The new life of the formula fastback

[GTRS Fiero]

Oops.  I thought his last name was Thelin.

Was the cause of the stumble ever determined?  Ground?

[Fierofool]

My 87 began having the same issue.  I decided to replace the ICM as a test.  Found corrosion on the pickup coil terminal and on the ICM metal plate even tho it had plenty of CLEAR heatsink grease.  Replaced the module and applied white heatsink grease.  Problem gone.

[NoMad]

I have already done the ICM with no fix. I am still pretty certain it is the injector on cylinder 2 and now low compression from fuel striping the lube from the cylinder wall and causing ring wear or scoring. Won't know till the motor is out though. Not worth anymore effort or money when I have a brand new motor almost ready to be installed.

Not sure if I will rebuild this one when I pull it or not.

[Raydar]

...
Not sure if I will rebuild this one when I pull it or not.

If it really is a 3.1, bored out to 3.4 (as I was told by Dave) then there probably isn't enough cylinder wall thickness for an overbore. You might get away with a "hone and re-ring".

[GTRS Fiero]

Until it's apart, we don't know what the issue is.  It seems I recall compression being an issue.  I'm curious how the pistons look.  When Scott drove it, there seemed to be plenty of power.

[Fierofool]

Dave told me that it was from an early 90's FWD van, selected because of the thicker cylinder walls.  Then he bored it to the max at .060.  The 3.4 had not yet been introduced when he built the car. 

[GTRS Fiero]

If bored to .060, what is the displacement?

[NoMad]

I believe it is 3.233 or there abouts.

[NoMad]

Well I finally managed to get another replacement ICM in my hands to see if my issue was just a bad ICM replacement.

Went for a test drive and thought I might have it sorted....then 30 minutes into testing the surge came back and worse than ever. Wasn't the ICM.

At this point I am officially done trying to drive the car until the motor swap is done. There is something major wrong with either injectors or ignition and it is bad enough that it nearly got Marilyn and I killed on 285. So ya, no more money or time into this engine till I have the new running gear in.

So with upcoming body changes and a motor and transmission swap to soon be completed, this might be the end of the formula fastback for good. The new iteration will deserve a clean slate name going forward.

[GTRS Fiero]

Good to get an update, but sorry to read about the scare on 285.

[mweldon]

FF 2.0

 

[GTRS Fiero]

mweldon, are you going on RFTH, this year?

[mweldon]

mweldon, are you going on RFTH, this year?

In my fiero, who knows as I may actually finish the LF3/LF4 swap with all the quarantining going  on....

Otherwise if I go I'll be driving my Mazda.

The better question or rather statement is.... I hope GaFiero.org can have the RFTH this year with all that's going on....

BTW, serious kudos to NoMad for coming over and helping me out with the last engine mount for my swap... I was kinda worn out from all the cutting, grinding, shaping, test fitting, grinding, testing, grinding, welding, grinding from the first 3 mounts... His enthusiasm was seriously needed and I let him take over the welding and grinding while I did the drilling, tapping and spacing for the last mount.  Well engineered engine mounts are a @#$%!

[Fierofool]

Mark, regarding RFTH this year, we canceled the scouting and documentation trip for tomorrow.  I have the route laid out and route sheets and really, only the restaurants and hotels need be contacted for reservations to make it possible to hold the event.

Speaking solely for myself since I've had no input from any of the other board members, I don't know if the event will take place this year.  It's too early to make that decision.  Government speculation is that this virus could still be a major problem as far out as 18 months.  That could put us as far out as the end of 2021. 

[NoMad]

Well I tried to start the fiero on Saturday.... won't start now after the fun on 285. So ya, down till LQ1 install.