Put the 88 2.5 Duke back together with new lifters, pushrods, also a ported/polished/rebuilt head w/new springs & valves. Got it all back together and it fired right up and ran! Unfortunately it's still making the same awful noise that I thought was due to bent pushrods. Guess something in the bottom end is on it's way out....dammit. I really don't want to..... a.) tear the motor down. b.) put anymore money into the damn thing. So I think I might sell it while it's still drivable.
While I'm still waiting for my fuel pump to come back from walbro--- hopefully defective so I can get a new one from them, I installed my 3 core aluminum radiator. It's a champion radiator and it fits very snug. As mentioned in some other post, the only thing I had to was trim the rubber cushin holders to accomodate the thinker core and trim the filler neck area of the shroud bracket. Very smooth and it looks great! Just need a fuel pump so I can go around the neighborhood and see how it works out.
I'm still trying to get a stud into the wing stantion. It came loose, so the wing was loose. Trying Liquid nails to hold the replacement stud into the hole.
A while back I made a "arm rest" pad to place on the console - I made a fiberglass shell and covered it with head liner material.
I made it because I was tired of throwing a towel on the console to keep my forearm from burning to a cinder during these hot days of summer here in El Paso. The first one I made, I used some leftover black headliner material from my V8 Coupe rehab. The black looked OK in my Formula with tan interior.
The black arm rest migrated to the XTC so I decided last night to build a new one for the Formula - I had about a yard of brown/tan headliner material and plenty of fiberglass supplies so I went to work. I made 2 becuase I had the material and supplies and this afternoon, I covered them.
The only thing I do not like is that the headliner material had some creases in it and even though I tried to pull the material tight to pull the creases out, they are still visible. I'm going to try a hair dryer on them to see if I can get the creases out. Here's one installed in the Formula.
Before:
After:
If I can get the creases out of the second one, I will give it to my buddy Rick for his Mera. I have to make 4 in grey or charcoal for the rest of the El Paso Fiero's! I have about 1.5 hours in each and about 10 bucks in material for each. They make a big difference when you climb in a car that has been sitting in 100* heat all day. Plus they are nice on a long drive - keeps you from sticking to the console.
Pat
[This message has been edited by katatak (edited 07-08-2010).]
Found the source of my unusual noise and handling, both the upper control arm mounts have broken on the 84 Did some work to the RX-7 instead. might be parting the Fiero out, might not...
After reading a while back on how the air traps in the nose at high speeds and , though I've haven't been there, the fact the head light door slamming upward... I decided to make up a way for the air to escape. Found some louvers at home depot that were long but I cut them to fit. Dremelled some rectangles out just below the headlights in the cars steel followed by priming and painting the louvers before I put them in. Turned out good .....and I was also thinking that after my aluminum radiator install this too could be a way of cooling... meaning that hot air getting out. The louvers are 5 inches x 3.5 inches.
[This message has been edited by unboundmo (edited 07-09-2010).]
Tanks out if you didn't know. Fixed my sender unit so no more 1/4 tank empty reading. I'm reading 3.1 ohms empty and 97.1 full.
I also been chopping up a second front bumper. I'm doing a chin spoiler with the flipped upside down look. It's now all cut, filed and lightly sanded. Great start for now. I always hated how the front bumper goes in the upward direction from the front wheels . This will add a new style and around 3 inches. It tappers around to the sides to 1 3/4 inches... Best thing about it. I got the spare bumper at the local pick a part for 32 bucks.
Put rear Grand Am brakes on today, this finishes off the complete grand am swap. Still need to adjust one of the brake lines as I feel it's to close to the tire (about a fingers width away). Also tried readjusting the starter as it sounds like it's slipping or catching...something it made some weird noises.
Pulled the sail panels, sanded, prepped, primed and painted sail panels, exposed unibody, drilled engine vent grill rivets, painted both parts of grills, same treatment to the inner plastic surrounding the rear window, and am currently waiting patiently for everything to be dry to put it all back together.
I installed a vented hood that I've been working on all week. Tested drove the car at very high speed and it worked excellent. I strongly recommend this alteration. Only thing, while testing it out at twice the legal limit, one of my side "turbo" quarter window scoops blew off !!! NOT PART OF THE PLAN ! I have yet to find it. Thats the Pontiac Fiero for ya....always keeping you busy...but I love the car...definately.
I guess it wasn't really today but within the last 2 weeks I reupholstered and fixed the lumbar seats in the 88. Thursday night I replaced the clutch in my 87GT.
replaced my exhaust gaskets and this time used some copper sealer too. Hope they'll last longer this time. Also ran the wiring needed for my new headlights so I don't burn up my wiring harness or switch on my Minnesota run. I'll be the white glow you see coming in.
Yesterday I mounted the chin spoiler on for fit. I like it. Couple more tweeks and I'll sand it all down, fix old license plate holes and scrapes before the paint... I was thinking to go with the stock maroon color for this. Some of my friends have gone with black for a colored car... What do you guys think?
Yesterday I mounted the chin spoiler on for fit. I like it. Couple more tweeks and I'll sand it all down, fix old license plate holes and scrapes before the paint... I was thinking to go with the stock maroon color for this. Some of my friends have gone with black for a colored car... What do you guys think?
On your car, match it to the rest of the paint otherwise it will look out of place. Pictures please
Okay.. here's a couple pictures of the things that I've been doing
with Photoshopped color - I'm hoping that as it relaxes with the upside down bends that it fit the lines better.. plus when it is actually painted that it'll help too with shadows and stuff
the radiator
and the louver idea
[This message has been edited by unboundmo (edited 07-12-2010).]
I started wiring up the fog lights today. Too stinking hot though today. Got the wires ran through into headlight bay and got it grounded before I quit for the night. I think I am just going to wire them into my parking light circuit instead of having an out of place switch in the car that does not match the rest.
Originally posted by donnie072003: I think I am just going to wire them into my parking light circuit instead of having an out of place switch in the car that does not match the rest.
That's what I did. The parking light circuit activates the relay for the driving lights. My reasoning was that I only turn on the parking lights when visibility is reduced. So I might as well have the driving lights on, too.
Working on sanding down the body to paint. Getting ready to start on a 3.4 swap. Going to be a busy couple of weeks.
------------------ ------------------------------------------------------- First car love - Fiero 86 SE 2.8 - RIP Next Car love - The Chuck'n Fiero - soon to be work in progress
I added a 2 gallon red plastic gas can to the ever growing pile of tools and stuff in my trunk, and not by choice... Once you have one in every car you drive, there is no need to buy another when you run out of gas.
Did some work to the RX-7 instead. 
might be parting the Fiero out, might not...
Nice touch of old and new school! 
