My cars are nice drivers too. The Mera is actually very nice, needing only minor paint work to be primo. I believe pics of it are on page 13 in this thread. My 68 327 el camino is done mechanically and drives great. I just need new paint, carpets and headliner to be done. My 72 455-HO Trans Am is my car I will be buried in. I have had it the longest. It runs like a bear but also needs new paint. I last painted it in 1981 to give you an ideal of how long it has been mine. All my wife's cars have excellent paint....whats up with that??
Back in the day I drove Grand Nationals and T-Types for demos when I worked for Buick. They were lots of fun.
I would not mind slouching down any day to ride in your Countach.....
Rick, that 72 T/A is one of my all time favorites. In fact, I see that and I start to drool. I have had quite a few f-bodies over the years, El Caminos too! I guess we have similar tastes. As far as my music, my degrees are in performance and education so I play most instruments. Majors were Trumpet and Keyboards, those are the two that I get jobs for.
One of my 88s has Rodney's 1" lowering ball joints plus 265 x 50 x 15 tires on the Chromadora rims. I use the stock GT springs on the front and am quite satisfied with this setup.
Nelson
quote
Originally posted by Rick 88:
Hey, are any of you guy using Rodney's 1 in lowering ball joints with the Chromadora 15 in wheels? I want to lower the front of my Mera I may even install 88 GT springs with 1 coil removed as well. I have close to a 5 in. gap from the top of the 245/45/50's to the fender. I want to reduce that by about half if possible. Let me know what you have done and how you did it.
some minor setbacks in my 45-60 day timeframe for completion of mera 7071. had to repair some damaged monster trucks lol. back to work on the mera now. likely still 60 to 75 days tho.
ps i am making my f308 front bumper and euro f308 front lower airdam, more sporty and robust lookin than the mera or us spec f308 cars. am also working in my f308 style headlights and headlight covers into the build. and i did not forget about the rear of the car... i am building a rear diffuser in place of the rear lower exhaust cover. just thought i would throw in those tidbits.
Believe it or not, the car currently has the stock Goodyear Gatorbacks on the front. I want to run a 205/60/15 or at the max a 215/60/15 so the car will steer easier at low speed. The 245/50/15 is a little heavy steering. On the rear I am running the correct for the Mera 265/50/15.
[This message has been edited by Rick 88 (edited 10-27-2010).]
One of my 88s has Rodney's 1" lowering ball joints plus 265 x 50 x 15 tires on the Chromadora rims. I use the stock GT springs on the front and am quite satisfied with this setup.
Nelson
Nelson, I don't want to run that big a tire on the front. Do you think yout car actuall dropped only one inch using the ball joints? I will probably install either a 205/60/15 or a 215/60/15 so it is not a larger diameter than the rear 265/50/15's
With a tire of that height do you think I should also install the factory spring with one coil cut? I could also order Rodney's 1/2 in lowering ball joints if it will drop too much. Do you have any problems with tape a weights on the inside of the wheel contacting the lower A-arm?
[This message has been edited by Rick 88 (edited 10-27-2010).]
The factory front tire was a 245 x 50 x 15 for the Meras. I have not cut anything off of the GT springs on the front and do believe that the car dropped around one inch with the new ball joints. I also hyave some stick on weights on the inside of the wheel and none have been rubbed off so far.
Nelson
quote
Originally posted by Rick 88:
Nelson, I don't want to run that big a tire on the front. Do you think yout car actuall dropped only one inch using the ball joints? I will probably install either a 205/60/15 or a 215/60/15 so it is not a larger diameter than the rear 265/50/15's
With a tire of that height do you think I should also install the factory spring with one coil cut? I could also order Rodney's 1/2 in lowering ball joints if it will drop too much. Do you have any problems with tape a weights on the inside of the wheel contacting the lower A-arm?
The factory front tire was a 245 x 50 x 15 for the Meras. I have not cut anything off of the GT springs on the front and do believe that the car dropped around one inch with the new ball joints. I also hyave some stick on weights on the inside of the wheel and none have been rubbed off so far.
Nelson
Thanks Nelson, I am trying to keep the tire diameter the same as the 245/50/15's I have on there now. I just think I may need to drop it a little more than an inch to get the look I am after.
Thanks Nelson, I am trying to keep the tire diameter the same as the 245/50/15's I have on there now. I just think I may need to drop it a little more than an inch to get the look I am after.
I had drop springs on my 88 Mera many years ago. I'm guessing they were about 1". Some time back I decided it would be better to take the drop springs out and install the (then Ryane) drop spindles looking for the best possible ride quality. I did not know how much the springs dropped it so I had a few 88 Mera owners with the stock springs take measurements. I guessed some with these measurements and had them make my drop spindles 1 1/4". That seems to be just a bit too low in my opinion. 1" seemed to work well. That 1/4" higher did not look much different that it looks now.
A question for those who have lowered their Meras........ How good is your ground clearance? I have an additional floor pan brace that is basically a whole boxed X frame welded to my floor for extra rigidity. I'm afraid that if I lower the car, it's going to rub speed bumps and such. Can someone that has lowered theirs, measure the distance from the ground to the bottom of their floor? That would help me greatly.
I had drop springs on my 88 Mera many years ago. I'm guessing they were about 1". Some time back I decided it would be better to take the drop springs out and install the (then Ryane) drop spindles looking for the best possible ride quality. I did not know how much the springs dropped it so I had a few 88 Mera owners with the stock springs take measurements. I guessed some with these measurements and had them make my drop spindles 1 1/4". That seems to be just a bit too low in my opinion. 1" seemed to work well. That 1/4" higher did not look much different that it looks now.
Rodney Dickman 1988 Mera #8110
Rodney is your car lowered in the back? What are your fender to tire gaps? I assume you are running 245/50's and 265/50's
I used a Fiero Store lowering kit on my 87 Mera and it looks very nice. However, I have problems with steep inclines, speed bumps, and getting out of my driveway. It will often scrape and I am concerned about damaging my front air dam. I am looking at helper air shocks to deal with these problems and should eventually have the best of both worlds.
Nelson
quote
Originally posted by Joe 1320:
A question for those who have lowered their Meras........ How good is your ground clearance? I have an additional floor pan brace that is basically a whole boxed X frame welded to my floor for extra rigidity. I'm afraid that if I lower the car, it's going to rub speed bumps and such. Can someone that has lowered theirs, measure the distance from the ground to the bottom of their floor? That would help me greatly.
Thanks!
[This message has been edited by hnthomps (edited 10-28-2010).]
for Rick and all y'all........something about the weather strip above the license plate.
Rick.....it looks like the seal in the door jamb. i am sure its auto grade. shaped like the Omega symbol......flat base _ (3/4 in. wide) with a O on top 5/8 in. O.D. its all one piece. the length of the opening.
in this pic below, lid is unlocked and just layed down. bump to close.
notice the crush to fit.....its been like this for a while??? hopefully its OEM Mera!!
expanded......hollow in the inside.
at the top in the groove a little strip......seems to be the same type of material.
the whole strip is held down with some really thick 2 sided tape i think.....its kinda crusty and friable(dry) OLD!!!! anyone need want more shots let me know....good eye award goes to Rick!!!!
later Daniel
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 10-28-2010).]
Daniel, mine has the weatherstrip attached to the bottom of the decklid, but it does not seem to seal much of anything. Thanks for the pictures. Maybe you can find out if you seal is original or added later.
I used a Fiero Store lowering kit on my 87 Mera and it looks very nice. However, I have problems with steep inclines, speed bumps, and getting out of my driveway. It will often scrape and I am concerned about damaging my front air dam. I am looking at helper air shocks to deal with these problems and should eventually have the best of both worlds.
Nelson
Nelson, how much did the lowering kit drop your car front and back?
Originally posted by Rick 88: The 245/50/15 is a little heavy steering. On the rear I am running the correct for the Mera 265/50/15.
OK, that's what I have, and I believe thay are the original tires--I think they look cool. Unfortunately, 245/50/15s are no longer avail. Actually, the car steers better than my 87GT (RIP)
I guess that the car is one to two inches lower than it initially was. I bought the kit uninstalled from a person in Atlanta who sold his car before installation. No Fiero Store paperwork was available at the point of purchase so I do not know what it was supposed to do.
Nelson
quote
Originally posted by Rick 88:
Nelson, how much did the lowering kit drop your car front and back?
I guess that the car is one to two inches lower than it initially was. I bought the kit uninstalled from a person in Atlanta who sold his car before installation. No Fiero Store paperwork was available at the point of purchase so I do not know what it was supposed to do.
Nelson
Nelson,
Could you please measure the distance from the pavement to the top of the fender opening on your gray Mera? I want to compare it to my stock ride height. Also, how many inches is it between your 265/50/15 front tire, and top of the fender opening?
OK, that's what I have, and I believe thay are the original tires--I think they look cool. Unfortunately, 245/50/15s are no longer avail. Actually, the car steers better than my 87GT (RIP)
Is you Mera an 88? That explains the easier steering compared to the 87. I had my stock yellow 88 GT and 88 Mera to compare. The GT with the stock 205/60/15 felt like power steering compared to the Mera with the 245/50/15's it currently has. I want to keep the diamater the same as the 245/50's but reduce the width.
According to a tire size comparator the 245/50/15 is 24.6 inches in diameter and 9.64 inches wide, while the 205/60/15 is 24.7 inches in diameter and 8.07 inches wide. Close enough for me in diameter and being 1.57 in. narrower, easier to steer at low speed.
OK, that's what I have, and I believe thay are the original tires--I think they look cool. Unfortunately, 245/50/15s are no longer avail. Actually, the car steers better than my 87GT (RIP)
Too bad. BF Goodrich used to have them in the Euro TA. Not long ago they still offered them. Maybe if one searched enough you could fit a set of them plus the Euro TA 265-50-15's for the rear.
This is why many, many years ago I bought 2 sets of the OEM Goodyear Gatorbacks when they were just out of production. . I just put a new set on maybe last year. NOS. Best fitting and looking tire for the 88 Mera. I would not want anything else on my 88 Mera.
I still have a slightly used set of Gatorbacks with maybe 5,000 miles or less on them. Probably not for sale. I rarely drive my 88 Mera these days and the Goodyears I have on it now have maybe less than 1000 miles on them. I may never wear them enough to get to using the slightly used set I have.
------------------ Rodney Dickman
Fiero Parts And Acc's Web Page: All new web page!:www.rodneydickman.com Rodney Dickman's Fiero accessories 7604 Treeview Drive Caledonia, WI 53108 Phone/Fax (262) 835-9575
I took my Mom's Mera up HW 1 in CA last weekend. I did not drive it hard as it was not my car and HW1 has a harsh deterrent for going off of the road. I am in the process of slowly taking off the F* badging (previous owner) and trying to put it back to a Mera. Thanks to this thread, I will be making a trip to the junk yard soon.
I attached a camera under the bumper. I really like HD video, but it takes up crazy amount of disk space. My 4 hours of driving came in over 17GB. http://vimeo.com/16210664
I took my Mom's Mera up HW 1 in CA last weekend. I did not drive it hard as it was not my car and HW1 has a harsh deterrent for going off of the road. I am in the process of slowly taking off the F* badging (previous owner) and trying to put it back to a Mera. Thanks to this thread, I will be making a trip to the junk yard soon.
I attached a camera under the bumper. I really like HD video, but it takes up crazy amount of disk space. My 4 hours of driving came in over 17GB. http://vimeo.com/16210664
i thought this strech of road looked familiar.......i have been there abouts.
you aint kidding about the deterrant......wowowee!!!
welcome to the Mera Madness......
oh and by the way.....what did you figure out with your bumper mount camera?? i want one.
Daniel- Mera X
[This message has been edited by batousai666 (edited 10-29-2010).]
Too bad. BF Goodrich used to have them in the Euro TA. Not long ago they still offered them. Maybe if one searched enough you could fit a set of them plus the Euro TA 265-50-15's for the rear.
This is why many, many years ago I bought 2 sets of the OEM Goodyear Gatorbacks when they were just out of production. . I just put a new set on maybe last year. NOS. Best fitting and looking tire for the 88 Mera. I would not want anything else on my 88 Mera.
Rodney Dickman 1988 Mera
Thanks, I've been looking. There's a guy in Vegas that has some used ones, but doesn't answer my emails.
Mine still have lots of tread, though they are pretty old. These may be the original skins--you might know, this is formerly Bob Anderson's car.
for Rick and all y'all........something about the weather strip above the license plate.
Dan,
Here's the stuff I have around my trunk lid. I removed it from the top of the transom panel as it was causing a misalignment of the lid at the rear corners. Still have it along the side edges of the body, and other than that it is only on the lid. There appears to be a double layer at the rear edge of the lid and maybe even 3 at the "hump."
I answer to your previous query, I will measure the 87 and see if I can get the requested dimensions. Until then, here is something that may help. This is a shot of my 88 Mera front wheel (265 x 50 x15 tires on Chromadoras) with Rodney's one inch lowering ball joints and stock GT front springs. Now you can see how things might look on your Mera with a similar setup.
I just happened to give away a complete set of Gatorbacks with little or no miles on them last week to the guy that bought my F308 car. They were originally on a spare lace type wheel set for Bob Bracey's wife's car when I got them 6 ot 7 years back. They were 205 x 60 x 15 on the front and 225 x 60 x 15 on the back if memory serves me correctly. I do have contact info if anyone wants to call the current owner and see if he wants to sell them.
I just took the requested measurements on the grey Mera and the floor to top of the wheel well measurement is about 25" and the top of the tire to the top of the wheel well is approximately 2.5 inches. Note that the top of the wheel well measurement was taken on the outside of the fender and not in the center.
Nelson
quote
Originally posted by Rick 88:
Nelson,
Could you please measure the distance from the pavement to the top of the fender opening on your gray Mera? I want to compare it to my stock ride height. Also, how many inches is it between your 265/50/15 front tire, and top of the fender opening?
I just took the requested measurements on the grey Mera and the floor to top of the wheel well measurement is about 25" and the top of the tire to the top of the wheel well is approximately 2.5 inches. Note that the top of the wheel well measurement was taken on the outside of the fender and not in the center.
Nelson
Thanks Nelson,
I know my current gap is about 4.5 inches! I will measure the ground to the top of the fender opening height. It is hard to tell on the picture of your 88 but it seem to have a larger gap than on the 87.
Based on this I should use a 1 in. lowering ball joint and an 88 spring with 1 coil removed to get a 2 in drop. At least that is what it think.......
