Georgia Fiero Club Forum

All Things Fiero => General Fiero Discussion => Topic started by: TopNotch on August 07, 2011, 08:41:19 pm

Title: She's alive... alive!
Post by: TopNotch on August 07, 2011, 08:41:19 pm
My yellow Fiero is back together and running -- and the AC works!
Tomorrow, I'm off to the emission tester and tag office.
Thanks to my brother Mike for helping me with the last few things -- including stealing the muffler off my white Formula (that needs engine work), due to a bad rattle in the yellow car's old muffler.
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: Fierofool on August 08, 2011, 12:12:10 am
After you get it tested and registered, take it to a Dyno and give us some numbers on it. 
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: TopNotch on August 08, 2011, 12:04:34 pm
I don't think I want to do that until it has a few miles on it. But it sure runs clean -- passed emissions with better numbers that it ever did before the rebuild. I was a little worried that the cam would hurt emissions, but I guess not.
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: Raydar on August 08, 2011, 05:38:59 pm
Excellent! Congratulations!

It's always great to see the culmination of a long project.
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: TopNotch on August 08, 2011, 10:31:59 pm
I think I spoke too soon about the AC working. I took my brother out in it in the heat of the afternoon today, and it wasn't very cold at all. I think I'm going to have to get some of that UV leak detector stuff.
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: Fierofool on August 08, 2011, 11:17:08 pm
How many cans of 134a did you put in it?  If you put more than 2 cans, that is why it doesn't cool well.  My 87 was filled using the inline gauge that comes with 134a.  It just didn't cool well.  I took the advise of a PFF member, drained it and refilled with 2 cans.  It cools great, even in the 95* weather.  If you do, you might want to use one can with the stop leak.  Dollar General has it for about $13 a can. 
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: Donster on August 09, 2011, 12:21:32 am
WalMart has them also for about the same price.
I followed exactly what Charlie said on both the 85 V6 and the 84 Duke. Both cold as ice now.

\D
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: jwrape on August 09, 2011, 06:37:06 am
I just wish you could buy a vacuum for cheap. Then we all could do our own A/C. Both mine would have A/C by now if the vacuum wasn't so expensive to buy. I know Harbor freight has them for $150 but I can't see buying it if I'm only gonna use it twice. But then again, it almost pays for itself considering it's $80 to vacuum and fill.
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: Fierofool on August 09, 2011, 07:02:57 am
Don and I think Ashby both use old refrigerator compressors to pull the vacuum.  It's pretty common as I've heard of lots of others doing the same thing. 
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: jwrape on August 09, 2011, 07:04:43 am
Don and I think Ashby both use old refrigerator compressors to pull the vacuum.  It's pretty common as I've heard of lots of others doing the same thing.

Hmmm, house that done?
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: Fierofool on August 09, 2011, 07:16:31 am
I don't know but if you're coming to the cookout Saturday, you could ask Don. 
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: jwrape on August 09, 2011, 07:18:16 am
I don't know but if you're coming to the cookout Saturday, you could ask Don.

K
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: TopNotch on August 09, 2011, 11:19:44 am
I got my Harbor Freight vacuum pump for under $100. Watch their sale papers.
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: jwrape on August 09, 2011, 11:22:29 am
I got my Harbor Freight vacuum pump for under $100. Watch their sale papers.

ok cool
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: TopNotch on August 09, 2011, 09:14:45 pm
A/C fixed. It was a clogged orifice tube. I had plugged various holes with small pieces of paper towell to keep stuff out while the engine was out. A small piece must have gotten into the system, because that's what I found in the orifice tube.
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: TopNotch on August 10, 2011, 02:25:19 pm
In the "What now?" department...
I drove my yellow car to work, enjoying the cool AC. All was fine -- got to work, parked the car, and went in.
Then a fellow employee came in and told me that there was steam rising from my car, and a pool of coolant under it. I went out and found the hose going from the thermostat housing down to the coolant tube popped open. The car didn't over-heat going to work, so I guess it's just the 22-or-so year-old hose giving out. I don't think anyone makes that hose anymore, so I'll have to go to the parts store with the old hose and see what I can find.
Title: Re: She's alive... alive!
Post by: jwrape on August 11, 2011, 06:02:59 am
That sux. At least it didn't over heat when you were driving it. I had to source out a hose on the back wall of the Sport with another I had special ordered a while back for my Conquest Tsi I had rebuilt. Luckily it was a perfect fit.
Good Luck, I'm sure you will find one