Great work, I've spent quite a bit of time on your page, Archie! A few years back, I ran across an LT5 ZR1 engine (a mere $10,000), Glanced at my 87 GT Fiero (a mere $3,000), and wondered if anyone had the audacity to put one of those in a Fiero...ever had any requests?

Jeff---- (only moderately insane)

So what happened on the return trip?

quote Originally posted by SOULCRUSHER: So what happened on the return trip?

Well, I hope no one minds if I tell the story.

I don't have all the details but Ales had a problem with the 4 speed transmission I bought to put in his car. His problems came up somewhere in the Tulsa area. Several PFF members met Ales along the way & several were there to lend a hand when he needed help. a Few people helped him by getting the car from Ok to Loyde's place in Dallas. It took him a couple of days to get the car over the mud & into Loydes garage. He R&R'ed the transmission, While he had it out he felt he should put in a new Clutch & resurface the F/W. Instead of making Ales wait for the resurfaceing, I overnighted a Clutch & F/W down there. I'm reimbursing him for Loyde's services on the Trans R&R.

So Ales lost some time, met a lot of extra PFF members, but all is well from what I understand.

I'm sure the other people who met Ales & those that helped him out along the way will chime in with their stories & adventures.

Archie

[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 04-06-2005).]

I guess this is yet another reason not to purchase used transmissions for customers?
Glad he was able to get it taken care of, though.

quote Originally posted by Formula88: I guess this is yet another reason not to purchase used transmissions for customers? Glad he was able to get it taken care of, though.

Correct, My reputation relies on a $300 used transmission. I'm never going to let that happen again.

All these years I've encouraged my customers to drive their V-8 Fieros home once we've completed it. This is the 1st time I've ever had a customer not make it home on a swap we did for him. THAT don't make me happy.

Archie

Got a few questions for you archie... Tried PMing ya about rockers (i see you busy. see if you can get back to me on those)

but my Im wondering what an LT1 swap would cost me Installed by you... LMK, I've gotta either start saving for a chop top, or an engine swap, cant make up my mind... maybe you could help... Granted it will be atleast 4 months untill id be clost to gettting 1 or the other (hopefully not much longer) but id like to start exploring my options...

Also, what would a chop top cost (everything chopped except the rear clip (on an 87 coupe if that matters)

Thanx alot for your time... LMK if you'd be able to bring a set of rockers to carlisle. (im assuming you wouldnt miss it... )

What number LT1 is this anyone know ?

~Tim Bonner

My story is a little longer....

I didnt say the 'nightmare' was from IL to Dallas, IMO things could have not not been worse here at my shop...

Ales arrived on a Saturday night. They stayed in the Hotel that night since I had my kids here. Sunday I picked him and Lu Lu up at the hotel. At least they had free room and meals the rest of the time they were here.

It had rained about 1.5 inches Friday night into Sunday morning. Those who have seen my big picture of my shop on the website can see, NO concrete in front of the shop or gravel. Hey, I am not setup for emergency situtations. I drive the cars to the shop when its nice and dry. Well, Ales and I tried to get the car to the shop with the car loaded on my trailer, and using my 4x4 tractor. I never got the tractor stuck, but it would not get the trailer backed into the shop area. Just to much mud in the wheels and axles. So we wait all of sunday, and then Monday we try again. Well, about 200pm we decided to wash the trailer of all the mud in the wheels. Ales took over this job, and I worked the mud with my tractor. Then my neighbors stop in the street and complain about the mud in the street from the trailer and tractor. So Ales and Lu Lu decide to wash my street and driveway... What awesome people they are. The street was cleaner than any 50 ft anywhere else. The city trucks and cars came up to inspect the area about 500pm, so I guess my neighbors called in about the mess. Then about 500pm Monday, the car was finally in the shop. 1100am Tuesday, the trans ready to install, but Ales wanted to see that disc and flywheel. The flywheel had some serious hot spots and the disc was scored, so everything was next day aired in to be replaced. While we waited tuesday night for the items to arrive, I decided to fix Ales AC lines. I tried to HeliArc the line, but it was to thin in spots and kept cracking. It actually held vaccum everytime I tested it, but it would not hold 60PSI of freon. I finally decided to replace the lines completely and build a new AC compressor line system like I do the 3800SC stuff. Then the LT1 water pump was just to difficult to get in and out. Some spot welds had pop'ed loose where the cutting was done for the hole in the strut tower area. I plasma cut this smooth, and cleaned up some welds, and worse, decided to MIG weld some areas. At some point, I thought about the ECM in the trunk, but NO wires were attached to the battery, or the ECM. Not good enough however. The chip in the ECM pop'ed from the welding. Car would not start. This is Thursday now at this time. I call Street and Performance for a new chip and ECM for next day air shipping. There was a mess up in getting it out Thursday, and on Friday we find out it will have to ship for Saturday delivery. I feel so bad on Friday, I called every salvage yard and GM dealer for a LT1 ECM and chip. I found a ECM at the dealer for $350 and NO chip was included. I decided to try it anyway, and it was not the ECM that was the problem. I did not charge Ales for that ECM, and the GM dealer will not take it back. So, now Saturday morning comes, and the UPS driver has never been to my shop on Saturday. He gets lost and almost seems like he does not want to find my shop. Well, he gets there about 1130am and I start driving the car about 1230pm.... I put 100 smooth miles on the car, and Ales confirms it is solid and will make it home.

He leaves for home and I get worried he has not called in 18 hours. We calulated 18 hours from Dallas, but it actually was about 23 hours for him driving. Ales had battery problems also in Mexico just across the border. What can you say about a battery that actually lasted 8 years. Wow, I hardly ever get 3 years out of the things.

So, this is my side of the story.

Loyde

[This message has been edited by FastFieros (edited 04-07-2005).]

And now the story with the so acclaimed pictures :

When we got to Archies shop, we did meet Dave and the famous GBCT, here you can see also the so asked curly pose:

Also, we got to meet Oreif the same day, what a great guy !!!, I regret not having a picture with you ...

Here you can see the 3 best surgeons with its patient:

And after all the pages in this thread, now is time to show the finished product "The Mexican LT1 Fiero" :

Believe me, in person looks 100% better than in pictures, and driving this car with an LT1 its a real breath taking experience ...

If you asked your self about who inspired the guys from American Choppers, just look at the next picture, they look so bad :

From left to right, The V8-Archie´s Team: Rob, Kris and Archie ...

And finally the car its ready to go ...

And finally whow could we leave Chicago without tasting the so famous stuffed pizza :

More to come tomorrow ...
Ales and Lulu

[This message has been edited by Ales (edited 04-08-2005).]

I didnt get any pictures of the mud bath. Feel free to post them.

Loyde

hmm. dont know where to start. I love this thread. Pretty funny if you ask me. First of all, Ales glad you made it home. One hell of a drive. Probably wasnt cheap with these lovely gas prices eh? Loyde good work. Archie well, Ill leave my comments to everyones imagination. Also I love your comments about V6's on the first page, Good stuff. I think I should send it to comedy central for hilarious quote of the year. Have a nice weekend.

FieroX - glad you pointed that out...

quote Originally posted by Archie: ...Whenever you're putting a SBC like this into a Fiero, you got more power than you can imagine. 5 or 10 HP either way is just not noticeable. ...The engine compartment on a SBC Fiero is a lot cooler than it is on a supercharged or Turbo'ed V-6.

Amen to both points. Even with my current overheating problems, my V8 kit has MUCH less heat coming up from the rear deck vents than my turbo'd 2.8 Mera. Well said.

Yeah my turbocharged setup makes some heat. Wont deny that. But when I can make 477 wheel hp on 93 octane pump gas, well, I guess those oil changes and cold air intake mods really add up huh? hahahaaha.

I love this thread and the engine too.

Hey Ales, do you have any experiences to share with us. What are the comments from the neighbors and friends? Are you the only person with a fiero in town or in Mexico with a LT1? Why did you pick yellow for the engine? Are you going to paint the car yellow?

[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 04-11-2005).]

Well.........any thing to report?

*bump* for the 2nd half of ales' travel

------------------

quote Originally posted by Oreif: Why call it a "nightmare"?

Hey Oreif,

You are right, but from the technical standpoint it was like a nightmare, it seems that all the stars got aligned to let me know that if something could happen to the car, it certanly would ...

On the other way, I think we got blessed by having such a great friends along this adventure that helped us all the way, and helped us to solve the problems encountered all the time, they always had a solution for every of the problems that we faced in this trip, and let me tell you that having this kind of problems in a foreign country with the pressure that you could loose your job, and also knowing that you started to run out of money, its not fun at all, and all this guys helped in the best way possible, I dont think that we could have gotten better help that the one we got from everybody (Richard May "3atsH0ndas", Loyde Rascoe "FastFieros" and Linglin, George Ryan "cadero2dmax", Archie, Rob White "fierosa" and Blake Moore "blakeinspace"), to all of this guys a BIG THANKS !!! ...

Sincerely ...
Ales & Lulu

Damn. That IS some nasty mud!

The tralier looks EASY to pull through there !!!

Try it with a engine hoist and an engine

ahhhh fun times !!!!

maybe Loyde should jack up his prices for a bit so he can get a thing called cement.

------------------

88 GT, 3800SC, Getrag 5sp., fastest one in Austin,Texas and surrounding areas.........so far

[This message has been edited by revin (edited 04-21-2005).]

EDIT- Right after I posted that, the pics started showing up. The car looks really nice Ales. I bet that the LT1 moves a lot faster than your old 2.8.

[This message has been edited by 88red4cyl (edited 04-21-2005).]

Bump. Because---good threads should never die.

Hey Ales, Anything new to report?

------------------

Archie's Choptop conversion #11, #15, Redux & The Stealth

quote Originally posted by madcurl: Bump. Because---good threads should never die. Hey Ales, Anything new to report?

Hey Ales, any good experiences? Please share.

I have something to add to this thread. It appears that everything that Ales has left has ended up at my house. I bought an '86 GT from another member on PFF. It had a bad engine well guess what came with the car. That's right the engine out of Ales' car. I also have the clutch and pressure plate that he used on his 4 speed prior to the LT1 swap and the knit hat that Ales left at my house.

Ales if you want the hat back I'll bring next summer when I come to visit. Although I think my head is bigger and it may not fit you anymore.

3atsH0ndas

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ales:

And now the story with the so acclaimed pictures :

When we got to Archies shop, we did meet Dave and the famous GBCT, here you can see also the so asked curly pose:

God, I love that car!