Blenderhead

Hi there. My name is Mike, and I own a 1980 Firebird Formula that I am in the middle of installing a TPI motor/700R4 into. Most of the swap is done, but I figured I would come here for some tech advise on what's left.

This is my second firebird that I have owned. The other cars I really love are the 89-97 mercury cougars (I've owned 6 of them, not counting parts cars) so I know a lot more ford high performance stuff than chevy, but this project hopefully will be a bit of a learning experience. Anyway, when I was 19 I had a 79 Formula that I swapped a 350 into, then proceeded to blow it up racing my girlfriend at the time and being broke with no other car to drive, I ended up having to sell it. I always regretted getting rid of that car, so when the 80 formula popped up on ebay close to my home, I jumped on it.

I picked up a 305TPI/700R4 combo out of an 87GTA with the harness, computer, intake, and basically everything needed for the swap for $200, so pretty soon I'll have a TPI 2nd gen up and running. Then once all the bugs are worked out, I can lose the 305 in favor of a 350. Hope to learn a bit of the GM side of things, and have some fun along the way.

strc09

Very cool swap. Pictures are required to prevent banning. LOL! Welcome to FBO!

Rocket 442

Welcome to FBO Mike.

Interesting project.

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Andy
▌1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass F-85 Deluxe
455cid F2 Block | Edelbrock Performer RPM Heads & ARP Bolt Kit | Mondello JM 22-25-10 Cam - 274/280 .512/.523 | Harland Sharp 1.6 Ratio Full Roller Rockers | Edelbrock Modified Performer Intake
▌1995 Chevy Camaro - Slow
My Cars are USDM, it's like JDM in Japan; Crazy Eh?

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badbird5.7

welcome!

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FirebirdPhil

x2!

Welcome!

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"What if I told you insane was working fifty hours a week in some office for fifty years at the end of which they tell you to piss off; ending up in some retirement village hoping to die before suffering the indignity of trying to make it to the toilet on time? Wouldn't you consider that to be insane?"
-Steve Buscemi as Garland Greene in Con Air

Blenderhead

I'll post some pics tonight when I get home from work. The body of the car is pretty solid, just needs a few rust spots repaired, and a complete paint job, since it was sitting outside under a tarp for 7 years before I bought it. It actually only has 54K miles on it! Oh yeah, it also needs some interior work, but for a 29 year old car, its not too bad.

Blenderhead

Well here are the pics of the car.




Acting as a shelf in my garage before I got around to starting work on it


My mom snapped this pic while I was going through the TPI wiring harness


I'll be mounting the computer under the center console. Once everything is back together, from inside it will look all original.


And finally, the TPI sitting in the engine bay...


Mating the TPI engine harness to the firebird's dash harness (also shows MAF relays mounted on inner fender well)


And a few pics I found a couple months ago and scanned, from back when I was 19 and had my '79 bird.



Unfortunately, I don't think I have any pics of the 79 after paint and wheels. It had a set of centerline outlaw 2s, 15x10 in the rear, 15x7 up front, and I painted the car silver with flat black flames and all the trim flat black. I haven't decided yet how to paint the 80. I'm open to any suggestions though.

And since I'm already posting pics, here are a couple of my other toys
My 91 cougar

and the 393 stroker I put in it


and the current daily driver, a 98 Lincoln MarkVIII LSC

FirebirdPhil

AWESOME! Love the hood on the Formula.

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"What if I told you insane was working fifty hours a week in some office for fifty years at the end of which they tell you to piss off; ending up in some retirement village hoping to die before suffering the indignity of trying to make it to the toilet on time? Wouldn't you consider that to be insane?"
-Steve Buscemi as Garland Greene in Con Air

Blenderhead

Yeah, I always thought the formulas looked a lot better than the T/As. I might get the T/A fenders for it cause I like the look of those, but as far as the shaker hood and fender flares, I prefer the cleaner look of the formula.