Today, my dad sent me pictures that the paint people sent him. Sadly, they forgot to take progress pictures of it being painted. There is a blemish they want to fix, so I pick it up in a few days. I actually won't have it for my first day of school, and since the parking pass I have is for the Fiero I won't be able to drive to school lol. I'm excited to see it Tuesday.
[This message has been edited by copperhens (edited 09-01-2017).]
So a few days ago, on Tuesday, the Fiero was supposed to be ready. I didn't have a car to drive to school, so my grandma picked me up and the plan was to pick up the Fiero. Though it wasn't yet ready. Soon after she dropped me off home, my dad got the call it was done. Well lucky for me my grandma could take me still.
So my grandma and I went to get the Fiero. I stopped for gas in the Fiero on the way home, and what do I see on the roof? The paint chipped! Right behind the sunroof and by windshield. Back to the paint shop she goes.
There are these dust specks in some spots I don't really care for...
Well I got it back today. Was a $1700 paint job at Maaco. Now I've never had anything painted professionally, so I can't compare. There are a few inconsistencies in the new paint, but not noticeable from a distance. For a budget paint job it's good in my opinion, and the people were really nice. Are Fiero mirrors supposed to be matte? If they are oops, didn't tell the paint people to not paint them. If they're suppose to be glossy too, then great lol.
On the way home, the dash kept clicking. It was the darn tripodometer not working right. It started working again luckily. Since the gas gauge is still broken I don't need to lose that haha.
For sake of comparison, some of these 'before' pictures I'll upload have been posted before.
Was a $1700 paint job at Maaco. Now I've never had anything painted professionally, so I can't compare. There are a few inconsistencies in the new paint, but not noticeable from a distance. For a budget paint job it's good in my opinion...
I had my first car ('67 Chev) repainted waaaaay back in 1975. (Ya, I'm old.) It looked great at first, but shortly afterwards problems began to develop. I was so ticked off with the whole process that I've never had a car repainted since. Hopefully your experience will be a lot more positive.
I had my first car ('67 Chev) repainted waaaaay back in 1975. (Ya, I'm old.) It looked great at first, but shortly afterwards problems began to develop. I was so ticked off with the whole process that I've never had a car repainted since. Hopefully your experience will be a lot more positive.
"Are Fiero mirrors supposed to be matte? If they are oops, didn't tell the paint people to not paint them. If they're suppose to be glossy too, then great lol."
They are supposed to be glossy and black, but the original finish is not a regular body paint, it's different, almost like they're anodized. I'm sure someone on here knows what the process is that was used.
Here's a cheap suggestion for you too. Go to O'reilly's or wherever and get some black fabric paint, pop the speaker covers out of the dash, and paint them black. It's cheap, easy, and looks way better!
The biggest reason for the initial repaint was the need to repair rust damage around the wheel openings in the rear fenders. When I first got the car back, it looked great... beautiful dark blue paint with metal flake. About a month later, the rust started to bubble up through the new paint around the rear fenders. Obviously the rust hadn't been dealt with properly. They took the car back and re-did the rear fenders, but the replacement paint on the rear fenders never properly matched the rest of the car. Something about the metal flake was very different. It looked weird. I never liked the car after that. In retrospect, I should've insisted that the whole car be resprayed. Live and learn.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 09-11-2017).]
They are supposed to be glossy and black, but the original finish is not a regular body paint, it's different, almost like they're anodized. I'm sure someone on here knows what the process is that was used.
Here's a cheap suggestion for you too. Go to O'reilly's or wherever and get some black fabric paint, pop the speaker covers out of the dash, and paint them black. It's cheap, easy, and looks way better!
Neat idea, I'll have to keep that one in mind. I also have to touch up some of the gray in the interior. Thanks!
The biggest reason for the initial repaint was the need to repair rust damage around the wheel openings in the rear fenders. When I first got the car back, it looked great... beautiful dark blue paint with metal flake. About a month later, the rust started to bubble up through the new paint around the rear fenders. Obviously the rust hadn't been dealt with properly. They took the car back and re-did the rear fenders, but the replacement paint on the rear fenders never properly matched the rest of the car. Something about the metal flake was very different. It looked weird. I never liked the car after that. In retrospect, I should've insisted that the whole car be resprayed. Live and learn.
Ah wow that's too bad. From storied I've heard about painting it could be a hit or miss. Shame when the paint work isn't done properly the first time.
From stories I've heard about painting it could be a hit or miss.
My bitterness back then over the botched rust repair greatly contributed to me eventually getting into Fieros. I wanted freedom from rusty body panels!
My bitterness back then over the botched rust repair greatly contributed to me eventually getting into Fieros. I wanted freedom from rusty body panels!
On the 9th of September, I went to a small O'Rielly's car show with my grandpa who brought his Buick Grand National.
Some people pushed this racer up there. It was pretty neat.
There were only about a dozen cars. Fiero didn't get an award this time. There was free food though, so that's a win for me.
As I sat behind Fiero at that car show, I kept looking at how dirty the taillights were. So, I made that my goal for when I got home.
I also really want to repaint the trim. On the other side it is a very light gray. I found out you have to remove the bumper to get to this piece, so that is not happening. I did paint the antenna though. It was chipped in some spots.
While I was in the taillights, my dad happened to have the correct bulb to replace the one that was burned out for the "TI" letters. Also cleaned some of the dust.
On the passanger side light, the gasket wasn't on all the way which allowed a lot of dust in. My dad got new caulk to seal the taillights back up.
On the 10th of September, Fiero was looking nice under the trees.
Went to the weekly Baker's Car Cruise. Pretty big turnout.
Some people strolled up on their horses.
Some people were launching hot air balloons. My dad and I got up close and they asked us to help make sure one of the balloons wouldn't touch an object out there. I got a really nice picture of Fiero. It has been my phone's background since.
On the 12th of September, I was sitting in the trunk looking at the engine wondering about EGR solenoid. I still got code 32 on occasion, but not as much as usual. I remembered a thread on Pennock's of someone who went in and cleaned their solenoid. Before I took the thing apart, I noticed a broken line. The way it was broken was very subtle. You can't see it in the picture I attached below because my dad broke the hose off lol.
Here was our temporary fix with a fuel line from our weed wacker:
Ended up going to O'Rielly's anyway and got a new hose. Also got some new hosed for the cruise control. As you can see in the image below, they were crumbling apart. Maybe would fix the issue of my cruise not working(spoiler alert: it didn't fix it).
I haven't gotten a code 32 since. Fiero also doesn't seem to shake as bad. The little things do seem to help.
A couple days later it was real foggy, so I got this neat picture:
Kidding! I am never ever selling this Fiero! Fiero just needed an oil change and my dad figured putting it on the trailer would be better than jack stands.
I haven't looked at the bottom of a rusted Fiero, but this Fiero does seem clean.
Also, the owner of the 88 GT, Brian, who is usually at the Baker's Weekly Cruise, generously sold me an automatic transmission filter(his car is a stick shift). Fiero is also leaking a lot(well not too much, but drips in the garage were noticeable) of transmission fluid.
There is that darn gas tank that needs to be dropped so I can try and fix my fuel gauge. I need parts though, first. :/
My dad also got this metal protector from Amsoil. I got all the parts I could reach under Fiero. Here is a little before and after:
Wiped the inside of the transmission fluid container and replaced the gasket. Managed to finish everything just before dark. Now Fiero has fresh oil, a new oil filter, fresh transmission fluid and a new transmission filter. Tightened everything good and no more leaks.
[This message has been edited by copperhens (edited 10-27-2017).]
The weekend of the 16th of September was very busy with car shows!
On the way to a car show that was the furthest I have gone to(80 mile round trip?), Fiero hit a milestone! Well, 53,000 miles may not seem like a lot but for as long as I have had Fiero there has only been 52,000.
The voting sheets were funky. Some of the references must have been too old for me as I didn't get it.
There was another Fiero there. I have seen it at another show and I call it "the hot pepper" Fiero. At least that's the theme the owner has for it. It won a couple awards at that show.
My friend and I by our cars. It was so hot that day. I remember trying to scoot under Fiero's shade.
Car show weekend continues on the 17th of September! This car show was in my very own town. They closed down Main St. to fit the ~300 cars. I was in the stock '80s class. I was originally in some two-seater class but switched out.
I had the only Fiero there. At the show, there were two Bricklins. From what I read on one of the signs, is that there were less than 3,000 built. A few people told me they have a Fiero. A wife even asked if I wanted to buy her husband's Fiero lol.
When I was home, I also switched the switch covers between Fiero and Spare Fiero. Spare Fiero's was really nice.
On the 22nd of September, I went to a new weekly cruise location. My grandparents came and brought the Grand National. Brian also was here and had his '88 GT.
The last car show off the year! It was the last chapter of three Pontiac, Buick and GMC events. This show brings Fieros, and there were a lot of those!
Here is a sweet Indy one:
Here is a red one('84?) that has a big engine that I don't recall:
Brian's black '88 GT:
Here is a gray('87?) one(I like this color) that showed up late:
Dottie's CJB Formula! This car is amazing. She picked it up from the factory herself and it even has signatures from the workers.
In the distance you can see the hot pepper Fiero:
I was parked next to a fellow with a Trans Am. He got to talking to me about how he bought his kids a yellow(was repainted) '86 GT. He was from the same town I am. Not to be creepy, but I knew exactly where he lived because I have seen a yellow Fiero GT and a bunch of Trans Ams at a house near me. I have recently seen this Fiero for sale on Craigslist though. I wonder why?
There were a couple Fiero categories. All the GTs except mine and Brian's were in the notchback category. Brian got the best of catergory for the GTs, and I got a plaque. Was very nice. After, there was an option to cruise to Baker's. V8 Fiero that is usually at Baker's and Brian went back. I went too and met up with my Subaru friend. We didn't stay long because it was packed! Had to have been several hundred cars. There was also a burgundy Fiero.
On the 27th of September, Fiero got a new paint job. Well, from mother nature at least. The layer of dust(living on a dirt road...) mixed with rain later that day made a fun pattern.
On the 30th of September, I got some goodies from the Fiero Store! I got headlight gaskets for Spare Fiero, and interior paint. Turns out the interior is so faded it doesn't match. Guess it will be a project for another day to repaint the gray because it some spots its brown due to the sun...
On the 6th of October, I was in the Halloween spirit and decided to ready Fiero's costume in case we attended any Halloween car events. Drew a few Ferrari emblems too that are I don't have a picture of.
I ended up making the red circles larger later. And don't worry, these aren't taped on. I have a weight system on the trunk side keeping it from falling.
On the 7th of October, my Subaru friend found a car trunk-o-treat event. It was really neat. There has to have been millions of dollars worth of cars there. Toyota Supras, Lamborghinis, GTRs, a Nismo, Ferraris... to name a few.
My favorite though was a notchback Fiero that was there. Had no power windows or mirrors so was probably an earlier year. It was really clean. In some spots, it almost looked like there was tape on it? In the last picture by the rear tire, you can kind of see. I wonder why?
Fiero was looking all nice. I also really want to invest in some LED headlights. On the drive home, I could barely see.
On the 10th of October, Fiero wouldn't start. It was sputter a bit on the way to school which at the time I thought it was just doing its usual shaking. I really appreciate how it didn't die in the road! I overestimated my trip odometer and thought I still had a dozen miles to get to a gas station that afternoon. I need to fix my gas gauge.
Strong genes!
Something about the metal flake was very different. It looked weird. I never liked the car after that. In retrospect, I should've insisted that the whole car be resprayed. Live and learn.
