My '88 Fiero - The Never-Ending Saga

[GTRS Fiero]

So, camber is way off.  Yes, I'm concerned about grinding on the struts.

[GTRS Fiero]

On a previous Fiero, the camber was off, but there was a bit of looseness in the holes on the struts, so I moved everything to where it was visually straight, and tightened it.  That was on a pre-'88, though.

[Fierofool]

This is probably why there was slop.  Someone may have installed regular bolts instead of the camber adjustment bolts.  These are also available from NAPA and maybe other parts stores. 

https://www.fierostore.com/Product/Detail.aspx?s=57517&d=335&p=2

[Raydar]

If I remember correctly, there is a protruding "corner" on the 88 knuckle that gets in the way of some struts.
That corner can be ground without affecting the integrity of the part. It's really not that much material to remove.
As long as there are no deep grooves or anything else that will allow a crack to start or spread, there is no harm.
(Fieroguru sells a kit that changes the 88 rear geometry just a bit - for the better. Installation of the kit also requires a bit of grinding. I've done it on both of my cars. No worries.)

[GTRS Fiero]

Fieroguru's lateral relocation kit?  I think it requires larger wheels.

For those bolts, would they help my current situation?

[GTRS Fiero]

If I remember correctly, there is a protruding "corner" on the 88 knuckle that gets in the way of some struts.
That corner can be ground without affecting the integrity of the part. It's really not that much material to remove.
As long as there are no deep grooves or anything else that will allow a crack to start or spread, there is no harm.

That makes me feel better.

[Raydar]

Fieroguru's lateral relocation kit?  I think it requires larger wheels.

For those bolts, would they help my current situation?

Per Paul... his kit requires 17s. (Although some 16s will fit, he doesn't advertise it.)

It won't help your situation. I just mentioned it, because it also requires grinding on the knuckle (albeit in a different place) and causes no harm.

[GTRS Fiero]

Well, the ”corner” has been removed from each knuckle.  Back to the alignment shop.

[GTRS Fiero]

Well, the new one looks much better, huh?

[GTRS Fiero]

Here's my AC pressure.

[Fierofool]

It may just be the angle, but the inlet and outlet pipes don't look to be the same.  But in any case, I bet you find that the length of the new core is at least a quarter inch shorter than your original.  Somewhere along the line, someone got some wrong information and all the manufacturers now make them short.  I've been around the block a couple of times on that issue. 

Spectre or Spectra customer service told me to fill the gap with aerosol expandable insulation foam. 

[GTRS Fiero]

Yeah, I read about that issue.  I was hoping that mine didn't have that issue.

I agree about the inlet and outlet pipes.  The angle seems to be quite a bit different, but I think that'll work OK.

[fiero4.3L]

The new core looks more efficient but not as repairable/easy to solder as the old one.

For the gap, I'd use a few layers of foam tape from home depot/lowes/etc to fill the gap with the new one or a cut a short piece from the black foam that is split length-wise for insulating water pipe.

Too late now, but you can also back flush a clogged core to help clear them out, use a couple feet of straight hose to connect to a garden hose. I've poured CLR and let it sit before flushing a good core. Have not done that with a fiero through.

[GTRS Fiero]

The old one had a leak, somewhere.  It seems to have fit just fine.

[Fierofool]

The tank on the right end has a strap that fits around it to hold that end in place.  It has a screw on each end to fasten it down.  On the other end, there's a pair of spring metal fingers on the cover that you must remove for access, that hold that end in place.  When the whole unit is too short, the end where the inlet and outlet are doesn't fit under the spring metal fingers.  The seal against the warm and cold air chambers is compromised.