1987 gt rebuild (Page 1/5)
cartercarbaficionado JUN 30, 05:30 PM
finally got time to deal with it more other than unsticking the brakes and I'm missing the passenger side power mirror and drivers side mirror adjuster and mirror backplate
and I gotta make some bits.
does anyone know where to get a new hood opener with cables?
also I just remembered I put an einbach spring on the rear passenger corner and it sits at the same height as the rest once settled so I'm wondering if the stock springs are just that worn out. I will be getting the other spring so I can at least have the rears the same. unsure if the parts car has aftermarket front springs but it looked stock
edit:added photos and 2nd edit added some info


[This message has been edited by cartercarbaficionado (edited 06-30-2024).]

82-T/A [At Work] JUN 30, 05:44 PM
Is that a stack of Fiero hoods I see there in the background? Damn!

You could try e-mailing Larry Hubbert. He lives about an hour from me, and has a ton of parts. You'll have to skip ahead in my daughter's video, but his contact information is in there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHSvrFnWoCM


You could also PM Villain on here, who is 1 hour from me, and also has a ton of Fiero parts.
cartercarbaficionado JUN 30, 05:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

Is that a stack of Fiero hoods I see there in the background? Damn!

You could try e-mailing Larry Hubbert. He lives about an hour from me, and has a ton of parts. You'll have to skip ahead in my daughter's video, but his contact information is in there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHSvrFnWoCM


You could also PM Villain on here, who is 1 hour from me, and also has a ton of Fiero parts.


I've emailed Larry already and actually messaging him on Facebook messenger (dating myself a bit there ain't i?) is alot more reliable at the moment since he just got out of the hospital a little bit ago and is not allowed to work or visit his workshop until he's strong enough and even then it's a limited time for a long while. I will probably pm villain if I can find them but do remember I live on the west coast near Seattle so paying for that shipping does kinda suck.
as for the pile of hoods they aren't mine but the person who sold me the fiero owns them and a huge stack of bumpers and such. unfortunately no 87 coupe fronts though.
82-T/A [At Work] JUN 30, 06:31 PM

quote
Originally posted by cartercarbaficionado:

I've emailed Larry already and actually messaging him on Facebook messenger (dating myself a bit there ain't i?) is alot more reliable at the moment since he just got out of the hospital a little bit ago and is not allowed to work or visit his workshop until he's strong enough and even then it's a limited time for a long while. I will probably pm villain if I can find them but do remember I live on the west coast near Seattle so paying for that shipping does kinda suck.
as for the pile of hoods they aren't mine but the person who sold me the fiero owns them and a huge stack of bumpers and such. unfortunately no 87 coupe fronts though.




Ok, this might help a little.. there's Mike from Mike's Fiero Parts: boysatt1@gmail.com

There's also supposedly someone on the west coast (California specifically) that has a whole Fiero junkyard.


Also... didn't the Fiero Factory just move to Colorado? http://www.theFieroFactory.com
theogre JUN 30, 06:50 PM
You towed that w/ U-haul?


Did they stop asking what you plan to tow before renting?
Many Rental places won't allow Fiero on that equipment.
When Tow the "right way" then weight balance is "Wrong" & unsafe.
Many think tow backward because of weight balance etc but that's illegal in many states.

+

Tow vehicle is likely over GVWR too causing more problems. Most small trucks can't handle 3000+ lb draw weight.

If you lied to U-haul... U-haul can sue you on top getting sued by others if also had a wreck.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

82-T/A [At Work] JUN 30, 07:18 PM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:

You towed that w/ U-haul?

Did they stop asking what you plan to tow before renting?
Many Rental places won't allow Fiero on that equipment.
When Tow the "right way" then weight balance is "Wrong" & unsafe.
Many think tow backward because of weight balance etc but that's illegal in many states.

+

Tow vehicle is likely over GVWR too causing more problems. Most small trucks can't handle 3000+ lb draw weight.

If you lied to U-haul... U-haul can sue you on top getting sued by others if also had a wreck.




Hey Ogre, I towed a Fiero the exact same way with the same equipment (a 2-wheel dolly from U-Haul).

I towed it with my wife's Ford Edge that comes with a factory Class-4 trailer hitch (front wheel drive with a 3.5 DOHC V6).

I had the Fiero backed onto the trailer because I wanted the driving wheels on the dolly, and I just locked the steering wheel. Was this wrong? I've towed a lot of cars like this.
theogre JUN 30, 11:05 PM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
Hey Ogre, I towed a Fiero the exact same way with the same equipment (a 2-wheel dolly from U-Haul).

I towed it with my wife's Ford Edge that comes with a factory Class-4 trailer hitch (front wheel drive with a 3.5 DOHC V6).

I had the Fiero backed onto the trailer because I wanted the driving wheels on the dolly, and I just locked the steering wheel. Was this wrong? I've towed a lot of cars like this.

Your Tow Vehicle maybe fine pulling 3000+ pounds... Stopping maybe a different story. Many vehicles w/ Factory installed Class 3 & 4 receivers expect the load to have their own brakes. More so w/ Draw Weight > 1000 to 2000 lb. The dolly is 750lb per Uhaul.com on top of Car weight & whatever crap in the car.

Again Towing anything Backward is Illegal in many places.
In other states maybe legal but need more light & reflectors other then lights on the dolly.

Is part of why most Rental Op's won't rent a dolly to tow Fiero & some others.

Even most Towing Co's won't tow backward even way back in the day when only get sling hooks because can't trust the front end w/ steering wheel tied/locked down.
Many only tow backward only to get access to front to tow. IE to move a vehicle out of a garage or driveway then rehook to actually tow.

1 "quick" Example:
Reverse driving alone changes alignment & has Negative Caster.
Find a parking lot w/ big hole somewhere away from other things or people.
Drive forward so 1 front wheel hits... Often is easy for you because driving forward has Positive Castor.

Now backup to hit same... Often try to slam you to tear S-wheel out of your hand(s).
Many that Back Into Driveways etc often have this problem too depending on driveway, curb design, & more when they live or work.

Even when you jack the rear to tow, the fronts Still have Negative Caster then multiply that to hundreds to thousands of times towing w/ front wheels down. Worse towing on any Highway @ 55 to 70+MPH.
Even on 84-87 Fiero w/ steering buffers on the rack, the buffers are not made to handle that abuse. PS isn't made to take this too but hinds this from the driver.

So even when you lock the S-wheel tight, including "Pro Tools" that Tow Co's can get, the column & other steering parts can Fail Without Warning & towed vehicle front is in another lane or hit something, worse someone.
That's ignoring problems like "Fiero" Saginaw Column W/ Infamous 4 Bolts that gets loose or Tilt Top breaks @ the hinges etc just driving forward.

Before anyone says... "but s-wheel locks w/ I-key out..."
That is only Anti Theft. Not for locking to tow w/ front wheel down. Have the key out for this can, often will, wreck the column. The Pin & Plate is steel but the Pin is in Zinc, Aluminum or worse soft materiel.
jelly2m8 JUL 01, 12:57 AM
wrong tread

[This message has been edited by jelly2m8 (edited 07-01-2024).]

cartercarbaficionado JUL 01, 06:27 AM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:

You towed that w/ U-haul?


Did they stop asking what you plan to tow before renting?
Many Rental places won't allow Fiero on that equipment.
When Tow the "right way" then weight balance is "Wrong" & unsafe.
Many think tow backward because of weight balance etc but that's illegal in many states.

+

Tow vehicle is likely over GVWR too causing more problems. Most small trucks can't handle 3000+ lb draw weight.

If you lied to U-haul... U-haul can sue you on top getting sued by others if also had a wreck.




had a car the same weight and everything as a fiero selected that was also rwd. they won't actually rent any trailer for a car over 20 years old in my area so a 2006 toyota was the choice.
Also did not tow it home with the ranger. just got it to a parking lot to break a hitch pin off of the tacoma.
also the ranger didn't care until it was litterally pouring rain so bad that the tacoma in 4wd was hydroplaning on brand new tires at 40. so we stopped at the lot to wait that out and to just use the tacoma
cartercarbaficionado JUL 01, 06:32 AM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:

[our Tow Vehicle maybe fine pulling 3000+ pounds... Stopping maybe a different story. Many vehicles w/ Factory installed Class 3 & 4 receivers expect the load to have their own brakes. More so w/ Draw Weight > 1000 to 2000 lb. The dolly is 750lb per Uhaul.com on top of Car weight & whatever crap in the car.

Again Towing anything Backward is Illegal in many places.
In other states maybe legal but need more light & reflectors other then lights on the dolly.

Is part of why most Rental Op's won't rent a dolly to tow Fiero & some others.

Even most Towing Co's won't tow backward even way back in the day when only get sling hooks because can't trust the front end w/ steering wheel tied/locked down.
Many only tow backward only to get access to front to tow. IE to move a vehicle out of a garage or driveway then rehook to actually tow.
forward has Positive Castor.

Even when you jack the rear to tow, the fronts Still have Negative Caster then multiply that to hundreds to thousands of times towing w/ front wheels down. Worse towing on any Highway

Before anyone says... "but s-wheel locks w/ I-key out..."
That is only Anti Theft. Not for locking to tow w/ front wheel down. Have the key out for this can, often will, wreck the column. The Pin & Plate is steel but the Pin is in Zinc, Aluminum or worse soft materiel.


fun fact. uhaul will rent you a dolly for a fiero if you aren't in my area. they just tell you to not tow an automatic that way.
also I wouldn't even consider going over 60 with a dolly in general unless unloaded.
plus this may be a surprise considering my history on this forum but I'm not an idiot. the ranger was a tow package 2wd 5 speed rated for 5k pounds at the factory and had upgraded brakes installed PLUS THE UHUAL STUFF HAS ITS OWN BRAKES. I forget what style it is but I was told it's like a...jam style? the front slides back and forth a bit and shoves a hydraulic cylinder back and forth which makes backing a bit difficult on wet ground

[This message has been edited by cartercarbaficionado (edited 07-01-2024).]