The console skeleton design has got to be the single crappiest thing on a Fiero, but it must have seemed like a good idea at the time.

Case in point. You have to remove the entire skeleton to get the shifter assembly out. In addition to removing the center console and shifter surround, this involves having to remove the radio/hvac bezel, surround, radio, hvac etc. What a pain, especially the HVAC control for non-A/C cars!! (has 3 control cables) Sometimes you have to do the same when replacing a shifter cable, or at least have to lift the skeleton, which still requires removing the radio surround and at least loosening all the bolts so you don't crack/break something.

You have to dismantle all of that to change the throttle cable too! Done that as well. It would have been a big help if the skeleton was in 2 pieces and the radio/hvac controls were separate from that required to support the shift surround and center console. Then the radio/hvac would not need to be removed every time you need to work under the center console and shifter area.

Anyone else want to vent?

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3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner &
Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 10-10-2007).]

I would have yelled "eff it" and cut it apart and glued it back together once I'm done.

I cant say I've had to have skelly work, but you can tell I would have extremely little patience with it.

[This message has been edited by AP2k (edited 10-10-2007).]

fierosound,

Thanks for the insight. I am thinking of changing the shifter cables and also the shifter.

aconesa

Pontiac must have had some new young engineers doing "make work" at the time. Can't think of any other reason it would have been designed that way.

I cut mine the first time I took it out - been that way for 8 years now.

He[[, you don't need to cut it, it sort of falls apart if you try to remove it anyway. I wish there was some ingenious individual who would recreate that skeleton made some something better than plastic. I know I've used lots of JB Weld to glue pieces back together and recreate a place to redrill screw holes.

Yup, it's a real pleasure to work on isn't it?

Nolan

Yes its a pretty fragile piece to work with, last winter when I swapped out by trans from an Isuzu to a 4-speed, I had to change the shifter so I has to take the skeleton out, it had already been broken and glued together at the joint to the HVAC end, and basically it just broke apart again. So I reinforced the 2 legs either side of the shifter with aluminum angle from home depot, cut and shaped to fit the curves, then glued and riveted to the plastic, I then added a j-clip and bolt at the HVAC end to allow easy dismantling at a later date. It worked out to be pretty strong with better attachments for the shifter console, I should have taken pictures !!! worth a try if yours is falling apart.

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84SE, aero body, 4 speed and an injected 355 V8

When I got my fiero that was one of the first things I bought, was a perfect console skeleton for it. Then however I rebuilt the shifter and replaced the cables and did some other console work on the car. It was then that I realized that my skeleton which is broken in 20 pieces makes it much either to remove the shift assembly and I don't have to remove/unbolt all that other crap. Needless to say my good console is still sitting in the closet!

If there are any vendors out there listening i think this is something that every fiero on the planet could use. If somebody would make one from sheet aluminum or something i would buy one in a heartbeat.

Yeah, the first time I saw that plastic nightmare I just couldn't believe any engineer in his right mind made it as one piece, and better yet made it out of plastic. Shouldn't even have needed such a beast if raised mounting pads had been drilled here and there.

quote Originally posted by Zac88GT: If there are any vendors out there listening i think this is something that every fiero on the planet could use. If somebody would make one from sheet aluminum or something i would buy one in a heartbeat.

Make it 2 pieces please - a separate radio/HVAC section would make life easier.

I think the skeleton was designed by the folks that make JB Weld

sawzall works well, although messy.

quote Originally posted by fierosound: The console skeleton design has got to be the single crappiest thing on a Fiero, but it must have seemed like a good idea at the time. Case in point. You have to remove the entire skeleton to get the shifter assembly out. In addition to removing the center console and shifter surround, this involves having to remove the radio/hvac bezel, surround, radio, hvac etc. What a pain, especially the HVAC control for non-A/C cars!! (has 3 control cables) Sometimes you have to do the same when replacing a shifter cable, or at least have to lift the skeleton, which still requires removing the radio surround and at least loosening all the bolts so you don't crack/break something. You have to dismantle all of that to change the throttle cable too! Done that as well. It would have been a big help if the skeleton was in 2 pieces and the radio/hvac controls were separate from that required to support the shift surround and center console. Then the radio/hvac would not need to be removed every time you need to work under the center console and shifter area. Anyone else want to vent?

I feel your pain.
I recently removed a power mirror switch and wiring harness from my donor car. I had to completely move everything you mentioned as well as the entire dash and gauge cluster to get the wiring harness out. Needless to say when I went to install the switch into my GT I simply cut the switch off of the old harness and soldered it into the GT harness. The person that invented solder and heat shrink gets a gold star from me!!! There was no way I was going to rip everything out of my GT to get the wiring harness in there when the one presently in the car worked just fine!!!

[This message has been edited by NeoNot (edited 10-11-2007).]

When changing a Shift Cable in my 87'Fiero SE, I never had to take the Radio/AC/Heat Switchs out, you simply lift the main console, move the ECM aside, and then lift off the cover that goes over the shifter. It didnt seem that hard, and I have done it twice.

I agree that the skeleton is a really lousy idea, but the single crappiest thing ? That's a tough one - the gen 1 headlights, engine ground on the frame post, small gas tank would all come to mind. No ... wait .... I'll vote for the 2.8 engine as the single crappiest thing on the car (to include the #1 spark plug position, leaky distributor O-ring, and front exhaust manifold)


No .... wait .... how about the temp gauge ......


Wait ..... lousy gas gauge ........

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sun visors that won't stay up (?) ..................................................

[This message has been edited by PaulJK (edited 10-11-2007).]

I think some fat woman sat on my center console, cuz it's broke everywhere

when i went from a 4speed to 5 speed i just cut the skeleton in two...wasnt about to remove all that stuff

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Tony

86 gt 3.3 5 speed
Just plain fun...

Don't break it! When someone goes to buy the car, they'll surely ask what condition the console skeleton is in...

...in all honestly, GM probably never figured that you would need to change out the shifter/cables/etc - so there would be no need for you to have to remove the skeleton...of course no car company plans on a car to be around too long where the 'low maintenance' stuff will need to be changed...

...this is minor IMHO compare to some of the really stupid things I have seen from other manufacturers when it come to replacing something that should be simple like the heater core...

quote Originally posted by Mickey_Moose: ...in all honestly, GM probably never figured that you would need to change out the shifter/cables/etc - so there would be no need for you to have to remove the skeleton...of course no car company plans on a car to be around too long where the 'low maintenance' stuff will need to be changed... ...this is minor IMHO compare to some of the really stupid things I have seen from other manufacturers when it come to replacing something that should be simple like the heater core...

Definitely items they considered to last the "life of the vehicle" (under 10 years??) Just sensitive right now because of the grief getting the shifter fixed and I had just replaced the busted up skeleton 2 years ago.. A BIGGER annoyance is changing the oil filter on a Duke with automatic transmission, and that definitely requires more frequent access.