Well I mounted my oil cooler to the front of the cradle today and ran the lines to the remote fittings by the filter, looks cool.(pun intended)I then put the cradle/motor assembly back into my '86 Fiero using Darrel Morse aluminum mounts. The cooler is a little too close to the fuel lines on the firewall so a little rebending of the mounts is needed. Checked out all the other clearances, everything looks OK. Now I need to hook up all the radiator hoses, fuel lines, throttle, shifter cable, put all my new suspension parts back on, do all the wiring and I'm done. Wow, I've got a lot of work to do yet!!! I'm glad the motor's in, that's a big accomplishment, and it look's like it belongs there.
Dragon1/Brian
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10:38 PM
PFF
System Bot
PBJ Member
Posts: 4167 From: London, On., Canada Registered: Jan 2001
Sorry guys, I don't have a digi-camera. Wish I did thou. I could show you the same pictures you've all seen before. I know it's great to see something like this come together, and all the moral support you guys offer is fantastic. But unfortunatly all I can do is tell you about the successes and lie about the setbacks...no just kidding, I would tell the truth. That way you guys would help me just like you have in the past. Today I remounted the engine oil cooler a little lower on the front of the cradle and took out the upward angle. Now it's almost horizontal. Now it clears the fuel lines and I can wiggle the heat shield back into place too. Hooked up the rear heater hose, used the stock caddy one that comes off the thermostat housing(1" dia. and changes to 3/4" dia.)got a 3/4" to 5/8" black plastic hose adaptor from Checker and put the two hoses together, no problem. Tightened up all the cradle bolts, one rear bolt gave me some problems but I took care of it. Let's see...tightened up the purple wire on the starter from the tranny, tried to hook up the throttle cable but I have to drill a hole for the snaplock. The cable doesn't line up straight with the throttle body thingy, also tried to mount the shifter cable(4T60e)and I think the bracket I made to Rockcrawls website picture is a little to long. The end that snaps onto the tranny linkage won't reach, Are they adjustable about 3/8"??? Otherwise I'll have to cut and reweld the bracket that holds the cable. I'm on vacation this week and hope to have it completed, I have everything I need except for exhaust. I cut out the trunk and am going to run a Rockcrawl inspired exhaust out to caddy sts tips. Oh yeah, I do need one thing...I can't find a fuel pump pulsator for the '96 Corvette fuel pump I bought, Not Autozone, Checker, or Parts America stock it. "FIVE DAY SPECIAL ORDER" I'm going to try the Chevy dealer tomorrow. Cross your fingers for me.
Dragon1/Brian
Wow, just think how long this would have been if it had pictures.....
Wow, 24 hrs later and no comments or anything. Guess I should have had pictures. Today I went to the Chevy dealer and yes, they had the fuel pump pulsator, $12.00 more than Autozone wanted but at least I got it today. Tomorrow I will work on the gas tank, taking out the old pump and putting in the Corvette pump, screen, and pulsator. Maybe I'll paint the tank also... Today I got the engine radiator hoses hooked up, passenger side was easy, driverside was a little tougher, used a stock hose from a Fiero for the lower section and a piece of a caddy hose for the upper, spliced them together with a CSI inline radiator filler. Hooked up the tranny lines too, and also the power brake hose. Got the throttle cable to work too. The front heater hose has me a bit baffled though. Fitting on the motor is horizontal, fitting on the firewall is vertical, the stock hoses don't bend that way. Maybe just run some heater hose up off the firewall fitting and let it take a natural curve to reach the motor fitting. Went to the junkyard today also, I needed another C203 male/female plug cause I need more of the connectors to run wires with. My car was a 4cyl. auto and I need to run wires for the two caddy PFI injector banks and my car is wired to the C203 connector but stopped there so I needed wires for the out side of the connector.
More tomorrow, thanks for reading.
Dragon1/Brian
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10:40 PM
PBJ Member
Posts: 4167 From: London, On., Canada Registered: Jan 2001
That upper heater hose is just a nasty ugly position. Rockcrawl pluged his and made it come off the back side of the engine. It is a 1 inch hose and is just clumsy.
Thanks Pete. It will take some thinking but I'm sure it will get hooked up somehow...
Dragon1/Brian
Hey, Is the auto shifter cable adjustable in lenght at all??? I need 3/8" to 1/2" more length or I'm gonna have to recut and reweld the cable mount I made.
Tuesday, Today I installed my new AC-Delco '96 corvette fuel pump/screen/pulsator into the V6 gas tank I picked up at the junkyard a while back. I can now say that yes, the '96 corvette pump is a direct replacment for the Fiero V6 pump. So I checked it out, what's different between the two tanks. Well the tanks look physically the same on the outside, but take out the pump assemblys and there's a world of differance. Biggest is that the 4 cyl. wiring will not plug into the corvette pump. It will with the V6 unit. Looking at the hard lines for the fuel on the 4 cyl. unit all three lines, the evap.canister line, the fuel pressure line, and the fuel return line, all bend to the drivers side of the car. On the V6 unit the evap. canister line goes to drivers side and the fuel pressure line and fuel return line go to the passenger side of the car. The hard lines are about 18" long so there was enough give in the two lines that I was able to bend/twist them to the drivers side of the car. The junkyard had also cut the wires that go to the plug so I cut the plug off the 4 cyl. tank and soldered the wires to the wires on the V6 unit, used heatshrink tubing and elec. tape just to be sure. Put the V6 tank into my Fiero and hooked all the hoses back up and plugged it back in. That took me about 5 hours. Just so you know... I got the front heater hose hooked up today also. I used the natural curve method and it worked great!!! I hooked up the 3/4" hose to the pipe on the engine in front of the starter, ran the hose straight back about a foot to get past the engine head and pushed the hose up thru the empty spot by the transaxle. Then I crawled up top and took the slack out of the hose, looking good so far. Ran the hose by the power brake filter on the firewall and tucked it back down towards the heater hose fitting on the firewall, crawled back under the car, marked the hose, cut it, and slipped it on the fitting and clamped. No problem, clears everything and is far enough away from the engine that exh. manifold heat won't bother it. It also sits low enough that it won't interfere with the remote filler being highest in the system.
Tomorrow I swap the 4cyl.auto trans radiator for a V6 auto trans. radiator
Wednesday, I didn't have a good day today. I got the 4cyl. radiator out but I ended up cutting the lower trans line cause it just wouldn't let lose of the fitting. The fitting came off the radiator ok but the line was stuck to the fitting and wanted to twist. Tried heat and Liquid Wrench but nothing worked. Spent 2 hrs. on it. So I called it quits and ran to Checker and bought a 12" brake line to splice to the trany line, of course it had to be the pressure line too so I couldn't just rubber hose it. Then I went to the hardware store and bought a compression fitting to do the splicing with. While I was there I also got compression fittings for the fuel lines. Gonna splice the stock Caddy 4.9L hardlines to the 4cyl. Fiero hardlines. Anybody remember which 4.9 fitting is the fuel in??? I forgot...looking at the motor from the rear of the car, the left fitting or the right fitting???
Hey did you know that '96 Corvette and '86 Fiero take the same fuel filter??
Hope I have a better day Thursday. I'm starting to think I won't be finished by the end of the week. I'm doing all the work by myself. Oh well so it takes a little longer, as long as I get it done....
Still have to put the rear suspension together, shouldn't be too bad, it's all new parts...
Thanks for looking... Dragon1/Brian
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10:09 PM
blakeinspace Member
Posts: 5923 From: Fort Worth, Texas Registered: Dec 2001
Well, I'll support your no pic posting thread. I need to quite staring at this screen and put in my front battery. You've busted out 20x the work and I cant stop watching PBS
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10:18 PM
PBJ Member
Posts: 4167 From: London, On., Canada Registered: Jan 2001
I can't remember right off but look at the lines, the fuel would come in, flow to all the injectors, then pass throught to the pressure regulator and out.
Pete
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11:34 PM
Jul 10th, 2003
Archie Member
Posts: 9436 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 1999
The in line (fuel going to the engine) would be the larger Diameter line & it would be the same line that has the filter on it & as PBJ said, the regulator is on the return line.
Thursday, Got the V6 radiator mounted in the car today, put the two front hoses on and spliced a new piece of tranny line to the old line with a compression fitting. I won't know if it leaks until I get it started. Also I got the fuel line and return line hooked up, again I used compression fittings to tie the old with the new. Thanks PBJ, and Archie for the input, it helped alot.
I like having the trunk floor cut out, I can sit on the back ledge and let my feet dangle, car is still up in the air on stands by the way. You don't feel so cramped as when you are sitting in the trunk. I filled the motor with oil about 6 qts. with the cooler, will check to be sure after it's running. Then I had a brain fart. Ok so I figure "got oil in it, how bout tranny fluid" so I start to fill the tranny, 1qt., 2qts., 3qts., almost 4 qts. Talking to the wife while I'm doing this and I hear "drip,drip,drip," what's dripping??? I look down and a puddle of red stuff is flowing towards the back of the car. Oh S$$$T, where's it coming from, I'm climbing off the car, wife finds it first..it's coming from the big hole on the side she said...big hole on the side??? I thought. she grabbed a rag and covered the hole. I get there and see the big hole, I hadn't stuck the axles in yet and the fluid was running out the passenger side axle hole. I ran and got an axle from the basement and stuffed it in the hole, end off leak. Wasn't so bad, only lost about 1/2 qt. on the floor, made a big puddle though. Moral of story..."Try not to get ahead of yourself or don't talk to people while you are doing things" Hey! My brother's got a digi-camera, I'm going to talk him into coming over on sat. and take some pictures for you guys. You've been patient, you've stayed with me. you deserve pictures, I'll see what I can do. I'm going out of town for a little bit tomorrow so I don't think I'll get to work on it till sat. I'll post again Fri. nite either way.
Dragon1/Brian
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09:57 PM
PBJ Member
Posts: 4167 From: London, On., Canada Registered: Jan 2001
That upper heater hose is just a nasty ugly position. Rockcrawl pluged his and made it come off the back side of the engine. It is a 1 inch hose and is just clumsy.
Pete
I kinda stumbled into a nice trick for this connection. I have only shared that info with Rockcrawl 'but' if you look at my Update thread you will see that I am using a stock fiero part and its perfect for the job!
Friday, Didn't work on the car today, tok the family to Manitowoc, WI. to visit the Maritime museum and tour the USS Cobia. WWII submarine. 1 1/2 hr. drive from Milwaukee, Tommorow don't know if I'll get to work on it either, I got to watch the kids while the wife works till 7:00 pm. maybe I'll do a little after she gets home.
While in Manitowac passed a car dealer with a Fiero for sale. Here's the specs...
Auto 1 One 3601 Calumet Avenue Manitowoc WI. 54220 1- -683-2277 didn't get area code. ask for Chris Yindra
1988 Formula, yellow, not the brite yellow but sort of a darker orangey brown yellow. 89,000 miles V6/5speed good tires correct rims gray and black interior in very good condition. 120 mph speedo and aux. gauges No power options, crank windows manual doorlocks and manual mirrors, didn't notice if it had air or not.
Sticker was $4,250 said he would take $3,800
Dragon1/Brian
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10:39 PM
Jul 12th, 2003
jeffndebrus Member
Posts: 2772 From: Jacksonville, Fl- usa Registered: Aug 2001
The 4.9 liter V8 engine provides the smoothest possible application of power and has enormous strength on call. If you've never enjoyed the seemingly endless reserve of power available with one of these engines you are in for a pleasant surprise.
Sunday!Sunday!Sunday! Today I installed the poly bushings in the rear control arms. I had burned out the rubber a month ago so all I had to do was clean up the hole with a wire brush, grease the hole, grease the bushing and put them together, then I greased the bushing inside and slipped in the metal sleve. When I mounted the arms on the car I put the bolts together with anti-sieze so they come apart easier if I ever need to...Then I got both axles in the tranny and mounted the knuckles onto the axles and the control arm ball joint. Everything going back together is brand new, ball joints, poly bushings, tie rod ends, struts, strut covers, everything. I think I was Fiero Store's favorite customer for a couple weeks last month. (10% discount too) I put together the tie rods and painted them red, everything on the frame and suspension is black or red. Tomorrow I will tackle taking the old stuts apart to get the rubber things off where the spring sits. And maybe getting the new ones together and on the car.
that's my dolly 2x6's 3 high with wheels, worked good height was 1/2" higher than my engine puller All new suspension with poly ball joint covers and bushings. closer... Darrell Morse aluminum cradle mounts very easy to install front rear
center of crankshaft totop of frame, I got 5" that's what the four banger was I used the air conditioning compressor for an idler pully, took out the guts and took off the clutch, it left an ugly pulley so I covered it in aluminum, the cover doesn't spin by the way Look Ma!! No trunk, I cut out the trunk like Rockcrawl and PBJ for exhaust clearance. Much nicer to work on the motor like this, just sit on the back rail and let your feet hang. front left closer
front right back right idler pulley to battery tray clearance, about 1/2" to 3/4" My tray had a bump with a screw hole for the plastic battery cover I had to trim off with a hacksaw. sensor I moved to the back cover just to get it out of my way. front passenger mount
oil cooler mounted to front rail of cradle looking up hard to see but it's the rear passenger mount,3" angle 1/4" thck bolted to cradle with energy suspension poly mount like the front one like the scarecrow from wizard of oz, no brains you have to go way under here to change the throttle cable if your ends don't fit the 4.9 throttle body
rebuilt the front last year but haven't driven it yet,gonna pull it apart again for poly bushings and sway bar stuff my rims and tires 2001 Toyota Celica w/Yokohama tires brand new $600.00 on ebay, now they run $650.00 '87 GT springs going in my car cut 1/2 coil on the rear and 1 coil on the front then painted red painted front swaybar and my '86 SE rear facia with dual exhaust and correct ribbed molding
By the way, I didn't work on it tonight,I spent all night downloading pictures for you guys. Curse you dial-up.... Anyway, heres the last of them... hinge down, lots of room. didn't take off the srings an only trimmed the hinge bracet where it hung down below the hinge. Sorry I didn't take that picture. Looks like I can get the valve cover off yet too. Thanks for that idea Steve at BV Motorsport CSI inline radiator filler with 28 lb.cap wires,wires,wires,wires,wires
By the way, I didn't work on it tonight,I spent all night downloading pictures for you guys. Curse you dial-up.... Anyway, heres the last of them... hinge down, lots of room. didn't take off the srings an only trimmed the hinge bracet where it hung down below the hinge. Sorry I didn't take that picture. Looks like I can get the valve cover off yet too. Thanks for that idea Steve at BV Motorsport CSI inline radiator filler with 28 lb.cap wires,wires,wires,wires,wires
rebuilt the front last year but haven't driven it yet,gonna pull it apart again for poly bushings and sway bar stuff my rims and tires 2001 Toyota Celica w/Yokohama tires brand new $600.00 on ebay, now they run $650.00 '87 GT springs going in my car cut 1/2 coil on the rear and 1 coil on the front then painted red painted front swaybar and my '86 SE rear facia with dual exhaust and correct ribbed molding
If you don't yet have coolant in, can I recommend you run steel 1 1/2 inch exhaust pipe for the upper rad hose past the exhaust crossover so you don't have to worry about hose melting there.
Excellent project, looks fantastic and thanks for the pictures. Even an old fart like me who likes the compromise (power/economy/durability) of the lowly Iron Duke can appreciate it!
Thursday, Took a couple days off from the Fiero to work on the project in the house, we've been building a master bedroom in the attic with textured walls and a wood burning fireplace. Almost done. Anyway, tonight I got the new KYB struts mounted in the back, got the rear tie rods on and mounted the drivers side rear brake caliper. The struts were pretty straight forward, had to take apart the old ones to get the rubber on top and below the spring. Put on the spring compressor grabbed the end of the strut with the nut on it in a vise and the nut came right off, no problem. Put that side together with my shortened GT springs and got it back in the car. The other side didn't go so good. I had to grind the nut off the strut end. It wouldn't come off with wrenches. After that is was smooth sailing. Took it apart and put the new parts together and back on the car. New struts, cut GT springs, new rubber isolation mounts on top of the struts, adjustable camber bolts thru the knuckle, and new poly dust boots. It's gonna be a new car when I'm thru, should get another 15 years out of it. By the way, the camber bolt kit that the Fierostore was selling has been discontinued. It was made by Moog. The Fiero store searched out two other suppliers that I had told them about. Monroe AK-30 and TRW XXXX forgot the number now. They were very quick at solving the discontinued problem and getting me parts in the next couple of days. Actually most if not all of my suspension parts, front and back came from the Fiero store. They were very helpful and curtious, the parts were always in stock(except the second camber kit I needed)and delivery was great. Thank you Fiero Store. I will continue to buy my Fiero parts from you.
Fiero should be back on it's wheels in the next couple of days and I can do all the suspension tighting, bushings, retighten struts ans bolts and grease the fittings.
Next big project the snakepit of wires!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAh..........somebody come over and do it for me.......
Dragon1/Brian
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10:17 PM
BV MotorSports Member
Posts: 4821 From: Oak Hill, WV Registered: May 2001
