The new life of the formula fastback

[NoMad]

Spent the day invading Mike's space to tear apart the front end and try to get the poly bushings installed. Full day of work and the installs haven't even started yet.

Stuff mostly came apart okay but there was a bracket that holds the back side of the upper control arm bolts ao you can loosen and adjust the UCA when aligning the car that died on removal. One of the ball joints was a little notchy so I opted to order replacements while I had it all apart. Sadly no uppers appeared available but the two lower ball joints will be new on reassembly.

Everything got a ton of cleaning done to it and is undergoing some paint work before reinstalling.





Time wasn't on my side and so the car is spending the night at uncle Mike's home for wayward Fieros with all the other problem children. Hoping to get it all sorted by midday tomorrow so I don't have to miss too much work.



Tomorrow will be a super early start to drive to Jefferson for the rear struts from Kay before heading back to Northlake.

Oh, and burning out the old rubber bushings with a Propane torch takes a minute...... Incase you were thinking of doing it and planning for it to be quick.

[GTRS Fiero]

Rodney Dickman has upper ball joints.

http://rodneydickman.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=136

[Fierofool]

Some people have drilled a series of holes through the bushings, around its perimeter.  That allows the flame to penetrate the bushing and it comes out easier. 

I'm not familiar with the parts of the upper control arm, but if you need the upper control arm bolt and bushings, I have a new pair.  I'm about 7 miles off the interstate on your way to and from Kay's, and I will also be about 10 miles from Northlake sometime midday tomorrow. 

[NoMad]

Thank you. Ya, found the part on the Fiero Store and it is the strap bolt. Thankfully there is a spare on site at Northlake to borrow from. That said, if you ever remove that upper control arm having an extra pair of them on hand wouldn't be a bad plan.

At some point I will actually get my computer out and add photos to this. Just not set to do so from my phone yet.

[NoMad]

Well that was a drive....

Made it out to Kay's place in Jefferson but was a bit surprised to find they were not the rear struts but a set of front shocks. Well nothing ventured, nothing gained. Back to Northlake empty handed to get the front end back together.

Might just wait for the Fiero Stores upcoming 10% off sale and order the rear struts then unless someone has a better suggestion.

[Raydar]

Have you already bought the KYBs for the front?
If not, and your interested in sampling a full poly 88 suspension with fairly fresh Monroe Sensatracs, I'll let you drive my car. (My springs are modded/slightly stiffer, but it's not harsh. My wife doesn't even complain, and she thought that my ZQ8 Sonoma "rode like a ground slide".)

[Fierofool]

I'm sorry you made the trip for nothing.  I posted those pictures that she sent me and understood they were for the rear.  Those were for her 85, so even the front shocks won't fit an 88, but had they been rears, they would fit.  Hope you got the braided brake lines, anyway.

Like Raydar, I have a car with SensaTracs all the way around, but it's been lowered or something and rides like a Ricer.  Not a good example of the ride quality of Monroe shocks and struts. 

Let me know if you want these instrument cluster parts and tach filter.  I'll try to get with you somewhere so you don't have to drive almost back to Kay's. 

[NoMad]

Raydar- Ya, I already have the front KYBs. They were only $32 each at Summit for the performance models of the gas adjusts.

FF- Ya, I would still very much be intereded in the gauge parta and Tach filter as my Tach and trip meters arw still into.

Will be back at North Lake on Thursday to try and finish the front end suspension stuff if that is an easy spot for you. If not we can work out a good place.

[Fierofool]

I should be able to get the stuff down there to you. 

[GTRS Fiero]

I have the TFS self-adjusting KYB struts in the rear.  I also have poly bushings for the torque strut, the tri-links, and the sway bar bushings.  My Fiero had about 58K on it when these changes were made.  My tri-links looked OK, until they were removed, at which point the bushings turned to dust.  The shocks were apparently bad.  Anyway, everything is nice and tight, now.  Mine is not lowered.  When I get time, I'll replace the control arms.

Before the swap, when making a left turn from a decline to a flat surface, the back end seemed to hop around.  No more.

[NoMad]

Before the swap, when making a left turn from a decline to a flat surface, the back end seemed to hop around.  No more.

This one seems to do it when making slight banks at highway speed and finding a little bump. The stearing just gets wishy washy for a second. Hopefully this will correct all of that.

[NoMad]

After a few days work all of the front end appears to be sorted now. Still a tiny bit of steering wallow but I think I can now safely narrow that down to either the back end (which REALLY needs aligned) or the bushings in the steering rack.









The front now feels incredibly planted and the ride is much nicer. Now going over bumps only has clunking from the rear. I am excited for the struts to arrive so I can tear down the back and refurbish it as well. That will also include the work necessary to unfreeze the rear toe adjusters from their rusty slumber.

In trying to sort out the horn issue I went ahead and pulled the horn relay from under the dash. My plan was to examine it.... But seeing as it crumbled in my hands on removal I feel confident in saying I need a new one 

Washed the car today as well. Got all the caked on grime off of her and discovered that the rear trunk seal has shrunk and no longer can seal both rear corners. Anyone have this experience with that happening? The seal looks good but is just a touch small left to right.

Still loving being back into a fiero. Giggles every drive.


Oh, and we blew out the tank vent line and some dirt came free, but still a huge whooshing noise when I open the tank and no ability to not trickle the fuel in or the shut off pops.

[Fierofool]

The whoosh could be due to a failed fuel filler cap not venting properly.  I'll grab the one off Scott's parts car tomorrow.  Still puzzled over the inability to fill at normal flow. 

[GTRS Fiero]

The horn and trunk release relays are interchangeable, so you can use the other relay to test function.  I do not understand how the horn relay would deteriorate so badly.

There could still be blockage in the vent tube at the tank.  Also, I'd worry about overflow going into the vapor canister.

I'm glad this is all coming together for you, but especially that you're realizing the enjoyment from your Fiero.

[NoMad]

Ya, the lack of venting on fill is throwing me. A bit worried I might need to drop the tank at this point.

Milage is starting to hold at right about 20mpg.

Ya, was shocked to have the whole outer case of the relay crumble into tiny bits in my hand when I went to remove it. Not expected is an understatement.

Now to just find someone with the body panals I want..... Too bad Fiero Fiberglass sold their molds off piece by piece so I have no idea who has what and if they will be selling them.