Okay, after a few half-hearted attempts to sell my Indy I've decided to not try to sell it.
So here we go with more stuff to work on.
I've decided to do a junk yard upgrade and replace the steering column with one from and 85. I had the traditional loose column, a bad wiper switch and a wonky turn signal switch. So in one fell swoop I fix all three problems, and I get pulse wipers as a bonus. By the way, this was an automatic column, but I won't miss that stupid little lever, it's not needed in my opinion.
One of the more clever things GM did is that the 85 - 88 pulse wipers use the same wiring as the regular wipers. So all you have to do is replace the switch and the motor and you have pulse wipers. One thing to note is that factory 84 pulse work on a completely different set of wiring, so can't easily upgrade from 84 pulse to 85-88 pulse.
The whole column swap only took an hour or so. And don't worry, I'll put the Indy steering wheel back on after I repair the leather.
My next project is the master cylinder. It's definitely leaking and needs to be replaced, (again).
Two weeks ago I came out of a store and looked at my Indy and said, "hmmm, I don't remember parking over a green puddle of water" Come to find out my hose from the front side of the motor to the coolant pipe sprung a leak.
I decided to replace all the hoses since they are probably all 25 years old. I''m also going to replace the thermostat, the thermostat housing, a crushed coolant pipe, the overflow container and the caps. I just got the box from the Fiero Store today. After having been towed home 80 miles I don't intend for that to happen again anytime soon.
[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 04-22-2008).]
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08:30 PM
Apr 23rd, 2008
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
all the new coolant components are ready to go on the car:
Finally got all this stuff installed...
Drove the Indy today for the Memorial Day Weekend Anniversary Drive.
And it got off to a rocky start getting the shift cable adjusted and I had the MAP sensor disconnected. But once I got all that squared away it's purring like a kitten. Still a page long list of issues, and it looks like something the cat would drag in, but it's getting better all the time.
Replaced the clutch master cylinder Passenger coolant tube Shift cable Thermostat housing overflow tank Radiator cap and of course the coolant
It always ran a little hot because that coolant tube was pinched. Here's a tip, if you see this:
Expect to see this:
Luckily the passenger side is easy to replace. Only had to remove the lower attachment on the shock to get it out.
Did a little clean up while I was replacing the cables and stuff
Let's see how these repairs hold up and then if it doesn't strand me on the side of the road or catch fire maybe I can start working on the cosmetic issues??
Well Jonathan...looks like you might have a tough decision on your hands come August. Which Fiero will you make the trip down here for Cruise Night in?lol.
Well Jonathan...looks like you might have a tough decision on your hands come August. Which Fiero will you make the trip down here for Cruise Night in?lol.
After the better part of a year with no running Fieros, I now have two. And as soon as I can install a few more things on the chop top and get it inspected I'll have all three.
I have some unfinished business driving the Indy back from Beaumont so it will be tempting?
Got my Inspection sticker and a rear end collision today!
First, it was such a blast getting my first post-emissions inspection. As I'm explaining the balky shifter cable, the inspector informs me that all he's going to do is, "pull it in the garage and put a sticker on it"
What a difference from the ASM nonsense that they put you through for cars less than 24 years old.
Now on the way home as I'm sitting at a light, I'm messing with the balky shifter trying to find first gear and suddenly the car lunges forward, and I'm like "WTF!?" Then I look in the mirror and realize that some guy in an explorer has just rear ended me.
We get out and I swear he is drunk as a skunk, or high or something. Well he didn't really hit me that hard, but he did knock something loose enough that I got a "check engine" light. But he didn't leave a mark and I was feeling generous and told him to be on his way.
After I got home I put a vacuum line back on and all is well.
But I'm legal for another year. Total mileage since last inspection in October 2007...729 Miles
Originally posted by jscott1: Now on the way home as I'm sitting at a light, I'm messing with the balky shifter trying to find first gear and suddenly the car lunges forward, and I'm like "WTF!?" Then I look in the mirror and realize that some guy in an explorer has just rear ended me.
We get out and I swear he is drunk as a skunk, or high or something. Well he didn't really hit me that hard, but he did knock something loose enough that I got a "check engine" light. But he didn't leave a mark and I was feeling generous and told him to be on his way.
Got my Inspection sticker and a rear end collision today!
First, it was such a blast getting my first post-emissions inspection. As I'm explaining the balky shifter cable, the inspector informs me that all he's going to do is, "pull it in the garage and put a sticker on it"
What a difference from the ASM nonsense that they put you through for cars less than 24 years old.
Now on the way home as I'm sitting at a light, I'm messing with the balky shifter trying to find first gear and suddenly the car lunges forward, and I'm like "WTF!?" Then I look in the mirror and realize that some guy in an explorer has just rear ended me.
We get out and I swear he is drunk as a skunk, or high or something. Well he didn't really hit me that hard, but he did knock something loose enough that I got a "check engine" light. But he didn't leave a mark and I was feeling generous and told him to be on his way.
After I got home I put a vacuum line back on and all is well.
But I'm legal for another year. Total mileage since last inspection in October 2007...729 Miles
Mine needs tags and inspection. I'm nor gonna get it done till March or April. I killed the insurance and parked it in my garage after the Lufkin Ruckus. Joe
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05:15 PM
Feb 18th, 2009
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
I probably would have except this was half-time for my Valentine's day weekend celebration. Standing on the side of the road waiting for the Po Po would have cut into my fun time.
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03:03 PM
blakeinspace Member
Posts: 5923 From: Fort Worth, Texas Registered: Dec 2001
I probably would have except this was half-time for my Valentine's day weekend celebration. Standing on the side of the road waiting for the Po Po would have cut into my fun time.
And I know how you are with the Po-Po
(I know, I know... I have NO room to talk.... er, type...)
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04:15 PM
Nov 7th, 2009
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Got my Inspection sticker and a rear end collision today!
Now on the way home as I'm sitting at a light, I'm messing with the balky shifter trying to find first gear and suddenly the car lunges forward, and I'm like "WTF!?" Then I look in the mirror and realize that some guy in an explorer has just rear ended me.
Okay I didn't get rear ended, but this car is either cursed or haunted.
Still trying to resolve the balky shifter. I still don't have the right parts to mate a muncie cable to tranny.
Anyway I'm getting tires, (not the right size because I can't stand those 14" wheels) and then out of nowhere the engine goes from purring like a kitten to running like crap and stalls.
It's the dreaded Code 42. So either my ignition module is going bad, or more likely I have a bad or loose ground somewhere as the problem mysteriously clears itself and the engine is purring again after it fires up. It only does this every so often so it's highly intermittent, which usually equals a loose wire somewhere. Now only to get enough daylight that I can look for it.
Number of mile driven since February? An OhioIndy-like ~200 miles.
