I've had the car only 3 months--haven't changed anything. I do have photos going back to '93, and these are the wheels that were on the car. I can take a closer look at the center cap, but don't know if I could tell how it was constructed.
Just looked--they do have a "plastic-y" feel to them.
Your "Mera" center caps came from Rodney back in the day.
Take a close look and you may be able to tell the original MERA center caps from Rodney's replica ones. The original center caps that I acquired have a transparent vinyl base with the black circle/MERA letters. Rodney's current ones (and maybe the original replicas) have the black letters/circle on a silver background.
Take a close look and you may be able to tell the original MERA center caps from Rodney's replica ones. The original center caps that I acquired have a transparent vinyl base with the black circle/MERA letters. Rodney's current ones (and maybe the original replicas) have the black letters/circle on a silver background.
Nelson
Nelson, were these caps for the stock 87 lace wheels? My Cromodora's just have a spun aluminum center cap, or the large plastic pop in disc.
Take a close look and you may be able to tell the original MERA center caps from Rodney's replica ones. The original center caps that I acquired have a transparent vinyl base with the black circle/MERA letters. Rodney's current ones (and maybe the original replicas) have the black letters/circle on a silver background.
you know its funny. i never set out to buy a red car they just came that way the Trans Am i saw for sale on the side of the road for $7900. offered $4000 and he accepted. the Jeep was aquired after they (the dealer) sold the Z24 chevy i put $200 down on to someone else. and the Mera, you all know the rest. so i never bought a red car per se, they just come to me that way. Dan
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 12-24-2009).]
and the Mera, you all know the rest. so i never bought a red car per se, they just come to me that way. Dan [This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 12-24-2009).]
Actually, I don't know the rest. Tell me how you found your Mera. I am a late comer to the Mera fold.
The original Mera center caps that I have came off an 88 with the lace type wheels. They were a spare set of wheels for Bob Bracey's wife's car that I bought a few years back when I lived in the Atlanta area. I will try to post a picture of them and see if the difference is obvious when compared to Rodney's reproduction stickers.
quote
Originally posted by Rick 88:
Nelson, were these caps for the stock 87 lace wheels? My Cromodora's just have a spun aluminum center cap, or the large plastic pop in disc.
[This message has been edited by hnthomps (edited 12-25-2009).]
Here are a couple of photos of the Rodney reproduction center cap sticker and an original MERA center cap. I hope that you can see the difference but it is not as clear in the photo as it is when seen with the naked eye. The Rodney decal has a silver/grey background and the original cap appears to have a transparent background over a polished center cap. The sticker is on the left and the original cap is on the right.
I believe that the original MERA center cap for the lace type wjeels is a transparent vinyl overlay installed on a polished center cap. This cap will not fit the Chromadora rims and appears to be slightly too short for the end clips to engage the wheel. I would like a measurement of the center cap depth that is used with the Chromadora rims so that I can get a couple of sets for my wheels. A source would also be very nice to lessen the search time.
Nelson
quote
Originally posted by Rick 88:
So is that a stock lace center cap with a transparent vinyl overlay? Would these fit a Cromodora?
The center caps on my Cromadora's are a spun aluminum disc mounted to a plastic retainer. 2.25 in. diamater and 5/8 deep. They are a compression press fit with 20 individual tabs. The only identifing markings on the backside are the letters "PA" with an oval around the letters. Anyone else have these on their Cromadora's?
Have any of you lowered the front of you Mera's? Mine has the typical 88 large tire to fender gap. What did you use, lowering springs, cut stock springs, dropped ball joints? I am running stock 15's so I am afraid the dropped ball joints will cause interference. I know I can run a taller tire also. Anyone doing this?
The 87 is lowered quite a bit using a Fiero Store lowering kit. I like the look and it drives fine but it is somewhat difficult to handle speed bumps and getting out of my driveway without scraping. One of my 88s has Rodney's one inch lowering ball joints and I have no problems with that car. Both of the vehicles have 265 x 50 x 15 shoes all the way around.
The 87 is lowered quite a bit using a Fiero Store lowering kit. I like the look and it drives fine but it is somewhat difficult to handle speed bumps and getting out of my driveway without scraping. One of my 88s has Rodney's one inch lowering ball joints and I have no problems with that car. Both of the vehicles have 265 x 50 x 15 shoes all the way around.
Nelson
Does the 88 with the lowering ball joints have the 15 in Chromadoras?
Great! Did you also use shorter springs? Or is this enough to make it look better. My car seems to have a large gap, but I have 245/50's on the front. Do you have close up pics of that particular car with the lowering ball joint?
I have gone to adjustable coilovers on the rear of the 88 MERA and have Rodney's lowering ball joints on the front of this car. I will try to get some pictures later today and post them on PFF. The rear coilovers are not at the lowest position at this time but the car handles well.
Nelson
Front Wheel Wells (1" Rodney lowering ball joints)
Rear Wheel Wells (coil overs)
[This message has been edited by hnthomps (edited 12-29-2009).]
I have never considered coil overs. Is there a kit available, or do you have to fabricate it for the 88? Mike can you post pics of you set up? Would a stock spring with one coil removed and lowering ball joints drop the front too much? I can slip my hand sideways between the top of the 245/50 and the fender lip. About 4.25 inches. I'd like to drop it two inches if possible on the front.
this is the 2nd time around for this one. is gots dee screw ons. dont like the headlight covers....ect......say, is that not the Fiero Mirror controller??? sure went to a lot of trouble to turn it back to Fiero from stock Mera, I mean right??? could it be Ferrari???
it is great for a 308 replicar. but too hard to turn back to MERA. i'll pass...nice sticker tho.. Daniel
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 12-28-2009).]
I used 300 pound springs but do not remember the actual uncompressed length. I am using 265 x 50 x 15 tires on all corners if you want to compare the pictures recently posted on PFF to your vehicle. Note that my coil overs are not currently set to the lowest position.
Nelson
quote
Originally posted by Rick 88:
Great! Did you also use shorter springs? Or is this enough to make it look better. My car seems to have a large gap, but I have 245/50's on the front. Do you have close up pics of that particular car with the lowering ball joint?
i think rodney says thats a real mera by vin, but im with you dan too much to have to turn back into mera.
WORD! well not for you Mike. with them new parts it may be something to consider yourself, friend. the sticker is key. It is more Mera than mine your parts are for.... us the Mera "keepers" so to speak. or for replacements should the worst high speed head on.....i'll stop. would be a great show piece for the "upstairs showroom"....hahahaha, thought i would forget that??? now you can get 2 cars you will/can NOT drive...just jokin' speaking of #7071. hows it going??? any updates? or is that "Mall" bussiness??? i am off to look, Later Dan
*EDIT* Mike?? i bumped your Mall thread to the front..sawright?sawright!
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 12-29-2009).]
I have gone to adjustable coilovers on the rear of the 88 MERA and have Rodney's lowering ball joints on the front of this car. I will try to get some pictures later today and post them on PFF. The rear coilovers are not at the lowest position at this time but the car handles well.
Nelson
Front Wheel Wells (1" Rodney lowering ball joints)
Rear Wheel Wells (coil overs)
Nelson,
Thanks for the pictures. But now, I am even more confused. The tire/fender gap on yours looks car looks much more acceptable. However I can't see how a one inch lowering ball joint dropping my car enough to look the same as yours. Are you sure your front springs are stock height? Also, why do your 265/50/15's look narrower than my 245/50 Gatorbacks? My front tires bulge out excessively around the wheel viewed from the side.
I have found that a 215/60/15 is 99% or the diamater of my 265/50/15's rears using a tire size comparator. I think the narrower tire will steer easier at low speeds than the 245's, and not bulge out as much on the wheel.
Have you had any luck on center caps for the Cromodora's yet?
dan, 7071 is coming back together nicely. might be a while but i will post pics of before during and after once im finished with it. its a test mule right now along with my 88. mike in oklahoma
To the best of my knowledge, the front springs on the car are the original stock ones. All I did was replace the existing ball joints with Rodney's lowering BJs. As to why the front tires look thinner than yours, I have absolutely no idea. Unfortunately, I have not located any center caps for the Chromadora wheels but would appreciate it if anyone is successful in locating suitable ones and notifies me.
Nelson
quote
Originally posted by Rick 88:
Nelson,
Thanks for the pictures. But now, I am even more confused. The tire/fender gap on yours looks car looks much more acceptable. However I can't see how a one inch lowering ball joint dropping my car enough to look the same as yours. Are you sure your front springs are stock height? Also, why do your 265/50/15's look narrower than my 245/50 Gatorbacks? My front tires bulge out excessively around the wheel viewed from the side.
I have found that a 215/60/15 is 99% or the diamater of my 265/50/15's rears using a tire size comparator. I think the narrower tire will steer easier at low speeds than the 245's, and not bulge out as much on the wheel.
Have you had any luck on center caps for the Cromodora's yet?
After some further invsestigation, this vehicle is MERA 80002 and some of the MERA paperwork has been provided. None of the original badges and/or letters are apparently available and the asking price is right at $25,000.
Originally posted by hnthomps: To the best of my knowledge, the front springs on the car are the original stock ones. All I did was replace the existing ball joints with Rodney's lowering BJs. As to why the front tires look thinner than yours, I have absolutely no idea. Unfortunately, I have not located any center caps for the Chromadora wheels but would appreciate it if anyone is successful in locating suitable ones and notifies me.
Interesting story with my 88 Mera:
Many years ago (maybe 12 or more now) I put lowering springs in front and rear in my 88 Mera. I have the OEM Goodyear Gatorbacks on my 88 Mera. I was lucky. The height was very nice. I was very happy with the look. Years later I decided to take the plunge and buy (then) Ryane (spelling?) drop spindles. I had the idea going back to the stock spring would give a better (smoother) ride and I would have more travel on the swing arms. They were fairly expensive but they were having a sale. Since I did not take any before height measurements I did not know how much my front end was lowered with these lowering springs. I called several 88 Mera owners and asked them to measure their front fender height. I averaged them out and came up with about 1 1/4 inch. So I had Rayne make me a pair at 1 1/4" drop. That was just a bit too much. In hindsight I would have been better off with a 1" drop. That 1/4" does not seem like much but it makes a difference with driveways etc. This is with the 15" rims and 245-50-15 Goodyear Gatorbacks.
PS: I think the Goodyear Gatorbacks are by far the best looking tire for the 88 Mera. When I bought my 88 Mera around 12-13 years ago I bought 2 extra sets of the Goodyear Gatorbacks because someone told me they no longer were making them. They were a bit hard to find the 265-50-15 rears but the 245-50-15 fronts were easy at that time to find. Plus here and there I bought other good used Gatorbacks. I just put on a new set of these Gatorbacks last year. New old stock. They still look like new. Stored them in plastic bags in my basement all these years.
After some further invsestigation, this vehicle is MERA 80002 and some of the MERA paperwork has been provided. None of the original badges and/or letters are apparently available and the asking price is right at $25,000.
Nelson
i would love to have this car, it's so close (location) and yet so far away (price). is this car worth $25K (I know if someone is willing to pay then it is)? i would go check this car out but it 1.5 hours away, then only time i would be even close to it would be after NTFC monthly meeting. if they still have it then i might swing by to look at it. if it's open on saturday.
i would love to have this car, it's so close (location) and yet so far away (price). is this car worth $25K (I know if someone is willing to pay then it is)? i would go check this car out but it 1.5 hours away, then only time i would be even close to it would be after NTFC monthly meeting. if they still have it then i might swing by to look at it. if it's open on saturday.
bet it gets yanked for using the F-WORD too much is that paint kinda "metallic" red? i like that deep red metallic look, even if its an optical. note to self, crimison metallic red. later D
right???
.....i'll stop.
