I have a question, how were you able to remove the fender without removing the ground effects? I have never been able to do that.
------------------ If you find my advice useful, then please give me a positive rating, thanks... 1988 GT (Firebird Interior),1988 Coupe (Daily Driver), 1985 SE (Project Car), 1985 Coupe (parts car), Firebird Interior Installation Website
2. use a large screwdriver to keep Ground Effect pulled down (like a retracter)
3. use small screwdriver (I used a torx) to pop out center part of plastic rivet thingie
4. use small flathead screwdriver to pop out rivet
5. wiggle turn,wiggle turn, wiggle the fender out.
This worked FINE with the forumula, but once, on the 85 GT, the fender I was replacing was in such bad shape, it just tore like a piece of soggy newspaper, using hardly any effort.
IP: Logged
09:29 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Well, just got home from work, and there was a message from the car shop asking me to meet them there.. I expected the worst.. something like "We couldn't get the hinges to fit, and we drilled the hell out of them...here ya go...
I was pleasantly surprised by what they had to show me...
Turns out the thing that irked them was the "wtf" thing I noticed when I went to take off the doors...for some reason, Pontiac decided to put one bolt the normal way (accessible from outside) and the other requiring you to take the frickin door skin off! Every other car I have seen had the bolts installed so you can remove the door... what a pita... :P
Anyway, I was very happy that they didn't have bad news..actually, they had good news - they had both hinges installed! all they need to do is to re-assemble one of the doors.
They bolted the top part of the hinge in, and welded the bottom. They used a spacer and welded that in on the bottom. I'll take a ton of pics when I get the car back...
I think that if you bought the Decah kit, are a good welder, and have three or four full days you should be able to do this yourself.
They had to file away a teeny bit of the door skin, and that'll get repainted.
It opens horizontally enough for you to get in and out of the car. So ya don't need to pop 'em up if ya don't want to. kindy cool, since I don't always wanna scream out "Look at my car!"
Hope you guys like it.
I feel a little bad that I wasn't able to do it myself,with the help of my friend or FieroObsessed (thanks again for your offer) but I couldn't wait three months till my vacation...
Can't wait to take some good quality "after" pics!
------------------
[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 03-09-2004).]
IP: Logged
08:18 PM
derangedsheep Member
Posts: 3089 From: Myerstown, PA Registered: Mar 2003
I think it'll end up being about 800-1000 bucks. They did a LOT of extra things I didn't think they were going to do, they painted the hinges, they soldered all the connectors instead of crimping them, and I'm having them re-tint the windows.
Should look great when they are done with it... :P
IP: Logged
08:46 PM
Matthian Member
Posts: 634 From: West Hempstead, NY, USA Registered: May 2003
M, that would be cool, or I could stop by your place, you were doing an engine swap, right?
Sure, id love to have you out and show you all my projects! Not to mention the doors
Im picking up another one this saturday (makes it fiero number 5)
The new one is a red 86 SE V6 4 speed, fully loaded with the performance sound. runs GREAT, interior is pretty good, not amazing but decent for a fiero, torn driver seat of course. Has a salvage title, and the body is bad. New calipers, rotors, and P-Brake cables. Rust free. Bout 140k miles Owner called me today in class and asked if i wanted to buy it for $500. I got it for $350
I also got two others besides this one since the last meeting.
Black 87 coupe, with a good body. 4cyl auto with no options cept AC, 147k miles. Clean title, runs, but rough got it for $300
And a red 85 SE V6 4 speed, sunroof, pw, rear defrost. Interior is trashed (mice made a nest behind the shifter) The thing is.. it has 31k original miles... and i got it for just $250
Sorry to hijack the thread
But yeah, im free this weekend any day cept saturday morning if you want to do something
It's EASIER! Well, in theory, anyway... It appears that you can open the door enough to get out and not have to flip them up(but maybe that's cuz I'm used to getting out of the car while being squished in a garage...
I'll do little videos of getting in and out, from the side and the rear views...
-FR
IP: Logged
12:01 AM
PFF
System Bot
NotAFieroAnyLonger Member
Posts: 4413 From: 75762/Texas/USA Registered: Dec 2003
Rumor: If you start having problems like metal frame or hinge fatigue etc post it. It would be cool to see if this mod doesnt have any side effects or issues that pop up down the road. I dont hink it will but only time can tell. Your car would draw a crowd at one of the import car show gatherings here on veterans memorial dr. held on Sat's. Ive ssen some badass cars there
If the doors open horizontally and vertically what stops them from falling over when they are in the up position??? Would the wind blow them over or do they lock somehow so they don't fall over???
I've been thinking about them for my Dodge Stealth R/T
There are two small pistons that help keep it up (see page one). They also make the door feel like 1 lb. (instead of 85) when you pull 'em up or down.
BTW, I have this great hinge set that allows you to open your car door OUTWARDS! I'll let them go for only $800! (or 400 per side, if you buy them both) For a limited time..act now!
[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 03-10-2004).]
It's EASIER! Well, in theory, anyway... It appears that you can open the door enough to get out and not have to flip them up(but maybe that's cuz I'm used to getting out of the car while being squished in a garage...
I'll do little videos of getting in and out, from the side and the rear views...
-FR
Let me be the first to say....congradulations to the shop that got the VDC on for you. Otherwise your gluteous max was on the line here. I really didn't want you messing them up, not saying that......"you don't have the skills" but the chances of doing it by yourself increases. I read your recent write-up but I'm missing a few unanswered question.
Questions: Did the shop have to "bend" the part as was previously mentioned? If the door swings outward, was that the "original" Decah part or a modified one that the shop created? There is a pic of a very big guy on my thread that shows him standing "sides ways," is there more sideway room on yours comparred to the pic on mine? Why would the shop need to Weld one portion onto the car vs. bolting it on? If you paid the shop $400 per door, isn't that more than Car Excess original price of $1899?
Bwy, this is not to "inflame" FieroRumor or others who read "his" thread. madcurl
------------------
IP: Logged
12:55 PM
NotAFieroAnyLonger Member
Posts: 4413 From: 75762/Texas/USA Registered: Dec 2003
They had to file away a teeny bit of the door skin, and that'll get repainted.
I look's here in this picture that once you get the doorpanel inside on it i going to be reallllllly close to hitting... Tell me I am wrong please.. Have you tried it with the doorpanel already..??
I'll be back with more question's and comment's later...
Again, Congrat's on being #2(here on PFF) with these door's on your Fiero... I just cant stop looking at this thread pic's!! The first pic here is my new decktop..
Did the shop have to "bend" the part as was previously mentioned?
-No, They used a half inch piece of steel, and welded that to the bottom part. (I was going to bolt it on using a shim with holes drilled through it)
If the door swings outward, was that the "original" Decah part or a modified one that the shop created?
-It looks completely stock, I'll let youknow on Thursday, after I pick up the car.
There is a pic of a very big guy on my thread that shows him standing "sides ways," is there more sideway room on yours comparred to the pic on mine?
-Can you post that pic in here?(or a link to it? sorry, REally busy today dealing with customer's laptops that have tons of nasty virii on them)
Why would the shop need to Weld one portion onto the car vs. bolting it on? - That's they way they chose to do it. They don't like things getting loose, and I already said I'd rather have it be permanent
If you paid the shop $400 per door, isn't that more than Car Excess original price of $1899? -Possibly, but less then the cost and time to ship the car down to FL. Wasn't the $1899 for JUST the kit(Installation extra)?
Bwy, this is not to "inflame" FieroRumor or others who read "his" thread.
-Thanks for putting that in. I didn't think you were, but it's nice of you to include that.
What I did was wrote down a list of the method I wanted them to install the doors.
First, remove door, then put the door back onto the car. use a transparent sheet (with the hinge traced) against the frame, and mark the holes. Then put the transparent sheet over the hinge, and match it up, drill holes after making sure the door hinge will clear the top rear part of the fenders. Then, match the hinge up on the door, and measure where it should sit, "width-wise" on the closed door, so the doors are flush with the rest of the car. (remembering to keep in mind that this may sag a bit once it is installed) For the bottom part, either bend the piece, or drill holes through a block of steel, and use it as a "spacer" (shim, whatever...)
It wasn't as lengthy as that, but that's basically what i said.
I don't know if it's clear in those pics, but they open outward then up, and end up looking angular, outward, which is what I wanted. the other "lambo doors" other then decah, just look too "pinched inward", if you get my meaning.
Would I have been able to do this, yeah, but not in two days, and probably not as good. My friend could have done the welding, but his shop is in a bad area, and i"d rather not have my car there for longer then a day or two.
The one thing i wonder is, why did Pontiac decide to do the bolts that way on the doors?
"I look's here in this picture that once you get the doorpanel inside on it i going to be reallllllly close to hitting... Tell me I am wrong please.. Have you tried it with the doorpanel already..??"
It fits like a glove. EDIT: *looks at the pic again* It's the ANGLE that pic was taken. There's more room then it appears...
Actually, the OUTER panel had to be sanded down SLIGHTLY to make it fit. (I'm talking like less then an eighth of an inch.)
Madcurl, have you had a chance to play with your car yet? Or, do you not see it till Daytona?
[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 03-10-2004).]
IP: Logged
01:39 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
But that's $400 per door INSTALLED. So I think it's still a good deal. Looking Good
Time to seriously add this to my shopping list.
------------------ If you find my advice useful, then please give me a positive rating, thanks... 1988 GT (Firebird Interior),1988 Coupe (Daily Driver), 1985 SE (Project Car), 1985 Coupe (parts car), Firebird Interior Installation Website
IP: Logged
01:40 PM
88Fiero4Mula Member
Posts: 96 From: Lincoln, Nebraska Registered: Jan 2004
This is the side pic of the big guy next to my car. Question $400 per door bucks + $1299 (Decah) to install thats $2099 total. Car Excess $1899...and owner install with or without skills on weekend and w/o a headache.
The cost of Car Excess doing my VDC? $1800 installed. Why? I was the first and "they' needed a mock-up for specs and proper fit to ship out to all Fiero owners. However the original thread https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/035598.html .....the response was some what null or dead. No body was willing to drop off their car or maybe noone read the thread, so I really didn't have a choice. My cost for traveling there. plane ticket $240 round trip, motel $45, and food maybe $30. Helping all Fiero owners who may want it and leaving it there in FL another (2) months so that others can see it in Daytona........priceless.
Byw, Fierorumor, get that bad sucker down to Florida
------------------
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 03-10-2004).]
Madcurl, your car is just completely BADASS. Those hood and trunk vents/scoops are so awsome! I don't know if I'll have a chance to go down to FL, but I'll check tonight when I get home... :P
Looking at those pics , it appears that my doors open about as much as yours do. HArd to tell, I got home from work, heard the message to come over, RUSHED like a maniac to get to their shop, then looked at the car for a minute. :P
Just so ya know, it will take a weekend to install the hinges, even if they ARE custom modded. And you need to remove the door skins or inner door skins to get at the hinge bolts. (good time to replave those dewstrips!).
When I tested them out, the doors closed flush. I don't think they had to touch the locking mechanisms at all.
IP: Logged
04:37 PM
Scott-Wa Member
Posts: 5392 From: Tacoma, WA, USA Registered: Mar 2002
That is just about the ultimate mod... I sooooooo want to do that to my white 88 formula once the 3800 series 2 is in it. I figure I should get my car running before I pull the doors off.... then again... might make it easier to complete some of the other mods to the interior having the doors out of the way.
Just came back from picking up the car... The hinges came out very nice. I hafta clean up a few spots, and do a few minor things, but they look pretty good. The digicamera made the silicon sealent look extra shiny, it doesn't really look like that in RL.
So, Here's what a non-chopped notchback Fiero Formula looks like with Lambo doors:
FINALLY, a shot to show you that there IS enough room to get in.
I have to say, having these brings a LOT of attention to you. When the car was parked outside the shop, and I was testing the doors out, there were a few people that almost got into accidents because they were staring at the doors. when I went to take pics near a lake near my house, a lot of people were pointing. When I took a few final pics near my house, a guy pulled up in a truck and said "aaaaaay! That's awsome!" and then spoke with me about the doors, about the Fiero, he had a buddy in CA that dropped a V8 in one once...etc..He said, "man, that car is sharp, but having the doors like that makes it totally *" *he made some funny sound effects like "Zaaam-zooom-flaaaa!"
One thing - when opening the door from the outside, it's a dream. when opening it from sitting down, it's not as easy. :P if ya grab it right, it's no biggie though. and ya don't need to flip 'em up to get in and out, when they are up, it is very easy to get in, you just walk up to it. pretty neat. I'll do some videos this weekend...
And I need to get a nice shot with the hood lowered down to a smaller angle to match the doors... that should look cool.
-FR
[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 03-11-2004).]
IP: Logged
06:54 PM
ltlfrari Member
Posts: 5356 From: Wake Forest,NC,USA Registered: Jan 2002
FieroRumor that is one cool car everybody can only dream about owning a car like that. very sharp looking I hope to see it some day. keep up the nice work. Bob
