New Fiero, New Problems (Page 1/1)
AstroChemist FEB 12, 08:55 PM
I recently purchased a 1986 Fiero v6 for about $1000. Car starts and drives but terribly. The old owner knew basically nothing about cars and it's been sitting for years. I'm having trouble figuring out where to start just because theres simply so much wrong. There's a clear misfire, very very rough idle, rust everywhere except the frame (luckily). There's no air filter so who knows how long the owner ran it like that. Possibly oil coming out of the exhaust. Every electric motor is screaming, dying or dead. Door panels arent bad but they're warped and slightly cracked in some places. Almost all the tachs are shot.


What I've decided to do is begin with a tune up. I'm replacing all the spark plugs, wires, distributor, alternator belts. I'm also going to tackle the locks and probably the windows next just so I can have it secure against the elements. I'm not really sure what to do next though. It doesn't quite seem like it needs an engine rebuild yet, but maybe? Any advice is more than welcome.

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Vroom, Vroom.
-My 86 Fiero

Patrick FEB 12, 09:05 PM

quote
Originally posted by AstroChemist:

...rust everywhere except the frame (luckily).



I'm willing to bet you have not checked the rear upper frame rails. If they're shot, the car may not be worthwhile getting roadworthy. They can be accessed to view through the rear wheel wells by loosening the plastic liners.

At what point does frame rail rust become dangerous to the integrity of a Fiero?

AstroChemist FEB 13, 09:06 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

I'm willing to bet you have not checked the rear upper frame rails. If they're shot, the car may not be worthwhile getting roadworthy. They can be accessed to view through the rear wheel wells by loosening the plastic liners.

At what point does frame rail rust become dangerous to the integrity of a Fiero?





Fingers crossed, I'll check when I get home today. Hopefully that's not the case because I towed this car from Arizona to New Mexico
Vintage-Nut FEB 13, 10:43 AM

quote
AstroChemist:
I'm not really sure what to do next though....



The PFF 'Search' function is your best friend.....

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Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT
Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles

hyperv6 FEB 13, 04:00 PM
Buy a hood car use this one for parts.

For what it cost for a good car vs the cost to paint and restore a trashed one you are best off spending the extra money on the good one.
Patrick FEB 13, 04:20 PM

quote
Originally posted by AstroChemist:

Hopefully that's not the case because I towed this car from Arizona to New Mexico.



Arizona cars would probably never see salt on the roads... but with what you've already stated, there's no guarantee that this Fiero has spent it's whole life in Arizona.


quote
Originally posted by AstroChemist:

...rust everywhere



Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
AstroChemist FEB 13, 05:03 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

I'm willing to bet you have not checked the rear upper frame rails.




Drumroll please... There is almost no rust at all. Thank God for the dry hot AZ weather.

The car has had the same title and owner since 1986, they've always lived in AZ, but I think they bought this car just to have a car back then. They then kept the car but let their neighbor work on it. Their neighbor did some silly stuff to it and now I have it and it's got a happy home.

I'm going to change plugs wires distributor, filters, put some new oil in, and change the fuel pump starting wed. By some miracle the car runs now, but only barely.
AstroChemist FEB 13, 05:05 PM

quote
Originally posted by hyperv6:

Buy a hood car use this one for parts.



That's a fair point, honestly I'm pretty tempted. I'll post some photos. The frame and engine of this car is pretty good, just the peripherals and cosmetics that hurt. For whatever reason there's almost 0 fieros in NM.
AstroChemist FEB 13, 05:06 PM

quote
Originally posted by Vintage-Nut:


The PFF 'Search' function is your best friend.....




I'll be sure to make use of it. I've found a few threads about repairs, and I'm pretty well versed on how to do the repairs. But prioritization is where I'm rearing a fault.