PFF - Pennock's Fiero Forum, PDA Edition

Hey guys it's been awhile, I've been working at a local tuner shop... (Page 1/2)

Pete Matos

FEB 10, 10:41 PM

Hey guys, since I sold my Fiero Gt awhile back I have been kinda without a toy car to play with. I have been doing a lot of CNC machine work for some local businesses. One of which is a tuner car shop that builds some pretty wicked imports/big turbo cars. They sort of specialize in Rotary cars. After working with them for a little while they offered me a job doing Tig welding and fabrication work in their shop. I do Fab work from my own business but this was an opportunity to do some really cool stuff so I accepted their position part time and have been working there for about 6 months now. They are working on some higher HP 2 and 3 rotor Mazda builds and I have never been involved with these cars before. They are really cool and fast as hell even with 4-500 HP. They also work on the Supras, WRX's, Honda's and pretty much anything that rolls in. I built a bunch of custom Stainless manifolds of various types for them along with some CNC battery Trays and cover plates as well as some other odds and ends. Did a bunch of engraving work and also machined their turbo flanges for these stainless manifolds. It has been a lot of fun working there.

I have been doing a lot of Tig welding on their Aluminum and Stainless tube needs and it has given me opportunity to really increase my skills on them. I hope to be able to start building some cool stuff for the Fiero's if I can get my hands on another one. Unfortunately we have been trying to sell our house here in Tennessee and as of this month we have a contract so I had to put in my notice over there at the shop sadly. We will be moving down to the Port St. Lucie Florida area by March 21. So I am hoping to find some cool shop to continue working with down there to keep learning and growing my skills on these cool car builds.

I figured I would post some recent photos of the stuff I have been working on. I know it is not world class or anything but it is the best I can do at this point. I have learned a TON of stuff with these guys and it has really been a fun time. Looking forward to getting to Florida again and finding some cool folks to work with down there. Figured you guys might enjoy the photos... Peace my friends.

Pete

http://imgur.com/a/X0MtN

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"May the grins begin when you turn the key and hear the engine roar over your shoulder" ......Gall57 (slightly modified LOL)

Pete Matos
A&N Precision Machine
CNC Machining and prototyping
Maryville, Tennessee
A&N Precision Machine on Facebook!

2.5

FEB 11, 09:50 AM

You were losing me at tuner, but gained me back with "They sort of specialize in Rotary cars".

Cool that the gig is going good for ya.

mmmm Twisted metal tubes are a beauitiful thing.

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 02-12-2016).]

Pete Matos

FEB 11, 10:40 AM

I know right... That is actually pretty large tube, it's 2" 321 stainless that we polished and then fabbed up into that manifold. This one is the prototype of several more they are making for the 3 rotor builds. That is for a Borg Warner 9180. They are also working on one for the EFR internal wastegated models.

I know its not Fiero stuff but I thought it was kinda cool so I figured I would share. I am going to be picking up my tig unit from there to get it prepped for the journey to florida along with my VMC and CNC lathe and other tools. Hoping to find a decent home and shop there to setup in and get back to work on some neat stuff. I kept hoping someone would come in with a FIero or 3800 turbo build or something I could sink my teeth into but it just didn't happen. I could see some really cool work getting done on one tho.

The RX7's and Supras they get in there are quite impressive tho. I really like the Supra it is a sweet car and very comfortable to drive. That damn 2j motor makes some amazing power and torque and the car is setup to handle it pretty well. They dyno tune all the time over there trying to eek out every last bit of power. I think you would have to be a pretty poor car guy as well if you could not at least appreciate what a built bridgeported rotary RX7 sounds like especially when it is on the dyno. Pretty ferocious sounds and I love that braap braaap exhaust note. The lumpy idle is also kinda cool. I also like the 300ZX builds but they are few and far between so far at the shop.

I tried to tell them about the Fiero but they just don't get any in there so they really had no idea LOL.. Not surprised by that actually but hopefully sometime someone will drop one on them with a built motor and let them tune it or something.

Oh well it was fun while it lasted, again hopefully I can get my grubby little hands on something similar in Florida. At least it won't be cold there

Pete

carnut122

FEB 11, 09:29 PM

Your work looks great! Now about those 2.8/3.4 Fiero intakes... Glad to hear things are working out!

[This message has been edited by carnut122 (edited 02-14-2016).]

Pete Matos

FEB 11, 09:50 PM

Thank you Carnut, I have REALLY been trying to get my Tig Welding skills improved the last few months and this place has made me really step up my game. I am going to try to find similar work down in Florida and hopefully I can continue learning and growing my skillset. There are some amazingly skilled guys on the net that post photos of their work and I am really trying to be able to compete with them. Still have a ways to go I think but the more I do the more I learn. That 3 rotor manifold was challenging to say the least. I quite like the stainless steel tho it is easy to weld and the tubing is very flexible to work with.

Not familiar with the manifold you are talking about. Perhaps once I get situated in Florida I can try to make one? Peace my friends...

Pete

Raydar

FEB 19, 09:35 PM

Nice work! Seriously!

You mentioned a rotary with a lumpy idle. How does the intake and exhaust timing get changed on a rotary? By moving or enlarging the ports?
Can't change the cam, since there isn't one.

Edit - I'm considering a 3900 LZ9 swap. Sure would like a set of headers.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 02-19-2016).]

Pete Matos

FEB 19, 10:03 PM

Thanks Raydar, Honestly I thought this thread had went the way of the Dodo LOL> Understand even tho I did a LOT of fabrication work on the cars I am no expert on the rotaries. It seems that the Bridgeported irons would cause this lumpy idle to me. Its kind of a braap braap braap staccato idle. Once it is revved up even a little it smoothes out considerably. I did a bunch of the porting on the irons and housings while I was there as well. They are pretty remarkable motors especially for their size. Yeah but there is no cam and the ports positions are not really changed they just get enlarged etc.

I am not that familiar with the 3900 LZ9 V6 swap but I am sure I could make something for you. As I said in the post I not only fabricated the manifold I machined the flanges as well. The only problem is I am about 30 days left here until I close on my house sale here in Tennessee and head south to Florida. Once there we will be looking for a house to buy and once we do we can get the machines and whatnot moved over there and get back to work but it might be a few months before that happens. We are going to be in the Port St. Lucie Area just about a half hour or so north of Palm Beach.

Thanks for the kind comments tho I appreciate it!! Been working quite hard at getting my Tig welding skills up to snuff. Still have more to learn here but it is getting there.

Pete

Raydar

FEB 20, 10:29 AM

"...gone the way of the Dodo"? LOL

This is the "other cars" forum. It doesn't seem to get looked at as frequently as some of the others. I only check it a few times a week, especially since I can't access the Forum on my work computer.

I'm in no real hurry with the swap. Haven't even found an appropriate car to use, yet.
I wish you luck with your move. Not easy to "pick up stakes" and relocate.
There are lots of Fiero folks down there. John WPB just picked up a 3800SC to swap in.

Pete Matos

FEB 20, 12:35 PM

I agree there do seem to be some really cool Fiero Guys down there I am looking forward to getting down and buying a house and getting settled in there. Hopefully I can find a nice Fiero to build once I am down there. I posted here because of course my stuff is not directly Fiero related but not getting many views of it because it is not LOL> That Motor looks good and would probably be a great addition to a Fiero GT. If I was not moving I would be buying another GT right now... I sure miss my other one it was a fun car.

Who knows maybe once I get setup down there I can make you a manifold for that motor. I enjoy doing the Tig welding work on the stainless I love the colors. Just hate the polishing it is time consuming.... Peace my friend and good luck!

Pete

http://i.imgur.com/zKPU7A9.jpg

http://imgur.com/zyFkvtB

davylong86

MAR 27, 11:09 AM

Little behind on catching up on Other Cars forum section so I thought I would bump this post. That is some really nice fab work Pete, I know you will miss that shop and all the tools and knowledge that came with it. Hope your move to Florida went well and keep us posted on any new shops you hook up with. Port St. Lucie! Man I'm jealous. I'm stuck in Dump St. Louie right next too a big muddy river.