86 SE saved and now needing information... Please (Page 1/2)
IzMrPickel MAR 04, 08:48 PM
Hello everyone,
First thing first, If this is in the wrong area my bad, i will be happy to take this down. I have a few questions and I know some of them fall into the category of "don't waste your time". I also know most of my questions if not all of them have been answered here before. I'm just having a hard time finding the ones with the technical info I am seeking. With that being said I don't wish to waste your time. This is my first Fiero but not my first car rebuild. I have and always will be a Pontiac guy and I love my limited production run cars, but this is my first Fiero and this thing is different! I read the rules and it didn't say anything about requesting links to older forums, so that is what I'm after. Part numbers, engineering specs, ect. Thank you.

I just picked up an 86 SE that was well taken care of until 2021. I am assuming she spun a rod and who ever had her at that point just CUT the engine out of the car. so I picked it up with two engines in toe. Both are of unknown condition and the seller who I got it from (obviously not the guy who keep meticulous records of the car until 2021) said one was rebuilt. Both engines are missing parts that I can identify, and nether of the engine look like they are in good shape. So I got a 3rd one in known good condition with a manual 4 speed and all out of an 86. This is where I'm at now. I want to get the car back to running condition and manual swap it while doing so.

So my questions begin,
1.are the cv shafts the same from auto to manual?
2. the rear main on the 2.8, was there a revision to not use the rope seal? or is there a adaptor to a different rear main?
3. outside of oil issues what to look for on the 2.8 and chassis?
4. since i have 3 sets of heads for the same motor, id like to try my hand at porting them, any and all help here will we welcomed.
5. get ready to laugh..... I would like to also build one of these 2.8 engine into a turbo, i have seen 2 forums on this so far and both were not completed. has anyone completed this?
6. battery relocation, who has done what the right way?
7. grand am brakes, c4 brakes, s10 booster, 88 cradle swap for rear brakes, they cant be that bad right? whats best bang for your buck?

Lastly Id like to acknowledge that I know this car was a parts bin special, I know some parts just can not be found any more and we may see the end of people working on these cars. But I also know my hobbies out side of cars, mainly 3d printing and aluminum casting, and I look forward to helping this community stay around and maybe help with some part recreations. Just for the love of the cars.

Thanks for taking the time to read and thanks for any input!!!! I cant wait to bring this car to a Fiero show!
pmbrunelle MAR 04, 09:30 PM
I will just answer the points to which I have answers:


quote
Originally posted by IzMrPickel:
1.are the cv shafts the same from auto to manual?



No, you'll need axle shafts from a manual transmission Fiero. From any manual transmission Fiero; 4-speed, 5-speed, 4-cylinder, or V6.


quote
Originally posted by IzMrPickel:
2. the rear main on the 2.8, was there a revision to not use the rope seal? or is there a adaptor to a different rear main?



Huh? Fiero 2.8s use a one-piece steel/rubber seal.


quote
Originally posted by IzMrPickel:
3. outside of oil issues what to look for on the 2.8 and chassis?



Rust, look at the rear upper frame rails and trunk corners (behind the carpet).


quote
Originally posted by IzMrPickel:
5. get ready to laugh..... I would like to also build one of these 2.8 engine into a turbo, i have seen 2 forums on this so far and both were not completed. has anyone completed this?



There are a number of forum members here who have had turboed stock-type V6s; search harder! There is boretti, hnthomps, Voytek, ConvictedRedneck, Shaun41178, Honest Don, Dennis LaGrua, sluppy123, BillS, myself, and probably others I'm forgetting. My turbo Fiero project thread is currently on the first page, look for "The White Bug".


quote
Originally posted by IzMrPickel:
7. grand am brakes, c4 brakes, s10 booster, 88 cradle swap for rear brakes, they cant be that bad right? whats best bang for your buck?



There are a lot of bad brake modifications out there; some thought is required to avoid reducing performance. Do not follow the poor examples.

Most front-engine cars have large brakes up front, and small brakes in the rear (especially FWD).

The Fiero is particular with its mid-engine; for correct balance, it needs brakes that are approximately similar at all four corners.


quote
Originally posted by IzMrPickel:
Lastly Id like to acknowledge that I know this car was a parts bin special, I know some parts just can not be found any more and we may see the end of people working on these cars. But I also know my hobbies out side of cars, mainly 3d printing and aluminum casting, and I look forward to helping this community stay around and maybe help with some part recreations. Just for the love of the cars.



Aluminium casting is pretty cool and something we don't see too often. Do you have some pictures to share?
1985 Fiero GT MAR 04, 09:31 PM

quote
Originally posted by IzMrPickel:


1.are the cv shafts the same from auto to manual?

5. get ready to laugh..... I would like to also build one of these 2.8 engine into a turbo, i have seen 2 forums on this so far and both were not completed. has anyone completed this?

6. battery relocation, who has done what the right way?


Lastly Id like to acknowledge that I know this car was a parts bin special, I know some parts just can not be found any more and we may see the end of people working on these cars. But I also know my hobbies out side of cars, mainly 3d printing and aluminum casting, and I look forward to helping this community stay around and maybe help with some part recreations. Just for the love of the cars.

Thanks for taking the time to read and thanks for any input!!!! I cant wait to bring this car to a Fiero show!



Welcome, I do not have specifics, but I do know some good generalities;
1: no they aren't, manual transmissions have both axles coming to the transmission, only leaving about a foot for the differential between the 2 axles, the automatic transmissions have an extension on the trans to make the passenger axle shorter, maybe even the same length as the drivers side.

5: believe it or not that isn't a very unbelievable thing to do, The Pontiac team was developing a 2.9l turbo v6 for the Fiero, which was scrapped when someone in authority at gm spin a prototype out, too much power for the general public. The intake manifold, valve covers and exhaust on the 2.8 are from the 2.9 turbo project, which is why it makes 140hp, when other Chevy 2.8s make between 125-130hp. pmbrunelle send to have done something like that, I don't know whether it is a 2.8, or whether it's been bored and stroked, either way it was highly r rebuilt and looks great, page 2 I think had some pictures
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/...2/HTML/142133-2.html

6: I know of 2 places the battery can go, in the frunk under the tire, or apparently under the passenger headlight bucket somehow.

You can use the Fiero forum search to find some things:
http://www.fierosearch.com/
But I have found Google works better, simply add "site:www.fiero.nl" (without quotes) to the end of your search query, and it will only show forum results.
IzMrPickel MAR 04, 10:37 PM

quote
Originally posted by pmbrunelle:

Aluminium casting is pretty cool and something we don't see too often. Do you have some pictures to share?



I dont have too many pictures yet. I will get some up somewhere. At the moment its all been desk things and novelty coins and stuff for my wife. But i got into it with my love of cars at the heart of it all.
Also thank you and noted. we made the decision to get a fiero quickly and iv been doing my deep dive but the car is here already. i didn't get my "time to research" lol
IzMrPickel MAR 04, 10:39 PM

quote
Originally posted by 1985 Fiero GT:

You can use the Fiero forum search to find some things:
http://www.fierosearch.com/
But I have found Google works better, simply add "site:www.fiero.nl" (without quotes) to the end of your search query, and it will only show forum results.



it may seem dumb, i have not done the forms thing in a very long while. so thanks that will help for sure.
1985 Fiero GT MAR 05, 02:21 AM

quote
Originally posted by IzMrPickel:


it may seem dumb, i have not done the forms thing in a very long while. so thanks that will help for sure.



Not dumb, for a while I didn't even know how to get to the search on my phone, had to do everything through Google, but Google seems more able to understand what I might be trying to say if I can't find the right terminology, whereas the forum search only returns results with those exact words in that exact combination, both are useful tools for finding old threads on interesting stuff.

I just got my Fiero last April, but I had a head start as my dad's owned one for like 6 years, I've done much more to fix up mine in the last year then he's done to his, although mine needed it, his is ok as it is. For that matter I've done about as much work on his Fiero as he has haha!

It's sad though, I've kindof come a little late (but literally couldn't have gotten a Fiero sooner , I'm only 18!), as the last few years, many of the pillars of the Fiero parts community are, or will be out of business, or quality is going down, Mr Mikes doesn't do real leather seats any more, Rodney Dickman is retiring, Fiero Sails shut down a few years ago, many individuals had side businesses making certain things, that have quit, etc. I think The Fiero store quality is going up a bit, and with 3d printing many trim pieces/plastic can be replicated at home, but we still need some good Fiero parts makers! I know there are several cast aluminum parts on Fieros that tend to crack, alternator brackets, shifter cables brackets, slave cyl brackets, etc. could probably make a bit of money making those as a side gig.
Frenchrafe MAR 05, 03:53 AM
Hi there and welcome!
Most of your questions were answered, but here's my 2 euros worth:
Manuel driveshafts for manuel gearboxes. (Automatics are not the same lengths.)
If you keep stock wheels then don't go too big on brakes. And as was said above, the balance front/rear must be kept. Otherwise death!
Try vented grand am discs allround with grand am calipers up front and seville calipers on the back. (Relatively cheap and easy mod.)
For engine mods, do what ever you feel happy experimenting. The 2.8 needs to breath a bit better, but unless you throw mega €£$ at it, it won't hold up to much boost.
Saying this, the best I've heard of was the norwegien Fiero ("Yellow Fiero"?) at 400HP, but the bloc had a ton of one off custom parts. And it still ate clutches for breakfast!

Just have fun rebuilding your car.
Cheers,
Rafe

------------------
"Turbo Slug" - '87 Fiero GT. 3800 turbo. - The fastest Fiero in France! @turboslugfiero
https://youtu.be/hUzOAeyWLfM

IzMrPickel MAR 05, 09:45 AM

quote
Originally posted by Frenchrafe:

Hi there and welcome!
Most of your questions were answered, but here's my 2 euros worth:
Manuel driveshafts for manuel gearboxes. (Automatics are not the same lengths.)
If you keep stock wheels then don't go too big on brakes. And as was said above, the balance front/rear must be kept. Otherwise death!
Try vented grand am discs allround with grand am calipers up front and seville calipers on the back. (Relatively cheap and easy mod.)
For engine mods, do what ever you feel happy experimenting. The 2.8 needs to breath a bit better, but unless you throw mega €£$ at it, it won't hold up to much boost.
Saying this, the best I've heard of was the norwegien Fiero ("Yellow Fiero"?) at 400HP, but the bloc had a ton of one off custom parts. And it still ate clutches for breakfast!

Just have fun rebuilding your car.
Cheers,
Rafe




I just started following your youtube yesterday, your "turbo slug" is amazing! thanks for the info a few questions though. what year range of grand am and what is seville?

It's sad though, I've kindof come a little late (but literally couldn't have gotten a Fiero sooner), as the last few years, many of the pillars of the Fiero parts community are, or will be out of business, or quality is going down, Mr Mikes doesn't do real leather seats any more, Rodney Dickman is retiring, Fiero Sails shut down a few years ago, many individuals had side businesses making certain things, that have quit, etc. I think The Fiero store quality is going up a bit, and with 3d printing many trim pieces/plastic can be replicated at home, but we still need some good Fiero parts makers! I know there are several cast aluminum parts on Fieros that tend to crack, alternator brackets, shifter cables brackets, slave cyl brackets, etc. could probably make a bit of money making those as a side gig.


quote
Originally posted by 1985 Fiero GT:

It's sad though, I've kindof come a little late (but literally couldn't have gotten a Fiero sooner , I'm only 18!), as the last few years, many of the pillars of the Fiero parts community are, or will be out of business, or quality is going down, Mr Mikes doesn't do real leather seats any more, Rodney Dickman is retiring, Fiero Sails shut down a few years ago, many individuals had side businesses making certain things, that have quit, etc. I think The Fiero store quality is going up a bit, and with 3d printing many trim pieces/plastic can be replicated at home, but we still need some good Fiero parts makers! I know there are several cast aluminum parts on Fieros that tend to crack, alternator brackets, shifter cables brackets, slave cyl brackets, etc. could probably make a bit of money making those as a side gig.



Could not agree more. I also feel like im getting in late. but i am coming into this car with a lot of excitement. I have already had a side hustle with making parts for my other cars albeit for a limited time but i still did it.

[This message has been edited by IzMrPickel (edited 03-15-2024).]

Frenchrafe MAR 05, 02:02 PM
Front calipers and 4 vented discs from a 1987 Pontiac Grand Am.
Rear calipers from a 1985 Cadillac Seville.
Left hand side hand brake cable from a 1985 Pontiac 6000. (You can reuse the right hand Fiero hand brake cable.)

The difficult thing will be to make the adapter brakets for the rear brakes. I don't know if the guy on this forum still makes them?
But they are quite simple in shape; just a large C-shape with 4 holes. Two holes for the original caliper mounts and two more for the Seville slider bolts.

This set up retains the correct 50/50ish brake bias, and gets you alot less brake fade. (Trust me, Fiero's are not good on track after 3 or more laps! Your brake pedal will stop working!)

------------------
"Turbo Slug" - '87 Fiero GT. 3800 turbo. - The fastest Fiero in France! @turboslugfiero
https://youtu.be/hUzOAeyWLfM

richard in nc MAR 05, 06:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by Frenchrafe:

Front calipers and 4 vented discs from a 1987 Pontiac Grand Am.

be aware the grand am brakes aren't bigger,just vented.