Test drove '99 Formula - I'm hooked
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Independence, MO.
Test drove '99 Formula - I'm hooked Hey all, I've been browsing the site for awhile now and thought I would go ahead and sign on. Lots of great info here, it's really been a help in my search for an LS-1 powered Firebird!
I finally got behind the wheel of one today, a '99 Formula, and even though it has some problems, I'm impressed! Coming from a background of Fox body 'stangs, this is a night and day difference.
I do have one question though... it sounded like the throwout bearing was bad on the one I was looking at, is this common or is it a good indicator that this car was beat on? Car has 98k miles and is all stock. It should be a (fairly) cheap fix, and the rest of the car seemed straight and tight. I even like the color, sort of an odd blueish green or greenish blue, depending on how you look at it, heheh.
Anyway, I'll have my Firebird soon enough, either this one or another. Pics are promised just as soon as I get her home
.
I finally got behind the wheel of one today, a '99 Formula, and even though it has some problems, I'm impressed! Coming from a background of Fox body 'stangs, this is a night and day difference.
I do have one question though... it sounded like the throwout bearing was bad on the one I was looking at, is this common or is it a good indicator that this car was beat on? Car has 98k miles and is all stock. It should be a (fairly) cheap fix, and the rest of the car seemed straight and tight. I even like the color, sort of an odd blueish green or greenish blue, depending on how you look at it, heheh.
Anyway, I'll have my Firebird soon enough, either this one or another. Pics are promised just as soon as I get her home
. 
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville, NC
spend the extra money if you can to get one with lower miles. if the car whines when you push the clutch in, or if it starts to make a grinding noise while the foot in not pushing the clutch pedal in, yeah it could be the throw out bearing. but the T.o. bearing shouldnt be replaced unless youre going to replace the clutch too. just a thought. buy one with a new clutch problem solved.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Independence, MO.
I do plan on modding it anyway, so the T/O bearing isn't a big deal really. I can get the car for $8,000, possibly a bit less, so I'm thinking it'll be mine this wednesday. Even just a plain jane firebird is hard to find with the T-56 around here for less than $10k, and most of the automatic equipped cars are between $8k and $10k.
I could travel to get one, but would rather not unless I was saving quite a bit, so options are limited and this car looks good to me. I've heard it said that the right price is one that the owner is satisfied with, and I don't mind $8k for this one, heheh.
I could travel to get one, but would rather not unless I was saving quite a bit, so options are limited and this car looks good to me. I've heard it said that the right price is one that the owner is satisfied with, and I don't mind $8k for this one, heheh.
here's a little food for thought.....
if you ever want to have extra money in the future.....dont buy this car....the addiction only gets worse from here......if you are hooked now.....it;s nothing compared to dent it will create in you bank account......
for me it turned into more of a hobby/lifestyle.....if i never started turning wrenches for a job and getting more and more into cars....i would prob own a house by now.....
but....houses are over rated ne ways.........**** it get the car and be happy.....you could die tomorrow.....least there will be a f-body in the garage!!!!!!
good luck
if you ever want to have extra money in the future.....dont buy this car....the addiction only gets worse from here......if you are hooked now.....it;s nothing compared to dent it will create in you bank account......
for me it turned into more of a hobby/lifestyle.....if i never started turning wrenches for a job and getting more and more into cars....i would prob own a house by now.....
but....houses are over rated ne ways.........**** it get the car and be happy.....you could die tomorrow.....least there will be a f-body in the garage!!!!!!
good luck
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Independence, MO.
Well, I pulled the trigger on it tonight. $7600 out the door. I'll get pics up tomorrow, was too dark tonight.
I already know I'm gonna be happy, heheh. Kicked off the tcs and got her a bit out of shape on the way home, hell yeah! Nothing like laying down rubber at half throttle, lol.
I'm still confused on the color... one of the members here has one similar that was called blue green metallic (BGM?), but for the color options for that year it looks like the mystic teal? I guess you guys will let me know when I get the pics up tomorrow. I do really like the color.
All said, I'm glad I didn't get another mustang, heheh.
Edit: Oh, and about the money, I just got an inheritance... this car will be running 12 flat in the 1/4 before summer. After that... who knows, heh!
I already know I'm gonna be happy, heheh. Kicked off the tcs and got her a bit out of shape on the way home, hell yeah! Nothing like laying down rubber at half throttle, lol.
I'm still confused on the color... one of the members here has one similar that was called blue green metallic (BGM?), but for the color options for that year it looks like the mystic teal? I guess you guys will let me know when I get the pics up tomorrow. I do really like the color.
All said, I'm glad I didn't get another mustang, heheh.
Edit: Oh, and about the money, I just got an inheritance... this car will be running 12 flat in the 1/4 before summer
. After that... who knows, heh! Last edited by 2Birds; Feb 26, 2008 at 08:22 PM.
11 Second Club
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 868
Likes: 0
From: Charleston, SC
yea i traded my blown 03 mustang GT for my stock Z28....night and day difference! i was a little skeptical at first, but after about 10 sec i was hooked and havent looked back since. take the plunge, i promise you wont be disapointed at all!!!!!!
here's a little food for thought.....
if you ever want to have extra money in the future.....dont buy this car....the addiction only gets worse from here......if you are hooked now.....it;s nothing compared to dent it will create in you bank account......
for me it turned into more of a hobby/lifestyle.....if i never started turning wrenches for a job and getting more and more into cars....i would prob own a house by now.....
but....houses are over rated ne ways.........**** it get the car and be happy.....you could die tomorrow.....least there will be a f-body in the garage!!!!!!
good luck
if you ever want to have extra money in the future.....dont buy this car....the addiction only gets worse from here......if you are hooked now.....it;s nothing compared to dent it will create in you bank account......
for me it turned into more of a hobby/lifestyle.....if i never started turning wrenches for a job and getting more and more into cars....i would prob own a house by now.....
but....houses are over rated ne ways.........**** it get the car and be happy.....you could die tomorrow.....least there will be a f-body in the garage!!!!!!
good luck
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Independence, MO.
No doubt it's going to put a hole in my pocket, but that's okay... I stayed single for a reason, lol 
.
First up is fixing the tranny, gotta do the T/O anyway, so I'm going with a decent clutch and all. Then, of course, swapping out the stock 10 bolt. Full exhaust is next, and the lid, and a tune since I'll be running 3:73's in the new rear on top of the exhaust (DD, gotta keep it reasonable, but 4:10's still sound like fun). Might as well swap out the intake while I'm at it, the LS-6 should be fine. And certainly do the subframe connectors and LCA's, with some decent DR's.
Hmmm... up around 4 to $5k already, that should be enough for now, lol. Hopefully, that will be enough to get me deep in the 12's with a good launch.
. First up is fixing the tranny, gotta do the T/O anyway, so I'm going with a decent clutch and all. Then, of course, swapping out the stock 10 bolt. Full exhaust is next, and the lid, and a tune since I'll be running 3:73's in the new rear on top of the exhaust (DD, gotta keep it reasonable, but 4:10's still sound like fun). Might as well swap out the intake while I'm at it, the LS-6 should be fine. And certainly do the subframe connectors and LCA's, with some decent DR's.
Hmmm... up around 4 to $5k already, that should be enough for now, lol. Hopefully, that will be enough to get me deep in the 12's with a good launch.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Independence, MO.
Okay, as promised, here are a couple pics. It needs cleaned up a bit, I'm doing that later today.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h..._99/bird_2.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h..._99/bird_3.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h..._99/bird_2.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h..._99/bird_3.jpg