I read your PM and am very excited to see where this leads, I want to start producing new and alternative parts for fieros. It woudl be great to keep in contact and see what some of your ideas are and how we could incorporate them together. The contact info for the Kingdom Kustoms is very simple, if you go to their website: www.kingdomcustoms.com on the left you will see an order info tab, click on it and it opens a inquiry page, just fill it out, and send it. They were very quick in ther responce and have great products.
Alex
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04:27 PM
FieroGTRwideboby Member
Posts: 591 From: Socal (Pasadena) Registered: Jun 2004
Now I will discuss the build up of the motor and the swap: Engine modifications and Parts: 1998 Grand Prix GTP motor (30K before teardown and reman.) Forged pistons ZZP VS Cam ZZP Billet fuel logs ZZP 42.5 LB injectors ZZP Electric Water pump ZZP 160* drilled themostat ZZP SS intercooler kit ZZP High Velocity Throttle body (Stg2) ZZP Machined intake ZZP valve cover breather (lol) ZZP Modular Pulley System (2.8) WCF Ceramic Coated Headers WCF Oil Filter Aadapter WCF Throttle Bracket WCF Cold air intake (K&N) WCF High Flow fuel Pump (51psi/50gal) WCF Flywheel WCF High Performance Clutch(9 11/16") and disk (iron) MSD 10mm wire set Fast Fieros PCM with everything deleted PR Low Alt mount PR Filler neck PR poly motor and trans mounts DM adjustable poly dog-bone DM polished allum. thermostat cap/cover Flowmaster 80 series w/ 2.5" Custom idler pulley built that should be it of not, I'll remember later...
Alex Pictures to follow!
[This message has been edited by FieroGTRwideboby (edited 04-18-2006).]
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04:54 PM
FieroGTRwideboby Member
Posts: 591 From: Socal (Pasadena) Registered: Jun 2004
I know that electric waterpumps are common on SBC installs, but I don't recall seeing them used on a 3800 before. Is that a block-mounted unit or a remote one?
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10:50 AM
FieroGTRwideboby Member
Posts: 591 From: Socal (Pasadena) Registered: Jun 2004
What do you mean by block-mounted unit or a remote one. I mean It mounts directly to the stock location on the block, and with their harness ($15) all you do is plug it in. What I did was sent it to Loyde, so when he did the harness he incorporated it into it, now when the ignition is turned on the waterpump turns on, a type of insurance that it's running.
Alex
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03:58 PM
FieroGTRwideboby Member
Posts: 591 From: Socal (Pasadena) Registered: Jun 2004
Out with the old, it had approximatly 112000, it ran like a champ, but just did not match the looks of the new more modern fiero.
The tranny after new parts and paint:
Machined intake on block:
Finally started assembly on the motor:
Since the electric water pump was istalled inorder to keep more tension on the belt, we had to make a idler pulley mount to stretch that belt between the alternator: Shots of build up of idler...
After it was installed...
Alex
------------------ There's two types of cars in the world, Fieros and everything else.
What do you mean by block-mounted unit or a remote one. I mean It mounts directly to the stock location on the block, and with their harness ($15) all you do is plug it in. What I did was sent it to Loyde, so when he did the harness he incorporated it into it, now when the ignition is turned on the waterpump turns on, a type of insurance that it's running.
Alex - yes, that answers my question. On some SBC installs, people will use a remotely-mounted water pump (from what I've seen, the pump itself is generally located where the stock battery used to reside)... they then just plump coolant fittings/lines directly to the engine. It's a good space-saver for a tight install, but pretty spendy when compared to a normal electric pump.
I guess I just didn't even really think about the fact that they probably made them for 3800's too, as I don't recall seeing one before!
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04:48 PM
PFF
System Bot
FieroGTRwideboby Member
Posts: 591 From: Socal (Pasadena) Registered: Jun 2004
Here everything is ready to go back into the engine bay. I was amazed with the quality of Loyde's work, just flawless. WCF ceramic coated headers.
I have to give recognition to Fie Ro for the cool idea on the carbon fiber valve cover caps, but i made mine from alluminum. Here is everything in and ready for the first start up.
And after the final touches to finish it off:
The overflow tank was hidden in the left side of the truck behind the enclosures. the tank in the back is the Heartlandfieros.com vacume cannister with the engraved 3800 SC. A Fiero Store strut bar was also installed.
Alex, run this by me again... You made the plug on the car (wood, plaster, etc.) then made your fiberglass molds from that... cleaned off the car, made the parts and thats close to all she wrote for the body...? did you have anything between the panels and the wood / plaster ?
And if you did this again, what would you do diffrent if anything ? (as far as the plug, mold, etc is concerned)
~Tim Bonner
------------------
" Life is short, Live alittle and If you feel froggy, jump. "
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11:11 PM
Apr 22nd, 2006
FieroGTRwideboby Member
Posts: 591 From: Socal (Pasadena) Registered: Jun 2004
88GTFormula Let me get into more detail, sorry, I just speed through some things sometimes. Okay like you said, made a plug, from which we made the molds for the car. Once the molds were made the wood, plaster, styrofoam, old front fenders, ft bumper, rear bumper, and other original panels were removed so the new ones could be attached to factory stock locations. In this picture you can see when we began to lay the fibeglass on the plugs to make the molds of the rear quarters:
once the mold was made the plug materials were taken off and the mold was cleaned out and polished. Here is the part out of the mold not yet cleaned out of release (etc):
All the body panles are direct replacements for the originals, there is nothing under them from the plug, they are like the stock parts (not really hehe..) but fiberglass. Front bumper mold:
and part pulled from mold, but not sanded or cleaned yet:
The rear was made the same way. The rear bumper is a "direct replacement" with nothing used from the original bumper...mold with fiberglass layed to make actual rear bumper:
Hope that helps explain the process, if not ask again,
Alex
------------------ There's two types of cars in the world, Fieros and everything else.
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08:05 PM
CoolBlue87GT Member
Posts: 8463 From: Punta Gorda, Florida, USA Registered: Apr 2001
Good to see you Dave, sorry I could not bring the car, but I'll try to get it out to some shows asap. I guess I will continue with the build-up , now I think I have the suspesion left.
Alex
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02:36 PM
Apr 29th, 2006
FieroGTRwideboby Member
Posts: 591 From: Socal (Pasadena) Registered: Jun 2004
Thanks, the next question I would like to ask is, Should the wheels be powdercoated Black in the centers ?: I really like the look but am not sure. I want to keep the lip the same, just coat the centers. Here are a few of the same body color on the widebody, next to rim options,
These next ones are going to have the black centers with the lip same as the body color,
I want to hear some opinions and if someone could do a photoshop of the two for me that would be great. Pics for photoshop, whichever is easier to photoshop.
If some one could do a photshop of the two styles on my wheels it would probably make the decision easier.
edit: oops quoted the wrong person and the question was already answered
as for the wheel, i really dislike black wheels. just always been my thing, i'd vote no on painting the centres black.
it still amazes me how you made this thing, and yet it's really hard to tell what you actually did. perhaps because you remade every panel they fit so well together, but even with the widebody at first and even second glance you don't really realize that it's wider. it takes far more talent, in my mind, to create something heavily modified that looks stock than something that looks modified
[This message has been edited by fierce_gt (edited 04-30-2006).]
I'm just the other way around, I'm not a big fan of body color painted rims. I think black and black with polished lip looks good on some cars but not all.
Can't wait to see some photochops, I say either leave them as they are, chrome, or black center polished lip.
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02:09 PM
Fie Ro Member
Posts: 3735 From: Soest, The Netherlands Registered: Sep 2001
usually I am not a fan of colored wheels but these may look pretty good and matching with your widebody-cutouts !! ...painted pieces of the rim do make it look smaller and bulkier though....you'll want the painted part outwards as much as possible when theyre supposed to look big....anyway did I allready mention your Fiero looks great?
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02:20 PM
exoticse Member
Posts: 8654 From: Orlando, Fl Registered: Jun 2003
Madcurl, I see you are very observant, many people probably missed that part. Well since we added the widebody door panels, with the lambo doors, it was awkward guiding it up since there was no handle. If you look at the picture of the car, the most recent ones, you can see how the original door handle is located under the new door, and on the top we added a grab to give the person somewhere to grab and guide the door up. Some saw it at daytona. Lamborghini did this on the Diablo, so i figured if they did it it must be usefull and a good idea. Here is a Lamborghini door grab, and ours below.
Here's our version of it. hehe:
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04:39 PM
88White3.4GT Member
Posts: 1604 From: Hayward, CA Registered: Dec 2003
IMO I'd go with your first pic...the chrome lip and black center. That look will no doubt be around for a very long time and will quiet the car down some allowing viewers to take it all in and makes your Fiero look "serious and agressive."
The second pic are "over-done." First off, the rim spokes are too big for the car and the painted orange lip are too phat. I've seen better ones on a Lamborghini Murcieo'logo with the same color but her outer lip or edge was painted and not the entire 3-piece. The only good thing about the second ones is: "If your rims are stolen, you'll find them in no time."
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07:30 PM
FieroGTRwideboby Member
Posts: 591 From: Socal (Pasadena) Registered: Jun 2004
Madcurl, How about if the wheels I have are in that color scheme. Black multispoke Evos with Pearl orange lip. I actually wanted my rims to be colored. Anyway I still can't decide, I like both. I'll post some pics of the paintting process Exoticse.
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08:20 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Madcurl, How about if the wheels I have are in that color scheme. Black multispoke Evos with Pearl orange lip. I actually wanted my rims to be colored. Anyway I still can't decide, I like both. I'll post some pics of the paintting process Exoticse.
In order to see just what's out there, I'd pay a visit to Lambo-power site. As I mentioned, there is a Murcieologo (orange) w/massive rear Maya rollers and the center is painted black, lip is painted black, and the edge is painted orange. From what I've read, she recieves some negetive remarks from other lambo owners concerning them. There is also another Murc with black centered and blue phat lip'd rims. Maybe Tony could post a pic because I can't...I'm at work, hehe.
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08:31 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
@FieroGTRwideboby: Very beautifull work!!! Incredible! It help me to make the plunge into my own "simple" body mod project. I was a little bit afraid, but you're telling to every one with your Fiero that its possible with care, time and patience.
By the way, where did you bought or where can I find these "twin" round headlamp? I think these are very good looking replacement for the rectangular one on the Fiero. And are they a direct fit or need modification ?
Thanks...and Good work again!
[This message has been edited by perry rhodan (edited 04-30-2006).]
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09:27 PM
FieroGTRwideboby Member
Posts: 591 From: Socal (Pasadena) Registered: Jun 2004
Sorry I will interept the wheel input for 1 sec for the paint process which Exoticse requested. The unique charcteristics of a pearl paint job is where the "panel-off" paint job gets complicated, The painter Fransisco Vilalba of Ultimate Motors in Longwood, Florida, requested that most of the body be together, not bolted down, but parts nect to parts. The reasoning behind that is when spraying the pearl you don't want to have a variation between the pearl amount, for example between the hood, fenders and ft bumper. The panles that were on the car during the paint were ft and rr bumpers, doors, and rockers. The hood was in the front where it should be but lifted liek it was floating 2 inches above the fender level. The headlight doors were separate, the truncklid and sails, spoiler were also separate. The body panels were placed on the chasis but not bolted down during paint. After the car was primered twice and wetsanded Phase 1 was done:
Phase 2 Once taped off the car got 2 coats of the special sealer that gives the car a single color starting point and also covers up inperfections, if present:
Phase 3 Cuts were made to ensure paint gets everywhere jams, lips, under doors, etc:
Phase 4 The car gets the color finally. Fransisco sprayed 3 coats color everywhere:
Phase 5 The 2 coats pearl sprayed:
Phase 6 The car received 3 coats of clear to top it off and guarantee a deep shine. The mornig after being baked during the night.
Hope that gives you an idea of the process and time involved. I beleive it we started aroung 4pm masking off, then by 6pm we had it all masked and ready for sealer. By 8pm sealer was done and cuts ins were applied, 10pm color was sprayed 3 times, 12am pearl was almost done, 2 everything was sprayed (clear) and done, the paint job baked overnight.
The sail panels are from MsLoriFiero aka Lori A Casto, they have stuff in the mall for sale often, great panles and are actually curved like the stock windows.
Thanks and now back to our regular broadcast programing: wheels???
Thanks Alex
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09:42 PM
FieroGTRwideboby Member
Posts: 591 From: Socal (Pasadena) Registered: Jun 2004
Sorry to let you know we made those using the stock buckets, they were inspired by the ones that are available from Germany, but their price was what inspired me to make ours ourselves. You can also do this, its not that bad, just alot of trimming and fitting. They are the hella bulbs, modified stock bezels and heavily modified buckets.: Stock Bucket trimmed for Hella bulbs:
With stok bezel glassed in then cut out bulbs installed, note they must be adjustable for driving purposes:
Both done and shine:
Thanks Alex (Let me know if you are interested in a set, I can see if we could make some)
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10:00 PM
May 1st, 2006
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Thanks, the next question I would like to ask is, Should the wheels be powdercoated Black in the centers ?: I really like the look but am not sure. I want to keep the lip the same, just coat the centers. Alex
Example of a "Custom" rollers
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01:57 PM
FieroGTRwideboby Member
Posts: 591 From: Socal (Pasadena) Registered: Jun 2004