I can't seem to post this in the Build section, so I will do it here... For some time now I have been having electrical problems in my Fiero. Ever since my radio was stolen and the wires were yanked, there seems to be a bad ground somewhere in the dash wrecking havoc on my gauges. On top of that early last year, my headliner fell apart after 22 years. I had also been working on my door hinges and have all of the interior trim out. Needless to say, with all of that going on, the interior was a mess, not to mention that my old dash was pretty cracked and sun work, and my 22 year old speakers are almost done.
The time has come to have some fun
First, what's going in:
Good 2 tone Fiero dash with mint condition map pocket and Kenwood speakers in custom mounting plates...
Fiero headliner covered with black Vinyl...
Mint condition interior trim, painted matte black...
Upgrade to 180KM/h GT guages...
Replacement center console surround with custom mounted tweeters...
Upgrade to lighted mirror...Not sure what car this is out of.
I may install these. Undecided. I also have a tilt steering column that I may add....
Ok. Now to the business side of things. Before I begin the interior, I took a few minutes and installed a new EGR, distributor cap and rotor. Car sounds great. I can't wait to drive it...
The car...
My Toybox...
Now... on to business. First things first, disconnect the battery. Mine is mounted in the front of the car (please ignore the dirt)
Now remove unscrew the shifter knob and remove it. Then remove the ashtrays, and the center console cover (4 7 MM screws inside the ashtrays). Also remove the radio trim plate (4 torx screws). Once it's off remove the center console surround. I removed my rally gauges at the same time.
Cluster switches removed (4 torx screws on each side)
Top gauge cover removed(5 torx screws on top, 2 7mm screws on bottom)
Lower gauge cover removed. (4 7mm screws)
Now inplug the 3 large wire clusters from gauges (2 on the back, 1 on bottom left). Remove the 4 10mm screws and gently remove the gauge cluster.
Then remove the stupid metal thing (for lack of a better name)
OK. That was fun wasn't it? Now on to the dash....
With a small flat head screwdriver, very gently pry up the speaker covers. Odds are they may be brittle after so long. In front of each speaker is 2 long 7mm screws. Remove all 4 of them.
Now, look under the left corner of the dash and remove the 3 philips screws that hold th Hood release in place.
While you are under there, remove the 10 MM screw that is under each corner of the dash.
That's it, the dash is loose. Carefully tilt it forward so you can reach behind and unclip the speaker harnesses. Now gently lift it over the streering column and pull it out through the passenger side. It helps if the windows are down. Be very careful not to snag any of the wires. They don't take well to being yanked on.
Now set the dash on your workbench and pat yourself on the back.
It was easier than it looked....Just don't get scared of what's left in the car...
This weekend, I will move on to tracing the wires and will continue to post pics as I progress. Good night all!
------------------ Jay Brintnell Southern Ontario Fiero Association Yellow 85 Notchback(A.K.A. GodFearN)
[This message has been edited by Eclipse (edited 02-27-2009).]
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03:03 AM
PFF
System Bot
topher_time Member
Posts: 3231 From: Bailey's Harbor, for now. Registered: Sep 2005
Excellent write up. Good luck with the rebuild. I like your tweeter placement. I'll have to think of that when I get around to installing the Alpine system I have laying around.
[This message has been edited by topher_time (edited 02-27-2009).]
haha nice to see another interior swaper. lol i get bored with interiors very quickley it usualy takes my dad telling me to leave it alone to actuley leave it alone only interior im affraid of is my firebird.
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09:29 AM
Brocephus Member
Posts: 617 From: Franklin, NY, USA Registered: Mar 2006
In this pic, I spy a handle and string for a kite in the bottom shelf. Funny that I should see this because last night, I bought my son his first kite and man, did he have a blast, hehe.
I harbor a great amount of disdain for states and countries that require front and rear license plates. You've got a very good looking Fiero, but that front plate really takes away from the beauty of your car.
What kind of condition is your plastic center console "skeleton" in? In both of my cars, the majority of holes are stripped and cracked and the frame is broken in several places - all the doing of the previous owners. Also, is that skeleton different across the model years?
I'm adding this thread to my favorites so I can keep up with your progress, particularly the headliner, as I will be installing one of the Fiero Store's ABS headliners in a couple days and I don't want to mess it up, hehe.
[This message has been edited by Brocephus (edited 02-27-2009).]
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10:12 AM
Eclipse Member
Posts: 2040 From: Woodstock, Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 2004
Thanks all! I have 5 kids, and we love our kites and RC airplanes! We live in the country on a couple of acres so there is pleanty of room and wind.
I wish I could do away with the front plates, but at least I moved it out of the air intake. Putting front center always seemed not well through out. That said, it looks large, but it's just the angle of the shot.
My skeleton is in mint condition. I've taken great care not to overtighten anything and tend to be rather meticulous with things. Looking back it's hard to believe this is the same abandoned 4 cyl coupe that I bought form a scrap dealer the day before it was scheduled to be crushed.
The headliner is an original Fiero non-sunroof liner which I repaired and cut. I would love to buy an ABS unit, I had this one on hand, so I will try it first. With today's economy, it's all about the shortcuts :}
------------------ Jay Brintnell Southern Ontario Fiero Association Yellow 85 Notchback(A.K.A. GodFearN)
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10:47 AM
Larryh86GT Member
Posts: 1757 From: Near sunny Buffalo NY Registered: Jan 2008
Thanks all! I have 5 kids, and we love our kites and RC airplanes! We live in the country on a couple of acres so there is pleanty of room and wind.
I wish I could do away with the front plates, but at least I moved it out of the air intake. Putting front center always seemed not well through out. That said, it looks large, but it's just the angle of the shot.
My skeleton is in mint condition. I've taken great care not to overtighten anything and tend to be rather meticulous with things. Looking back it's hard to believe this is the same abandoned 4 cyl coupe that I bought form a scrap dealer the day before it was scheduled to be crushed.
The headliner is an original Fiero non-sunroof liner which I repaired and cut. I would love to buy an ABS unit, I had this one on hand, so I will try it first. With today's economy, it's all about the shortcuts :}
I like what you did with the plate. I am going to move mine like you did but maybe over to the passenger side. It being in the center covers up the beautiful design of the car. Could you post of picture of the brackets you used/fabricated? Nice work you are doing. Larry
------------------ Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
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11:15 AM
Brocephus Member
Posts: 617 From: Franklin, NY, USA Registered: Mar 2006
We just got our income tax refund and ordering that headliner was the first thing I did. The Fiero Store had them on sale for 20% off and for $169.00, I couldn't say no. I also got the sunroof molding at the same time and the total came up to $220 with shipping. I was told it could be up to three weeks before I get it though due to them selling like mad. I got the headliner with sunroof, but no 3rd brake light, covered with black material because the guy said they had recieved not complaints, but comments that the color of the grey and light grey were more of a tan than grey. Also, the black will show less dirt and will compliment future plans I have for my interior. I will definitely post up comments about the ease, fitment and results of the headliner install.
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11:45 AM
PaulJK Member
Posts: 6638 From: Los Angeles Registered: Oct 2001
No. Tinted windows would make the car dark. :} A black headliner would match the black trim, black fuzzy backboard (or whatever it's called behind the seats, and my black and yellow APC seats. :}
Honestly I went black because I had black vinyl here. If I don't like it, I will buy a grey ABS unit.
------------------ Jay Brintnell Southern Ontario Fiero Association Yellow 85 Notchback(A.K.A. GodFearN)
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10:14 PM
PaulJK Member
Posts: 6638 From: Los Angeles Registered: Oct 2001
Hi all. It's been a long while since I have been at the car. I've been out of of town, and other events have kept me occupied. Time for some updates....
Here are the old Gauges on the right, and the new ones on the left. Time to move my Odometer to the new set.
Clear plate removed...
trim shield removed...
And Odometer is out and ready to plug into the new gauge cluster....
New Speakers are mounted and wired in the new dash...
Seats are out...
Headliner, new visors and lighter mirror are installed....
New dash is in...
New gauges are in and work great!
I need to clean up some ECM wiring while I am at it.
Now I did find a serious problem. Before I got the car, a battery had burst in the rear, and some acid caused some serious rot. I thought I have cut it all out. but guess what. It appears that I have a broken trunk spring, and where it was rubbing on the fire wall, it rusted and eventually punctured. I'll have to cut the spring out, grind the firewall and patch it somehow. NOT GOOD!!!
Also, I was asked how I attached my front plate. It's simply the plate holder bolted right to the from fascia...
More pics later as I progress....
------------------ Jay Brintnell Southern Ontario Fiero Association Yellow 85 Notchback(A.K.A. GodFearN)
[This message has been edited by Eclipse (edited 03-24-2009).]
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11:13 PM
Mar 25th, 2009
pavo_roddy Member
Posts: 4351 From: State with a city named Gotham Registered: Apr 2004
I know that your unsure of where you got the rear view mirror, but does anyone else know of a car that has the mirror with lites, and an automatic flipper mechanism?
------------------ Me, I sell engines, the cars are for free, I need something to crate the engines in.... Enzo Ferrari....
Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines.... Enzo Ferrari...
Today they are called garage's, yesterday, they were stable's! Eric Jacobsen....
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07:26 AM
cerulean Member
Posts: 137 From: Shrewsbury, MA Registered: Jun 2008
I know that your unsure of where you got the rear view mirror, but does anyone else know of a car that has the mirror with lites, and an automatic flipper mechanism?
Pontiac Vibe (non-sunroof model).
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07:46 AM
Mar 26th, 2009
pavo_roddy Member
Posts: 4351 From: State with a city named Gotham Registered: Apr 2004
Yeah, up here in Canada. I will as MidEngineManiac where he scavenged the mirror. I grabbed it out of his parts stash.
Under the dash really does look scary, but with a good parts guide and wiring diagrams, it's a lot easier to work, than laying upside down and getting under the dash...
Need guides? Here's a site I have been working on in my spare time... Long over due for updates. Check the resources page...
The saga continues.... The last I left off, I had just found a hole in my rear firewall. It turns out it was not caused by the broken spring (which has since been removed). The previous owner had a battery burst, which sprayed everything with acid. The body was fixed when I had the paint job, and I cut out the battery tray which had disintegrated, but I hadn't seen the damage that lay behind the fire retardant layer on the firewall. Before anyone asks, that terminal block is an isolated terminal that I created to connect the front mounted battery cable to the stock positive battery cable. It provides a quick disconnect pint in the rear of the car.
After cleaning inside and out with a wire brush , and a stone tip in my die grinder, I gave it a coat of rust converter...
Then a healthy coat of my favourite sealant...
Next, I used a piece of galvanized plate. I love this stuff as it doesn't rust. I use is for all of my floor plugs and splash shields.
A couple of pop rivets, and I am off to the races again...
B Pillar holes are cut and speakers are installed
New Black "Fuzzy backplate" and glove box installed
Now to skip forward...I won't cover the re-installation steps of all of the trim. It's simply the reverse of removal.
Seats are in...
All interior assembled
I love my A Pillar clock...
New door skins installed...
Some all around shots...
Lastly, All thanks goes to my trusty pit crew...
And the most thanks goes to my dear and wonderful wife for putting up with my quirky Fiero obsession. 'Luv ya hun!
------------------ Jay Brintnell Southern Ontario Fiero Association Yellow 85 Notchback(A.K.A. GodFearN)
[This message has been edited by Eclipse (edited 04-11-2009).]
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02:56 AM
PFF
System Bot
Genopsyde Member
Posts: 774 From: Willoughby, Ohio USA Registered: Dec 2007
Why is it some of those parts look familiar ??? <grin>
The mirror is out of a Pontiac 6000, and when it was in mine I just took power from the dome light. It's actually a really nice upgrade to have, although on my next Fiero I think I'll probably go with a Mopar compass-type.
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04:58 PM
Apr 16th, 2009
Valkyrie Member
Posts: 1199 From: Vancouver, BC Registered: Jun 2006
Gah! I wish I would've searched this earlier! I just stripped my interior (minus carpet) this afternoon. This guide really would've came in handy. Stupid me.
You wouldn't happen to have a guide on removing mice and their... droppings... would you?
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12:17 AM
Eclipse Member
Posts: 2040 From: Woodstock, Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 2004
lol.. my center console and shifter area were full. 3 Years ago when I first pulled the center console, I found a mummified mouse sitting on top of my ECM.:}
In the front of your car, pull the vent fan, and the small cover over the heater element. Look in there for nests, as well as the heater core area. Besides that, if you pull the dash, remove the vent tube from the underside of the dash, and check in there.
------------------ Jay Brintnell Southern Ontario Fiero Association Yellow 85 Notchback(A.K.A. GodFearN)
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02:30 AM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 24455 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
I know that your unsure of where you got the rear view mirror, but does anyone else know of a car that has the mirror with lites, and an automatic flipper mechanism?
I was just going through some parts that I had collected in my garage, and apparently I too have that exact same mirror, however... as it would turn out, the one I have also has a built in compass. I'm not sure where it came from, but I'm definitely installing it in my Fiero when I re-do my interior.
Thanks! You would never know I bought the car as an abandoned wreck from a scrap dealer the day before it was to be crushed huh?
I got the fuzzy thing (no comments) and the door skins from MidEngineManiac since he was getting out of Fieros for a while. He basically dyes them black. I think he simply used the spray dye. It turned out very very good!
I am on my way out to the driveway now to hook up the laptop and run some ALDL diagnostics on the motor.
------------------ Jay Brintnell Southern Ontario Fiero Association Yellow 85 Notchback(A.K.A. GodFearN)
[This message has been edited by Eclipse (edited 04-16-2009).]
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10:41 PM
Apr 20th, 2009
Eclipse Member
Posts: 2040 From: Woodstock, Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 2004
My process for the carpets/door panels/firewall cover is to mix up a double-strength batch of the powdered fabric dye you can get from wall-mart and apply with a spritzer bottle or an engine cleaning gun.
Once that has dried for a couple days I shoot a couple top-coats of rattle can carpet and vynal dye.
Between the water base stuff soaking in all the fibers and the can stuff giving the surface a nice deep color, it's about as close to factory dye job as you can get on a tight budget.
<edit> I've done it with a couple different cars, and the dark colors always turn out better than lighter/bolder ones, with black giving the best results.
[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 05-05-2009).]
