’t like 4th gens. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 19:40

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I like my s**tboxes to be satisfactory.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/08/2020 at 19:48

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Fair. Long as they’re safe they can be as shitty as they want with me. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 19:54

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“Satisfactory” in my book is 90% about safe. Otherwise, to be driven slowly and limited.

dogisbadob > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 19:54

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I can’t blame you for not liking 4th gens! The build quality rivals Tesla, and they are impossible to work on.

Any 4th gen Firebird/TA (but not the Camaro) with the Monsoon system has a cupholder on the passenger door but not the driver’s door. And there are also 2 cupholders behind the center console (for rear seat use).

All 97+ Camaro/Firebird/TA models get an extra cupholder that pulls out from the passengers side next to the radio. So 5 cupholders for a 97-02 Firebird/TA with Monsoon, 4 for a Firebird/TA without as well as any 97-02 Camaro (with or without Monsoon)

Anyway, here is a pic of the 90-92 late 3rd gen Firebird cupholder in the door:

Here is how you can add cupholders to any 3rd gen Camaro or Firebird. You can also swap the center console for a 4th gen console, that gives you the cupholder you don’t like, and if you use a 97-02 console, you’ll get 4 cupholders

OmerCarrothers333 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/08/2020 at 20:18

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Oh God, I can’t see any reason to buy any of them, but I hate GM cars of that era.

Exceptions being Grand Nationals, C4 Corvettes, and the Syclone and Typhoon.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > OmerCarrothers333 11/08/2020 at 20:40

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I don’t even disagree with you that there’s no reason to buy any of them. I like bad cars, these are all objectively bad cars, haha.

I did also  have a C4, and my particular one was also pretty bad.

66P1800inpieces > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 11/08/2020 at 23:24

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For most any project, car house or other, my wife thinks my 90% is her 110% and she wants me to take things down to a 70%. No way, do it right or not do it. Sometimes I can make do with 85%. Other times I just hang out on the couch (and get in trouble). The above is why my Volvo’s engine is finally complete but in the middle room of our house with the transmission next to it. Once brake lines and a new proportioning valve go in I can pop the engine back in and let it sit all winter. (Or do the dash that has been sitting for 2 years). Btw my wife is 1000% reasonable,  I am just lazy and have scope creep on everything. 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > 66P1800inpieces 11/09/2020 at 00:04

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That last sentence is me.

My bird IS the word > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 11/09/2020 at 06:28

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Imo, if you can buy one thats rust free, do that. Drop in a blueprint crate motor, and be happy. Dont bother with the stock block nor restoration BS.