I'm starting a build thread for my white '88 Formula to keep me motivated to restore it. I picked it up in August for $600 with a blown heater core and an "iffy," to quote PO, transmission. It's my first car and I'd like to restore it to all its former glory. Since it's also my DD, I can only do the necessary work a bit at a time. Here's the car just after its first wash:
And the engine bay (not the best, as you can see, but clean enough to work with):
The very first thing I did was replace the heater core. Here's a picture of my triumph over the first major mechanical work I'd ever done (note the ugly crusted coolant on the lines...eww):
I don't have any pictures of the ATF fluid/filter change process, but following that, the transmission is much better. I'm seeking a professional inspection, but it's drivable. Had new tires put on as well.
I currently have the passenger seat pulled out for the sake of cleaning the carpet and sanding the rails (ugly picture, sorry):
I'll pull out the driver seat too, but I'll have to cut through the nuts. The connecting wire between the rail locks is broken, but I can't reach the mechanism. I'll have to replace that seat in its entirety I'm sure.
Passenger side interior of car before (I'll get this image when I go out to the car today. We got 7 inches of snow in Indianapolis so I'm gonna stay inside until this afternoon):
So yeah, that's that. It's a pretty car, I hope I can do it justice. One decision I'm still trying to make is what to do about the 3.4PR (L32) in the back right now. Part of me says leave it (maybe even turbocharge it) and make the car have more of a sleeper feel to it than a complete resto, but another part says store the engine and find a 2.8 to swap back in. I'm leaning more toward the former, but I'll consider the latter if you guys think a complete restoration is a more honorable goal. Thanks for being an excellent resource, PFF.
[This message has been edited by BZAnathema (edited 02-05-2014).]
