91Birdonfire

I’m in the middle of detailing my ‘91 and decided to replace the 3 bird decals and the fender, door, and quarter moldings on exterior. I’ve got the new decals headed my way but before I order new molding I’d like some advice. Here’s the molding:
https://www.classicindustries.com/pr...ts/153684.html

it says it can be painted, which I’ll paint them red, but does anyone on here have experience with the best way to paint these so it lasts for years?

reason I’m wanting new ones is the red ones that are on it now are no longer red but pink. I heated one with a heat gun which brought back the red somewhat, but they have “pits” on the top of them that turned black. I cleaned them before heating but still ended up with the pits turning black.

zman1969

iTrader: (9)

Man, its required to post pics up of your ride in this section or this should be banished to the body section
and because I love the 91-92 front ends sorry I don't have an answer on the molding but painting with flex additive seems like only option
now lets see it !

Oh, and welcome to TGO lots of good help here

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

On my JY 92 formula, I taped off the moldings (paint tape then 2 layers of duct tape on top of that to not scratch the door paint), sanded and carefully buffed them out. They are molded solid color all the way through. It takes time and work to figure out how to do it to keep the shape but it works..

91Birdonfire

I picked this bad boy up about 4 yrs ago for $3500, some of the best money I’ve ever spent.

This is the before detailing. I’ll finish that up hopefully tomorrow and post the “after” pic. Thank you guys for your help!

zman1969

iTrader: (9)

good looking - stock? your car stock? guessing not with avatar info tell us more

91Birdonfire

After a 22 hr detail

91Birdonfire

Yep, she’s all stock besides the American Racing rims, B&M slap shifter, all sensors, and gas tank. Oh, and also I’ve changed a/c compressor, 4 times in 2 years!

Something I’ve learned after the fact is whoever at GM engineered the a/c system on this year should never be allowed to design another compressor as long as they live. Lord willing, I believe I’m going to do the r4 to the r134a conversion next summer. See if I can then have some sort of A/C for more than a couple months.

http://www.thepartguy.com/ac-upgrade...2-73ac-upgrade

About the avatar info, here’s something I’ve learned in life, you either have the time or the money, but rarely both lol. Working 70 hrs a week and seeing that Ford 9” staring at me for 2 years, I ended up selling it. I’m just going to keep it stock until the motor eventually goes.

A guy drove about 8 hrs from Wisconsin to central Ohio to buy all the new parts for the entire rear end section. So somewhere in cheese country there’s a 3rd gen black Camaro running around with some extra get up and go off the line so watch out.

Still has a strong 5.0L with 137,000 original miles. Original paint that came back to life after getting all the 28 yrs of oxidation and gunk build up off it.

Next on my agenda is the interior. Changing the grey to black everything.

CKone

iTrader: (2)

Not to hijack the thread at all but I have a question regarding the door molding as well. Are these able to be removed and reapplied or it that a hopeless cause? Hoping to have my Formula painted over the winter, wondering what the best approach would be there. They are still intact and in good shape. Another option would be to leave them off but feel the serve a purpose as well.

89Formula3

Formulas did not come with the ground effect/body kit.

They came with the wrap around rear spoiler , power hood bulge and 16” rims.

by any chance were those parts removed from you’re car?

ksr

Formulas also didn't have the chrome "Firebird" attached to the side. Looks like a base Firebird with T/A appearance package, which was a very common option.

Great job cleaning it up. The car looks terrific. I really like the rims.

91Birdonfire

I had the same exact questions when I bought it. I thought it was a base model, but the one thing that I couldn’t get past was it said Formula on the title.

So I started digging into it online. And seen that different packages were available to swap between different models. The main thing I focused on was the spoiler. I read somewhere that ‘91 formulas could come with the spoiler I have instead of the wrap around.

I’d like to squash this once and for all in my own mind. So if you guys wouldn’t mind, give me a sure fire way to know exactly what model I have, “besides the body work.”
Thanks

ksr

I've noticed that titles I've had on cars often say things regarding specific model names that aren't quite accurate.

There's a lot of overlap between models and GM usually let you do a lot with order forms. Base Firebirds were V-6s, but a lot of those were optioned to a 5.0.

One thing to check might be the suspension. I think that all Formulas had the WS6 suspension. I know that your original wheels don't look like ones that I'm familiar with on Formulas. Are those 16s? And the center cap on the Formula wheels should say "WS6 Suspension."

For me, the first tipoff that it isn't a Formula was the chrome "Firebird" nameplate on the side. It's cosmetic, but I don't see someone specially ordering that or applying it themselves.

Take this for what it's worth since it's from Wikipedia, but I do think it's accurate. The additional bodywork would go against the lighter weight "stripper" concept of the Formula:

"All Firebirds received re-styled noses loosely fashioned after the "Banshee IV" show car while Pontiac was developing the all-new Fourth Generation platform. The Trans Am's ground effects were re-styled as well, and were made available on the base model Firebird, but NA on the Formula."

RKeats

In your center console is a white sticker full of RPO codes. In those codes should be at least W66 and WS6. If you have none of those, but (Y81 I think?) instead, that's a base Firebird. If I'm not mistaken, Formula's couldn't be ordered with anything except the whale tail spoiler from the Trans Am's. Also considering that your car has full ground effects, base Firebird hood, and fender emblems, I'd bet that it's just a base bird as nobody would go out of their way to clone a base car.

RKeats

Not to hate on your car though as I love banshee nose birds, and yours looks exceptionally good! I just highly doubt it's a Forumy. Also to second what ksr just said, most Firebirds seem to pull as Forumula's on paper for some reason. When I insured my GTA, the documents say Formula

91Birdonfire

Finally some answers! I will get back with you guys..

ksr

I just noticed the "137,000" miles. Boy she cleaned up well!

89Formula3

I’ve never seen a 91-92 formula come with the base spoiler, base hood nor ground effects.

but who cares you’re lookls clean and 91-92 birds are becoming obsolete especially clean examples.

Drew

iTrader: (58)