Post by: The Art Doctor on February 17, 2020, 10:13:40 pm
The car in question is a Formula that has had near $25K invested in "professionally installed" extras, engine, transmission, powder coating and paint work. Odometer reads 132K with a used 70K mile 3.4, used 65K mile Getrag 5 speed, new clutch, replacement hood, overall new paint and replacement interior with a clean used example and Mr. Mikes leather seat covers, digital dash conversion. All done at TFF in 2013. (sounds like they started with a less than clean car needing hood, paint, interior) Lots of powdercoating including suspension was done at a second shop. Big corvette disc kit front and rear, lowering coils, urethane bushings, good looking but cheap aftermarket aluminum wheels and a "custom stainless exhaust" all installed by what the owner called a Hot Rod Shop. The current owner bought it from the hot rod shop with 5k miles added since it was at TFF. I have to assume it was some sort of mechanics lein sale. He has a stack of receipts from the past building owner who he claims was anal about the build according to the shops he contacted looking into the car.
It is a super clean car, fresh paint, good tires, the 3.4 and all the TFF stuff is a pro install and I cant argue with extra power. It is black and grey and 5 speed, perfect! Hate the dash but he said he has the stock gauges. Speaking with the owner I got the feeling that the folks who worked on it after TFF were not total pro's. He seems to not be a car guy, though claimed to be a Pontiac man, but I get the feeling hes just a guy who thought owning one would be cool, until it wasn't. Said a ball joint let loose as there was no cotter pin, I think it freaked him on the car. So Id expect some things need fixing, including the A/C which leaks down fast he said. It is 10+ hours away. Pretty firm at $7K. The N.I.F.E price for a Formula in excellent is $3600 which seems to be where they sell on eBay give or take a thousand or two if they are nice, clean, moderate miles and well optioned driver quality cars.
I was interested just by the pics but having talked to the owner I have cooled on it a lot. Where do cars like this fall in the marketplace? Is it worth double book? It would cost me a lot to add the same brake/motor upgrades to a stock car. Can I get a nice stock car to look like this with extra power for $3500 in upgrades? Are modified cars a pain? There seems to be endless threads on PFF about cars with swaps that do not run well or at all. I known have to keep a list in my chevy so I can remember what source cars all the different bits came from and I built it.
All opinions appreciated.
Post by: GTRS Fiero on February 17, 2020, 11:42:28 pm
If the paint job was done right, that's a plus. Check for overspray. Powdercoating on what? Why did the hood and interior need to be replaced?
However the swap looks, as you say, sloppy work done, recently. I had my swap completely rebuilt, and the engine did not have that many miles on it.
The Corvette brakes are $1,100 to $1,500, if you do the work yourself. Wheels, probably $2,500 or more. Paint is usually several grand, for a good job.
If you do the 3.4 swap yourself, maybe $300-$500--if everything goes well. Finding a good 3.4 block may be difficult.
Post by: Raydar on February 18, 2020, 02:22:32 pm
I suppose it depends on what you want to do with a car. if you want to upgrade it, you'll just about always end up spending more for the car and the upgrades, than you will spend for a completed car. The tradeoff of doing it yourself, is that you know *exactly* what you've got, when you're done.
(FWIW, I've got way more in my car than I could ever sell it for, but then I didn't build it to sell.)
As an aside... you can buy an entire bolt-on 13" brake upgrade - that uses the stock 88 calipers and pads - for $640. It's among the best, out there, IMHO.
Sorry. I know that's not a lot of help.
Post by: GTRS Fiero on February 18, 2020, 05:18:33 pm
Some people claim that a modified Fiero is worth less than a stock Fiero. My opinion is that, if it's better than factory, the mods should make a modified Fiero worth more.
Post by: Fierofool on February 18, 2020, 09:26:49 pm
Post by: The Art Doctor on February 18, 2020, 09:57:33 pm
The Medium Red Formula on BaT was $6,900 and it was in much better shape overall with very low 42K miles, but (wrong negative word?) stock.
A 3.4 swapped 88 GT in decent enough shape sold recently on eBay for $2,275. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1988-Pontiac-Fiero-GT/333467336433?hash=item4da433bef1:g:IO0AAOSwevJeEmId It was on PFF and the seller was not thrilled but accepting as he just needed it gone. Black driveway paint job, some replacement body panels, $135 each aftermarket wheels, cut the coils and you have the car above for $3500.
The search continues.
Post by: pgackerman on February 18, 2020, 10:08:12 pm
Not a Formula, but a 3800SC. https://brunswick.craigslist.org/cto/d/brunswick-1986-fiero-gt-fastback-3800sc/7077471807.html (https://brunswick.craigslist.org/cto/d/brunswick-1986-fiero-gt-fastback-3800sc/7077471807.html)
The owner seems to be a Fiero guy.
Post by: GTRS Fiero on February 26, 2020, 07:03:42 pm
There are usually Fieros for sale at Fiero events.
Post by: The Art Doctor on February 26, 2020, 07:06:51 pm
Good thing i'm not in a hurry