I have a new item on hand. I had only a few manufactured to see how they fit and get some opinions on what some think of it before I have a large batch made. Very easy to install. A few minute job. I don't want to say what it is until a few have installed it and give me some feedback and I have them in stock and ready to ship. So I'm looking for a few 84-87 Fiero owners with modified cars or want to modify there car (this is not something those who have all original cars would want). Someone who can install it right away. It only takes a few minutes to install. This is an item I have wanted to make for many years and never got around to it. I think many will like it. Will remove something in your engine compartment that looks odd in my opinion. This in my opinion will look significantly better.
------------------ 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
Owner of an 86 and 87 GT here. 4 and 5 speed, respectively, with the 86 about to receive a supercharged 3800 transplant this year. Open to modifications and testing, both cars are daily drivers.
I have a heavily modified '87 SE with a 3.4 V6 and a Getrag 5-speed. I'm not sure what the item is that you're talking about, but I wonder if I've removed or modified it already... LOL.
Also, you have a PM.
[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 01-21-2017).]
Since Rodney mentioned 84-87, the mod must be applicable to Duke and V6 Fieros, which would exclude most things on the engine/transmission, except for common parts, such as the thermostat housing cap.
If 88 Fieros are excluded, then there must be something different about 88 Fieros that excludes them from the mod. So the main change for 1988 I can think of is suspension.
I received this 'secret item' on Wednesday. Had to make a small adjustment to my lift strut to take full advantage of the clean look of the secret item. I will have pictures posted tomorrow.
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
Does not fit the 88 but I will be offering an item later this spring/summer for the 88 only. A vacuum formed part.
Looking at making a couple other vacuum formed parts (no, not tail light lenses).
------------------ 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'm thinking it gets rid of those stupid looking washers that go under the strut bolts. Never liked that look, I love the 88 because of the ring washer, much cleaner. Not sure why someone hasn't created a 84-87 version of it. Or why owners haven't just put 6 large washers under those nuts.
One other non-88 part is the dog bone cover, but not sure you could do anything with that?
Rob
[This message has been edited by qwikgta (edited 01-22-2017).]
I'm thinking it gets rid of those stupid looking washers that go under the strut bolts. Never liked that look, I love the 88 because of the ring washer, much cleaner. Not sure why someone hasn't created a 84-87 version of it.
OK already. That is what I am making. Can't get anything past you guys.
Was not as easy as you might think to design and I'll explain that later once I get a few out there and see them installed.
------------------ 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
[This message has been edited by Rodney (edited 01-22-2017).]
I would be interested in such an item. I have already changed and cleaned mine up for shows as my car is generally for show.
I have a stock engine but have made changed to clean thing sup here and there.
A clean and detailed compartment is my priority as I have one of the cleanest around and anything I can do to improve the looks the better. I have won my class at Pontiac Nationals and taken the top 5 award several times. With the influx of low mile G8 models, Solstice and other always improving Fiero Competition in the Modified class I have to keep looking for more things to improve what I have.
Sending out 2 pair to two 84-87 Fiero owners. I am also looking for one owner that has a kit car or has removed his rear vent supports. On the 308/328's there is an issue with the steel braces that many 308/328 kits use that bolts to the long stud to support the rear deck lid hinges. So anyone that has a 84-87 308/328 kit that still uses the factory torsion springs would be OK. No special modified rear struts is preferred also.
------------------ 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 think this refers to the '88 cradle swap. The strut relocation required for the '88 cradle swap will interfere with Rodney's strut mounting rings.
Yes and no. It is mostly about the length of the studs. The locking nuts should grab the studs. If the stud is too short the locking part of the nuts will not grab the two shorter studs. I have a strut complete sample here and the sheet steel chassis section. The nuts do grab enough but not by a lot. But the 88 has taller nuts and possibly some 84-87's used taller nuts?? When I start to sell these I'm probably going to include new low profile nuts like the GM originals and higher profile flange locking nuts and let the customer use the ones that work for them. So I want to see how these fit on cars that have retained the stock type rear struts, not modified in any way.
------------------ 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 only had 3 pair cut for my R&D. I'm keeping one pair here. I'll have more made to sell once I get some feedback on the ones I'm shipping out today.
------------------ 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 finished the install of the item Rodney sent for R&D. (Strut dress plate) He wanted to see how they looked on a '308' kit and what options could be used to address the hood mount / strut brace area. My vehicle also seems to have longer the standard strut studs so the concern of having the studs having providing ample area for the nuts were not an issue (at least on my vehicle). The car had been lowered by the previous owner so I am not sure if the lowering process allowed more strut stud length into the engine bay area. I want to apologize up front for the dirty engine bay. On the passenger side the plate requires a bit of shimming in the area of the long bolt to have it fit flat. After a couple of different shims were tested a couple of small washers did the trick. There was no issue on the drivers side. The hood brace was mounted both under and over the plate. Under the plate lifts the plate to high. Over the plate works but it detracts from the clean look of the plate. I'm working on a fix. This will not be an issue if your kit does not have the same set up as mine. Started with passenger side hood brace under the plate Over the plate with washers as shims locked down Drivers side Both side installed - hood mount/strut mount will have to be redesigned The pain of R&D
Hope this helps and I'll answer any questions you may have to the best of my ability.
This version is for kit cars. The Fiero version has large pads where the bracket bolts on to mimic the size of the oval washer.
------------------ 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'm guessing g.m. bent up the lip for strength .. how much you loose with a flat sheet ring.. tin canning the tower tops will lead to cracks and then failure
I'm guessing g.m. bent up the lip for strength .. how much you loose with a flat sheet ring.. tin canning the tower tops will lead to cracks and then failure
I've seen people install engine braces with similar steel rings in varying thickness and widths for like the last 25 years. I've never heard of any failures. Can you show me some examples of these failures you have seen?
------------------ 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
What struts are you using? I don't recognize the tops. Just curious.
I'm not sure what brand of struts are on the car. I'll have to pull a wheel and look for a part number. Car was lowered front and rear by the original owner. If I remember my struts from my days in the auto part business they could be older KYB's or Sachs.
I'm guessing g.m. bent up the lip for strength .. how much you loose with a flat sheet ring.. tin canning the tower tops will lead to cracks and then failure
The rings I installed lay completely flat against the strut tower surface with the exception of the long bolt on the passage side. I used a single thin and I mean thin washer to 'flush up' the install. One well struck hammer blow on a work bench will most likely eliminate the need for a washer. The size of the gap on either side of the bolt is less then 1/8 of an inch. The rings are installed with the wheels on the ground so there is no shifting of the strut. As part of the R&D process you can be sure I'll be checking the towers for cracks or splitting and for any loss of torque on the bolts after each drive. All in all I don't think the rings which are basically cosmetic lessen or substantially increase the strength of the tower.
I'm not sure what brand of struts are on the car. I'll have to pull a wheel and look for a part number. Car was lowered front and rear by the original owner. If I remember my struts from my days in the auto part business they could be older KYB's or Sachs.
Could be sachs as I know KYB, Monroe, Gabreril, Koni, stock GM, thus the curiosity.
I've seen people install engine braces with similar steel rings in varying thickness and widths for like the last 25 years. I've never heard of any failures. Can you show me some examples of these failures you have seen?
There is a thread of this failure on the powertour in 2015 on here.. I am not any good with search.. so.. If I find it. it will be a chock
Originally posted by sardonyx247: What struts are you using? I don't recognize the tops. Just curious.
That strut has the upper bushing hat flipped, so it sticks up. This moved the strut shaft about 1" higher and can interfere with the decklid on some of the models. It looks like they cut the protruding strut shaft after the nut to gain additional clearance and welded the nut the shaft so it can't work loose.
Originally posted by E.Furgal: There is a thread of this failure on the powertour in 2015 on here.. I am not any good with search.. so.. If I find it. it will be a chock
I believe it was 2016 and Tom Slicks Fiero (we both long hauled our LS4 Fieros). His issue was caused because the lower washer wasn't installed during the coilover build. So the only thing keeping the strut shaft in place was the rubber bushing and its bonding to the strut upper hat. After several years and thousands of miles, the rubber finally let loose and the strut shaft popped up through the vent grill. It had nothing to do with the strut hat bolts.
The bolts on the strut towers having a ring vs. 3 washers is a non-issue. The strut towers are 2 layers of steel and together they are close to 1/8" thick. The strut hat bolts to the bottom side of the strut tower and it is a little under 1/8" thick. On the 84-87s they have an additional 1/8" flat steel spacer plate that mounts under the strut tower, and then you get to the washers on top (84-87) or the rings on the 88's. The overall clamped metal thickness between all these sections is very close to 1/4" on the 88s and over that on the 84-87...
That strut has the upper bushing hat flipped, so it sticks up. This moved the strut shaft about 1" higher and can interfere with the decklid on some of the models.
Yes, I showed Here how a pre-existing "hole" had to be deepened in the decklid of my '84 for clearance.
The situation with an '88 notchie is a little different, and the image below of my Formula shows that it's the grill that actually needs to be modified for clearance.
Aw, no fair! 
..
