Breathing New Life into a '94 Formula

I need some advice or opinions regarding the money I'm putting into my Firebird.

To make a long story short, someone else's insurance company is going to buy out my Prizm after a rear end collision. After experiencing the excruciating torture that is the economy car, I've decided to use the money to put my '94 Formula back on the road!

So far, I've installed a set of Borla catbacks, a Moroso cold air intake, and a new rubber elbow without the silencer tube. It's an auto with 2.73s in the rear.

To start, I need to do a little exterior work. The windshield is cracked, can't be repaired, and needs to be replaced. Local auto glass place quoted me about $300 with all new weather-stripping. Then I need a new drivers side fender and front bumper cover. The only places I've seen selling them so far are Year One and FBody Motor Sports. Any ideas or advice in regards to the best place to pick these up?

Next, it's time for new tires. So what're the "must have" street tires these days? Still the Firehawks?

I've decided suspension gets the attention next. The shocks are shot, and I've been meaning to replace them for a while. I think I'm settled on a full set of Bilsteins, with either Eibach or Hotchkis springs. Also, I was thinking new swaybars, a strut tower brace, and subframe connectors. I'm pretty open to opinions on which manufacturers make the better product. Only real concern is that the subframe connectors don't become an issue with ground clearance, seeing as the new springs should drop the car an inch or so. I also remember reading somewhere that dropping the car demands a new panhand rod. Is this true?

After the above, I'm pretty much up in the air as to what to tackle next. I was thinking maybe a larger throttle body and headers. The drop pretty much rules out long tubes, so I'm stuck looking at shorties or mid-length headers I assume. Which companies should I be looking at? And how come I never see anyone mentioning the Edelbrock headers? Company advice for the throttle body would be appreciated as well.

My CD changer died this winter, so I'm looking into getting a new sound system for the car, but I already know exactly what I want, so I won't bother you all anymore than I already have!

Thanks in advance!

Dr Slinky

1994 Formula Firebird w/ matching white rims 1978 Firebird Espirit (project in construction) Get Paid to Surf the Web Here!
Reply to
Dr Slinky
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Lets start with the hardest thing: Setting glass properly in a seal. I see so many windshields set off center. Even by glass places. This is one item where cheaper is not better. First you want a quality windshield, such as PPG, LOF, or Car-Lite. These will have the proper tint, and edge treatments.

Then you want a installer who will set it dead center, so the rubber trim sits properly. You also want it set in a Soft Seal, not urethane.

As for the body parts, you can get made in Taiwan stuff anyplace that sells replacement new body parts. You can still get the parts from GM, or a place like Year One. Charles

Reply to
Charles Bendig

I agree with Charles. Get the windshield done right and with PPG Or LOF glass (they are the OEM suppliers, Carlite is Ford and Nissan).

As for the body parts, you could go used at a junkyard for the cheap way out,

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for new (high shipping, but if you don't have dealer connections like some of us, this works the best for you), Ebay, or any of the aftermarket parts vendors that sell to body shops (POI, Sherman, etc). Some of the parts are OEM overruns and can be had a discount over buying OEM and is the exact same part.

Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 27k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 143k and still going....

Reply to
Bigjfig

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