Recently I started looking for a Fiero for my daughter as she is getting ready to start driving. We looked at loads of pictures and she always seemed to be drawn to the 87 Blue Fieros. I searched for awhile and found an 87GT down in Bedford VA. One of the PFF members volunteered to go take a look at it for us. Huge shout out to Jesse Thomas (Racer_JT) for helping a brother out! Kudos to you my friend! He liked what he saw so I pulled the trigger and bought her. We had her shipped up to us and began the necessary rehab. Without further adue, RottinBlue!
This is pretty much what she looks like now. A few people have asked what was spent on her. I will keep a running tally for those folks (and my daughter).
$3,995.00 Car $700.00 Shipping 691 miles $221.91 Safelite Windshield $150.00 3 Stage Compound/buff and detailing $318.98 Tires $215.95 Mats, paint, wheel cap, emblem, console tray $45.95 Oil Pressure Sending $38.98 Dash Mat $76.21 Alternator $20.00 Radio $114.53 Battery w/5 year warranty $22.98 Freon and R-134 conversion kit $88.00 New EGR Valve $8.97 Driver door striker pin $141.00 New Dewwipes, inner and outer $180.95 GM 10038324 EGR Valve Vacuum Solenoid/EGR Vacuum Solenoid $6,339.41 Running Total
This is how she started...
When we first saw RottinBlue. A bit dirty...
The headlights worked but would push right down. Definitely needed a rebuild.
Different angles
Tail lights looked good
TTops!!!
They look to be in really good shape
Seats look excellent
On both sides
85k miles
No rust!
No rust here either
Cradle looks clean and straight
Front bay looks good but dirty So we started to do a load of refurbishing, fixing, replacing, etc...
New windshield, 3 stage compound, and a detailing. She looks like a new car!
Checked the condition of the brakes. They look great! Will know more after we put a few miles on her.
Missing one center cap so...
Replaced with Fiero Store one
Disassemble the center console...hate rusty brackets
...and the old radio. Daughter doesn't even know what a cassette is!
Refurb the brackets...
...both top and bottom...
New wires for the modern Pontiac radio swap
Do it right...solder and heatshrink
Wires ready
Polish out the lens so it is perfectly clear
The shift indicator was almost white so reconditioning necessary. First clean the old orange off...
...then tape her up...
Multiple slow even coats
Then she is done!
Put her in and you can see what gear you are in...money!
Now my friend Bob works the shift boot back to its proper position and glues it up right
Hot glue gun action
Put her all back together and this is what you get!
Headlights needed some attention and motors rebuilt
I like to refinish the chrome to make it black...just looks better.
Rebuilt and looking good!
Need an emblem so....
New emblem installed from the Fiero Store. The upper peg which keeps it from rotating was cast on the incorrect side.
Needed some new mats. These generic ones....Yuck!
New Lloyds mats from the Fiero Store installed.
T-Top trim is seriously sun faded.
First the screws come out and get wire wheeled
Then they get color matched with Fiero Store products
Trim color comparison. New paint on top and faded on the bottom.
All the trim colored up and drying.
Now the grey color looks correct.
Both T-Tops got redone. Take special care if you do this as the plastic is not very forgiving.
A new InfiniteWill GT Trunk seal...notice the red dot on the engine bay side per the install directions.
There was also a small coolant leak where the tubes connect. We had a bear of a time getting them apart. New O-rings sorted that out.
I will post more as we make more improvements. Thanks for looking!
[This message has been edited by johnyrottin (edited 02-27-2017).]
The car is looking good, lucky young lady to have you for a dad! One suggestion with respect to safety, ditch the rubber brake lines for stainless steel.
One of these days we're going to hear about some long forgotten building full of Fieros that belonged to this Old Geezer named Johnyrottin. Beautiful addition to the collection there, John.
quote
Originally posted by johnyrottin:
Do it right...solder and heatshrink
Do it the easy way. Order from replacementradios.com Image from their website.
Great thread! Odd as it is I'm in a similar spot but she is about to turn 13 and there is a Blue 87 GT that is sitting in a driveway that we pass all the time. She points it out too. I think if she sees this thread I'm going to have a project on my hands...haha.
Thanks Stubby. Yes, grammar is pretty important...or else "Let's eat, grandma!" would become "Let's eat grandma!"
Chrissen, buy that blue lady and drive her for a few years until you can pass her down! I don't see blue ones for sale too often so if you/she wants one...make that little lady happy!
[This message has been edited by johnyrottin (edited 11-18-2014).]
Nice looking Fiero there, and SCORE on the T-Tops AND Factory Blue! I will not use the "R" word, but will say that it is probably a pretty low production run for a Blue T-Top car
Great looking car! I noticed the white Curry dealer decal on the back bumper. That's the local former Pontiac dealer here in Bloomington, IN. It was possibly sold new there. Surely would have been special order being blue and t-tops.
People from this forum have helped me many times over the years. It feels good just passing that along. Glad I could help! The guys at East Coast are going to give me good deal on a used tranny for my Grand Prix to say thanx as well. I really did enjoy meeting those guys and touring there place.
I had the opportunity to go out and put some miles on this girl last night. 50 to be exact. She is very tight...one of the quietest GTs I have ever driven and this is Fiero number 40 for me! Not a rattle from the T-Tops either. It will be interesting to see how water tight they are when spring comes. I also found out that the fuel light bulb is out so I need to replace that this weekend along with my PON bulb. The brakes pull a little to the left so I will explore and see if I can find the cause of that this weekend too. The original oil pressure sending unit was a bit bouncy so I replaced that. The new one was a bit bouncy as well but it lasted only a short time. Now she is nice and steady at 40 idle, 60 driving. All in all, she should be a very sound car with a few minor fixes.
Come summertime I will do the research on how to remove all the plastic coating from the rims and get them to perfect again. I hate that look when it starts to get gunky and peeling. I know it takes awhile but it will be worth it.
I had the opportunity to go out and put some miles on this girl last night. 50 to be exact. She is very tight...one of the quietest GTs I have ever driven and this is Fiero number 40 for me! Not a rattle from the T-Tops either. It will be interesting to see how water tight they are when spring comes. I also found out that the fuel light bulb is out so I need to replace that this weekend along with my PON bulb. The brakes pull a little to the left so I will explore and see if I can find the cause of that this weekend too. The original oil pressure sending unit was a bit bouncy so I replaced that. The new one was a bit bouncy as well but it lasted only a short time. Now she is nice and steady at 40 idle, 60 driving. All in all, she should be a very sound car with a few minor fixes.
Come summertime I will do the research on how to remove all the plastic coating from the rims and get them to perfect again. I hate that look when it starts to get gunky and peeling. I know it takes awhile but it will be worth it.
Thank You! She seemed to like it better than all the others so I guess I am stuck with it! This morning I snapped a shot of the RPO codes...no CJB as expected for an 87. We also replaced a couple burnt bulbs in the dash and the PONTIAC rears. I love that view!
RPO Sticker
RPO Breakdown AAA Additional Standard Equipment AR9 Seat, front bucket, driver, passenger, manual reclining AU3 Power door locks B34 Floor mats, front, carpeted C60 Air conditioner, front, manual controls DG7 Mirror, RH and LH remote control, electric D34 Mirror, visor vanity D4P VSS Gear, 30 tooth, blue D80 Extension, rear end panel (spoiler) D9C Sensor, Vehicle Speed (35 teeth) (25007335) E5Z Speedometer Gears Less Adapter GX3 Transaxle, final drive, 3.33 ratio K22 Generator, 94 ampere K34 Cruise control, electric L44 Engine, 2.8L V6 (High Output) MD9 3-speed automatic transmission (THM125C) MX1 3 speed automatic transmission NA5 Emission system, federal requirements NP5 Steering wheel, leather wrapped, 3-spoke N90 Wheel, 15x7 cast aluminum PB4 Lock kit, aluminum wheel PON Pontiac Assembly Plant QRF P185/70R14 blackwall QZN P185/80R13 blackwall QZT P205/60R15 blackwall, steel-belted (front); P215/60R15 blackwall, steel-belted (rear) UM6 ETR AM/FM stereo w/clock, cassette, auto rev cassette, seek & scan ('85-88) U66 Speaker system, 4, dual front dash Mounted, dual extended range, package shelf/quarter VK3 License plate, front mounting package V73 Vehicle Identification US WS1 Option picks (group) ('85-87) W61 Option group #1 (1987) YT1 Built-up, custom door and quarter YT9 Fisher Furnished Parts 18L Medium Gray Metallic (lower of two tone) 21U Bright Blue Metallic 6JF Left Front Spring 7JF Right Front Spring 8YK Left Rear Spring 82D Pallex cloth, Dark Gray D (trim level) Deluxe 82I Interior Color, Medium Dark Gray 829 Seat Belt Module, Medium Dark Gray 9YK Right Rear Spring
No more TIAC. Now it says it all.
[This message has been edited by johnyrottin (edited 11-22-2014).]
I bought one for my daughter also. It is a red 88, with 50k miles. She didn't like it at first but everyone constantly telling her how cool it is has turned her. She gets her permit in February and cant wait to get behind the wheel. I enjoy working on it with her its a great bonding tool.
John, I overlooked this thread until I saw your post in the fastback thread. Truly a diamond in the rough. I know your daughter will be proud.
quote
Originally posted by johnyrottin: ... Come summertime I will do the research on how to remove all the plastic coating from the rims and get them to perfect again. I hate that look when it starts to get gunky and peeling. I know it takes awhile but it will be worth it.
I haven't ever seen a blue T-Top before...so one in this shape was a no brainer. It rides so tight and quiet! Should make a really good first car. I need to call you and pick your brain on refinishing the rims. I think that may be a summertime project for next year but no time like the present to learn. I was surprised that no one had done a video of the process. Would be a great Ogre's Cave addition!
Bumping this since you mentioned it in my blue GT thread.
Aside from the T-tops, our cars are identical. And both being driven by our daughters. What a coincidence. I think we even have the same upgraded head units.
I especially like the detail work you did: Cleaning up the headlight buckets, and the center console and stack (this is on my to-do list, still). I've been wondering about the orange gear indicator, since ours is totally faded, too. What paint did you use?
Cheers to our teenage daughters appreciating these awesome little classic cars!
Thank you. Good girls get great cars! I think the paint was a Krylon Fluorescent orange but I am not sure. Not near the car at this time. I think I have a thread out there somewhere on the refurb of that indicator...let me find it. You can see the can on the bench where Bob is gluing up the shift boot.
[This message has been edited by johnyrottin (edited 05-18-2015).]
Looks like while I have been out of town the alternator failed and the radio went out. I'll take care of it when I get back and it will be a good learning lesson on not being afraid of fixing your own car for the son and daughter.
If you really wan to teach them a lession John ill bring mine over, it has a blown head gasket , i ordered the parts today,,Should be easier to do than a Radio .... LOL !!!!!
The original oil pressure sending unit was a bit bouncy so I replaced that. The new one was a bit bouncy as well but it lasted only a short time. Now she is nice and steady at 40 idle, 60 driving.
Out of curious, how did you fix that? I noticed my oil pressure sending unit seem to be a bit bouncy. I just got my Fiero recently and will start the process of restoring her. I'm a bit overwhelmed, but will take one project at a time. You've purchased 40 Fieros in the past? Wow, you seem to know what you're doing. Nice blue Fiero!
[This message has been edited by Fiero Vice (edited 08-06-2015).]
