My '88 Fiero - The Never-Ending Saga

[GTRS Fiero]

The rebuilt transmission is back.  Should be back in the car on Monday.

[GTRS Fiero]

Transmission is back in, and--you ready for this?  It's bad.  First and reverse only.

[TopNotch]

It's easy enough to test a manual transmission out of the car. Just put it into each gear using the shift and select levers, turn the input shaft, and watch the output. Easier if you have some axle stubs to plug into it.
You know there's trouble if you can't even get it into one of the gears easily.

[GTRS Fiero]

I was beginning to think no one was following this thread.

This is an auto.  Runs up to 5000RPM, no shift.  Dunno what's wrong.  Sourced another transmission.

[TopNotch]

Not sure if this applies, but I used to have a 1990 Toyota Celica, with auto trans, that wouldn't shift into high gear until the engine warmed up. And the thermostat was stuck open so it never warmed up enough. Maybe that's why I got it cheap. Worked fine after I fixed it.

[GTRS Fiero]

Well, the engine does get up to temp, but there could be a variety of similar issues.  It could be that the transmission fluid isn't flowing properly through the tubes.  Anything causing the wrong amount of pressure.  I don't know, but I'm done with this transmission.  Moving on to a newer one.

The transmission has been out and in twice.

[GTRS Fiero]

Two weeks' wait for the ”new” transmission.

I feel badly about destroying the old one.  I'm sure Jasper could fix it, but I'm so done with it.  I'm afraid it'll have to be someone else's problem.

[GTRS Fiero]

The replacement transmission is being polished, cleaned, and painted.  It'll get a rebuild, as well.  It should be ready for install next week.

The brakes are being a pain.  New booster, lines, hoses, and loaded calipers.  Numerous bleeds.  New check valve.  Good vacuum.  Hopefully, the next bleed will be do the job.

Still lots of work left to do.

[fiero4.3L]

Beautiful car. Your issues reinforce my appreciation of a carb and a manual trans.

A couple things it would have been nice to keep are the parking brake ( I have P6000 front brakes/uprights/bearings on the rear) and the AC (which I may have to make room for. I don't care to run a belt on the harmonic damper.).

[GTRS Fiero]

Thanks.  I hope everything is sorted soon.

[GTRS Fiero]

Well, the coolant intake tube on the new transmission has a hairline crack.  I'll have to wait for a new tube.

On a related note, how hard is it supposed to be to change the transmission cooler lines?

[GTRS Fiero]

Progress is slow.  I'm getting grey hair.

In the meantime, I found that danged elusive Pimpernel set of door weatherstrips.

I've been refining my toolkit a bit.  Many of the combo tools are too small, or light duty only.  Some tools are metric when I need SAE or vise versa.

I'm trying to find new tires of the right sizes.

[GTRS Fiero]

Dunno about anyone else, but the TFS fuel sending unit was hitting the baffles in my tank. I'd have been better off keeping the old one in.

Let's see.  The new VSS, TCC, injectors, plug wires, IAC, TPS, alternator, fuel sending unit, oil sending unit, 3 relays, thermostat housing cap, oil filler cap, intake gaskets, MAP sensor, coolant reservoir, fuel filler hose, water pump, CTS, and FPR have all been bad, among other items.

Oh, well.

[GTRS Fiero]

Well, the new transmission is IN...and the torque converter is hitting the casing.  How the heck is that possible?

Gotta replace the torque converter, then see what's up.

[fiero4.3L]

Generally, it isn't unusual for a converter to contact the inside of the bell when it isn't bolted up to the flywheel/flex plate.