1978 Pontiac Firebird formula 400, 6.6 from North America

Summary:

I feel 17 again, with power under my foot

Faults:

Worst thing about this car was finding all the positions of the vacuum hoses. Can't find it on the Internet or manual.

Had a 1977 formula when it was only 2 years old, funny, same problems with this car and its 28 years old. Sucks gas down.

General Comments:

Fast, throaty, everyone loves it. I mean, Everyone.

My menopause machine and I'm in heaven. Going to rebuild the rear quarters this winter and give it an artistic paint job. Not factory.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 29th June, 2006

1978 Pontiac Firebird Formula Olds 403 from North America

Summary:

I love this car so much I bought another Formula

Faults:

When I bought the car it had the following problems...

Carburetor needed rebuild.

Muffler needed replacing.

Transmission needed servicing.

Idler arm and center link needed replacing.

Power steering hose needed to be replaced.

Battery was near dead.

A/C compressor didn't work.

Speakers were blown.

Steering wheel was a waste, it showed over 300k miles of use.

General Comments:

I am the third owner of this car. The original owner died last year at 93 years old. His surviving family sold it to his neighbor who never even registered it and threw Centerline wheels and BF Goodrich tires on it. There it sat in his driveway for about 9 months. I bought it from him in September 2005 for $3200. Right away I knew I was moving to from California to Georgia and where I was moving to I did not need to pass smog inspections, so I had the catalytic converter removed and the old muffler with holes in it replaced by a Flowmaster Cross flow. The car had a serious rough idle from an old uncared for carb. I had it replaced with an Edelbrock Performer 750cfm. But once we went to put it on the car we realized it would not fit the original intake, so I replaced that with an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold. All the other work mentioned above in the "Things that went wrong" area were also done along with a tune up. I gave it a GT Steering wheel and a new set of flea market special 6x9's that actually sounded great for only 40 bucks.

I love this car. The pros are...

1. It's extremely comfortable driving it across the country.

2. It's extremely reliable driving it across the country.

3. Handles corners like no other car I've ever driven.

4. Very fast and it has a certain growl to it when you floor it.

5. Got a 9.8 on the 1/8 mile track. Yeah I said 1/8 mile track, what do you expect out of a small hick town in Georgia? I would have gotten a better time if the Goodrich Radial TAs could grip better, I definitely won't use those tires again.

Cons...

1. Sucks down the gas.

2. Only likes premium gas, killed it a lot at stop lights when I used low grade low octane gas (Flying J)

But who cares about the cons, it's a performance car, they are meant to suck it down.

I love this car so much I bought another Formula, a 1990 this time, and it handles just as well.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th May, 2006

1978 Pontiac Firebird SE 6.6 from North America

Summary:

The best car you could buy for a reasonable price

Faults:

My dash has cracked from years of exposure to sunlight.

It needed restoration (it being 25 years old and all.)

General Comments:

This car will seriously beat any eclipse you give me. With over 400 horsepower, modified exhaust, tranny, torque converter, etc., any eclipse does not stand a chance. I hate eclipses. This car also handles very good at high speeds.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd July, 2003

1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 400 Big Block from North America

Summary:

Pontiac's best idea yet

Faults:

Since I have bought the car the only two things that have gone out are the battery and the starter. These of which are typical things for a twenty-three year old car.

General Comments:

I love it!!! It is completely stock and still looks like new. For a stock car it is extremely fast and can do about 180 MPH, not that I would recommend it.

For the handling it still drives like it is new and it can still out handle any stock newer car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd June, 2001

21st Jun 2001, 17:31

Yeah.

I just got me a 1979 Firebird t/a and it was given to me.

The motor I am rebuilding and the body is in great shape, but the interior is totally shot. They say that it can take me about five years to get it on the road.

Anybody here who may know some pointers to help me, email me at foreverknight28@hotmail.com

This is my dream car and I don't want to have to get rid of it.