Hey fellow fiero fans, Im looking at buying a pretty sweet 87 SE, but its been sitting for 6 months in a dudes driveway. I'm thinking it could probably be started if I added some fuel stabilizer, inflate the tires, check the oil, and coolant before startup. What do you guys think?
-Grnmonkey
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10:35 AM
PFF
System Bot
Wichita Member
Posts: 20696 From: Wichita, Kansas Registered: Jun 2002
definately it should be able to. My 86 GT had sat for 2 years when i then replaced the timing chain and charged the battery and all the good stuff( oil, gas, coolant she started right up.
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11:08 AM
Glhboy Member
Posts: 607 From: Indianapolis, IN Registered: Apr 2002
I had one that I bought from a abandoned auto auction in indy. It had sat for about 4 years because it was wrecked. Payed $121 with taxes, title transfer,and price of car. Towed it home threw a battery in it and she fired right up after a minute of cranking. The exhaust was the worst smell ever. no fuel stabolizer or nothing done. It ran rough but it smoothed out. That car will be used for the "VERT" project. Very little rust
haha, no seriously, I will be driving up with my girlfriend, and then we will caravaan back together, so if the fiero does start to give me problems, I won't have to walk to the next gas station or anything.
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11:30 AM
Wichita Member
Posts: 20696 From: Wichita, Kansas Registered: Jun 2002
Well, here's the deal: I'll be starting it up, and then driving it 200 miles back to my house. Additional suggestions guys?
-Grnmonkey
When you do start it, wait a while when it is idling to see if tt's going to overheat. If it doesn't overheat, I say you are good to go. It's worth the shot! Drive the 200 miles. Take a chance! Shoot! You will own a Fiero now and then get addicted to the Fiero Forum like the rest of us.
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11:31 AM
YELLOWFIERO88 Member
Posts: 1329 From: Cincinnati, Ohio Registered: Nov 2004
Only 6 months is really not that long. The fuel stabalizer will not work since the car is already been sitting. I would instead use some octaine booster. Good luck with the trip and don't let your girlfriend drive the car. She might not give it back Thanks.
She won't drive it. She knows how much I like fieros,and how much I would freak out if she wrecked it. She does know how to drive a standard though, which I find pretty hot.
Thanks for the suggestions guys.
-Grnmonkey
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11:39 AM
Fierochic88 Member
Posts: 4985 From: Staunton, VA Registered: May 2001
Hehe. We towed home a free 87GT that hadn't been run in over nine years! Put in a battery and tightened the alt. belt - it started right up! Ran pretty well too!
Six months? No problem. Just take a couple of gallons of super and throw it in the tank with some injector cleaner, then when you get to a gas station top it off. Be sure to check the oil before starting the car, and make sure the cooling system didn't freeze and pop the radiator over the winter. Brakes will be fine after a few good stops to rub any rust off.
Take a fresh battery with you, if the one in the car got low over the winter it'll be dead by now.
JazzMan
[This message has been edited by JazzMan (edited 03-16-2005).]
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08:12 PM
FieroHarry Member
Posts: 1809 From: Virginia Beach VA Registered: Apr 2001
My fiero sits just about six months every year. starts right up everytime.... Other than I seem to need a new battery every year
Put a trickle charger on that battery and it'll last for years. The biggest killer of batteries is being discharged below 10-11 volts. One deep discharge is usually enough to outright kill a modern battery.
JazzMan
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09:44 PM
fierosa Member
Posts: 135 From: Atascosa, TX USA Registered: Jul 2001
And...of course, ensure you drive home "gently". Get to know the car and vice versa....thats right....they all have personalities! Listen for anything out of the ordinary....pay particular attention to warning signs....you know the ones.....be pro-active....watch the guages.
Last but not least....ensure you let the computer "learn" again once restarted. It will take 5 to 10 minutes for it to gather the info from the computer and adjust accordingly.
Check and re-check those fluids about at the halfway point! OK....I dont wanna hear about you burnin yourself with the coolant, just ensure there is enough in the overflow tank!
Good luck!
Rob
------------------ Rob White, Atascosa Texas
The Pontiac Fiero, Americas Go-Cart for Grownups....
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10:04 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Yeah 6 months is nothing. My good cars sit for 6 months in the garage between outings. The batteries usually need to be topped off but other than that no problem.
If you're going to drive 200 miles, I'd take it to a Quick Oil change place and have them change the oil, top off any fluids, maybe replace the air cleaner. With a car that's been sitting around, who knows how long ago they changed the oil. Got AAA or know someone who does? Might be nice to have the card along just in case. It might even be a good idea to take some plugs with you to replace the old ones before taking off, in addition to putting in a bottle of dry gas. If anything, doing these things will let your "new" Fiero know that it's going to a good home, and might take the edge off worrying if it's going to make it all the way.
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10:16 PM
freshfiero Member
Posts: 1150 From: jackson, Mi USA Registered: Nov 2003
Mine has been sitting since august, thats 7 months. I intend on buying a battery and firing that badboy up tomarrow. Then try to get heater core changed out thats why she's been sitting -gary-
Mine has been sitting since august, thats 7 months. I intend on buying a battery and firing that badboy up tomarrow. Then try to get heater core changed out thats why she's been sitting -gary-
Be gentle with the accels and high rpm stuff until you get it home. A friend of mine shipped his XJ 6 Jaguar home from Saudi Arabia and his teenage son went to Houston to pick it up. It had'nt been run in several weeks. Shorten story. Expensive block and crankshaft ruined.
I just found out that the fiero has a cracked engine strut. Does this rule out driving it home? I know the fiero store has a 84-88 4CYL ULTIMATE DOG BONE for $50, but I don't know how hard it is to install. Is this something I could do before I drive it home? I'll probably have to tow it home, but I'd rather not. What do you guys think?
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06:55 PM
bigjoe25 Member
Posts: 266 From: cincinnati, oh Registered: Jan 2005
I once drove a a dodge daytona with a bad wheel bearing and a broken motor mount. I made it out alive BUT I wouldn't recomend it.
How much are you going to pay for this fiero? If it isnt DIRT CHEAP I would pass on it, and wait a bit to find a better one thats closer. I had a chance to buy a pristen exterior and interior 87 GT fast back, but the engine was questionable. I ended up buying a 87 4banger notch with crapy exterior. I think I made the right choice, though I didnt plan on sticking with either engine.
Its got a beautiful exterior, and interior. Under 100K on the engine, a new starter, and alternator, and new exhaust. The problems are the heater coil has been disconnected-probably broken, and of course the cracked engine strut. She wants $1K for it. What do you guys think?
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07:10 PM
1986 Fiero GT Member
Posts: 3383 From: Eden, NY USA Registered: Mar 2005
Two minutes to replace the dogbone... Two bolts and she slides right out, toss the new one in and you're good to go
I say go for it, I mean you can only find so many Fieros in that good a condition, and that's actually pretty close to home... I almost bought an 87 GT from Florida to drive back to WNY, lol
[This message has been edited by 1986 Fiero GT (edited 03-17-2005).]
Awesome! Thanks 1986 Fiero GT! I'm going for it. Now to order it online...
Do replace the dog bone....cheap, easy, and will lessen the strain on the lower mounts. Just be sure to check for fuel leaks.....there have been a couple of Fieros go up in flames since they were built
Sounds like a fun little adventure.....
I bought my 86 GT sight unseen on eBay, and drove it from Los Angeles back to El Paso, about 800 miles without a hitch. Of course it hadn't been sitting, but I think you will see any obvious problems right off the bat.
Let it run for a half hour or so and check for the usual stuff.....leaks, smoke, etc that could point to any potential problems.
Oh....and welcome to the Fiero family. Post some pics of your new ride when you get a chance.
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08:13 PM
RacinRob Member
Posts: 1288 From: Eau Claire, WI Registered: Mar 2001
You might want to bring a racheting tie down if you are going to replace the dog bone. I tried pulling the engine back to get the hole lined up and I was coming up about 1/8 inch short. Hooked the tie down to the engine and the the deck lid hook in the trunk and had it done in like 10 secs.
Hey guys, I'm going to pick up the fiero tomorrow The only questions I have are, does anyone know the torque specifications on the nut/bolt assembly that holds the dog bone (torque reaction strut) in place? And, what size is the nut and the bolt? I can't seem to find these answers in my repair manual. Thanks again guys.
Chris
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11:45 AM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
I wouldnt worry about fixing the dogbone just to get it home. If it seems to run ok, just change the oil first and fill up with fresh gas. Wouldnt hurt to put a can of fuel system cleaner in it either. Take it ez accellerating and keep it at or below the speed limit. Hot rodding an engine thats sat is usually a bad thing. You should be fine. Take along a little tool kit just in case. Make sure you have a spare tire and jack or at least a can of fix a flat (not recommended) in case the tires have any dry rot.
Hey guys, I'm going to pick up the fiero tomorrow The only questions I have are, does anyone know the torque specifications on the nut/bolt assembly that holds the dog bone (torque reaction strut) in place? And, what size is the nut and the bolt? I can't seem to find these answers in my repair manual. Thanks again guys.
Chris
Both nut and bolt head are 15mm, but you're taking a full tool set just in case, right? Get a spare module for the trip, too, make sure it comes with the dab of heat sink grease. To change the module you'll need a 5.5mm nutdriver for both the module screws and the cap screws. Also take a few quarts of oil and check it before starting the trip and after a few miles incase there's a bad, bad oil leak.
Torque specifications for the torque strut? LOL! Both ends of the strut bushing have a metal sleeve inside so just tighten the bolts reasonably tight. If I recall correctly, at least one or both nuts are deformed-thread locknuts.
You might want to bring a racheting tie down if you are going to replace the dog bone. I tried pulling the engine back to get the hole lined up and I was coming up about 1/8 inch short. Hooked the tie down to the engine and the the deck lid hook in the trunk and had it done in like 10 secs.
That's really weird... I have seen that many times on GM FWD cars like 3.1 etc where you have to rock the engine back and forth.
But on both my Fieros, when you take the dogbone out nothing moves.
Put the dogbone into place and slide the bolts through.
That's really weird... I have seen that many times on GM FWD cars like 3.1 etc where you have to rock the engine back and forth.
But on both my Fieros, when you take the dogbone out nothing moves.
Put the dogbone into place and slide the bolts through.
If the forward transmission mount is bad, and it frequently is, then the engine will be rotated forward enough to keep the dogbone mount holes from lining up. However, no comealong really needed, just install one bolt and nut, have the other ready at the hole, with the tranny in reverse (stick) or park (auto) and parking brake off, rock the car forward and backwards to move the motor. The bolt will slide right in when the holes align.
