I would appreciate help on the difference between the SE and GT models. Also is and 85 6 cylinder OK to buy? I recall the fire stories about the Fieros back in the day but not any specifics. TIA sparx22
The 85 SE came with the Duke and the V6 and bumper pads. The 85 GT came with with different moldings and bumpers.
I had an 85 GT for a couple of years and it was a good car, I miss it and wish I had never sold it. The Fiero fires were mostly due to people not taking car of them, low oil and it would throw a rod and spill oil on the hot exhaust. You shouldnt have any issues with that problem as the 84s have all been taken care of or have been removed from the road.
What is a "Duke"? I have been looking into another Fiero, an 85 GT with a messed up nose and some hood damage. How hard to locate a hood and front urathane component, and the costs? sparx22 http://img.photobucket.com/...sparx21/100_0140.jpg
The Duke is the fiero 2.5 engine overall a simple but decent engine but if you want power this is not for you. The 2.8 v6 was the only other option factory and it has more power than the 2.5 and is generally the more sought engine. The 2.8 is a little harder to work on but if you want the performance its the only way to go esp if its a manual transmission car as the v6 always had the better manual tranny. If the price is right its clean on rust and runs and handles on then there is no reason not to buy if you want it. The Body parts should be bad the hood is pretty universal and any GT bumper cover should fit. same with fenders if you need them. and no harder to change than the next car.
[This message has been edited by linuxpowered88 (edited 05-24-2008).]
I just talked to the owner of the silver 85 in the images above. He mentioned his brakes are not working very well reason for the fender bender. He says he has been adding brake fluid on a regular basis. I never had a car that consumed brake fluid, has to be a leak somewhere.
Appreciate the replies and info all. sparx
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07:18 PM
2farnorth Member
Posts: 3402 From: Leonard, Tx. USA Registered: Feb 2001
If he had to add brake fluid then it was leaking out somewhere. If it was leaking then he probably had air in the line. Not a good situation to be driving. Check the inside of each tire to see if there a stains on them. I f there are take that wheel off and replace that caliper or hose.... which ever is leaking, If not there, check where the brake pedal goes through the front fire wall and see if it is wet around it. If it is then the master cylinder is leaking. If not there then trace each brake line to each wheel. Have someone step on the brake while you are looking under the car and see where the fluid is dripping from. Don't drive the car until the brakes are fixed.
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11:40 PM
May 25th, 2008
Mister Member
Posts: 1975 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Aug 2004
If you are into Fieros, you might wanna do some reading and research before jumping into something you're not familiar with You could get a VERY good deal on a Fiero if you know what to look for and where. Unless you a comfortable with working on a 20 Y/O car and have the place and tools to do so, I would stay away from a car that has problems from the get go. You could find a nice Fiero from around $2000 and $6000-7000 can land you a clean - well taking care of car. I would highly recommend getting in touch with your local Fiero group / club and seeing a few of them B4 buying one.
What is a "Duke"? I have been looking into another Fiero, an 85 GT with a messed up nose and some hood damage. How hard to locate a hood and front urathane component, and the costs? sparx22 http://img.photobucket.com/...sparx21/100_0140.jpg
Can you take some pictures of under the hood? If the frame isn't bent then you can get away with a new bumper and hood but I bet there is some bent steel in that one. Rebuilding a damaged Fiero takes time and in the end you still own a 23 year old car that was in a wreck. There are better deals out there, don't fall for the first one. Jake
Thanks for the links and replies. I am at a 50/50 position of even going out and looking at the damaged car. I definitely don't want to deal with frame repairs, a concern I have had all along. sparx22
As with the sellers of any used car, you'll likely find with Fieros, sellers who are:
Well-intentioned and well-informed,
Well-intentioned but misinformed,
Not well-intentioned but well-informed, or
Not well-intentioned and not well-informed
Because one can't always divine the intentions of the potential seller, perhaps your best bet to protect yourself prior to the sale is to become more well-informed. One mechanism for doing that with Fieros is simply studying a publication like Enthusiasts Guide to the Pontiac Fiero (available through http://www.fierofocus.com ).
There are other publications of this type from which you likely would benefit, and members of this forum hopefully can pass along their names to you.
These publications will answer for you issues like the one you've raised:
quote
Originally posted by sparx22: I would appreciate help on the difference between the SE and GT models.
All GTs came with the 2.8L V6 engine. Some SE models also did, but others had the 2.5L 4-cylinder engine. Although the difference in these engines' displacements is almost trivial (a 0.3L difference between the 2.5L 4-cylinder and the 2.8L 6-cylinder), the differences in their horsepower ratings is not (92 to 96 HP for the 4-cylinder SEs, versus 135 or 140 HP at different RPM levels in the V6 SE models and in all the GTs).
Good luck with your Fiero search, and welcome to Pennock's Fiero Forum!
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01:39 PM
hyperv6 Member
Posts: 6133 From: Clinton, OH, USA Registered: Mar 2003
If you take the body off of a 1985 GT and a 1985 2M6 SE they would be mechanicaly identical.
The only differance is the standard options on sone interior items and body panels.
The 2M6 SE is also just a tick lighter.
I thought the GT V6 had different heads than the SE? Isnt the GT version the "H.O" (High Output) 2.8 Couldve sworn i saw a thread(or maybe a website?) showing the difference between the two engines. anybody know what im talking about? Am I on glue?
I thought the GT V6 had different heads than the SE? Isnt the GT version the "H.O" (High Output) 2.8 Couldve sworn i saw a thread(or maybe a website?) showing the difference between the two engines. anybody know what im talking about? Am I on glue?
No they both got the same engine. There were some slightly different power ratings between a couple of years (135 vs 140).
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11:02 PM
hyperv6 Member
Posts: 6133 From: Clinton, OH, USA Registered: Mar 2003
I thought the GT V6 had different heads than the SE? Isnt the GT version the "H.O" (High Output) 2.8 Couldve sworn i saw a thread(or maybe a website?) showing the difference between the two engines. anybody know what im talking about? Am I on glue?
The SE V6, Formula and GT all used the same engine. Over the years the hp rating was changed but it was just the rating and not the engine. Also in 1988 I thing they change brand of Injectors.
The HO was the Cam and bigger valve heads that were used. The same V6 HO parts were also used in the 6000 STE, Camaro, Eurosport, Citation X11 and a few other cars under different engine codes but nist used mass air computers and cast iron exhaust manifolds. The Fiero gain the extra power from the improved exhaust per the GM engineer interview I read a while back. Pontiac also modifed the intake to fit under the hood and used a closed loop computer. The Fiero was also the only one to get dressed up in Red parts. This was GM first real effort to dress up the engine along with the 1984 Vette.
Back in the 80's the closed loop Pontiac claimed had better drivability but when it came to making changes like the cold air intake or a cam they have little effect with out computer mods. Where the mass air system Chevy used was more responsive to changes as it measure the true air intake and metered the needed extra fuel required by the changes. The mass air is just better for people who want to add performance changes to their cars.
You may have read a thread somewhere about this but it may have just been misinformed just as a lot of threads are on the web about Fiero's are. Just like anything else just because it is on the web does not make it true.
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11:23 PM
May 26th, 2008
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
The Fiero gain the extra power from the improved exhaust per the GM engineer interview I read a while back. Pontiac also modifed the intake to fit under the hood and used a closed loop computer. The Fiero was also the only one to get dressed up in Red parts. This was GM first real effort to dress up the engine along with the 1984 Vette.
I know 140 hp doesn't sound like much today, but in 1984 the Trans Am could still be had with a carburetted 305 V8 that struggled to make 150 hp. The L44 in the Fiero was actually a nice motor for the time.
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12:32 PM
hyperv6 Member
Posts: 6133 From: Clinton, OH, USA Registered: Mar 2003
I know 140 hp doesn't sound like much today, but in 1984 the Trans Am could still be had with a carburetted 305 V8 that struggled to make 150 hp. The L44 in the Fiero was actually a nice motor for the time.
Hell 140 HP V6 was big power as the standard 2.8 that was 120 HP if I recall correctly.
The L44 was the best 2.8 made the only flaw was the lack of mass air system and we could have made much easier mods to the engine.
The F body Cross Fire system in 1984 was onl;y som,ewhere in the 170 HP range and it failed to work very well even new. When the Mustang hit something like 210 HP in 1985 or 86 that was big new since just 5 years before we were all told the V8 would be gone.
