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| Preparing my Fiero for an engine swap (Page 23/23) |
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pmbrunelle
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FEB 26, 07:43 PM
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Three ideas I have:
1. When someone does something, they assume that anyone else can do it to. People don't want to feel like the bad guy, thinking that another person is less capable.
2. It's easy to cheer for and promote wild ideas when one doesn't have to deal with the fallout from problems later.
3. If you look for failures, you can find them. In many build threads, you can find people writing about the issues they face with their cars.[This message has been edited by pmbrunelle (edited 02-26-2024).]
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82-T/A [At Work]
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FEB 26, 07:53 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by longjonsilver:
Well my swap is in and i have been driving around off an on for two years now, but i am afraid to leave the driveway because i might be stranded on the road somewhere. i have two drive ability issues, but that is not wjhat this post is about. i am wondering if all the cheerleading about engine swaps is misleading people? Do we only read about those that are skillfull enuf to succeed? An never hear about the failures? i read about Villian in FL buying 4.9 swapped Fieros for $500 and wonder about hte history of that car. Did the former owner swap in a 4.9, never get it running and after 10 years of frustration decide to sell it cheap? Are we doing a disservice to people (like me) who have average skills by encouraging them to start a swap? i probably am doing better than most in that i finished the swap, it started and i drove it, but now i am afraid to leave the driveway for fear of getting stranded. If i were to sell i surely wud get more than $500 cuz 100% rust free cars are rare here in Canada, but still. ones that wont start (again) and stop suddenly in traffic if they do start are not worth much on the market.
What is easy for you does not mean it is easy for others, So go on ahead and cheerlead others to attempt a swap cuz 10 years from now you just might be able to buy their project cheap. |
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I got to see Villain's farm... it's pretty fantastic, a lot of Fieros, and he has a lot of cool projects going on.
As for swaps... I've seen a lot of swaps over the years that went up on eBay. More than anything, it seems time and time again, the individual sells an engine-swapped Fiero on eBay because of several reasons:
- They get in over their head, run out of time, and the sunk-cost fallacy
- They were unaware of everything that was involved and ran out of money.
- Life change... different priorities, etc.
Your swap doesn't sound so bad. If you were able to get in and drive it, then what could possibly be the problem? You've already done the hardest part. The part you're dealing with to me seems like the stuff that most people just assume will keep working.
For me personally, if I was going to do an engine swap, I'd probably completely swap out the ECM with an aftermarket one... like a Mega/MicroSquirt, or even some newer FAST system or something like that. The mechanical is really the hard part... what you've already done. Getting it in there, because there's a lot of custom work. The actual computer / ECM... if you're still using all the old technology from the early 90s... then I'd recommend getting rid of all of that and going with a newer aftermarket ECM.
https://www.diyautotune.com...uirt-with-8-harness/
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longjonsilver
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FEB 27, 01:43 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
Your swap doesn't sound so bad. If you were able to get in and drive it, then what could possibly be the problem? You've already done the hardest part.
The mechanical is really the hard part... |
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Maybe for you, but custom metal work is very enjoyable for me and i find it comes easy. Electrical is another thing. Shud i recite all the electrical issues that i have on my car (that i know of at this point in time)? Radio, headlight doors, temperature gage, radiator fan, windshield wipers and whatever is causing the driveability issues that i am dealing with. Probably more if i think long enuf.
And yes, i cud take it to Jelly2M8 to have the electrical issues fixed, BUT i wud still think of myself as a failure cuz the problems beat me. If i cud only fix the driveability issues then i cud put up with the rest of the problems - after all i have been driving with some of them for at least10 years now.
But. just in case someone wants to help me with the driveablility issues: 1 Starts reliably if driven daily, but when sitting for a week or more, wont start. 2 Runs great, but then suddenly stalls (no warning at all) at random times. Might take a few tries to get it to start then. Whaz up?
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Astronomy says we will find a coded signal from outer space. Then we'll KNOW that life exists there, for coded signals aren't by chance.
Biology says there are coded genetic signals in every cell, but we KNOW that no intelligence created life.
I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 3800SC, 4-wheel drifts are fun!
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longjonsilver
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FEB 24, 06:49 AM
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An update: i did take my car on a trailer to Jelly2m8 and he fixed her. It was just what he thot it was - the harness from the ICM. Altho i wiggled it and wiggled it as we tested each wire with a continuity tester, we cud find no broken wires. Jelly2m8 had my car running before we cud even drive home from his place by plugging in another harness and Freya started right up. She has been running good all last year. He also noticed that my rear wheel bearings were bad and replaced one (only one cuz that was all the parts place had), later i replaced the other one.
Now, as i await the roads to be free of salt (i have NO rust cuz i have never driven in salt) i have fixed the right headlight door, and THINK i know the problem with the left headlight door. Either a visit to Jelly2m8 or throwing on parts from the Fiero Store (shipped to North Carolina where my son lives). will fix the problem. Now on to tackle my radio issue, the speedo and the temperature gage. Hopefully i can get one of these fixed before driving season.------------------
Astronomy says we will find a coded signal from outer space. Then we'll KNOW that life exists there, for coded signals aren't by chance.
Biology says there are coded genetic signals in every cell, but we KNOW that no intelligence created life.
I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 3800SC, 4-wheel drifts are fun!
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longjonsilver
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FEB 24, 07:11 AM
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Everyone likes pics. i had only been here in Lower Sackville NS a cuppla weeks when i saw a red Formula at the stoplight. i was in Freya with my dog and the driver of the Formula waved me over and we talked for over an hour. He wanted to get a Fiero run together, so did i, and he wanted to start a Fiero Whatsapp group, so did i. So we began to work together. Today the NS Whatsapp group has 22 members and maybe 25 cars. We know of at least 3 others in NS that dont have or dont want to use WhatsApp. This allows us to organize runs - here are pics from our runs.
A place called the Lookoff
And the meetup at the Irving BigStop
And the iconic Peggys Cove run
i dont post much here at PFF cuz the NS Fiero Whatsapp group is so much fun and so helpful getting work done on our cars. NSFWA group members have brot over impact wrenches to help me, torked my wheel bearings, and given me parts. i have given others parts as well. We share resources and that helps all of us. Much like PFF but on a local level. Have fun
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Astronomy says we will find a coded signal from outer space. Then we'll KNOW that life exists there, for coded signals aren't by chance.
Biology says there are coded genetic signals in every cell, but we KNOW that no intelligence created life.
I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 3800SC, 4-wheel drifts are fun!
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longjonsilver
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FEB 24, 07:18 AM
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David Hambleton
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FEB 24, 08:45 AM
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 Lol! Spoiler alert! Don't be fooled by the summery looking pics from Lower Sackville Nova Scotia; here's a view of nearby Bedford this morning:
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longjonsilver
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FEB 24, 10:05 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by David Hambleton:
Lol! Spoiler alert! Don't be fooled by the summery looking pics from Lower Sackville Nova Scotia; here's a view of nearby Bedford this morning:
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We don't have Fiero runs in the winter. Looks like looking south on the 102 towards Bedford hill.
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Astronomy says we will find a coded signal from outer space. Then we'll KNOW that life exists there, for coded signals aren't by chance.
Biology says there are coded genetic signals in every cell, but we KNOW that no intelligence created life.
I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 3800SC, 4-wheel drifts are fun!
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