RiceCooker arrived with his Fiero today at about 9:30 AM & we went to work installing that ZZ4 you saw us pre-building on the last page of this thread.
What we're going to be doing is installing a carbed ZZ4 crate engine, with a Getrag 5 speed & our Big Brake kit. We're also installing Front & rear Sway Bars & poly bushing that he had ordered from the Fiero Store.
Here is where we were at 10:12 AM
This is the 2.8 that we are taking out. It has some oil leak problems yet it made the 1800 mile trip to our place in 3 days.
WE had to leave at 3:30 to take him to the airport. I returned to the shop after the guys had left for the day & they already had the new engine into the car for the Trial Fit.
Archie
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11:35 PM
Jul 19th, 2006
Archie Member
Posts: 9436 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 1999
I have this waiting for the Archie trany kit to be installed. I wanted to store it in our master bedroom to watch it closely but someone at home didn't allow it
Nice job cleaning the engine bay. That's gotta be the part you hate about these swaps, huh?
Actually, we like them when they're nasty.
The original engine in this car had been leaking oil to some degree for years. He drove it 1800 miles to get here, & the engine made it with just adding some oil along the way. When there's oil, grease & grime all over the engine cradle & engine compartment, then there is not going to be a lot of rust. We just powerwash it degrease it then powerwash it again & it turns out nice.
Although it's a nasty job to clean up all the oil, grease & grime, once it's clean it can be painted & looks nice.
Archie
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10:02 AM
RiceCooker Member
Posts: 1178 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: May 2000
Got about 20 test miles so far. Runs good no problems.
Right now Rob is buttoning it up wrapping up the wire looms, installing decklid & finished hood.
We have wheel alignment scheduled for tomorrow 11am.
We're working on etting the handbrake working. Got new cables coming tomorrow. With the lowering springs the original handbrake cables are too short, so we have a way to make the '88 cables work on the older cars. The '88 cables are a bit longer & work better with a car that's been lowered.
I'll post pics from today later tonight.
Archie
Did your handbrake work before?
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05:41 PM
RiceCooker Member
Posts: 1178 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: May 2000
How well was your V8 Solstice received at the Kansas show??
Everybody seemed to like it fine. I drove it over there & back & really enjoyed it.
There were about 100 Solsti there, which is a pretty good turnout for a 1st year show.
Pontiac brought 2 semi's full of Solstice show cars & sent over their Ride, Drive & handling engineer (who also owns a few Fieros).
Here's a couple of pics......
The show (not a judged show, just hang out type show) was at I70 speedway in Odessa MO & we got to run pace laps & laps at Slow, Medium & High speeds. I was in the Medium group & I hit 130 several times.
The two Pontiac trailers that came had Solstices painted on the sides ... like this.....
There was a flock of 'em at the Hotel & this is early in the day on Friday......
I can tell you that a LOT of the Solstice owners I talked to own or have owned Fieros & not a one of them had a bad thing to say about the Fieros they've had.
This show reminded me a lot of the 1st Fiero show I went to back in '88.
Archie
[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 07-26-2006).]
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11:57 PM
Jul 26th, 2006
Archie Member
Posts: 9436 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 1999
Very impressive Only 3 more sleeps! .....feels like christmas
Do you have any side pics of the finished car? I'm trying to plan my paint job when I get back and wouldn't mind photshopping a couple of different colors on the car Going to go with a newew darker silver...something between ferrari's titanium color and gunmetal grey........BMW had some great looking metallic silvers Also planning on sticking with black trim & mirrors
So who's/what's up next in the shop? Another chop? The perfect union? I sure wish I could have been chop #24 but perhaps sometime I can come back for a chop & 6 speed!
Also Archie I sent you an e-mail with some questions about the new motor bu already answered the "break-in" question with a little research
Thanks!
Todd
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11:27 PM
Aug 2nd, 2006
Gokart Mozart Member
Posts: 12143 From: Metro Detroit Registered: Mar 2003
Do you have any side pics of the finished car? I'm trying to plan my paint job when I get back and wouldn't mind photshopping a couple of different colors on the car Going to go with a newew darker silver...something between ferrari's titanium color and gunmetal grey........BMW had some great looking metallic silvers Also planning on sticking with black trim & mirrors
Also Archie I sent you an e-mail with some questions about the new motor bu already answered the "break-in" question with a little research
Thanks!
Todd
Sorry for the delay in answering EMail etc. I had a little medical work done & missed a couple of days.