91Firebird

This is my 1991 Formula 350 that has been my Show Car for the 15 years. It has been featured in the October, 2012 issue of High Performance Pontiac. These 3rd Gens are getting few and far between (really nice ones) due to the fact that most of them were trashed because they were cheap to buy and easy to wreck.

Thanks for the comment. The longer I have this model, the more I appreciate the styling. It was only a 2 year run (for the Banshee look) but it still has a slick shape. Of course I am prejudice, but at shows it is getting a lot of looks due to the act that most of Formulas have been beaten to death or wrapped around a tree. If you would like to see the entire article from HPP magazine (October 2012), it now comes up on their website.

It just turned 60,000.

This is my 1991 Firebird Formula 350. I bought it in 1993 from the original owner and it was my DD for 3 years until it snowed so bad here, I could not get out of my driveway. Until recently, 3rd Gens were quite plentiful, but in the last few years, very few survived in decent shape. Everything I have added is bolted on to improve the handling and engine performance. The engine got a boast from SLP parts, such as the runners, the CAI box, the prom chip, underdrive pulley, 3:73 gears and the air foil. From Edlebrock, I got coated headers, the intake manifold and LCA and Panhard bar. For the handling I used Hotchkis strut tower bar and an IROC Wonderbar. I had a set of Alston sub frame connectors welded in and from BORLA, it has a 3" polished exhaust with dual dual tips. The diamond spoke Black wheels were a no cost option and weigh only 16 lbs each. The paint is still stock original (code #81) and the rear tail lamps are from a 1991 GTA, and the 3rd brake lite has LED's that spell out 350. Just recently the car was featured in a 6 page article in the October 2012 issue of High Performance Pontiac magazine. The interior features faux carbon fiber accents on the dash, the console and the door panels. Performance has gone from 14.9 @ 93 mph stock to 13.8 @ 100 mph. Thanks for checking out my blog.

This is my 1991 Formula 350 Show Car. There were only 1,198 made with the L98 350 Performance Package. It was recently featured in the October, 2012 issue of High Performance Pontiac magazine with a 6 page article that shows all the BOLT-ON performance items that were added to the car. I used parts from SLP-Edlebrock-Hotchkis-Borla-MSD and more to improve the power and the suspension. It is mainly a show car, but I have raced the car at Englishtown Raceway Park, New Jersey, where it has won the P4 class 3 out of the last 5 years. Currently the Formula has run a best of 13.79 @ 100 mph in the 1/4 mile. I would like to enter the Pontiac of the Month with photos I had taken during the last year.

Thanks for the comments. I usually go to Pontiac Day at Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J. I will try to go to most any JUDGED SHOWS, as I find that the popular (participant voting) mainly goes to the older cars from the '60's and '70's, even though mine is 20 years old, it is still to NEW for many people. A case in point is the Star Pontiac/ Buick/ Olds show ( in Easton, PA) where 90% of the cars that win are older GTO's and such. If there is judging I do travel the tri-state area, depending on the weather. My entire undercarriage is detailed and any chance of a T-Storm or rain would mess it up. Another problem coming up again this year, is the price of GAS. I would like to make it to the All Firebird Show held at Saratogo Springs, N.Y., but it is a good 3 hour trip, so again it comes down to how much is the fuel and tolls are.

This is my 1991 Firebird Formula 350. It has been a Show N Go vehicle for the last 12 years and is just starting to get noticed because of the amount of 3rd Gens left that have not been beaten to death. The paint is still the original Bright Red code #81 with a Silver/Gray interior. I used a set of red Grand Prix GT emblems to set off the car because of the extras that are Pontiac parts that I think make it stand out. 1. A set of 1991 GTA Tail Lamps. 2. A molded red Firebird emblem on the nose from a 1993 Firebird. 3. A WS6 emblem from a 1997 Trans Am 4. Chrome Center caps from a 1985 Grand Prix 5. Carbon Fiber accents on the dash, console and doors. 6. Bolt-On performance from SLP/ Edlebrock/ Hotchkis/ Hypertech/ MSD/ and BORLA. 7. I also have just about every brochure from 1991 to include Canada/ Belgium/ Japan and France. The car currently has 59,000 and runs the 1/4 @ 13.7 and 100 mph. It will be featured in an upcoming issue of High Performance Pontiac magizine.

I also tried a 58mm throttle body and the car LOST performance in the 1/4 mile, even though on the street it SEEMED to run better. The stock 52mm unit will work just as well even with the mods I have.

I have never had a single code pop up after any of the mods I made. The CAI box from SLP is one of the best mods you can do because the stock position sucks in hot engine air only, where as the SLP kit gets it from the inside of the front fender. You will have to move the canister from the passenger side, to the area next to the battery.

Free is always good. Interesting site for Pontiac people.

Here are some shots of the BANSHEE and my 1991 Formula that I built awhile back.

I wanted to share some info on the performance benefits of the BOLT-ON items I have installed on my 1991 L98 350. SLP had some very streetable parts such as the Siamessed Runners. These really made a difference from about 2,500 rpm to redline. Also their Cold Air Box was a huge improvement over where the stock location got its air from and there is a K & N filter inside. The performance computer chip seemed to make the low end punch really pick up. I don't know if the underdrive pully did help or not. The same with the adjustable fuel pressure regulator, its hard to judge how much it helps. The Air Foil may help somewhat, but not that you could notice anything. The Edlebrock intake manifold worked well with the Runners as a package. Also the their TES Headers allowed the engine to pull right up to 5,200 rpm and I also had them coated inside and out about 12 years ago and they still have their silver finish and not a sign of rust. There is an MSD 6A Ignition Box with a Blaster Coil and I must say it seems to work just by the fact that I can drive anywhere and when I wipe my finger inside of the exhaust pipes, there is not a trace of carbon buildup. Another small item that really helps in the hot weather is installing a 160* thermostat along with a Hypertech 2nd fan switch that comes on when the engine reaches 176* and shuts off at 165*. These motors are heat sinks and this setup really keeps the temps down. I did change the gears from 3:23 to 3:73 and I must say that unless you are renning drag street tires, there is too much low end torque and it lites up the tires easily. For traction I have the Edlebrock tubular Lower Contral Arms and Panhard Bar. I makes a huge difference in the way the car leaves the line and also in the handling. In the engine bay I have a Hotchkis Upper Struct Tower bar which took all of the hood cowl shake out of it. An IROC Wonderbar is also recommended. Running Royal Purple 5W30 Synthetic Motor Oil keeps a very clean engine as well as adding several horsepower. The spark plugs are AC/Delco Rapid Fire Platinum and it is a good idea to go with a top of the line plug due to the fact that changing plugs in the car is a REAL PIA. I replace the blocked hood scoop plate with one that came off of a 1982 T/A H.O. where it has an open mesh. It lets out engine heat and every little bit helps in hot weather. The exhaust is a BORLA 3" cat-back polished system with dual dual exhaust tips. By playing with the right side block off plate (most of the exhaust comes out of the left side) you can tune the exhuast note to your liking just be enlarging the hole. In stock condition these cars ran about high 14's, but with all the mods it runs 13.8 on drag radials and around 14.0 with my Goodyear GS-C radials. There is also a 1LE 3 1/2" aliminum driveshaft installed but hard to tell if it does help with 1/4 times. One last item I would highly recommend is a set of subframe connectors. I have the Alston design which are welded on and it made the biggest difference in the way the car felt going over bumps. Gone was the shake and bang going over a rough rode and it made the car feel like it was a much heavier chassis.

Thanks for all the positive feedback. Those taillights are from a 1991 GTA and what you see is the reflection from the sun on the top of them. My 3rd brake lite (inside the top of the rear hatch) is really custom. It has a set of clear LED's that spell out 350 in RED when you step on the brakes. Also those 16" Black Diamond Spoke wheels were a NO COST option and I was told (by a member of TGO) that they were ordered on only 15 Formula's in 1991.

When I first got the Bird, I contacted Pontiac's History Department, and got a lot of Dealer Only information. In the letter it stated how many Firebird Formula's were built (a little over 5,200) and of those made, only 1,198 were built with the L98 Performance package which was the 350 Corvette motor/ dual cat exhaust system/ 3:23 rear and engine oil cooler. I also got the Dealer order sheet which showed when it was ordered and when it was built and shipped. I do not know if you can still get in touch with them, but awhile back they were charging $50.00 for this service.

Hello,My name is Ed Kozinski and I have a 1991 Firebird Formula 350. I have owned it for over 17 years and it has been a Showcar for the last 14 years. I live in the Central, New Jersey area and go to quite a few Car Shows in the Tri-State area where it gets is share of Best of Shows. It was photographed by the editor of High Performance Performance magazine this past November for a featured article in the next 6 months. It still has the original Bright Red finish, with many bolt-on items from SLP/Edlebrock/BORLA/Hypertech/MSD and more. I have taken the P4 Drag Racing class at Raceway Park @ Englishtown, New Jersey a total of 3 out of the last 6 years and my best has been 13.7 @ 100 mph. The undercarriage is fully detailed, along with the engine compartment and brake parts. It has 59,000 miles and runs like new. I have taken some photos which show some of details.