Well, reckon its time to start *MY* build thread, seeing as everyone else has one

Not much really happening with the 88 duke. The intentions of the project are to keep it economical (IE, keep the duke and keep it cheap) but basically redo the car as I would have liked to have it from the showroom floor (were I not 3 in 88 lol) and make it a fun little daily driver... Its still more or less stock, I've got a few things done to it, but nothing major.

Little background on the car: I am 3rd owner of this black 88 coupe with gray interior (nothing fancy). Previous owner had it for 17 years and daily drove it to and from work. Also drove to and from Denver and Albaquerque (sp?) every weekend. Has 112k on it and still runs like a champ. Previous owner was meticulous with it, was a bit OCD with the car. He loved it like it was his 2nd kid....

First thing on the list is to redo the interior. I already have a set of FieroToms visors installed, black with a red fiero logo and red stitching. I also replaced the surrounds with the brushed aluminum style (looks cleaner than dot matrix IMO) and installed the power decklid option. Next task is to get the new black headliner put together. Been working on the new fiberglass board with Back On Holiday the past week and a half. Fiberglass is done, just waiting on fabric from Tom. From there I need to get the windshield reset before I install the headliner (leaks above the rearview). Also planning on installing new black carpeting and new black and red seat covers. Will post pics of what is done so far when I get back down to Downingtown to BoH's place and get them from him (or if he posts them first).

More to come in the near future. Other plans include aux gauges, 120 mph speedo, and a few other "surprises." Still pondering exterior mods...plus a few "add-on" parts to the drivetrain...

Big bad possum killer?

My mini fox terrier kills the Brushtail possum more than 3x his body size and he will smoke a fiero off the mark too.

Long story on the name...but to make it short I whacked a possum the other morning with the passenger side 2 tires and it just kept on running away afterwards... Sad thing is I had my 350 lb 6'3" friend in the seat on that side at the time, and the possum still lived...

Somewhere around here I have an old license plate frame that says "Eat More Possum".....

Having survived laying out a full grown deer in a Fiero.......I can only say I feel your pain and wish you all the luck in the world.

Any body mods in mind?

Maybe some razor canard tips on the front air dam ????

David Breeze

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Pantera Rebody Kits

its smiling at you brian!

[This message has been edited by Back On Holiday (edited 09-18-2008).]

it my dog one day in my fiero pullin into the driveway she bolted out in front of me from in my garage i dident hit her hard though lol

lol

I think litespd ought to send me that license plate that says eat more possum

Thanks for the picture Andrew, he looks so cute (and rabid) Maybe I outta get him on a license plate (i already have his buddy's entrails in my wheel well)

Not a whole lot done yet, went junkyarding with BoH and pontiackid... Added the "Fiero" ground fx door tabs (the ones that sit next to the fisher body tabs at the bottom of the door) and I got a new leather covered auto shift knob from an Olds silohette (sp?) that I installed. Pics tomorrow when its light out...Not sure if I am liking the shift knob though, sits a bit higher.

Also got a few ideas for a new center console... Thinking of hacking the entire old one out minus the hvac surround and putting something in like the olds had...probably gonna need some mods to the floor where the gas tank sits...not sure yet.

As for exterior mods, I know for certain that I am going to put the stock spoiler on (fancy 88 notchie 2m4 GT here I come lol) and the aero bumpers...Thinking of also putting in the 1 piece quarter panels with scoops that I have seen.

Soon as the rest of my parts come in, I will have more of an update.

Couple of pics to post, heres the new brushed aluminum trim. Still need to get the auto shift surround from Back on Holiday to match.

Power trunk switch that was installed

Leather shift knob installed. Sits a bit higher than stock, not sure if I like it yet. Still need a new shift boot also.

Fiero Tom's visor. Working on matching headliner also.

As for exterior mods, all I have done is installed a fiero store intake scoop. I have Rodney's cold air intake on the way also. Installed pics:

Thats it for now, more to come when I get more more parts, etc

Not a whole lot done today, got my cold air intake and new speaker grill cloth from Rodney Dickman. Installed the intake, forgot the pics. But there was a noticeable difference in acceleration afterwards. Will see what happens with gas mileage next time I fill up.

Speaker grill cloth will go in when I get the glue for it, probably wednesday. Will post pics. Can't wait to see it, it actually matches the dash, rather than having light gray fabric on a dark gray dash

More stuff done today, recovered the speaker grills in the dash...Idiot me forgot about the other 2 in the B pillars, and didn't order enough fabric to recover them. So now its time to order more.

Before pic:

After removal of old material and wipe down with acetone:


After new fabric applied:

More to come, waiting on email. I have pictures of them installed in the car, and i am quite content with it...Looks much better than the faded out blue/light gray...

[This message has been edited by Back On Holiday (edited 10-08-2008).]

im sure im like staring up into my wheel well

Any updates brian?

quote Originally posted by Back On Holiday: Any updates brian?

.........

Lots of updates, no pictures yet really...got the rally gauges in, the SE rear aero bumper put on, and the wing stands and wing painted, ready to install. Gotta get the decklid from pontiackid that has the holes in it for the wing stands. Also have a Sunroof clip coming in the near future...

Next things on the list to do:
Mechanical:
-New TCC lockup solenoid
-Transgo shift kit
-poly dogbone/mounts
-KYB struts and heavy duty shocks

Body mods:
-Sunroof panel from an 86 SE
-wing and stands

Interior:
-New shift boot/Ebrake boot (done)
-Headliner
-Firewall fabric
-Trim painting
-Carpeting
-Flush mount for aftermarket cd player from Humont.com

Bunch of this stuff is probably going to have to wait a bit longer (til tax return time at latest)...yearly inspection and emissions is due at the end of the month and my finances are already tight without having to worry about that...

[This message has been edited by Xerces_Blackthorne (edited 11-13-2008).]

i think its about time we did another fast back conversion andrew.

quote Originally posted by pontiackid86: i think its about time we did another fast back conversion andrew.

Why, he might get confused and try and take one of our black v6 GT's home

haha ohh ya i forgot about that plus u know how he loves my 2 tailpipes hed bertter leave my monzas alone

quote Originally posted by pontiackid86: haha ohh ya i forgot about that plus u know how he loves my 2 tailpipes hed bertter leave my monzas alone

I bet $0.25 he burns his tounge on your tailpipes...

ahhhhhhhh true with thoes rockers he might think my cars worth givin my exasuts a bj hahahaha how mad do you think hes going to be about these comments


you know were messin with ya brian

Well, only update I have from that list so far is the new shift boot. Went to the U Pull It this week and grabbed a nice (re: perfect) black leather shift boot from an Olds Alero. Glued it to the fiero ring and snapped it on, looks awesome! Slightly different shape than the stock fiero one, but I dont have to worry about it not being long enough and not fitting over the bottom of the knob (shift knob on the Alero has a tapered plastic piece with a groove right below the leather wrap). This is just a temporary thing (so far) until I get one made with red stitching to match my visors. Not quite certain yet though...

Heres a pic:



Also got a rear Aero bumper installed last weekend, needs paint like a mofo... It sure has seen its better days...

Next interior mod will probably be a leather wrap steering wheel from a late 80's Grand Am with the recessed horn paddles. Looks like this:



Also thinking of removing the dome light to install a mirror from a Bonneville SSE with auto dimming and lights. Found one at the yard for $12 i believe...shouldn't be hard if I pull the entire wiring harness with it...

And I am looking at some nice black leather seats, probably something from a sunfire or bonneville, providing they will bolt to the Fiero tracks...

Thats all for now, until I get new pics and get a chance to post them.

quote Originally posted by Xerces_Blackthorne: Leather shift knob installed. Sits a bit higher than stock, not sure if I like it yet. Still need a new shift boot also.

I didn't like the stock T-bar shifter either. I went with an 84 Corvette dark-grey leather wrapped shifter and shortened the steel shaft by 1-inch. The knob matches the dark-grey of the interior. I got a new soft-leather shift boot from Dickman.

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3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner &
Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner

quote Originally posted by fierosound: I didn't like the stock T-bar shifter either. I went with an 84 Corvette dark-grey leather wrapped shifter and shortened the steel shaft by 1-inch. The knob matches the dark-grey of the interior. I got a new soft-leather shift boot from Dickman.

see the corvette inspired the camaro i put one of them in my firebird i hate it though cuz the button is always gettin stuck

I wasn't too fond of the corvette style knob. Its also in some Cavaliers too...I don't think it looks right, plus I kinda like having something that sits a bit higher...

In the long run though, I will probably end up shortening out the steel shaft about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch...I dont want it to sit too low...Unless I do a 5 speed swap that is

quote Originally posted by Xerces_Blackthorne: I wasn't too fond of the corvette style knob. Its also in some Cavaliers too...I don't think it looks right, plus I kinda like having something that sits a bit higher... In the long run though, I will probably end up shortening out the steel shaft about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch...I dont want it to sit too low...Unless I do a 5 speed swap that is

somthing that sits up higher meaning he likes big lock sticks to hole when hes driving (overcompensating)

I think some of you are confusing the Corvette one with ones used on Cavaliers and other GMs. Corvette one is shorter.

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 11-15-2008).]

The Possum Killer (Opossum)
(removed pic cuz its one ugly possum!)

[This message has been edited by Back On Holiday (edited 11-22-2008).]

Few minor updates, did some detailing inside the car...

Driver side door handle screw cover:



Passenger side door handle screw cover:



And the coup d'etat, the steering wheel...Not done yet, horn paddles are getting painted black.



Also painted the white stripe on the fan speed knob red...Its also getting a coat of black paint when I do the horn paddles

[This message has been edited by Xerces_Blackthorne (edited 11-22-2008).]

Long overdue update:

Got my new speakers installed roughly middle of last week, Pyle Wave all around. 160 watt 4x6" and 300 watt 4x10" with a 208 watt Dual XD6202 (IIRC) head unit. Sound is excellent at around 25-30 on the volume knob with the bass on. Plays well with Korn, etc...Ran me about $50 for all 4 speakers.

Have an appointment to get the new exhaust done tomorrow as well...going to be 2.5" back to the Flowtech muffler, where it will be stretched to 3" then go out 2.5" into the stock GT exhaust tips...

Also managed to get new door striker bolts installed, so now my doors no longer rattle. Next on the list is the front aero cover along with new headliner and interior paint and new black carpet. Plans are in the works for a leather wrapped 90 Grand Am steering wheel (the one with the horn paddles recessed).

No pics as of yet, but when the weather clears I will take some, as well as some video with the sound system playing.

[This message has been edited by Xerces_Blackthorne (edited 01-28-2009).]