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Finally had my Formula brought home from it's Decade long resting place.
In the summer of 2008 I was on the way to show the car at the Car Craft Magazine Summer Nationals in St. Paul, MN. On the last day of the show I was following a Tahoe/Suburban going 75 MPH down the freeway at 3:00 in the morning, and the SUV in front of me jerked over into the adjoining lane, and there in the middle of the highway was a deer carcass. With 10.5" of rubber on all 4 corners, I thought if I were to hit the deer with a tire trying to avoid it at that speed, I would probably have flipped the car. Well, I had my 2 kids in the car, who were 14 & 12 at the time, so flipping the car wasn't an option. So I centered the deer (I hoped) between the wheels and ran it over at 70 MPH. Shook the car pertty good, and the exhaust got louder....I know I have some pics somewhere of the "Venison" we dug out from the underside parts of the car once we got to the show, If I find them, I will upload them.
So, anyway after the show I got the car home and parked it in the garage, only occasionally driving it to work, as loud as it was I drove a lot more conservatively than usual so as to avoid another loud exhaust ticket. Well 2008 was the year the economy took a dump and I lost my job at the custom car shop I worked for and ended up being out of a job for a year. During that time We lost our townhouse, then I ended up losing that wife (to a woman )and eventually the car got stuck into my uncles garage and that's where it stayed for the next decade as I had fathered another child and moved into an apartment that would not allow car work of any kind inside or outside of the garages. Plus I was working 50 hours a week as well so 1 year turned into 2, then 5 into 10.
Now that I finally have a place to work on it, it was time to get it home.
However, as you can see in the upper right corner of the picture, lifting the hood was not without it's surprises
A little critter had made it's home under the hood with the 350 V8. After cleaning the pee soaked fluff mess out, I had to fix a couple wires that had been chewed, but no matter how much I tried, I could only get the engine to run by spraying starting fluid into the throttle body, and yeah, I did not hear the fuel pump running, ugh. The last time I had to change the pump (in 1999) I worked at the Pontiac dealer and had a lift, air tools, trans table to lower the tank down on. Not looking forward to doing it in the garage, but at least I have had to do it before, so know what to expect. Plus the exhaust is junk anyway, so I can just cut it all off and toss it, also get a set of new headers, the Edelbrocks on it now I have had to want to toss since day 1.
The only other problem I noticed, some rust seems to have developed in the t-top bar, going to have to take care of that as well.
So here it sits for now, until I can get to it, but it is the last week of October in Minnesota, so I may not get to it till spring, it has sat for the last 10 years, what's 6 more months?
I know the pain. Drove my Formula to home 4 years ago when me and my wife (wasn’t wife then) bought our house. Parked it in the garage and that’s where it sat. Just finally this year took it back out on the road for the first time. Hadn’t been registered sense 2014. I did manage to swing a new rear in, fuel pump, new exhaust and am about buttoned up with a 6 speed swap though. Hoping to take it back out at least once more before snow hits.
Nice car btw. Most important thing is that you didn't have sell it. Sux the pump sounds like it’s shot. I swapped mine out just cause it was easy with the rear out. Not a bad job as long as you don’t rush it. I started just tinkering on mine a few nights a week and on slow Sundays, within a about 8 weeks I was cruising around in it. Mode the 4 years it sat seem like a waste
Finally had my Formula brought home from it's Decade long resting place.
So I centered the deer (I hoped) between the wheels and ran it over at 70 MPH. Shook the car pretty good, and the exhaust got louder....I know I have some pics somewhere of the "Venison" we dug out from the underside parts of the car once we got to the show, If I find them, I will upload them.
So, anyway after the show I got the car home and parked it in the garage, only occasionally driving it to work, as loud as it was I drove a lot more conservatively than usual so as to avoid another loud exhaust ticket. Well 2008 was the year the economy took a dump and I lost my job at the custom car shop I worked for and ended up being out of a job for a year. During that time We lost our townhouse, then I ended up losing that wife (to a woman )
being from Chicago this is what we call the Double Donk
second part hurts bad! years ago scratch that, Decades ago, I was dating a girl that something just wasn't right and she went to the other team too got razzed for turning...... well you know anyway started dating her best friend and married her (no not for revenge) still married to her so it worked out well
now the cotton ball factory is just a kick in the n$ts should of propped hood open I guess don't give up because of winter get a heater glad car fared well for running a deer over
Enjoy restoring it! I was rushing mine for late summer completion and a ton of issues bit me, paint wise. So take the time. I have reset and slowed down on my Formula and back to enjoying it over all. So whats April, being its November now in NYS.
Just annoyed at the door handle rods! Looking forward to this restore!
Welcome back! Definitely a name I haven't seen in quite some time... Glad to see you hung onto it all these years, it will be worth it once you get it running! I'd probably drop the gas tank, clean it, replace the pump and go from there!
You hit a deer, lost your dear, lost your job, and lost your townhouse. That's a quadra donk - LOL.
BUT, you kept the Formula!
Advice: Know your intended application and stick to it! Restore or Resto-Mod?
1. Put the car up on blocks as high as possible now (keeps future critters out), pull tank and replace pump (now or in Spring).
2. Pull seats, carpet, and backing material now. You can get the carpet professionally steam cleaned, decide what to do with seats, and replace backing with sound deadening material. While you have everything out, you can see the condition of the floor pans. You'll get the stink out, have clean fabric, and you'll feel better. Doesn't cost much here - good bang for the buck. Get started and doesn't matter if it not back together by Spring.
3. Find a reputable detailer to come out and give you a quote on the paint for free - it's hard to tell from pics, but yours doesn't look bad. Condition of 29 yr old Clearcoat will determine - anytime is fine.
4. Check all your weatherproof seals. T-top doesn't look too bad, but again, in person will tell. Generous amounts of silicone could bring them back - now or in Spring.
5. Replace all fluids, plugs, wires, etc. Don't drive with 10 year old tires. You can move it around or up and down the block, but be cautious - Spring.
Learn while you do these, find more problems, and contemplate a budget. It will be encouraging to get it looking better, smelling better, feeling better, and minimally running. THEN, you can decide the scope of the project.
WHat's the expresion, life is what happens when you're making other plans?
Glad to hear you guys weren't hurt when you hit the deer. I hit a roll of carpet in a similar situation that must have fallen out of some idiot's truck. I was driving a pre-production Chrysler Concorde (back in like 1995 I think?) and hitting the carpet was like running over a curb at 70 MPH. When I got back to the Chrysler Proving Grounds the front tips of the front fenders were about a half inch higher than the hood. Oops. Luckily they crushed the car after that year.
I hope you can get it back on the road. Get a heater in there and get going. Put a couple snap traps in there to start and get some enzyme cleaner for urine to knock down the smell.
Mouse infestation. Been there. Done that. Although I had a lot more poop, more nests, but less food.
Mice wiz everywhere. There's no cleaning that carpet. Pull it out, throw it away, and start over. Take apart the entire dash and clean every piece of HVAC ductwork too. Trust me, they've been in there. And if you don't clean it then you can literally eat **** every time you turn on the fan.
I love your formula,I am glad your at a point of getting it back going again.
I would take the seat covers off and put wash them in a washing machine ,the carpet I would pull it and scrub/wash it with color safe bleach,then put a couple off tide pods in a bucket of hot water and scrub/wash it with that and let it dry out in the sun. I have a cheap electric pressure washer,that is what i have used to wash and rinse carpet with and it works much better than a garden hose.
Those damn mice will make nest in every hole and crevice in the car along with their crap as well.
Wow, I remember your name from way back! That sounds like a scary drive on the highway. I'm glad you were able to keep control and keep your kids safe! I wish you the best going forward with your project and with everything else.
Good luck with getting it road worthy....I am in a similar boat per say. Being active duty military, i had to keep my Camaro in storage. Now i am 2 years from retirement from Marine Corps. I am currently overseas (for another 3 weeks) and my father and I have been trying to diagnose why the car wont start. It has been challenging to say the least.
Finally had my Formula brought home from it's Decade long resting place.
In the summer of 2008 I was on the way to show the car at the Car Craft Magazine Summer Nationals in St. Paul, MN. On the last day of the show I was following a Tahoe/Suburban going 75 MPH down the freeway at 3:00 in the morning, and the SUV in front of me jerked over into the adjoining lane, and there in the middle of the highway was a deer carcass. With 10.5" of rubber on all 4 corners, I thought if I were to hit the deer with a tire trying to avoid it at that speed, I would probably have flipped the car. Well, I had my 2 kids in the car, who were 14 & 12 at the time, so flipping the car wasn't an option. So I centered the deer (I hoped) between the wheels and ran it over at 70 MPH. Shook the car pertty good, and the exhaust got louder....I know I have some pics somewhere of the "Venison" we dug out from the underside parts of the car once we got to the show, If I find them, I will upload them.
So, anyway after the show I got the car home and parked it in the garage, only occasionally driving it to work, as loud as it was I drove a lot more conservatively than usual so as to avoid another loud exhaust ticket. Well 2008 was the year the economy took a dump and I lost my job at the custom car shop I worked for and ended up being out of a job for a year. During that time We lost our townhouse, then I ended up losing that wife (to a woman )and eventually the car got stuck into my uncles garage and that's where it stayed for the next decade as I had fathered another child and moved into an apartment that would not allow car work of any kind inside or outside of the garages. Plus I was working 50 hours a week as well so 1 year turned into 2, then 5 into 10.
Now that I finally have a place to work on it, it was time to get it home.
However, as you can see in the upper right corner of the picture, lifting the hood was not without it's surprises
A little critter had made it's home under the hood with the 350 V8. After cleaning the pee soaked fluff mess out, I had to fix a couple wires that had been chewed, but no matter how much I tried, I could only get the engine to run by spraying starting fluid into the throttle body, and yeah, I did not hear the fuel pump running, ugh. The last time I had to change the pump (in 1999) I worked at the Pontiac dealer and had a lift, air tools, trans table to lower the tank down on. Not looking forward to doing it in the garage, but at least I have had to do it before, so know what to expect. Plus the exhaust is junk anyway, so I can just cut it all off and toss it, also get a set of new headers, the Edelbrocks on it now I have had to want to toss since day 1.
The only other problem I noticed, some rust seems to have developed in the t-top bar, going to have to take care of that as well.
So here it sits for now, until I can get to it, but it is the last week of October in Minnesota, so I may not get to it till spring, it has sat for the last 10 years, what's 6 more months?
it has been a while since I seen that car hopefully it looks better now. Would love to see it again. I live in Wisconsin now. Hit me up. Bmhamaker@gmail.com
10-25-2019, 08:00 PM
)and eventually the car got stuck into my uncles garage and that's where it stayed for the next decade as I had fathered another child and moved into an apartment that would not allow car work of any kind inside or outside of the garages. Plus I was working 50 hours a week as well so 1 year turned into 2, then 5 into 10.
