I guess I'll start from when I bought it without to much B.S. I bought it last fall with a really bad clutch, replaced it so I could drive it until I could get the money all together. I bought a 93 Northstar STS motor in Jan. with just about everything needed to do the swap from the Cadillac. I just sent the chip to Chapmen to have it reprogrammed. I still need about $1300 to start the swap, the clutch, flywheel, a 5 speed Getrag not my 4 speed Muncie, get the chip back from Will, new shifter and cable, throttle cables, etc...So it may still be about 3 weeks until I start the swap. So, I started the little stuff, kindof? When I bought the car it didn't have the door keys, so I am swapping the lock cycl. "what a pain", changing the dew strips and the door handles all in one. And the biggest change, new mirrors! Want to see what I'm doing, if not don't look down.
The driverside with the door stripped
Other door shoot with a view of the ugly interior
Outer door skin
Inside of the door skin
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a 93 Northstar soon thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net
[This message has been edited by GSXRBOBBY (edited 10-19-2004).]
IP: Logged
12:46 AM
PFF
System Bot
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
This is what I'm doing with the mirrors First I removed the small triangle in the front of the doors, then there was a lip on the bottom that had to be removed. This area will be seen when the door is open so I cleaned it all up and painted.
Then I got some 18 gauge sheet metal, about a 9"X24" sheet. I took some cardboard and trimmed it and made a bracket "templet" formed it bent it and drilled the holes
The pass. side
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a 93 Northstar soon thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net
[This message has been edited by GSXRBOBBY (edited 10-19-2004).]
IP: Logged
12:53 AM
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
And since I have the car 1/2 apart I thought ahead, I'm going to be shaving the doors so I removed the trim I'm not going to need the marker lights up there since the mirrors have the LED lights on them
I'm also looking to replace the gas cap with race style cap
I need to do something about these dirty door trim panels so I'm going to redo them
So far the only thing that I hurt that I didn't really want to was my thumb
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a 93 Northstar soon thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net Nextel 2 way is 111*32*19163
IP: Logged
01:00 AM
fiero1969 Member
Posts: 502 From: greenbay wisconsin Registered: Feb 2004
You guys will not beleive its the same car when I'm done. Thanks for saving me alot of time Will. I painted the valve cover on the heart of my new found toy. I'm still going to do what I said with the rest that I will wait to show here after I'm done. And so far I'm still under $1600 for the car and the Northstar.
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a 93 Northstar soon thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net Nextel 2 way is 111*32*19163
IP: Logged
01:05 AM
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
It was a little cold today so I worked on it inside. Since I had the door panels removed I stripped the carpet off of them and the vinyl. It was a bigger pain than I thought, the glue is really stuck on the backing, it took over 3 hours just to do that. I still need to clean the panels up and prep them, plus fix any bad spots, I am going to fill the holes where the side pockets where and I found a crack. Anyway, heres what they look like.
The driverside panel
The leftside 1/2 way done
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a 93 Northstar soon thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net Nextel 2 way is 111*32*19163
IP: Logged
11:53 PM
Apr 5th, 2004
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
I used 22 Guage sheet metal but its not thick enough, its to floppy. So I am building a steel bracket on the back and I think I am going to cover them some how. It starting to look really good.
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a 93 Northstar soon thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net
[This message has been edited by GSXRBOBBY (edited 10-19-2004).]
IP: Logged
08:47 PM
Jun 10th, 2004
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
When I bought my 86 I was going to build a Ferrari body kit on it but after seeing what you guys have been doing with the 355 nose and the taillight panels, etc... I have desided to just do that. But the one thing I'm not sure of is that I have the chrome horse for the grill and tail plus the emblem I bought for the top of the motor plate that sits on top of the Northstar.
Here is a picture of it, its 1/2 way sanded down so I can polish it chrome.
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a 93 Northstar soon thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net
IP: Logged
11:23 PM
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
I have become a big fan of Chip Foose. He's on the show Overhaulin, I found out he has been designing and selling his own set and style of wheels. I just feel in love with these and these are what I am going to be putting on here.
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a 93 Northstar soon thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net
IP: Logged
11:26 PM
Jul 6th, 2004
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
I have most of the body done, just have changed my mind a few times. I was going to put on a 355 nose but alot of guys are getting them. I think I have also changed my mind as far as color goes, I was going to just repaint it red with a pearl clear, but now looking at a pearl orange. Had alot of extra parts after getting the body ready
Looking at going with this color:
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a 93 Northstar soon thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net
IP: Logged
01:54 PM
TaurusThug Member
Posts: 4271 From: Simpsonville, SC Registered: Aug 2003
WOW! That's beautiful bodywork you did on that orange car. (Don't you wish) You're making good progress. Looking forward to see how much the mirrors change the looks of the car. They look great.
------------------ 87 GT 88 Formula
IP: Logged
11:24 PM
Jul 21st, 2004
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
I have the top plate all polised up and it looks ok, there are still a few little marks on it but I'll get them later, plus the small piece that said Northstar 24 valve in the front side soon to be the back side was really bad so I painted it Orange to match what the color of the car will be.
I also have most of the motor cleaned up, I preasure washed off, so much better!
Plus I got the trans painted, I'm still not sure if I am going to leave the orange brakets but I think they look different and will stand out better after the cars painted pearl orange?
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a 93 Northstar soon thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net
IP: Logged
10:46 PM
Aug 9th, 2004
87SEbeast Member
Posts: 354 From: Breinigsville, PA Registered: Jun 2004
No way, that would mean I would have to park it and wait for you to get here, I'll come see you...hehehehehe No really, I will try to take it out to some shows and cruises, I'll see you around that is if I don't talk you into help me out with all the work ahead me!
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, Looking to ad a 93 Northstar soon thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net
IP: Logged
02:41 AM
Aug 20th, 2004
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
I think this weekend I am going to try to mount the trans on the Northstar after grinding a little off the bell housing, this should be a big pain. I am also going to pick up the new fuel door cover in a few mins and I am going to mount it. Yes I am going to bring the camera.
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 86 Fiero GT, 93 Northstar and 5 speed Getrag thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net
IP: Logged
11:22 AM
Sep 5th, 2004
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
I just got my DSL service back up, I have been moving and unpacking for the last week or so. I have had a few people send me P.M.'s asking me whats going on so I just thought I would tell everyone things are put back on hold for a short time.
Money has gotten tight and it looks like I maybe selling my Northstar motor? As you can see I have just over $1450.00 into it as it is "without time in polishing the top plate" and right now I will brake even or take that amount. Not that I want to sell it but............life sometimes sucks!!!!
And a week later it did not sell, so I guess we are going to continue but we are going to be adding a different twist. We are going to part my 86 GT out and use some of the parts on Valpo Joes 88 SE, the one that got the "Hardship award" at Fieroroma for having the motor that started knocking on the way to the show. Its going to become an 88 GT with so far a Northstar 5 speed?
By the way, to those who asked he left it there that night and went back up there the next afternoon with a truck and trailer.
I'm glad your going to continue with your project. sorry about the money woes, it happens alot for sure... your car will be a little bit like mine (except yours will be faster and look better!) i will put my 86GT body parts on the 88 if it runs good. good luck!
Just a little tip for anyone wanting to remove the carpet from the door panels: I used a heatgun, very sparingly, as I pulled the carpet away from the panel..it came of in 5 minutes per door!! and left a perfectly clean surface to work on, because the glue came away with the carpet. I also used it on the vinyl on the upper parts, to form the contours and wrap around the edges, so you don't have any joins visible.In the dips behind the door arm rest, I coated both the panel and the vinyl with contact adhesive,attached the top of the vinyl to the door panel, and then pulled it tight, and then attached the bottom.I clamped it in place using steel strips and g clamps, and then gently heated the vinyl over the dip, until it was warm,,NOT HOT!!. I then put some high density foam when the dip is, and pushed it in tight until I was sure the surfaces had contact, layed it face down on a clean flat surface, and put enough weight on top to hold it in place.I left it all like that for 12 hours, until the adhesive cured, and when all the clamps and weights were removed, it had stuck together perfectly. fierofetish
[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 09-15-2004).]
IP: Logged
05:58 AM
Sep 20th, 2004
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
Well, plans have changed! I am going to be buying KISSMYSSFIERO"S 88 coupe and doing the Northstar swap using it. And instead of parting out my 86 GT and am going to finsh it or fix it up and sell it. I am going to be painting it a Dark grey "like the new Monte Carlo" or a royal blue "like the 80's Iroc Cameros". Not really sure yet, but I was thinking about making this somewhat turn into a painting thread and show detailed pictures of what I am doing or have done and add all the info. along with me doing so. I am also going to be redoing the mirror mounts with a thicker steel and angling them down a little bit so they sit level. Then I am going to finish cleaning up the interior and selling the car.
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 93 Northstar and 5 speed Getrag thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net My build thread
IP: Logged
05:54 PM
PFF
System Bot
cptsnoopy Member
Posts: 2585 From: phoenix, AZ, USA Registered: Jul 2003
Well, plans have changed! I am going to be buying KISSMYSSFIERO"S 88 coupe and doing the Northstar swap using it. And instead of parting out my 86 GT and am going to finsh it or fix it up and sell it. I am going to be painting it a Dark grey "like the new Monte Carlo" or a royal blue "like the 80's Iroc Cameros". Not really sure yet, but I was thinking about making this somewhat turn into a painting thread and show detailed pictures of what I am doing or have done and add all the info. along with me doing so. I am also going to be redoing the mirror mounts with a thicker steel and angling them down a little bit so they sit level. Then I am going to finish cleaning up the interior and selling the car.
welcome to 88 ville! a bit tighter in the engine bay...
IP: Logged
06:28 PM
Oct 18th, 2004
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
So since I am selling my 86 after I paint it I was wondering just what color to paint it? I am looking at met. royal blue or a met. darker silver, what do you guys think?
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 93 Northstar and 5 speed Getrag thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net My build thread
So since I am selling my 86 after I paint it I was wondering just what color to paint it? I am looking at met. royal blue or a met. darker silver, what do you guys think?
I second the blue
IP: Logged
08:51 PM
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
We had a god day around here today, and what I mean by good is warm, it rained and that pushed me back into the garage but it was warmer!!!! I started to wire wheel the inner part of the body panels where the trim was to ruff up the paint so the filler sticks. I also ruffed up the fill where I filled in the mirror hole I also started to put small drill holes right down the middle and on the top & bottom of the curve of the body trim groove until iyt starter raining again. I hope I can finish it tomorrow.
------------------ Bobby from NW Indiana 93 Northstar and 5 speed Getrag thespeedshop@sbcglobal.net My build thread
IP: Logged
12:17 AM
Nov 15th, 2004
GSXRBOBBY Member
Posts: 3122 From: Southern Indiana USA Registered: Aug 2003
a bit tighter in the engine bay...
