[Locksmith13]

Well where to begin i have a 1975 pontiac firebird formula.
first off someone threw a Chevy 350 in my girl she came with the 400 from what I've found off the VIN#. I have no real power when i get on her i can go to the floor with her and still the carb won't kick open""SUGGESTIONS"""" it has a AFB Carter 4bbl and a weiland intake manifold.don't know what tranny or anything else first my whole front end and suspension and steering i have to replace so any info on specs,durability,of good parts,that fit the F-Body
Also i took her out for a drive and went to take about a 90 degree turn with a up hill incline and the engine cut out not sure if it is gas or electrical any help would be helpful.
unfortunately i live up in the mountains here in Colorado so I'm about 8000ft. with no shop and no buddies i'm jacking her up on round stone gravel driveway thats sure as heak not flat...lol so not to give the whole story but need good people to help.
THANKS EVERYONE>>>>
Nate the Locksmith

[GT182]

Welcome to PY Nate.

I'm not a Pro but one suggestion for the front suspension is get quality parts.... Moog is my suggestion. I had a 79 Formula and that's all I put on it for replacement parts.

As for no power. Is there a kick down switch on it? That could be one reason for no power when you put yer foot in it. Cutting out on you could mean the carb needs an adjustment and/or needs to be rebuilt. Check the fuel filter too... one in the carb where the fuel line attaches to the carb, and the one coming from the gas tank. The one from the gas tank could be located along the underside of the car or between the fuel pump and the carb. And actually IMHO the better carb for it would be a quadra jet.

[Locksmith13]

Well i'd like to thank you for your time and suggestions i'll get out hopefully tomorrow the weather up here has been ruthless cold...lol i'll probibly just change them all just for grins
i'll also look into the quad i haven't done much work with carbs or much interior engine,valves, cams,trannys...etc. kindda new to me i just have been able to pick her up had one when i was in my 20's never got to keep it I had my kids....LMAO
thank you again i'll keep this updated "i hope" as long as the weather goes good

[Firebob]

Just be sure the wheels are chocked and everything is stable with jackstands and such before you get under it. I've had a couple buddys that were either run over or had the car drop on them. Nobody wants to come home to find that. It only takes a little more time to make sure.

[Locksmith13]

Well guys i've tryed to get photos up but i have to re-format them for 800 pixels

[Locksmith13]

Ahhhhh.... hell i just found that i don't have the outer bell shroud on the tranny any suggestions? this might be stupid but do i need it?

[Grand73Am]

flywheel or flexplate cover. Nah, not a necessary thing and can wait until you can get one.

[arcitech]

I'm pretty sure that if you are wanting to drive the car as is, your fastest route is to get a new carb (edelbrock or Q-Jet) and put it on. You can spend time rebuilding the Carter, but eventually the bug to build a Pontiac motor will kick in, and then anything you'll do to the chevy is a waste of effort.

If you want to stay with a chevy motor, then go look on the Chevelle forums for good info. I love all the old GM cars, so I don't mind a few engine swaps, but Pontiac torque is so much fun!!!

Get a carb, new plugs, set the timing, do a compression check, adjust throttle and kick-down linkages and then figure out what you want to do with the Formula.

[Locksmith13]

nice i'll try those out,thanks guy's your info is great i'll get right on those as soon as weather gets better i really wish i could get the pics up sorry guy's i'm kindda new to wrenching done exterior motor/brakes etc. but all your guys knowledge is always welcome and hell any do's and don'ts are also appriciated i don't have much $ so i'm hoping the learning curve won't make it to where she never gets back on the road....and i am already feeling the HARD BUG...!!! to cut my teeth find,build and put the 400 back into it i do agreee that to go back to the pontiac, would be where my heart is. i'm not sure what tranny she has or how to find out it's a little tough with no buddys and only the internet to gain my knowledge so again thanks to all AND GOD BLESS AMERICA>>>>

[TheCirque]

Hey locksmith... These forums are the best! Guys here are great and some the smartest people when it comes to Pontiacs!!

Learn to use the search features here as there is so much info you're head will spin! You can read for hours on whatever topic you choose!

[Blued and Painted]

What part of Colorado? I'm a bit further down the hill at 8000ft.

[Locksmith13]

thanks guys i agree everyone has been great i'm up by silverthorne how bout you?
again i'd thank all of you for your time with a newbie....lol

[Locksmith13]

Yippy....LMAO
i might be able to get to my girl today...lol

[Locksmith13]

Well it took a moment but i got a pic up.i also have a ton of pics of what i've found so far that i'm hoping to re-format and get posted tonight so if anyone see's something i don't please let me know...thanks for all your patience guy you've been great i put the pics under PY ALBUMS

[428GTO70]

Nice project you got there. I'm no carter expert but it looks in those pics like you have a large vacuum line open on the carb? It appears to be a pcv or power brake port. If that is a vacuum line and not a vent then that would be a huge vacuum leak and cause it to run pretty poorly. But again I don't know anything about afb's

[428GTO70]

nevermind, I looked it up online and found it is a canister vapor vent.

[Locksmith13]

yea i saw that i'm not sure but she starts and runs no stumbbling or miss idle when shes cold she has a lobe it feels like but when she warms it stops and is smooth well next to what i've posted so far i need to find a local dealer rep or find a diagram hell i'm not sure how to tell what model it is.thank you

[Locksmith13]

Nice where did you look it up?

[428GTO70]

well I just googled carter afb vacuum diagram and I found a picture of an Edelbrock carb with labels on it which is pretty much the same carb. here is a link to that picture:
http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/atta...4&d=1374426898

[Blued and Painted]

In Granby. About an hour and a half from Silverthorn. Small world.
We have a local car show in August. We could use some more Pontiac's in the mix.