TAC Central => Lobby => Topic started by: ertugg63 on March 30, 2025, 02:25:48 PM
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Hello, all, just introducing myself to the Forum. Joined today as a way to learn more about my vehicle in specific and late 2nd gen Firebirds in general.
Currently own a 1979 Formula, white on light blue, 403ci Olds, TH350 auto, 2.41 safety-trac rear. 52,500 miles, original save for the exhaust, which I had replaced without cc, kept the splitter tail pipes. Bought her about one year ago, when she came up for sale, think I’m the third owner, pretty well documented with build sheet, window sticker, other records.
Always been a late 2nd gen Camaro guy, own one ‘78 and two ‘ 79s, but always wanted to check out the F body cousin in the Pontiac side of the family. Must say, really impressed with Pontiac, the more I learn and enjoy “ Francine “, as I call her - really fine driving automobile, like the Camaros, but somehow different, more refined, well mannered.
Anyways, howdy, y’all….
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Welcome aboard. Sounds like you got a cream-puff. You're in good company here, and we wait impatiently for your pics. :)
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Greetings from north Florida, tajoe. Yep, I just got lucky finding Francine at the right time. Pics, well glad to, but I’m so old school ignorant in computer uploading, it’s just sad. I do have pics on my mobile phone, but any guidance you or someone has, I’d really appreciate. Thanks for the welcome! I’ll try to snap one with my iPad here, see what happens…
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Test….
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Okay, worked, I guess, had to reduce file size to at least “ large “, … Test 2…
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Trying two pics at once…
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Well, only one at a time then…
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Hey ertugg63, welcome to the family and nice car. What part of North FL are you in? I grew up in Jacksonville.
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Alachua county, nearest town is High Springs. Thank you for the welcome!
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One more, a build sheet…
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Welcome. Not a common car these days in original condition, most now wear TA decals. Does your aircleaner still have the Keep your GM vehicle decal in place? She's a beauty.
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Greetings, Wellington. Yes, I sure was lucky to find this one in such great shape. Yes, the air cleaner decal with the “ Keep your GM vehicle all GM. “, is still in place. I actually bought a replacement sticker before finding the original way on the backside of the air cleaner bowl.
I did replace the jacking instructions sticker, on the underside of trunk lid. The original was just hanging there, I keep it in my folder of documents.
I also had to replace starter, with original type unit, and the wiring harness and windshield wiper motor and switch.
Someone else converted the a/c compressor, R- 134? At least it blows cold. Also, the car originally had the Rally II wheels, but at some point, not to long before I got her, those were replaced with the N90 snowflakes she wears now. Era correct, and I really like the look, gonna keep them!
Sad that so many Formulas have been ‘ tribute-ed “ into TAs, guess they bring more $ that way? My plan is to preserve this one as is, keep up with maintenance, enjoy a drive or a car show once in a while. Gotta drive ‘em!
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Welcome to TAC. We are glad that you found us. What a beautiful car you have. Feel free to post pics of the Camaros too.
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Welcome to TAC, beautiful car. White is my favorite colour on the Firebirds/Trans Ams. A 79 Formula is def a rare beast these days. Sorry, I suppose I should not call Francine a beast, LOL. This is THE best place to talk about Firebirds. And yes, post your camaros as well. I had a '96 Z 6 speed. I loved that one.
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Welcome, welcome! Nice color combo and its rare to get that build sheet. Looking forward to your posts, this is theee place to talk shop and meet new friends.
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Kentucky yeti, roadking77 and rkellerjr, thank you all for the kind welcome and comments.
I’ll be happy to post up some pics of the Z28s, now that I finally figured out how to, but likely not till tomorrow- got a volunteer gig I’m headed off to now.
I do agree this forum is a very good one, already having learned a few things by perusing the topics and the excellent info and resources here.
I feel very blessed to be Francine’s current caretaker, she wouldn’t be offended by any beast comments, lol, but she is really quite the lady. She does have a nice throaty rumble to her with new exhaust, but usually just purrs like a kitten. Bad Beige, one of my ‘79 Z28s, is the real beast…
Cheers, all…
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Welcome to the site! Beautiful ride.
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Ertugg63,
Welcome to TAC! That’s a nice collection of F body’s you have there. Your 79 formula is a beauty, great color combination and I think the 15X8 snowflakes are a nice addition. I agree with others the Formulas have become a rarity. While I have owned only Trans Am’s, I think these cars look sleeker without the wheel flares.
I have been a member here for a little over 5 years, so I am a newbie compared to many. A great group of people who love cars and for the most part don’t get bent out of shape because another member likes things a little different. Also a wealth of information here. When you have some time, please tell us what got you hooked on these cars? I love hearing people’s stories.
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Ryeguy2006a, thank you for the welcome and compliment on the Formula. Wow, a charcoal gray ‘76 T/A, with a LS to boot! Very nice, musta been hard to let it go? Thank you…
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Don't replace the sticker, mainly because a correct one doesn't exist with this model. I have several versions arranged for printing but haven't given them the go ahead. Would be great to get a pic when you have a moment. Should be PM code if base hasn't been swapped.
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@5thT/A ; Thank you for the greeting and kind words for my Formula. I am very glad to have found this forum, it seems a wealth of information and it is always a privilege to be able to learn from those with a broader wisdom.
I have much experience in all things late second gen Camaro, but less so with its Pontiac cousin. My Dad was a Chevy - Olds -GMC dealer, 1968 to 1981, in a small SC town, growing up, so I naturally was drawn to those cool looking Z28s, as I came of age in the mid 70’s. Worked in the parts department there as the stock boy, but was always bugging the service mechanics, many of whom drove Camaros, to tell me what they were doing / how they were fixing this or that. Always had to be around whenever a delivery of new Camaros arrived and was unloaded from the car trailers, nothing like watching six shiny new 1980 Z28s rolling down the ramp and into the parking area! The color and stripe combos that year were fantastic. And, besides, Firebirds, even though a GM product, was the competition across town, same as a Mustang or Mopar, and thus verboten!
First car was a ‘69 Camaro Sport Coupe convertible with a tired 350ci sbc and a TH350 trans, nice cruiser. About a year after I got it, one rainy Sunday afternoon on the way to my girlfriend’s, I wrapped it around a power pole when taking a turn a bit to fast and the rear end slid around as I over corrected the steering - not a very experienced and a bit to cocky a driver then…
Mostly unhurt, save my teenage pride, I sulked around town for the next ten months driving a puke green Oldsmobile Omega, mid 70s something, with a wheezy straight six and three on the tree trans, a trade in off my Dad’s lot. Talk about humbling. My best buddy at the time had a ‘68 Sport Coupe Camaro with a 327 2bbl and the two speed power glide. We’d trade weeks driving to and from school, of course we both much preferred the weeks he got to drive, lol!
Worked and saved my dinero that summer and fall, and in the spring of 1980, in a deal with my Dad, he paid half the invoice price, and I the other, for a charcoal gray on black, ‘80 Z28. It had a TH350 auto, and posi rear with a 3.42 ring and pinion gearing, Of course the LM-1 V8, and the ‘new for that model year ‘ air induction hood, truly sinister looking, lol. Yes, I wanted a 4 speed, but none on the lot that day and I was an impatient 18 year old, plus, this Z was the cheapest - a/c, tilt, pwr windows, N90 rims, that’s it for options. Another buddy had a charcoal gray with red interior and T-tops, red stripes, we’d go cruising round the main drag together, thinking we were just the coolest, har har.
Drove the ‘80 all through remaining portion of senior year, college, 4 year tour in the USAF, and afterwards, till met my beautiful wife in 1993, marriage, careers, life takes over, y’all know how that goes… The big Z28, Babydoll, took a further and further back seat in my life, till one day in 2005, I just couldn’t watch her waste away and didn’t have money or time to properly care for her. Sold her on eBay, of all things, somewhat fortunate that a guy from Ft Lauderdale area got her. I wouldn’t have wanted to see her tooling around the local scene with someone else at the wheel…
Fast forward to 2021, I’m in my second year of early retirement, enjoying life, learning to balance keeping busy without over committing, focusing on hobbies and interests I now have time, and funds for. I never regretted the decision to sell Babydoll, but did often miss driving and tinkering with her, so one spring day in May, I located Big Blue, a ‘79 Z28, original 350 V8 and TH 350 tranny, one repaint in original code 24, bright blue on light blue I vinyl interior, ~ 38,000 miles, about five hours drive away, just north of Atlanta. Travelled up there, looked him over, test drove, made the deal, brought him home that night on a rented U-Haul. And just like that, I was back into F-bodies again….
Evidently, Camaros, and I suspect Firebirds, too, are kinda like Lays ‘tater chips… ya can’t have just one. Next thing I know, it’s January of 2023, and I’m now in possession of three late second gen Camaros, and building what has since been dubbed the Camaro Barn to house them in. Funny how life goes…then I came across this cool looking ‘79 Formula, Francine, and ya know, there’s no guilt now about going over to the dark side, like before, in my youth, so I figured the time was now. Always have admired the T/As, a bit to outlandish look for my taste, but the lines, power and handling I always respected. I decided Formulas were the perfect fit for me, should I ever pursue one, more subtle, less flashy, somehow more conservative, like me, ha, yet still has the grunt if needed - at least from a 1979 era perspective…
Guess that brings me up to the here and now, the abbreviated version, believe it or not. Well I’m long winded anyways, but ya did ask for a story, hope it wasn’t tmi, 5th T/A, et all…
Btw, you have a really sharp looking ‘80 Trans Am! Pontiac 461? Is that a 0.30 bored 455? Wow, bet he runs real strong! That reminds me of the rest of my story, includes my little brother’s 81 turbo SE, but that’ll be for another tall tale…
Cheers!
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Don't replace the sticker, mainly because a correct one doesn't exist with this model. I have several versions arranged for printing but haven't given them the go ahead. Would be great to get a pic when you have a moment. Should be PM code if base hasn't been swapped.
Wallington, okay, I will not replace the air cleaner decal, original is in decent shape. I will get you a pic later today, just lemme have my morning coffee first… thank you. 😊
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Welcome!
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@N PRGRES, thank you!
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Ertugg63,
Welcome to TAC! That’s a nice collection of F body’s you have there. Your 79 formula is a beauty, great color combination and I think the 15X8 snowflakes are a nice addition. I agree with others the Formulas have become a rarity. While I have owned only Trans Am’s, I think these cars look sleeker without the wheel flares.
Agreed. While I love my TA, I also think the Formulas and even the Esprit without a spoiler is a very clean sleek look
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Don't replace the sticker, mainly because a correct one doesn't exist with this model. I have several versions arranged for printing but haven't given them the go ahead. Would be great to get a pic when you have a moment. Should be PM code if base hasn't been swapped.
Wallington, as requested, here’s a photo of air cleaner decal, located on passenger’s side towards rear, about 5 o’clock…
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Thanks, will see what I can do with it.
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Here’s a second shot, maybe the pm number is more clear. Sticker looks to have been peeled off and poorly replaced at some point, or slid down and forward over time?
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Welcome to TAC, beautiful car. White is my favorite colour on the Firebirds/Trans Ams. A 79 Formula is def a rare beast these days. Sorry, I suppose I should not call Francine a beast, LOL. This is THE best place to talk about Firebirds. And yes, post your camaros as well. I had a '96 Z 6 speed. I loved that one.
Okay, here’s some pics of two of the Camaros, Carmine, a ‘78, all original paint, interior, drivetrain. Only things replaced are tires, I have the original Goodyears she left Van Nuys wearing, in a rack in front of her, exhaust- true dual exhaust now, still have the original pieces, and gas tank. She was in a collection for over thirty years,the original tank had gummed up, so replaced with nos, found the third build sheet, intact, for her when tank was dropped. Odometer reads 9,769 miles, of which I’ve put about three hundred of that total.
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Carmine…
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And, here’s Big Blue, a ‘79 Bright blue on blue with original LM 1 350 ci, with some second day mods, original TH 350 3 sped auto. ~ 40,000 miles…
I still have all original parts removed from Blue, valve covers, exhaust manifolds, air cleaner, intake manifold, etc.
Pics of Bad Beige will have to wait till manana. He’s in the house garage, and, more importantly, She Who Must Be Obeyed, commands that I stop foolin’ around with my man toys and get some work done around the house. I’m suffering, gents…
Salud!
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She Who Must Be Obeyed, commands that I stop foolin’ around with my man toys and get some work done around the house.
Been there.....
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Thanks for the back story. I love those Z's. Nice pair of cars. I get cars that should have been sold for scrap or parts and try to resurrect. Having a nice original example with low miles is awesome. I dont care how well a car is built, once its taken apart it never goes back to its original state. Kinda like unfolding a roadmap :grin: (guess Im showing my age)
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She Who Must Be Obeyed, commands that I stop foolin’ around with my man toys and get some work done around the house.
Been there.....
😆 lol.
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Thanks for the back story. I love those Z's. Nice pair of cars. I get cars that should have been sold for scrap or parts and try to resurrect. Having a nice original example with low miles is awesome. I dont care how well a car is built, once its taken apart it never goes back to its original state. Kinda like unfolding a roadmap :grin: (guess Im showing my age)
roadking77, I sure do admire your skill and commitment to make them right again, hats off to ya. And, I prefer my Atlas Gazetteer road map of Florida to gps any day. I’m the ole geezer always stopping at state welcome centers to get the latest road map issue, hah!
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Welcome to TAC. We are glad that you found us. What a beautiful car you have. Feel free to post pics of the Camaros too.
Alright, to finish out the thread… Took Bad Beige out for a ride this morning, so a chance for him to pose for pics. ‘79 Z28, original 350 short block, now a 383ci stroker with Dart Sportsman heads, auto trans, 3.42 geared rear, one repaint and interior refurbish about 10 years ago. Very fun Camaro. Norwood build.
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Welcome to TAC. We are glad that you found us. What a beautiful car you have. Feel free to post pics of the Camaros too.
Alright, to finish out the thread… Took Bad Beige out for a ride this morning, so a chance for him to pose for pics. ‘79 Z28, original 350 short block, no a 383ci stroker with Dart Sportsman heads, auto trans, 3.42 geared rear, one repaint and interior refurbish about 10 years ago. Very fun Camaro. Norwood build.
Last two…
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Well I never expected such elaborate detail. While I love the cars, it’s the stories behind them I find very interesting. You have a very impressive collection of late 2nd Gen F body’s. I don’t know how you found such clean original examples. How do you decide which one you want to drive?
Thanks for taking the time to post your story and the great photos!
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Oops, I just reread your threads and see that Bad beige is the hot rod! Small block chevy’s can really put out the power. Although a 383 isn’t far from a BB 396. I bet this car is a thrill to drive.
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@ 5th T/A;
Thank you for the fine compliments. It’s been a grand time of my post retirement life, being able to touch a bit of my past by driving and enjoying these cars. I also enjoy the stories of how another enthusiast came by their choice of vehicle and what they have done with them.
It was really a matter of good timing on my part when I started looking for a F body, or two, to purchase. Just good luck, really. And a supportive wife to let me enjoy the search and bringing them home.
Beige is a great example. If anyone here had been perusing Bring A Trailer, auction site, in 2022, you’d a seen Beige listed for sale. A fair bit of his history and pedigree is there, as well as comments posted by seller and prospective buyers or interested parties. Spent most of his life on the NC / SC border with various owners, who made improvements or refurbishments.Then wound up on BAT, where no bidder reached sellers reserve. Ultimately, he wound up being purchased by a fella in Boise, Idaho, who also had several other late second gen Z28s. He kept Beige for about six months, when I came along after seeing a you tube video he posted. One conversation led to another, and we agreed on a price, then Beige shipped to me, at da!
I was the one who made the decision to rebuild the engine as a 383ci stroker. One day in May, 2023, on a drive near my home, Beige spun rod bearings 1 & 3, fatally damaging the two rods and the crankshaft, but leaving the block intact. Cost of a rebuild to stock was roughly the same as doing the 383, so, next thing ya know… kept the Dart heads, got a medium rise aluminum intake that is a Chevrolet high performance unit, kept original Rochester Quadrajet and HEI. Previous owner had put in a pair of Headman headers, kept those and the original air cleaner and snorkel - wolf in sheep’s clothing kinda stealth appearance- and here he is today.
Choosing which one? Ha, well, what day of the week is it? Right now, I drive Beige and Francine the most, when spousal unit isn’t tearing around town in Beige, that is…
Would enjoy hearing more about your T/A when ya have time. Thanks, again, cheers!
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Oops, I just reread your threads and see that Bad beige is the hot rod! Small block chevy’s can really put out the power. Although a 383 isn’t far from a BB 396. I bet this car is a thrill to drive.
Yes, Beige is a real kick in the pants, old school style, to drive. He’s a hoot!
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You asked for it, who in this group doesn’t want to talk about their cars.
I will start how I got hooked on these cars and my handle, 5th TA. In 1070 when I turned 16, I enrolled in a work study program. I would go to high school half a day and work at the transmission shop in the afternoon. Did this until I graduated in 1972 and worked full time at the transmission shop until 1976 when I went back to school and got a degree in computer technology. I worked doing hardware repair on mainframe, mini computers and large disk arrays until I retired in 2018.
In January of 1973 I purchased my first TA new. As years went by I went on to buy a 1975, 1978, 1982. Once retired and without a TA for decades I started looking for a nice Gen II. In 2020 I found my current car a 1980. It had 6600 original miles, always stored inside and I don’t believe it ever got very wet. My documentation says I am the 4th owner. Whiles the car was clean, it needed some maintenance work. The tires were original, as were all the belts and hoses. This was a very clean original car. Unfortunately, 1980 was kind of the pinnacle of no performance. The 301 normally aspirated engine was rated at 150 hp. The 2.41 axle ratio did little to help. I located a 1974 Pontiac 455 and intended to do a mild performance upgrade rebuild. Before I got started another member of TAC had a Pontiac 400 for sale, stroked to 461. It was a pretty high end build done by Butler Performance. The engine was never installed. If if recall the dyno numbers correctly it was 489 hp and 580 ft pounds. Making for a good street engine.
It was supposed to be just an engine upgrade, one thing led to another. If interested you can read about it here. Or just scan through the pictures.
http://www.transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=83455.0