FishinCricket

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Update:

Got this much done, the assembly I received was exactly what I needed and after swapping out a few parts I was in business!

FishinCricket

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Got some work done last night, got a long way to go though... Buckets are back in: but need some major adjustment: Oh , and the paint in those photos is making my eyes burn.. The swirls!! The stains!! Eeewwwww!! Can't wait to get to work on that. lol

kymmee

Welcome to the forum. Your car is coming along! I just got an 89 Formula a few months ago. I am a detailing fanatic, so I have been taking parts off and cleaning them up. Its a lot of work, but worth it. Good luck with your car!

FishinCricket

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Right on, thanks for the warm welcome! These headlights are gonna be a pain to get right.. But I'm committed!

Oh and yeah, the detailing.. I walked around cars for years just as blind as a bat! Now I see swirls EVERYWHERE!!! AAAHHH!!! I sell cars for a living and I'll be showing some old $2900 beater and they'll be like "it's so shiny and sparkly" and I just smile and say "yes, ma'am.. That's the clear coat, it's normally extra but I'm gonna make you a deal on it!"

FishinCricket

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In just joking of course, I would never...
:SHUDDERS:

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

My OCD is kicking in, you may need to tweak the headlight doors so they have a nice even body line all around them. ;-)

FishinCricket

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Uhm, yeah... I know. That's what I have been working on all damn evening! lol Seriously though, thanks for noticing. Here's where I'm at now:



Still gotta adjust that drivers side bucket up on the inside.. But it's sufficient for now.

FishinCricket

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Is the motor for my power hatch on my 90 model the same as the 82-92 models?

http://springfield.craigslist.org/pts/4294522078.html

Seems like a decent deal, eh?

FishinCricket

iTrader: (1)

My current situation:



There's no power to anything back there that I ca hear, the hatch latches but doesn't power down, I guess? Here's what it looks like latched:



It obviously needs to be adjusted forward, but it's up about an inch as well, eh? Is that how these are supposed to work, am I understanding it right?

ericjon262

you'll need to adjust it at the top, the gas struts try and push the glass back when the hatch is down, so over time this results.

probably easiest to remove the struts, then adjust the hatch, then re-install the struts.

whoops, didn't read the whole post, I'd start my checking for power at the pull down motor connector.

FishinCricket

iTrader: (1)

Did ya notice the piece of coat hanger wrapped around the motor?

FishinCricket

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Correction, wire hanger wrapped around the plastic motor housing.. Lol, there is no motor present.. I repeat, no motor to be found! lol

No wonder the damn thing looked funny.. The plastic motor/ gear housing is busted though the gear nut and bearing thing look okay..

Anyway, I've located some replacement parts and the TDS kits online so I just need to get the duckets together.. I'm going to look at that CL listing for motor/assembly tonight...

FishinCricket

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Luckily the assembly I found online just hooked right up so I'm good to go and spent a minimal amount.. Plus I've got a couple of extra motors and an extra housing and relay and such! arts_box:

Everything hooked right up, but I still have to adjust the hatch quite a bit.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

There is a good thread on here about the hatch adjustment.

FishinCricket

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Right on, searching for it now...

Lol, found it! A tech article, which is why I couldn't find it wit de search...

https://www.thirdgen.org/hatchalign

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

There is another also that adds to the tips.

FishinCricket

iTrader: (1)

I'm confused though, I'm going to need to adjust the glass itself?!?

FishinCricket

iTrader: (1)

A tech article or a thread.. Do you know? Or maybe remember the name of the thread? Maybe this one:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...alignment.html

FishinCricket

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Rear hatch is closer now but it's definitely the struts pushing out on it.. Remove the struts and it's aligned almost perfectly!

I'll mess with it more when it's warm again?

Cleaned the garage yesterday and backed in the 99 so I could replace the hatch struts tomorrow.. Got a pretty pic:

FishinCricket

iTrader: (1)

Passenger side: Drivers side: It looked perfect until I got the struts re-installed!!

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

What did you adjust? The glass to hinges and/or glass to decklid?

FishinCricket

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Just the glass to hinges... I'm not brave enough to go in an take the glass out just yet...

Looks like I'm gonna have to work myself up to it though, eh?

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

You should have enough adjustment on the body side of the hinges to fix that hatch. Mine looked like that when it came back from paint. I loosened the bolts and was able to get it back into position.

FishinCricket

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I loosened the bolts that are exposed when the hatch is up but I didn't go through removing the headliner.. Are there bolts under it that are adjustable too?

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

You'll have to remove the decklid from he glass and reseal. It has most likely pushed back as well.

As far as the hinges to body go, there isn't any way to adjust them unless you remove the hinge and drill one hole bigger on each side of the body. (I wouldn't, it properly locates the hinge)

If you do remove the hinge from the body, make sure you seal up every lil shim and the holes really well our your back seats will be wet.
It's a leak that a lot of people blame on ttops..

FishinCricket

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Thanks for the reply, TTOPS

FishinCricket

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Update: weather is just starting to cooperate around here... All the cars need a good cleaning but it's just been too cold to do it in the driveway.. I got the power window motor installed kinda took a break. Anyway, finally caught a pretty day and did a lil work, glazed the black one and plastidipped the plastic parts on the bumpers:

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

Looks nice! I've been itching to give my new car a bath, clay bar, etc. But it's still just a little too cold for that in Michigan.

FishinCricket

iTrader: (1)

Thanks! Yeah, I have about given myself a cold messing around in the garage so much this winter.. I'm glad spring is here in Missouri... Almost.

Formula_Fire

What are you talking about man its a heatwave around here we're almost keeping in the high 40's now

@FishinCricket Nice looking formula man. Is that a 305 TBI? I thought the formulas only came TPI?

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

Well, it was mid=50s this weekend...finally!

So much good stuff in this thread....learning a lot!

Formula_Fire

Ha yea true I work for a auto parts chain and we were slammed all weekend.

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

Oh, I'll bet. I had not thought about it that way. It was a GREAT day to get out and get some work done. I have several other automotive projects to try and get to, but I gave the Firebird priority this passed weekend.

Formula_Fire

Yea I hear ya if I wasn't working I would have too. My poor baby is being blocked in by two motorcycles, has a dead battery and a blown brake line.

DynoDave43

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Spring is coming. Soon those bikes will be rolling and out of your way. A battery is easy. The brake line...that could be a different story. What are you looking at there? A flex line?

FishinCricket

iTrader: (1)

Glad you're enjoying the discussion, I am learning some things, for sure!!

TBI, just an old 305 with a shiny carburetor on top..


I spent a little time yesterday doing some cleaning and such and I plasti-dipped a few more parts... Didn't take any photos yet.

FishinCricket

iTrader: (1)

Put a few miles on it the other day, just a pretty smooth old car now that it's got it's new shoes... Then I let it sit out overnight and it got rained on: It does have a few weak points where water is getting in... Casual musings: Did notice that the tach and temp gauge do actually work, intermittently (until now I assumed they were broken).. But they don't always do what you expect. Tach is all over the place (bounces around unless in D and idling then swings directly to 40 like a smart alleck) or pegged completely.. Temp gauge didn't work for half the trip then decided to function (read an even 210 or so for the rest of the trip) then was back to not working today until a pulled into the drive through and it went up to 255 or so! Dropped down as soon as I got up and moving and then proceeded to sit there at 220 for 5 minutes in the shops driveway.

I'll have to puzzle on that one..