Topics

226

The Market / Want To Buy a Fastback 5-speed

« on: April 02, 2014, 09:19:29 pm »

Howdy Folks,

I've been searching for a daily driver Fiero.  Found a few possibilities, but none are located anywhere near Augusta (Except for the one f85gtron's wife offered to sell me).  So, figured I'd post a wanted ad on this Forum and y'all could see if you still have that Fiero you'd forgotten about in your attic. 

Color isn't too important as long as it isn't something weird like pink (Found one in CA).

Must be a manual transmission.  I'll admit a 4-speed works great, but I like 5-speeds better.

Has to be a fastback.  I just like them more, even though a few notchbacks have popped up to make me reconsider.

The car has to work.  I know repairs will need to be done on a nearly 30 year old car, but it has to be running.

As State Farm recently taught me, I'll pay around NADA value.  Mods/condition will be accounted for.

Due to a busy life, I'm looking to purchase in early May.  That should give you time to look in the basement too.

Thanks

227

The Market / How much is this 86 worth?

« on: March 29, 2014, 07:46:42 pm »

Sounds nice.
Any idea how much horsepower this would have? 
The owner said 400-450HP, not at the wheels.  That strikes me as way too high.


http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/4365243181.html

1986 IMSA GT Wide Body Fiero
 with professionally done 350cu V8 Conversion
Heavy Duty Brake Rotor upgrade with EBC Carbon Ceramic Break Pads
 Stainless Steel Braided Brake lines
 Coilover Suspension
 Polyurethane Suspension Bushings
 4 Core Aluminum Radiator
 5 Speed Muncie manual transmission
 All tan leather interior upgrade
 Custom Fiero Carpet set
 Sports flat bottom Steering wheel
 Wireless Remote Unlock
 Alarm System
 315/35 ZR 18 Rear Tires Michelin Sport Pilot Tires
 235/40 ZR18 Front Michelin Sport Pilot Tires
 Imported from the UK - Compomotive 2 Piece Custom Wheels
 45,000 miles
 Put over $50,000 into customizing it.
 Runs beautifully!
 My Email is not working properly. Had to put letters for last 2 digits of phone number so automatic dialers don't call me

228

General Fiero Discussion / V8s, Brakes, and Transmissions

« on: March 03, 2014, 09:18:45 pm »

Howdy Folks,

I've been looking at modified Fieros on various boards, V8 Archie, and sale sites (ebay). 
How good are these modified Fieros?  I know it comes down to the quality of the work, and most look very good, but were talking about a vehicle initially designed to handle ~150HP.  What does doubling the HP do to the suspension, a manual transmission, and the braking system? 
Would the car become unusable as a daily driver?

229

General Fiero Discussion / How many Fieros can...

« on: January 29, 2014, 03:10:41 pm »

Now is a good time to ask a question I've been wondering for awhile.  Inspired by f85gtron's post http://gafiero.org/bbs/index.php?topic=1664.0:

How many Fieros can you fit in a standard two-car garage? 

When I still had one, I figured 4 could go in.  Three lined up straight in, with a fourth parallel parked behind.

Any ideas?  This could turn into a sensation like how many people fit in a VW bug or a phone booth 

230

General Fiero Discussion / Convertible Fieros

« on: January 26, 2014, 09:26:38 pm »

F85gtron showed me the Fiero Store 2014 calendar, which happens to have a beautiful silver convertible. I've seen convertible Fieros on ebay and a few other places and always wondered how well they worked.  I've had a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire convertible which didn't like rough roads and a solid 2011 Mustang convertible. 

As far as I know the Fiero was never designed to be a convertible.  Most vehicles, when their top is cut off, shake themselves apart. My question is, how much do Fiero convertibles shake and how structurally compromised are they?  Anyone know of a conversion they can tell about?

231

General Fiero Discussion / Missing Fiero

« on: January 21, 2014, 07:22:20 pm »

The good news is my daughters are fine. 
The bad news is my Fiero is totaled.
The good news is many parts will live on with f85gtron when we go see it tomorrow. 
Anything special we should be sure to grab?

My '87 GT did it's job and took the impact.  I'll miss it.

232

General Discussion / Cars and Coffee Jan 25th Columbia, SC

« on: January 12, 2014, 06:59:39 pm »

Here's what I know:
https://www.facebook.com/carsandcoffeecolumbia

Anyone interested?

233

Tech Tips, Tech Questions / Cloudy clutch fluid after bleeding clutch slave cylinder mechanism

« on: January 05, 2014, 04:32:37 pm »

f85gtron and I bleed the clutch slave cylinder mechanism and went for a victory lap.  Clutch felt good, but the fluid in the reservoir is already getting cloudy.  Any ideas what's causing this and the solution?  Thanks.

234

General Fiero Discussion / Solar Electric Fiero

« on: January 04, 2014, 07:23:29 pm »

The 2009 DC auto show featured a solar electric Fiero called Destiny 2000.
Here's the link: http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/02/dc-auto-show-destiny-2000-used-to-be-a-fiero-now-its-a-solar-e/

Anyone out there in Fiero land know anything about this?  Sounds like the company converted several Fieros to electric.

235

Tech Tips, Tech Questions / Bad clutch slave cylinder mechanism?

« on: January 02, 2014, 07:06:01 pm »

No completed project stays finished... 

There I was rejoicing my '87 GT's keyless entry was working when I decided to take the car for a victory lap.  After all, I hadn't driven it since last year.

Shifting was a bit hard.  The clutch pedal felt a little soft and I couldn't get into reverse.  Eventually it went into reverse and I took the car around the block.  Had trouble getting into first at a stop sign so I put it in second and drove home to check the clutch fluid.

The fluid was brownish/black with a bit of scum on top.  Using paper towers, I cleaned out the obvious mess and put in (just opened) DOT3 brake fluid.  Started the car back up and couldn't get into reverse.

My guess is the slave cylinder mechanism is the problem.  I'm basing this on what I've read and my experiences with a '79 VW Rabbit and an '82 Datsun 210.   

However, I trust the Fiero wisdom found on this forum and look forward to your guidance; as well as any video, pictures, links, or any other information.

Thanks.

236

Tech Tips, Tech Questions / Power Door Lock Actuators

« on: December 29, 2013, 07:25:14 pm »

Howdy,

I now have keyless entry in my 1987 GT.  But, the door lock actuators are weak.  It takes three clicks to unlock the drivers side and many, many more for the passenger side.  OK, I haven't found the number, but the lock moves a bit with each click.  The obvious solution is replacing both actuators.  But they're about $50 each from AutoZone or The Fiero Store.  So my question is...

Is there a way to bring door lock actuators back to life?

237

Tech Tips, Tech Questions / Keyless Entry

« on: December 26, 2013, 02:18:51 pm »

Happy belated Merry Christmas!

I'm trying to install keyless entry (Bulldog Model KE1702) on my 1987 Fiero, which already has power door locks. 

The kit has:
    * terrible directions,
    * a big Main Control Module (as they call it),
    * a 14-Pin Wire Harness with 13 very long wires, and
    * 2 remotes. 

My Fiero has on the passenger side:
    * About 7 wires coming from the door
    * About 7 wires coming from under the dash
    * A meeting point where the wires connect that will look a lot like the pictures I'm hoping to upload.

My question is, am I suppose to splice the ~7 wires coming from the door and the ~7 wires coming from under the dash with the 13 wires in the 14 pin connector?  If so, can I say, "Yikes!"

If my splicing guess is correct, then is there anything made that will take the wires as they exist on the Fiero:
    * Allow me to disconnect them,
    * Then reconnect in such a way that I can plug into the Main Control Module without having to do a bunch of splicing?

Thanks.

Bulldog:

Fiero:

238

General Discussion / CSRA Lurkers: Meeting of the CSRA Fiero Club of Augusta, GA

« on: December 13, 2013, 06:50:40 am »

Saturday, December 14th at 0730, Ron and myself will be meeting at the Evans Diner (Address: 4429 Washington Rd, Evans, GA 30809) located near beautiful downtown Evans, GA.
Come by and discuss Fieros and whatever other topics come to mind.

Paul

239

General Fiero Discussion / Mid-Engine Corvette? New Chevy Fiero?

« on: November 11, 2013, 09:22:56 pm »

Howdy Folks,

My letter to the editor in Corvette Magazine was printed in the (current) January 2014 issue.  Here it is:

I read Tom Wallace's comments about a mid-engine Corvette in the October 2013 issue with great interest.  General Motors will not build a mid-engine Corvette until there is consumer demand.  There will never be consumer demand until a younger generation experiences mid-engine vehicles.  Younger drivers will not experience mid-engine vehicles until GM brings back an inexpensive, Fiero-like car.  While helping to produce this vehicle, Corvette engineers could overcome technical difficulties associated with the design.  Maybe then, the C8 will be mid-engine.


This is my attempt to get someone at GM to think maybe the Fiero is a good idea to try again.  In the same issue, Dave McLellan - the 2nd Corvette Chief and father of the C4 also had a letter printed. 

Performance and handling is not why I purchased a 26 year old car for my daughter.  It was for other reasons like:
1. Only 2 seats!  I've seen too many cars and trucks packed with too many kids.
2. Feels like you're doing 90mph when you're doing 25.  Who's going to speed? (Club members excepted)
3. Can't carry a bunch of junk.
4. No one else in the area owns one.  "Was that your daughter's Fiero I saw at the mall during school hours?"
5. Safe - the entire front is a crush zone.
6. Cool.  She loves it.  My youngest has also claimed it, telling the oldest she merely gets to drive it. 
7. Decent mileage and reliability

Not exactly high performance reasons.  But all reasons to revive the Fiero.

Now is a good time if you feel like bugging GM to bring back the Fiero. Tell them you read a letter in Corvette Magazine and you'd love to get a new mid-engine Fiero for your son/daughter/grandchild/self/spouse/etc.

And have fun doing it!

240

Tech Tips, Tech Questions / Power Window Problem

« on: November 09, 2013, 09:53:48 pm »

Had a great week using my '87 Fiero GT, 5-speed as a daily driver.  But today the passenger side window wouldn't go up.  So I disconnected the switch by the stick, put it back together, and it worked.  Raised and lowered the window a few times, then left it down for awhile.  Guess what?  It won't go back up.

So I tried the disconnect-reconnect trick again and it didn't work.  I'm considering connecting the passenger-side wires to the driver-side button.  Then I'll know if the problem is with the wiring or the button.

The problem definitely happens when the window is all the way down.


Any other ideas?