88 2.5 rebuild (Page 1/7)
Zeak OCT 26, 03:58 PM
Started pulling apart the bone stock duke in my 88 today.
Shes been burning oil and smoking sense I bought her. I have finally got to a point at my job where I can
afford to give my sad little fiero the proper care it needs.
While I was pulling the intake and exhaust off, I found the the stock head gasket was in
good shape. The stock exhaust header had the normal cracks on both sides. What I did not expect was was for one side to fall off in my hand.


The cylinder walls look and feel great. the bad thing is that I could shave in the refection. Got a new glaze braker for that.
Heres the other pics before I start cleaning. Still need to pull the rest of the block, but I'm trying to take my time. This is not my first engine, but I still want to make sure I take my time and do things right. Going with sealled power pistons and moly rings.




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1988 Fiero 2.5

[This message has been edited by Zeak (edited 10-26-2014).]

Gall757 OCT 26, 07:30 PM


Is that blue stuff cooked oil?

[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 10-26-2014).]

Zeak OCT 26, 07:57 PM
Afraid so. Oil was getting into the combustion chamber and there was so much blow-by that I had to install a oil catch can on the valve cover vent.
Zeak OCT 26, 08:21 PM
On a related note. (did not want to start another thread)
Dose the exhaust haft to be this long? The hoop on the trans side seems like it would contribute to alot of extra under hood heat.
My pipe and Cat need to be replaced anyway.
I was thinking it could come out of the header and head right under the cradle wile reusing the stock flex points.
Maybe have a small, high flow cat under the engine with the proper heat shielding.
(photo credit to IFLYR22)

[This message has been edited by Zeak (edited 10-26-2014).]

theogre OCT 26, 11:13 PM

quote
Originally posted by Zeak:
On a related note. (did not want to start another thread)
Dose the exhaust haft to be this long? The hoop on the trans side seems like it would contribute to alot of extra under hood heat.
My pipe and Cat need to be replaced anyway.
I was thinking it could come out of the header and head right under the cradle wile reusing the stock flex points.
Maybe have a small, high flow cat under the engine with the proper heat shielding.


Picture shows 88 OE exhaust is to stop breaking exhaust manifold.
Second joint to right in above picture and pipe hanger to trans is 88 fix to isolate cat weight from crap manifold design.

You want 88 pipe.

Many think heat is a problem but cheap shield etc solve that. Heat really does not matter when the car is moving.
That picture shows OE shield on the pipe. Many have rusted.
I made starter shield... www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/133868.html#p13
Stops heat soak by pipe and cat.

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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 (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

Zeak OCT 27, 08:43 PM
Thanks for the info!
Got some more progress made.
Pulling the 2.5 from the top was not to bad after I removed the intake, exhaust, and the head.
Going to soak her in gunk and then pressure wash everything thats external.

Zeak OCT 28, 08:43 PM
Broke the darn crank sensor on the back of the coil packs. Guess it was time for a new one. My serpentine belt tensioner had a new pulley on it but I guess it was a little loose as it was grinding on the plastic that covers the spring. Can that be rebuilt or do I haft to buy the hole thing?
Did the pressure washing this afternoon after I got off work and am going to take apart the internals and wire-wheel the block and head.

Zeak OCT 29, 07:31 PM
Got some more work done.
Not sure how old the bearings are, but they look good.



theogre OCT 29, 08:09 PM
the belt arm worn then replace tension assm.
RockA etc have them.

Should have metal "spring" and you move it to new tensioner but many are missing. I Think just make noise when pulley/tensioner are bad.
Arm is pointing to where the spring mounting point. Not covered in cave...

See my Cave, Serpent Belt

DIS brick look like missing PIM shield.
See my Cave, DIS Ignition

rebuild an 88 then first carefully check balancer/oil pump assm.
88+ is known for balance assm problem that kills whole engines.

Check Jasper etc rebuilt engine. Likely cheaper and has a warranty.
Zeak OCT 30, 11:32 AM
Your defiantly right about the shield missing. Looking into getting one from my local pick and pull.
As for the pulley, I'm just going to use an adjustment bar and run it like the 84 2.5.
Thanks for all the great info in the cave.

[This message has been edited by Zeak (edited 10-30-2014).]