[yahooskidoo]

Whats a 1980 Formula with 52000 original miles 2 owner all original worth?

[The Boss]

That one looks rough, looks like it needs paint.

I sold my 79 5 years ago with 43,000 miles on it, W50, WS6, 4spd for 12k and it was in much better shape.

[yahooskidoo]

Guy wants 5k.

[Super Duty D]

Never ever look at a wet car. Period.

[ponchjoe]

Skidoo,

You're from MN, when I lived there I never bought a car from there, WI or MI without getting it I the air. That car looks like it was left outside with low miles....those winters are rough. If you've checked it over good (frame rails, rear window, that should be the high end I would think. I'm assuming it's 301 or is it a 403 car?

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by ponchjoe

Skidoo,

You're from MN, when I lived there I never bought a car from there, WI or MI without getting it I the air. That car looks like it was left outside with low miles....those winters are rough. If you've checked it over good (frame rails, rear window, that should be the high end I would think. I'm assuming it's 301 or is it a 403 car?

I thought 79 was last year for 403?

[blue71ta]

Originally Posted by Super Duty D

Never ever look at a wet car. Period.

Agreed. I made that mistake once in high school. It was the last time I did that.

[Stuart]

I'm always impressed by the people who can tell a car's condition from one single photo. It doesn't look too bad to me but I'd need a lot more information before I could make a judgement.

[geeteeohguy]

Originally Posted by yahooskidoo

Whats a 1980 Formula with 52000 original miles 2 owner all original worth?

1980= first year for crude C-4 electronic engine management. 1980-81 were the absolute worse years for the American Auto industry. You couldn't give me an '80 or '81 model....I was a mechanic back then, and I've worked on too many of them. A '79 is light years better.....not even comparable.

[goatless]

Originally Posted by Stuart

I'm always impressed by the people who can tell a car's condition from one single photo. It doesn't look too bad to me but I'd need a lot more information before I could make a judgement.

Car looks pretty decent in the one picture. Paint looks as though it could use a good buffing. At $5k it might be a good buy, but I'd have to see it in person to be sure! I'd also need to know what's under the hood! I think for 1980, the best case scenario (for me anyway) would be a 301. At least that way the 455 will drop right in.

[77 TRASHCAN]

I believe 80 or 81 was when Mr. McKeller retired. Computerized engines...a good time to retire indeed.
If, If the car was rust free $5000.00 isn't bad...

[yahooskidoo]

Just got off the phone with the 79 yr old owner. Paint looks like it does because first owners son put Turtle wax on it and left it in the sun too long before trying to get it off. Rust free stored in shop for 18 yrs. Says there is a decal under the hood that says 4.9 so assuming its a 301. Will send me a vin later this week. Says it runs great but needs tires the ones on it are from 18 plus yrs ago. Seriously thinking about it.

[GT182]

After owning a 79 Formula with a 301 automatic, I'll say it's not a bad engine. But before you buy it... pull a valve cover and see if it's all gunked up with sludge. Check the transmission fluid too. If he won't let you pull a valve cover just walk away.

[yahooskidoo]

If i were to get it i would probably put the 350 out of my 74 in it, the 74 is getting a rebuilt 455 and a 4l80e.

[77 TRASHCAN]

350 will work!
Don't forget, carb (if it's a Q-Jet...), dist, and timing cover can be used on real Pontiac engines, not sure about oil pan...

[Lightfoot]

I like the Montreux Maroon. It's a sweet color on that year Firebird. Also not very common.
I think 301 may have been the standard engine in an '80 Formula. VIN code will be either W or Y.

I will testify it's a decent engine as long as you're not trying to rev it over 4500.
I discovered the 301 in my '78 Grand Am to be sludged up inside the valve covers at around 85K. I believe the cold climate it spent it's first 9 years up till then was a contributing factor. I spent a Saturday cleaning them all out and resealing with Permatex Ultra Blue, and they never leaked a drop before I sold the car 18+ years later. It had 140K when I sold it.

[Bob Rutledge]

If no rust easy worth 5k. If rusty then even with low miles not very desirable so I wouldn't pony up that much coin.

[GT182]

Originally Posted by Lightfoot

I will testify it's a decent engine as long as you're not trying to rev it over 4500.
I discovered the 301 in my '78 Grand Am to be sludged up inside the valve covers at around 85K. I believe the cold climate it spent it's first 9 years up till then was a contributing factor.

My 301 could out run a Ford 302 Thunderbird and gave the 5.0 Mustangs a run for the money. Many hated that engine but I had no complaints.

I agree cold climate is not the best ... and that goes for any engine. I do recommend using good quality motor oil tho. And that is Valvoline. That's all I used in my 79 Formula and there wasn't a bit of sludge in the engine or valve covers. Sadly tho after it's interior was stripped to the bare metal.... as in stolen, I walked away from it.

[bird72]

Playing one pic detective:

Gaps are nice
Nose is not warped out
Nothing is awry, off, missing, or aftermarket
Car is wet, dirty, or aged paint or combo
Based on rims, sticker stripes, and color, appears hopeful on an original car as said.

*a cared for 52K car should be a really nice, tight car, that feels like it has lots of miles left.

[camerjeff]

My 79 Formula was a 301 4-speed, I knew it would not run with anything with 350 or more cubes so I didn't do that. It would run with stock early 80's 302 Fords, and any of the 4-cylinder Turbo's of the day.
But I never reved it above 5000rpm, and the manual trans made it much more fun than the automatic cars.
I agree with whats been said about the electric Q-jets & Dist's from the 80-81 model years. We just used to pull them and install non electric versions, the cars would then run much better. A friend of mine had a 1980 G/A that ran horrible until the carb and dist were swapped out, then it wasn't bad. He got a great deal on that car when it was just 2 years old. We found a 75 350 4bb Firebird in a local yard and just swapped the parts.

If you like the car and it is as rust free as the seller claims, $5000 isn't a bad price at all. I like the idea of pulling the valve cover, many engines of the era seem to carbon up so badly that only the area were the rocker arms and pushrods move are clear of the solid coked up mass that can for under the valve covers.