This build thread is to document the stuff I have been doing on my car. I did not like the way it was laid out before, so I am in the process of re-vamping it and making it more historically accurate with pictures from the beginning.
Here's where I will start:
I bought a 1986 four cylinder sports coupe with 56k miles from Anaheim California and has it shipped to Ohio in April of 2010. That's how it all started, and a lot of work later and several technical help threads in the Tech Discussions has gotten my car on the road and happy it is in much better shape than before.
The Car (Already sporting my Enkei WDM 16" wheels):
I had plenty on the list to do, this will be a restore with some customization. Stay tuned!
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 04-24-2012).]
Under Construction Interior Swap outs - Do gauges, steering column and wheel, etc.
Out come the old seats..
In go the Mr. Mikes...
Out comes the dashboard, in goes the better dash pocket...
Steering column and wheel has to GO.. I am a 250 lb man, and I have one of the few fieros out there that came with no tilt steering! Here's the switch..
Starting to look NICE in there..
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 04-24-2012).]
Another PFF member and I did a roof swap! I now have a sunroof car and he has the hardtop.. which he could not be more pleased about. The topic is currently archived here: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...120111-2-109675.html
I would re-post it but I do not know how to pull photos from an archived topic since you can neither quote nor edit posts. We had a lot of fun, though, and the 5.5 hour trip was totally worth it to Pittsburgh to do the work. We wrapped it up in about 4 hours for both cars.
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 04-23-2012).]
Just curious, where/how bad was the rust on your 86 SE? I couldn't spot any in the pictures, but maybe cause I'm from Canada and rust is about 1000 times worse up here.
Are you planning on swapping the Aero parts onto this new one or are you keeping it as a bumperpad? I've always been a sucker for aero notchbacks.
Edit: That HVAC control looks different from the others without AC that I've seen. Or is it just me?
[This message has been edited by Valkyrie (edited 08-31-2010).]
Yep, HVAC is an aftermarket AC. Compressor clutch is locked up, so gonna have to replace at least that eventually. I am probably the only fiero owner worldwide that has that HVAC, am I lucky or what?
The rust was terrible underneath by the front cradle bushing links.. it melted like ice cream when we tried to weld on some new iron. Reallly bad under the battery tray side.
I am leaving my New Fiero a bumperpad, but I have plans coming to do the nose custom, Stay tuned!
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 04-23-2012).]
The rust was bad on passenger side front and rear cradle links to the chassis. I could poke my finger right through to the other side. I tried to have new metal welded in to attach new links under the passenger side, but it just kept melting like ice cream.. there was nothing there all the way up under the passenger side to almost the door pins.. all rotted. Also, my engine would 'flex; in the cradle while driving, eating up drive and AC belts every few weeks.. it just would not stay still in there. This happened because of an undiagnosed water pump leak, as well as a battery explosion by the PO who never cleaned it up.. completely destroyed the p-side of the frame. If you look, you'll see I had put a new battery tray in, it was hard finding metal to attach even that to.
As far as the body panels, I THOUGHT about swapping them. Then I saw Tina's car. Now the pads are staying! I have grown quite accustomed to the way the notch bumper looks over the last 4 months, it will be a different color, but stay a BP. Going back to the smoke gray metallic.
That may be an aftermarket HVAC control... the car has aftermarket AC hooked up (Compressor is currently broken - bad clutch) and if you look at the slider, if you go ALL the way left, that turns the AC on. Almost all the way left is vent. It took me a month to figure that out... only to find out the compressor is bad.
Thanks for your interest, I hope to keep this going through paint and maybe eventually an engine swap.
That HVAC system is an aftermarket A/C system, so that Fiero didn't have A/C to start with, it was added on later. I know this for a fact because 1. of that HVAC control 2. It has a non A/C rad fan, and 3. you see can the aftermarket A/C crap in the front compartment along with the crimped wires.
[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 08-31-2010).]
.. because I already said it didn't. I just was not sure if the HVAC control was original to non-AC fieros, since this is the first non-ac one I ever owned. Anyhow, since it came from so-cal, I can see why someone added an AC later. Its hot out there.It was easiest for me to spot it as non-ac equipped because the evaporator is way up near the headlight on the driver's side and is not standard. (Cannot see from my pic..) I have since moved those crimped wires to make room for the new sunroof pad. Looks much better.
I appreciate it, though Matt.
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 04-23-2012).]
.. because I already said it didn't. I just was not sure if the HVAC control was original to non-AC fieros, since this is the first non-ac one I ever owned. Anyhow, since it came from so-cal, I can see why someone added an AC later. Its hot out there.It was easiest for me to spot it as non-ac equipped because the evaporator is way up near the headlight on the driver's side and is not standard. (Cannot see from my pic..) I have since moved those crimped wires to make room for the new sunroof pad. Looks much better.
Interior is done.. for now. Still want a stainless bezel kit (gonna get it from Rich), short shifter and boot, and shifter knob covered in leather.
I want to customize some more with Fiero Thomas, just don't have the cash to do it at the moment. Visors, spare cover, booklet wallet.. just have to wait.
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 04-24-2012).]
I did get it and installed it on the Indy. The problem was the fuel pump, but that TB looked much better than the old one by leaps and bounds! Thanks again Josef.
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 04-23-2012).]
I ordered some vent covers and a dash trim kit from Rich here on the forum. He does very nice work and I recommend him to all of you who want to customize a bit.
In the mean time.. added trunk popper
Also swapped the radio in from a 98 T/A, swapped in the 120 mph speedo cluster and added the aux gauges!
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 04-24-2012).]
Ford smoke gray metallic. Same color as the original Fiero I had before.. just love that color so much, and I think with the red and black accents it will look pretty good.
Example:
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 04-23-2012).]
Just put Rodney's poly trans mounts and this solid dog bone for 4 cylinder he made for me into the car. The ride has a little more vibe to it, but it does not flex the engine when i hit the gas anymore. You used to feel it pretty bad when I would.
I am leaning toward the 2nd one so I can have driving lights like Tina's car. Still not sure how I am gonna make this, probably make a fiberglass mold for the bumper and then bolt it on to the orginal nose. (Thanks to Rogergarrison for the idea)
Just figured out that I have never used my sig in my own build thread.. the pose should look familliar...
------------------ "Maybe we should call you Meat Head...!"
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 04-23-2012).]
Well James, hopefully you will get to see that project right here and soon. I still have my heat evacuator hood I need to finish first.
Installed Stainless Dash Trim Kit made by Rich... I cannot tell you how pleased I am with everything this man has done for the Fiero Community. A real mid-engine customizing machine.
As you can probably tell, I reconditioned my ashtray doors and repaired my shifter surround pod.. no more cover-up cap. Also installed a Rodney Dickman Shifter rebuild kit and a leather covered shift knob, I think it looks excellent.
The car is really starting to come together now.
[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 04-24-2012).]
Air Conditioning is fixed and blowing cooollllddd. Had to shag down the right sized belt for the aftermarket AC system. It had a tensioner pulley that I also had to break loose.. I would like to get a new one of those pretty soon here, if I can find one that matches.
Did the conversion and blew out my service port, so at this moment I have a quick-connect for a vacuum pump holding that valve closed.
Replaced the drier, evacuated the system, vacuum pumped it to get the moisture out... added 4 cans of 134a.. and *brrrrr* it works.
Car runs just a bit rougher with the AC turned on, so I definitely see a new tensioner pulley in the near future.
Looong time without an update. Long time without any work.
We just took care of some mechanical issues recently, now working on the suspension again.
I just got Rodney's aluminum clutch master and.. my God.. THAT'S what a clutch should feel like??? Wow. High quality, went in fast and smoothly, no surprises or disappointments.
Getting her ready for a no-destination trip west.. got new KYBs on the way, and will be ordering tie rods from Rodney in just a second. New tires. Also changed out the lock set, only driver side was working.
I'll get some pics up .. well... soonish.
Above comments - Thanks for the compliments, and yes, I do not see why not to backlighting. If you have a nice engine compartment and put a couple LEDs in there, it would look sharp with light coming up through.
Hey there T. Looong time no hear from. Whatsamattayou? . Just nice to see you post. Last I heard the shop was doing well. Hope things are the same. Peace Brother.
I just was not sure if the HVAC control was original to non-AC fieros, since this is the first non-ac one I ever owned....
Just discovered your thread. For future reference your HVAC panel is the standard one for a Fiero with no a/c...although it must have been modified to operate the aftermarket a/c.
