1978 Pontiac Firebird Formula Restoration Slideshow
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- čas přidán 31. 12. 2009
- Restoring my 78 Firebird Formula
Specifications
Pontiac 400 Engine Build in Progress
Block: 500557 Casting (1977) Bored .060
Cam: Comp Camps XE262
Rockers: Scorpion 1.65 Full Roller Rockers
Heads: #62
Gaskets: Victor Reinz
Carburetor: Quadrajet
Pistons: Sealed Power Forged .060 Over (Dished to run pump gas)
Rods: Sealed Power Forged I Beam
Timing Chain: Double Roller Patriot Timing Chain
Interior
Vinyl Seat Covers, Carpet, Console, Door Panels, Headliner, Shift Indicator, Floor Mats, Dash Cover/Cap, Package Tray etc all purchased from Classic Industries.
All the trim was redyed using SEM interior dye
Radio:
Kenwood
Speakers:
Two 6x9 3 Way Kenwoods
Sound Deadener:
Raam Mat lined on floorboards and quarter panels
Half Inch padding on top of Raam Mat
I give full credit of the music to Alice in Chains for "Check My Brain" EMI/Virgin Columbia
Bush "Machine Head" Atlantic/Trauma/Interscope - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Beautiful beautiful job. I'd love to do that if I had the money. Good to see somebody restoring and taking care of the classics.
Great video. I live in the northwest corner of Alabama and I've been a Pontiac guy since I was a kid in the 1970's. I've got two now a 79 T/A ,67 Firebird. Enjoyed the video.
Fantastic! Its amazing how much a difference those original wheels make hey. Just beautiful stuff
Beautiful. Especially once you got the snowflakes on the and the BFGoodrich tires on there. Completed the car for sure.
beautiful! I'm working on a 75 Trans Am. Hope that one day it looks as nice
Ok thanks you helped me a lot in choosing a car because now i know i can get it restored haha and that will be fun!
Dame impressive, hats off to you
Nice car. Always like the Formula as they were more rare than the Trans Am yet equally powerful. Machine the edges of the snowflakes.
Nice work!
Sick car dude my dads freind had a brand new 78 that color and then my dad had a brand new 79 formula special order
good job man looks good
Sweet. Pictures!
i love it
the formual is rare i dont see them a alot like the T/As specially this year 1978.
Way cool. Way. Cool !
Thanks man
nice job. im working on my 1978 formula rt now. ive got a long way to go....and a short time to get there.
Pontiac 400 Build Underway. Suspension upgrades on the docket too, subframe connectors, body bushings from Pro Touring Fbody, ready for install.
Going to try to post another 'slideshow video' on my engine build soon and once I get back home, a real video from in car. Thanks for the comments.
@Skidhippy Very cool, and thanks for the compliment. Good luck finding parts man, that sucks. Nice having a four speed though that's for sure.
A lot of it depends on the transmission, torque converter, carburetor, cam etc etc. I'm learning all this now with this engine build of mine. An overdrive trans is the best if you can afford to do the swap. The 200R4's fit in the Th350 spot the same, just have to move the crossmember back. There's a company called gearvendors that sells a unit that mounts to a TH400 or Th350 and makes it overdrive. You have to modify the shifter, but it works. The shifter kit is like $75 or something
It depends on your engine like what kind of cam you're running and also what type of transmission you have. There are some good message boards out there that can help out a lot more than me. Transamcountry and 78TA are really helpful
That's something I really don't know after having this far for 5 years... Embarrassed to say I dont know. I tend to top out around 70 mph with high revs. It feels like it's got a 3.:73. Im away at school right now, so I'll have to get back with you when I make it back for Christmas.
They used 15x7 snowflakes, the ones on my car, on all firebirds from 77 to 79 if you chose that option. Stock wheels are Rally Two's. If you got the WS6 suspension package, you got the 15x8 rims which have a deeper lip between the tire and the wheel.
@MikeyB3815 Thanks bud I appreciate that! Took my two years in high school with a part time job to do it. At college now, so she stays at home but I miss her everyday.
Mines a 78. I've still got the American Racing ones, but I'm going to try to sell them if I can.
Gotcha. I've heard it both ways. There was a guy on 78ta.com forum who swore by his 200R4. He claimed that if built properly, could withstand significant amount of power. He was around 500 horse with a buick engine and ran the 200r4 without any issue. I'll probably just run my Th350 for now. I'm working on getting my suspension going so stay tuned for that..
Nice Formula. I have the same year but with the Muncie 4spd. I want to start restoring it soon, but it's hard to find the parts in Switzerland....
Hey, nothing special under the hood at the moment. It's got a 350 Olds Rocket that the previous owner put in. I've got a 400 block, fully machined, crank ground, Xe 262 Comp Cams, Scorpion 1.65 Roller Rockers, #62 Heads off a 69-70 Goat with hardened valve seats etc, sealed power forged connecting rods and pistons, liberty performance timing chain, melling oil pump. Designed by Jim Lehart at Central Virginia Machine Service - Pro...
@goldrazor90 Depends on how far you want to take it. Mine was basically shot all around. I got a new console, new shift plate, dash cap, carpet, headliner, all new upholstery, door panels, floor mats, mirror, wheel, hub etc. That was total about $1,600.. Plus $1,000 labor to do ALL OF THAT plus redye the parts! My guy was a beast! Feel free to ask more questions, I love to help!
Take your time and do it right! Post questions here if you need help.
it still looks good there are two ways you can fix that go to year one.com and order it or go to like wal-mart or any store that sell paint cans but the do have cans for that type stuff take the belt out and spray it black or leave it like it is :)
Had the same car bought it for 300 bucks .sold it for 4000
actually my dad had a 78 formula with the 400 Pontiac and it does have a 3.73 factory. and a 3.73 or 3.42 are great. like he said it depends on the trans and the HP to back up the gear ratio.
nice car and good job but you forgot the seat belts there bue lol....
@caferacermac Thanks bud, I appreciate it!
Thanks for the memories! My first car was a 77 Formula......man I miss it. What size engine is in it? Mine had the rare 301 c.i. Great job restoring it........looks exactly like mine did.
Beautiful car. You could take it to the next step with a little panel alignment. I know they were terrible from the factory on those cars but this would go a long way.
Ragin Reggin you are absolutely right. I wish I knew more about body work. I have no problem climbing under it and going to town with an angle grinder and then painting but I've always shyed away from actual body work.
The doors have always had an issue. The guy who painted the car still couldn't get rid of the sag with a new pin and bushing kit. Maybe it was a cheesy brand kit, wouldn't think that mattered but who knows.
I appreciate your comment and sometime I'll try to work on the panels. I'm a lot more willing to try stuff like that than the time when I put together this video. Also keep in mind the car is heading a very different direction from what it looks like in the video.
Kevin great vid....I have owned several Camaros...and firebird of that generation (1970-1981)...and even a Can-Am.....Pontiac used several different types of reverse hood scoops....with the first ones being fully functional via a trap door air gate....the Can-am for 77 only got a Trans-am hood scoop as did the one year only 74 GTO....early Formula got Ram-Air....but by 1976 the twin scoops were just ornamental...77-81 Formula used the same hood.....the rarest formulas to find are 4 speed cars...or factory 4 wheel disc brake formulas.....The Holy Grail of Formulas would be the extremely rare 79-81 Turbo formulas.....I like the formula because it's not a Trans Am.....though a smart buyer could order up just about every option a Trans-Am had....This car is a nice car.....though I like the Pontiac rolling stock wheels better....its just my preference.....great job...
You are so correct on the formulas. I currently own a 1997 WS6 formula with the LT1 and 6 speed. It has functional RA hood and 17" factory wheels. I think around 600 made. I know the value of 4th gen have bottomed out but I think I will hang on to this one for a few years and see what the market does.
The market will never be kind to a LT-1 f -body....though being a 6 speed will keep it above water....to some degree. ...another thing that killed that generation was build quality and that...im driving a tank feeling with the ride.....additionally and much later the cheerleader V6
camaros... firebirds ...mustangs ....challengers....being 300 horsepower. ...with better gas mileage per gallon. ....
Ragin Reggin check my comment
How much did it cost in parts to redo the whole interior?
They're Eagle Alloys 203 Series
@yellowthingrules
There has been a big problem regarding the second generation dashes. The manufactures of the new dashes have been claiming mass production for years now, but only a few people have actually gotten the dashes they ordered through the various classic car parts dealers. No one knows when they will be produced, but after close to ten years everyone has basically given up hope on it. If you are looking for a perfect perfect car, send your dash to Just Dashes
me personally i like american racing rims rather than factory rims on the 77 formulas
@bradybrushwood Under the rear seats actually. :P
@MrBubbles69u Thanks bud!
@sloppyjos1 i hear ya man haha i wanna get mine done but there is no work haha.
Haha yeah, when I did the interior, I couldn't find reproduction black belts.
@Anastasiofan neber mind man haha. i had a few beers in me.
Those rims seam to be for a 77 model year not 78 there is a few ways to tell them apart, still very nice car wanted to see under the Hood still
Oh that's alright. I was just wondering because I have a 76 base Firebird that I am converting into a T/A and it has the 2.41 open diff and I am wanting a posi but I am trying to decide which gear is the best.
that's a beautiful formula man! I just bought one couple a days ago for $1500! wanted to know how much the paint and interior cost all together?
Did you find the build sheet under the drivers seat?
Could you list the pice of the car origanally and all the parts (individually)?
One person got a Pinto instead of a Firebird as a first car.
@Anastasiofan no hard feelings im not looking for a fight just being humorously friendly.
@Anastasiofan
They charge close to a thousand bucks to redo a dash, and for me it wasn't worth it. I put a dash cap on mine and it's holding up great, a year or so after it was installed.
If you need a used one, they can be gotten fairly easily but pay attention on what gauge cluster is offered in them since the formys/trans ams had rally gauges but the esprits/base models usually didn't. If you need anymore help, be sure to post and I'll help to the best of my ability.
I have a question,
the front end of the car, you know that plastic part, do you know of anywhere you can get a replacement copy, because mine is warped and it slightly smaller now.
Nice job. My first car was a white '78 Formula. Have you considered buying a "Formula" steering wheel from Ebay. My car had the same wheel as yours. I never understood why it was called the "Formula" steering wheel but it was only standard on the T/As.
EightTicks8 because it was loosely based on a steering wheel found on formula racing cars....from the 50s and 60s....mainly Formula cars from Porsche ...Ferrari ...euro racers
What rear end do you have in it?
@alipontiac
Thanks man. If you're big into T/A's go to 78ta.com.
Yeah I could but that would take forever hahaha. I mean, figure $2,500 for the car, $3,000 for the interior or so including labor, $3,500 paint, $500 in electrical, $3,000 or so in motor (pontiac 400) to be installed in a bit, $500 radio and speakers, $450 in gauges/gauge panel. Just so much stuff. Send me a message on here.
How long did it take to restore and how much did it set ya back ?
Nice I'm getting ready to do a 79. Arkansas where? I'm in central Arkansas.
Hey Mauser, sorry for the late reply. I am in Memphis, Tn. If you are looking for a Pontiac engine, let me know. I am considering selling mine. Good luck with your build. I've got plenty of parts that you may or may not be interested in. Freshly rebuilt TH-350 and 400 Pontiac. Thanks, Kevin
+Kevin thanks Kevin I'm sure I'll be needing some things how can I contact you?
mauserk98bnz44 feel free to message me here and add me as a friend
What wiring did you use? I really wanna restor my firebird but I have no wiring
fieredup stang if I were to do it all over I would go with something from painless or a complete American auto wire setup. However I used M and H or wiring harness dot com. They reproduce factory harnesses as they have the schematics from gm etc. It's cool to be able to plug and play but if you're skilled at wiring or are willing to learn look at Tony candelas book on wiring and check out a factory update kit that had provisions for all the factory stuff with modern blade fuses and upgrades already present for stuff like Power window relays etc.
Thanks! I love how your car turned out!!! I bought mine for $300 from my neighbor, he used it as a parts car for his 69 bird, it is missing soooooo many bolts! But it was a steal!
@bigdogsdog
I can't really talk costs on here, but I can contact you privately and discuss it with you, if you like. Thanks for the compliment bud, I appreciate it. If you are into these cars, I recommend 78ta.com. I've been a member there for two years now and they've helped me with my restoration. Thanks again.
My dad has them laying somewhere ill let you know when he finds them and ill,make a video
no engine pictures....
@rockurworld99
Im confused heh
I love you no homo, you need to help me out an, i just got a 78 formula 400 and i need to restore it i need interior and all the engine is good, message me orsomthing bud.