Guys...this has become a thread of all my builds.


BluDrm - 1986 Modified GT


Custom Midnight & neon Blue Paint
3800-SC Factory engine out of a 99 Buick with less than 10K original documented miles
Rebuilt Getrag 5-Speed
WCF hydraulic power steering upgrade
Custom hood vents, Fiero Fiberglass side scoops
G1 Dash and soon to be door panels.
Combination on Speedhut's Custom indigo analog & Tom's Blue Digital Aux Gauges
12" Brake Upgrades that utilize the 88 calipers
17" Subaru BRZ rims
Shorten Shifter
7" Android touch screen, upgraded speakers, including a 10" low profile amplified sub-woofer
Push button start, RFID FOB remote system
Sequential LED rear tail lights
Blue colored "PONTIAC" when lite
Project Retrofits "Original quad 60mm “Full Time Low” headlight upgrade.
Roof mounted shark fin antenna
Corvette C6 exhaust tips
Backup camera


2. Barbie - Modified 88 GT



Custom Pink & Black Paint
Crate zero mile DOHC engine
Rebuilt Getrag 5-Speed
Custom Fiberglass Side sail Panels
12" Brake Upgrades that utilize the 88 calipers
17" Subaru BRZ rims
Sequential LED rear tail lights
Neon Pink colored "PONTIAC" when lite
Project Retrofits "Original quad 60mm “Full Time Low” headlight upgrade
Shorten Shifter
Pontiac prototype seats
Upgraded to more modern Pontiac Monsoon Radio and added aux port...replaced all factory speakers...including factory sub-woofer.
Corvette C6 exhaust tips


3. ReMera (328 Rebody) on 88GT T-TOP


Just coming back this weekend from a refresh on the body and paint
GM 2013 Crystal Red tri-coat
3.4 Turbo Charged paired with the HD automatic transmission
G1 interior and soon to be G1 door panels as well.
Custom F style rims
Custom ReMera badging
Project Retrofits "Original quad 60mm “Full Time Low” headlight upgrade
Shorten corvette automatic Shifter
7" Android touch screen, upgraded speakers, including a 10" low profile amplified sub-woofer
Combination on Speedhut's Custom indigo analog & Tom's Blue Digital Aux Gauges
Corvette C6 exhaust tips
Backup camera


4. Argenta rebody by Pacific Motorsports in 87 (Car from Action Jackson Movie from the 80s) - 86GT


Next in line for paint and will be painted GM 2013 Torch RED & Black
Crate zero mile DOHC engine
Rebuilt Getrag 5-Speed
Corvette C6 exhaust tips
Backup camera
FieroStore Waterfall rear speaker upgrades
Project Retrofits "Original quad 60mm “Full Time Low” headlight upgrade
Shorten Shifter


5. GTR - 1986 Modified Fiero GT (NO LONGER MINE...SOLD...170 miles to the south to a great guy)


Zero Mile North Star engine paired with HD Automatic Transmission
2002 Pontiac Trans Am Interior swap
7" Android touch screen, upgraded speakers, including a 10" low profile amplified sub-woofer
Corvette C6 exhaust tips
Backup camera
17" America Racing Rims
13" Corvette brakes all around
Nissan 300Z power antenna
The only Fiero with a power sunroof....no joke

6. My Testarossa - 1988 Fiero GT


She is still being built...have her lengthened and raised in the rear to correct dimensions and have started to fit the panels...won't be ready till beginning of summer for paint.
She will have a Custom Paint: Nuclear Sunset Tangerine from: Midwest Industrial Coatings
this color.
3800-SC Factory engine out of a 99 Buick with less than 10K original documented miles
Rebuilt Getrag 5-Speed
Will figure out the rest once I get her done with paint...lol
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________




OK Everyone...You are going t have to bear with me. I have been meaning to do this for over a year or so...so I am going to puke a bunch of stuff and then start organizing.

This is my start for tonight...will add more and plenty of pictures to go with as I fill in the details...thanks for stopping by.

Thanks! TXOPIE


THE STORY
___________

First off my love of Fiero start back in 1986 when my spoiled ass best-friend, Brent, got one for his first car. I myself was driving and had spent the past 18 months restoring my first car...a true 1964 1/2 Mustang GT hardtop...Hurst 3 speed on the floor...Wimbledon white exterior...palomino interior...can't forget the rally pack and embossed running horses on the seats! Can you tell that you never truly fall out of love with the first!

Anyway back to Fieros. I appreciated the car far more than he ever did...well at least at the time. He traded it in on another car about 20 months later. When I spoke to him about 7 years later, he wished he had put that car in storage... unfortunately it was only as an investment...he never got what this car was all about...but I sure did and what can I saw 28 years later...I still do and Brent where ever you are..THANKS!

I have purchased and sold a few over the past 17 years with the intention of doing it up right, but life, father & husband responsibilities took precedence...till about 18 months ago when the youngest & last of three left home to stand on her own! Proud Father !!!

So I went on the hunt for another Fiero GT and at the time the nicest one I could find for $3000.00 or less was at dealership called:


http://www.flowmotorsgreensboro.com/

Flow Motors of Greensboro in Greensboro, NC - Worked with a great salesman over the phone by the name of Rick Morgan.

I flew from Dallas on the early flight to Greensboro, where Rick picked me up and brought me back to the dealership by 11am Greensboro time.
The dealership has the car washed, waxed, gassed up and even threw in for free, a complete set of 4 new tires on her.
It was pulled upfront waiting on me when I got there.


























I dropped my bag at Rick's desk and took her out for a test drive. Lets say it was worth the flight!
I went back to the dealership and finished up the paperwork and paid for the car and was on the road back to Dallas by 15 minutes past noon.


The trip was uneventful (well except that dang false positive ERG issue that trips engine light when you maintain a steady speed for so long (can always test by throwing the car in neutral, killing the engine & restarting the engine...if light goes away...97% of the time that is the issue as most of you already know...which is a good thing when deciding to drive a vehicle in this scenario from Greensboro back to Dallas.

I then brought it home, got a tune up and oil change and drove it for 6 months without issue. Then one day, she starting bleeding oil like a stuck hog. It was time to rebuild her engine...which in my head meant replace it with what I thought would be a solid match, like a lot of other people, and went hunting for a 3800SC.

I knew I had three choice, find a un-cracked (opened) factory 3800SC with very low miles (needle in the haystack), a crated, or a rebuilt.

I am an optimist and said lets dig in the virtual hay-stack and see what sticks you...WOW! low and behold...look what I found online:


Since I didn't need the transmission, I called them directly and asked if they would sell me just the engine and for how much...lets say it was a fair price that included shipping directly to the mechanic's shop that was going to do the swap.

The engine was purchased from Morad Auto Parts out of Ohio...great place to buy parts and they really stand behind their stuff!

There is where we hit 7 months of Drama. But O! What is one to do with no available Fiero to drive...well Hell, buy another.

This is where another member of this wonderful forum, Tom Slick of NTFC introduced me to the sweetest older lady that had a passion for Fieros and has shames most of us...she has been driving one the entire time after buying her daughter one for her in high school. As i understand her first was an 86GT, but traded it in for an 88GT when they were released and has driven and maintained the car in near perfect condition the entire time. To give you just an idea of this lady is...the after market rims that she has on the car...well I got a box of 6 complete sets of the plastic center caps that cover the lug nuts...she told me that plastic was bound to break over the years...so when she purchased the rims, she also purchase 10 addittional sets of the plastic center caps from the manufacture. So in 20 some odd years of use...she went through 4 sets for one reason or another...not bad granny! Think how much better off if we thought like she did...SMART!



We call her ROCKER BARBIE
BUT she is going to get her own thread...wouldn't be fair not to.

The entire time in the background I have been emailing Rob in regards in a Gallardo inspired Fiero interior:
________________________________________________________________________________________
fiero interior
[Gmail]/Fiero
x

robert.kusakabe@comcast.net
12/15/11

to me

Jim,

Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, I do build the Fi40 & Fi355 interiors which are Fiero based. I also do Fiero exterior panels.

A good place to see my work would be on my build thread on Pennock's Fiero forum. There are various interior builds throughout the thread:

http://www.fiero.nl/forum/F.../HTML/000091-33.html

Are you looking for anything in particular.

Thank you,


Rob

Fierovation
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Jim McHale <tx.opie@gmail.com>
12/24/11

to robert.kusakabe

Rob,

Would you consider doing a Lamborghini Gallardo interior like the one below...if





I have decided to go with the following body kit:

http://fierofiberglass.com/...20Pages/Lizardo.html

I love the exterior, but I want you level of quality on the interior as well. It wouldn't have to be an identical match as the Gallardo interior exactly, but basically the same feel...the kit is not a exact replica...just a rebody inspired by.

The biggest issue I am having with the 355 interior is that I need a dual din for the radio. I am putting an android driven stereo unit in and they only come in dual din. The Gallardo interior has the dual din build into the design already.

Rob...if you look closely at the pictures after clicking on the link above...you will see a picture of the body in yellow with the door open...look at how the external door skin from the driver's side interior window...You see all the extra external door skin through the window. I was thinking the interior door skin could have padding to match the height of the eternal door skin.

Please let me know your thoughts...I think you could sell these to complement Lizardo's external body kit..
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Jim McHale <tx.opie@gmail.com>
12/26/11

to robert.kusakabe

Rob,

If not an entire interior...how about an add-on piece i mocked up in a drawing. It would just be an add-on piece to the existing 355 interior. This piece would be attached to the center piece above the row of switches before it is leather wrapped. Then it would plug into the hole where the insert goes for the single din and 3 gauge cluster after it has been leather wrapped and then fastened from the backside of the dash. Giving the interior a more unified and **** pit wrap around feel to the dash. while enabling me to setup a dual din touch screen without sacrificing an interior of your quality.

Remember this is going in a Fiero with a Lizardo's rebody kit, which is inspired by the Lamborghini Gallardo ...I want an interior that has a high end Italian exotic modern feel, but one that no one can put
their finger on...if that makes sense.

Thanks for your time in advance,

Jim
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

robert.kusakabe@comcast.net
12/28/11

to me

Images are not displayed. Display images below - Always display images from robert.kusakabe@comcast.net

Hi Jim,

Yes, the door panel will need to be extended up to the bodyline. I don't think I got your drawing, but I think I see what you mean about flowing the dash into the console. I can have a look at it to see what can be done to look more Gallardo like.

How much can you budget for you interior? I suppose that will determine what can/cannot be done.

Below is the parts/price info on the standard Fi355 interior set, modifications may be additional.

FIERO INTERIOR CONVERSION DETAILED ITEMS LISTING

This is a finished interior set ready for upholstery. All parts are trimmed, prepped & pre-fitted for a
stock/un-modified Fiero cabin. Final fitting in your car should be performed before upholstery if your
interior cabin is modified. All panels attach to stock Fiero mounting points.

Other items needed are:
1) VDO guages 3 3/8" & 2 1/16" & VDO senders.
2) OEM Ferrari air vents (must check with dealership for latest price/availability)
Or, try Ebay for a used set.
3) Euro shifter arm from Rodney Dickman.
4) Optional HVAC controller from 'Riceburner98', about $350.
5) Your own wiring.
6) Plug/connector for power mirror switch from mid 90's to late model GM
b-body, truck/suv (GM part# 12101762) I can supply for $75usd.
7) Upholstery. Optional upholstery available before shipping.

You will also be re-using your original dash & console screws, and the original upper door
handle brackets and screws. All other needed hardware is included. An installation guide is included.

Included items:

Dash 1 Upper dash body
1 Lower Dash body
2 Defrost vent covers
1 Custom moulded main A/C airbox
2 air vent hoses
1 “Glove box” lid with axle & bushings
1 magnetic touch latch
1 Center gauge/stereo panel
1 headlight/dimmer switch panel
1 Upper steering column shell
1 Lower sterring column shell

Main Instrument pod assembly
1 Main gauge pod shell with brackets
1 Custom gauge panel with graphics- preassembled
1 Flat black acrylic/urethane panel
1 Dark acrylic tinted indicator lens
4 Indicator light sub-panels
12 Light bulbs & sockets
12 color Instrument graphics

Door Panels
2 Main door panels
2 Upper door-pull housings
2 Armrests
2 Lower door pocket panels
4 End caps
2 Felt lined weather strips
2 Double foil fiber insulation
2 Custom powder coated steel release paddles
2 Custom release mechanisms
easily mounts to doorframe
smooth bearing operation
automatic spring return
1/8" steel levers
2 Urethane/steel pistol grips
2 Insert covers for stock Fiero lock sliders
3 Illuminated power window switches w/ bezels
1 wire harness w/ matching terminal sockets

Console 1 Console body
1 Computer cover
1 6 speed aluminum gate
1 Forward deck/switch panel - preassembled
1 Urethane deck panel
1 Illuminated switch cover w/ graphics
2 door lock toggle switches
3 accessory toggle switches
5 Toggle finger caps
4 pushbutton switches w/ graphics
1 Rear deck/switch panel - preassembled
1 Urethane deck panel
1 Sliding "ashtray" cover
1 Urethane coin cup (in place of ashtray)
1 support underpanel
1 Illuminated power mirror switch

Hardware

Pricing:
(S&H extra)

Full interior set (no upholstery). Fully prepped & pre-assembled with all fabrication completed, pre-trimmed &
pre-fitted: $3995usd (w/o vents) Send your 355 vents to me for pre-fit.

Add $395usd for optional console storage compartment.

Upholstery (optional USA & Canada only)

Full interior upholstery in leatherette (simulated leather) with foam padding and french stitching.
Single color, or two tone: $1795 - $1995usd.

Full interior upholstery in genuine leather single color, or two tone with foam padding & french
stitching: $2295-$2795usd (pricing varies depending on color choice & availability).

Contact Robert.Kusakabe@comcast.net for more info.

Thank you.

Rob
Fiero Interior Conversions

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
rev 04/11

From: "Jim McHale" <tx.opie@gmail.com>
To: "robert kusakabe" <robert.kusakabe@comcast.net>
Sent: Monday, December 26, 2011 5:25:44 PM
Subject: Re: fiero interior

Rob,


Jim McHale <tx.opie@gmail.com>
12/28/11

to robert.kusakabe

Hello Rob,

I attached picture with the extra piece I would want fabed the would fit into the 2 existing pieces...sorry its only freehand and not CAD. I would want you to do the upolstry, you do an amazing job at it.



robert.kusakabe@comcast.net
1/1/12
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
to me

Images are not displayed. Display images below - Always display images from robert.kusakabe@comcast.net
Jim,

Your idea in the drawing is completely doable, a re-designed console stack & stereo/gauge bezel will be needed. It will likely need to be a separate piece to help make the upholstery easier. The thing about the 355 dash is that it's designed around 355 airvents. If that's cool with you, then it's cool with me.

My Fi40 dash could also be a suitable donor. To get the Gallardo look It will need some reshaping to round-out the surface, and new airvents...maybe from the Pontiac G6. A console stack will work on this dash as well. This will be alot more work than your idea with the Fi355 dash because it'll be a whole new dash design, but will be more Gallardo-like.

It's up to you and your budget. I can draw up a dash plan & estimate if you'd like.

HappyNewYear!

Rob

Fierovation

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


THE ENGINE SWAP[/________________
b]

I had a friend that is VERY well connected with all the dealerships in DFW. I know he had a few custom rods built and asked who he would recommend for swap, since a certain someone from Dallas decided to go sideways before I got mine turn...hey but I got taken for my own ride!

Anyway my friend (still to this day) recommend a shop. So I spoke with the owner several times and went and checked out his really nice facility. He worked on a large range of custom and real high end vehicles. A real 355 was in the bay next to mine, then a Maserati, and so on.

So after several discussions, he had a solid understanding of what I was asking for and armed him with alot of documentation and information that I had gather over the years from here and several other forums.

We agreed on a price and he quoted me a 19-25 day time-line for competition. I dropped off my car and had Morad ship the engine directly to his shop.

Well I could go through all the hell and heartache, but sufficed to say...19 days turned into 7 months.

Then when I got her back, the wiring harness has a mysterious short in it that if you leave the battery connected...will be dead by morning.

The put holes in my dash, cracked a rear speaker cover, million little etch marks on rear wind shield, did body damage, messed up and nicked the paint in several places, leaky fuel lines, scrapped up my stock perfect rims, lost a center cap and several of the plastic lug nut overs...I could go on, but I won't...Let that go already.


So to say the least he trashed the car and did a lot of damage as well.

After getting her back, I did the smartest thing I could have. I reached out for help from a member of this forum that is local to DFW...Steven Poe (MstangsBware). I had him take a solid look at the work and he gave me a punch list of things that needed to be addressed.

Links to the Nightmare posting:
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/F...1/HTML/089322-3.html
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[b]LIFE GOT BUSY FOR AWHILE
& my liquidity was tied up in other projects...so I made the best use of the time and Stripped out the old interior. Cleaned, scrubbed, sanded, primed the interior. I mean every part. There is not a spec of rust anywhere in the cabin.

I then stripped off all the exterior body panels. Cleaned, scrubbed, de-greased, sanded primed, and good solid coat of black rustoleum paint. Again rust free exterior sub...the only part that needed a little spot welding was under where the old OM battery tray sat...a battery must have leaked at some point.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ELECTRICAL / MECHANICAL

Replacement Wiring Harness & PCM showed up yesterday from member InTheLead...he had an extra PCM & harness from FIEROFLYER:


The PCM was completely oxidize when I recieved it yesterday, so I have spent a few hours cleaning up...at this point I think I am going to bring the entire PCM to nice clean polish.


Davis Unified Ignition Dyna-Batt Batteries 5575C:


NEW POWERMASTER ALTERNATOR,CHROME,12SI,140AMP:


Adding a setup I had in one of my old mustang years ago:


I will be utilizing 1/0 gauge welding wiring:

and the plugs are industrial rated Goodall brand as well.

I am going to get Russ88TTop to see if he can make me a spare tire cover with an embroidered upper zipper pouch to hold the jumper cable portion when not in use.

Battery Tray from Archie's:


Steel Braided Fuel Lines:


3800 Series II supercharged Fiero cold air intake system from Chris at WestCoast:


New DELPHI BM10036 Blower Motor:


Bigger Brake Booster from member sardonyx247:


NOS ac condenser New Air:


New 3-core aluminum radiator:


New Heater Core:


Have been working on a complete LCD rear tail light setup:


Power steering Upgrade from Chris at WestCoast:


Brake upgrade from Archie:


The Fiero Rear Bump-Steer Kit from now from AMS:


Sport Front Suspension from AMS:


Still trying to decide between two options on the head lights...but I believe I am leaning toward the upgrade flip up smalle projection headlights. I like the look of the front with the new fascia with the headlights down.
THE INTERIOR

WHICH IN TURN...lead to Rob's G1 Dash and hopefully matching requested door skins which I have mocked up in PS to scale









________________________________________________________________________________



__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Preparing for Rob's G1 interior:

New black speaker mesh fabric showed up today...time to recover those white speaker grills...will post photo later tonight of finish panels with new black mesh.


Remaining interior trim panels have all now successfully painted black:


to recover rear speaker covers...they are the white covers that standout in the picture above.

Working on collecting all the correct switches in black:

Power Mirror Switch

FOUND A Warehouse that has the last of the GM NOS Power Mirror Switch (BLACK)
http://usautospares.com/pro...php/products_id/2827

Which will fit nicely into the VW window switches I am decided on utilizing once I get the plastic mounting piece wrapped in carbon fiber wrap:


Black VW/Audi window siwthces...nice flush mount:


Black VW/Audi Seat warmer switches:


also found this great after-market multi-function turn signal lever that fits the Fiero, but is a little short than the stock and has a rubberized soft coat...and they are new:


I also found & ordered, what I think looks the best (has that new car texture instead of the smooth 80's plastic) for Headlight switch replacement:


Also the dimmer switch from 80's Astrovan...look familiar, but in black?:
(GM pt#15954529)


I ended up going with this switch for my rear defrost:


Have this on the way in the mail for a rear trunk release switch:


test fitting in old dash pieces:


HP MIMOD system for entertainment, internet, communications, GPS, backup camera, & security:

http://www.mimodhp.com/

Once I have had it installed for a few months...I plan on eventually swapping out of gauges in the cluster for monitors.

Picked up these for a steal on e-bay:

They will glow a nice blue at night to go along with my Tom's Digital Aux Gauges over the center console (Volt and Oil Pres)...in blue of course


New updated rear mirror...one that has home-link, Auto dimming, and digital compass all built-in:


Here is the new steering wheel:


New Seats for the Fiero...I choose to utilzed te Corvetter C4 Sport Seats and found a set locally for only $20 off Craigslist.org...the shells and hardware were perfect...the foam and leather had seen better days .

But there are places online to order new foam and skins...mine are black leather with blue stiching:


I will getting new headliner & sun visors just like the one below from member Russ88TTop:


Successfully turned my old grey seat-belts to black as well:


Re-carpeted the stock waterfall from grey to new black carpet:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE BODY

Originally I was think that I was going to do the Lizardo, but during the 7 months the mechanic had my vehicle, it gave me time to think and play with some more ideas.

What really made me change my mind was the new front bumper fascia i designed in PS:

So at that point I decided I was going to get someone to create my new front fascia and build the rest from other parts:

I am going to utilize Archie's Wide-body kit with some with some tweaking:



Here is the PS of the way I am going to tweak Archie's Wide-body rear bumper fascia:


A already have a set of RX8 mirrors.


I also took apart the RX8 mirrors and wired in behind the mirror LED turning signal arrow indicator light:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/36-B...P34pnRq8!~~60_12.JPG

Archie is going to do me a set of brackets...since it maybe a while before Dean ships me mine.


A set of lambo doors via Archie's hookup:


Kenson Electronics Shark Fin Amplified AM/FM Antenna Universal Style:


RIMS is one other thing I am still playing with...will update a few of my thoughts on options soon.

Once it is completed she will be wrapped in Alsa's blue chrome wrap & touches of carbon fiber with 6-7 coats of clear-coat on top of it... similar to this Ferrari that is wrapped in Alsa's same wrap.

[This message has been edited by TXOPIE (edited 06-24-2015).]