This is just an idea I had for a long wheel base Fiero. The photo of the Fiero is one that I found on this forum and then ran it through Photodeluxe for modifications. It's still a work in progress, but the extra length gives the Fiero a whole new look. Next I'll try curving the windshield, and the roof needs to be lowered at the rear to give a more tear drop look. Any thoughts?
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05:08 PM
PFF
System Bot
Amida Member
Posts: 2355 From: Seattle, WA. USA Registered: Jul 2003
This is another idea for the notchback. It's a 3" cradle shift with modified body line & curved windshield. The nose is actually a panel that I'm currently working at re-designing afterwhich I'll produce in fiberglass.
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05:23 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
You end up with the chassis geometry so changed that you have serious handling issues. The balance of the car is completely changed with increased rear end bias. Good for straight line but a problem for maneuvering. Just my .02
Its been done many times for kit cars, and twice that I can recall on fieros. Do a search for Bubba Joe (I believe), he stretched his car like that, dropped in a big motor, a porshe transaxle and a big rear end .
On this 2nd version the car has a wide track. The fenders are curved & widened w/ hot air opening at rear edge. Rear 1/4 glass reduced & notched like a GT.
On this 2nd version the car has a wide track. The fenders are curved & widened w/ hot air opening at rear edge. Rear 1/4 glass reduced & notched like a GT.
The very front looks nice with the nose slanting down more; I'd vote for keeping the lines the same between the front wheels and the windshield, though. Really like the ideas for the back (notchy too!). Don't stop now—this is neat!
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01:47 AM
Amida Member
Posts: 2355 From: Seattle, WA. USA Registered: Jul 2003
This is what I had in mind for the coupe from my previous drawing. It's a stock '85GT with some bodyline modifications. In addition the drivetrain/cradle is shifted 3" back and a new curved windshield is added. My design goal is to give it a slightly modified look while maintaining a stock factory appearance.
Personally I'd say the rear looks a little funny now.. maybe if you lengthened the rear bumper a few more inches it would look about right.. and you missed the tail lights :P.
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03:04 PM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
There is a factory prototype of a 4 seater. It was at the 20th Anniverary show. It was also silver. I would have bought one for sure. I dont have the pics anymore, but sure someone here has one.
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03:09 PM
Amida Member
Posts: 2355 From: Seattle, WA. USA Registered: Jul 2003
Personally I'd say the rear looks a little funny now.. maybe if you lengthened the rear bumper a few more inches it would look about right.. and you missed the tail lights :P.
It does look funny. This time I put the stock rear bumper pad back in the photo. Not bad.
The very front looks nice with the nose slanting down more; I'd vote for keeping the lines the same between the front wheels and the windshield, though. Really like the ideas for the back (notchy too!). Don't stop now—this is neat!
Continuing on the fastback I removed the hot air outlets behind the front wheels, and lowered the back of the roof for a more teardrop shape. Reshaped the rear QTR glass to more resemble the stock Fiero glass. Does this need a rear wing also?
[This message has been edited by Amida (edited 02-27-2006).]
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10:34 PM
Feb 28th, 2006
crzyone Member
Posts: 3571 From: Alberta, Canada Registered: Dec 2000
An aluminum 2.7L dohc engine and transmission out of an Dodge Intrepid would be cool in there, twin turbos. Its a longitudinal engine/trani combo which is also FWD, would fit perfectly. Would also be perfectly centered in the engine bay and wouldn't hurt the weight bias one bit.
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01:45 AM
86GT3.4DOHC Member
Posts: 10007 From: Marion Ohio Registered: Apr 2004
Unfortunately you would have the cronic tranny and engine mount problems found in the dodge applications, lol. As far as a stretched Fiero, I took this pic last summer of a stretched and slammed 88 GT
ugh I cant get it to upload, ill post it later
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01:56 AM
crzyone Member
Posts: 3571 From: Alberta, Canada Registered: Dec 2000
My intrepid has 130k miles on it, no trani or mount problems. My 3600lb intrepid used to wax my 2.8 fiero from a 40mph roll. The fiero being 1000lbs less would mean less stress on the transmission, until you turbocharge it.
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06:35 AM
PFF
System Bot
86GT3.4DOHC Member
Posts: 10007 From: Marion Ohio Registered: Apr 2004
Working at NTB I saw a lot of dodges longitudinal FWD cars, almost all of them with any miles on the had bad or loose engine and tranny mounts. I always thought the whole idea was kind of retarded, when you hit the gas, the engine torques to the side and the tranny torques to the front, throwing stress on the mounts from all angles. Nor could I ever figure out what advanatge this setup has. Seems to me it has even more power loss because the power has to change directions, a *90 gear angle takes more power to turn then a straight angle.
But anyway, heres the pic
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09:45 AM
crzyone Member
Posts: 3571 From: Alberta, Canada Registered: Dec 2000
Since the engine is directly bolted to the trani there is no twisting forces at all. The only forces are those applied from the trani to the axels, just like a fiero. Since it has equal length axels, there are even less forces being applied than in a fiero. You are correct about the parasitic loss though, you do loose some efficiency transfering the power 90*.
You only get twisting forces when you have a driveshaft. Some newer cars such as the corvette have a solid shaft around the driveshaft that is directly bolted to the motor and trani which is at the rear of the car. This neutralizes any twisting forces on the frame.
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09:59 AM
Amida Member
Posts: 2355 From: Seattle, WA. USA Registered: Jul 2003
A transverse drivetrain in a FWD layout? I wonder if a 3800sc could be mounted to this tranny. I have a stock '88 Formula that I'm thinking of modifying. l'll probably start with the stock wheel base ideas in the above image. Modified rear qtr panels, upper door panels, & front nose. Also, replace windshield with more rounded piece & shortened bonnet.
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01:03 PM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
I know someone has pics of the 4 seater factory car or at least Wallenburgs book to scan a pic from.....I know it was there because me n Lisa sat in the back seats at the 20th.
[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 02-28-2006).]
awesome photoshopping guys, i like the idea of the cadillac headlights and tail lights, got any front or rear photoshops of those? so far your designs look like a testarossa from the side, nice and sharp
Thanks. I'm still working on the XLR version; will post drawings when I have something. But I am working on a design buck for a new GTP replacement front fascia. It's similar to the one in this photo but without the Sunfire headlights and it's for the stock Fiero.