Until I recently purchased a Fiero I thought they had air vents on both sides. I thought there must have been some Fieros with no vents at all and that my car had mismatched body panels from two different cars.
On one hand I feel really stupid, but on the other hand I just fixed one of the most expensive repair issues with my car.
Until I recently purchased a Fiero I thought they had air vents on both sides.
You mean like this?
That's my non-A/C '84 parts car. I don't know about the 85's (only year I've never owned), but the '86-'88 Fieros only have the opening for a vent on the driver's side.
This is my '88 Formula (originally with A/C) that I installed a vent and controls taken from my '84 parts car).
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-14-2023).]
I was under the impression he's talking about the quarter panels where the drivers side has the intake and the passenger is blank.
Ummm.... it was referred to as a "vent"... plus it never occurred to me that anyone who's actually been around a Fiero would've thought that there were intakes on both sides ... so I went with the only thing that made sense to me! But yeah, you're probably right!
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-15-2023).]
First off, Patrick- that has to be the BIGGEST mouse nest I have ever seen!
Second, yes, he is talking about the side vents in the quarter panels....Sadly, I don't think that the scoop-panels I added to my Fiero are still available- they look perfect- especially after I added grill-work from the hex-grills under the SE deck vents....
[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 06-15-2023).]
All has "Cold air intake" w/ 1 "vent" behind D-side door.
Others w/ 2 "vents" like above are aftermarket parts.
If mean on top w/ deck lid... 84 have blanks on side and vent in the lid. All others have 2 or more vent panels to fit the lid w/ bump where 84 had a vent.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
Originally posted by Patrick: it never occurred to me that anyone who's actually been around a Fiero would've thought that there were intakes on both sides ..
That is the thing. I have never "ben around" a Fiero a lot. I have read a lot about them. I have seen plenty driving down the road and in parking lots. But I have never known anyone who actually owned one. I had never ridden in one before.
I am eventually going to flare the back fenders. At that time I will probably add another "side air intake" or whatever they are called to the passenger side. I think it looks a little strange to just have one on one side.
Originally posted by fredtoast: I think it looks a little strange to just have one on one side.
Again That 1 "vent" has a job, for cold air for engine to breath. Behind is muffle and water blocking plastic "can" to stop a lot of water getting in. More so because V6 air cleaner is inches away from that. "Paper" and other Air Filters are wreck getting wet and won't breath right often even when they dry later.
Is only obvious on Red and other light color cars w/ Black grate.
More "dumb" is things like Aftermarket "scoops" like ones make by Holley now copied by others that stick out and become a target for many problems including force more "water" in... People can knock them off easy just getting in/out of that Fiero or other cars parked in normal parking spaces next to them because sticks out and too low to see.
Aftermarket ones like above may look nice but have problems too... Some users have remove the "muffler" doing other mods. May act same as Holley and force more "water" in. Even if the engine doesn't get that "water," others things can get more "water" and rust etc. Is why many are just decorations not allowing air flow thru them.
"Water" isn't just Water but anything on the road like road salt and other pollution mix w/ water and snow.
That's my non-A/C '84 parts car. I don't know about the 85's (only year I've never owned), but the '86-'88 Fieros only have the opening for a vent on the driver's side.
This is my '88 Formula (originally with A/C) that I installed a vent and controls taken from my '84 parts car).
I guess you know now that he was only talking about the side air intake for the engine. But on the topic of what you posted... almost no one knows about this option Patrick. It's maybe you and me, and like a really small handful of people on Pennocks that actually know this is a thing. From what I understand, it was a 1-year only feature, and I don't even know if it was an option (any chance I can get a screenshot of your RPO sticker?).
Personally, I think it's like one of the coolest options ever. All the old cars of the 70s had options like this... and I'm really surprised that the Fiero even had this feature... and even more surprised that after going through all the design efforts, they cancelled it after the first year. I have two complete sets, knobs, cables, everything. I've not installed either of them yet (whether on my car of my daughter's), but from what I understand, the hole on the passenger side is covered... either by the factory air-box, or maybe the cowl just never had the cutout.
But it's a super-cool thing to have.
I see that you've already installed it... what's it like? Do you visibly feel the air coming in on the passenger foot-well or under the dash? Just curious how you like it.
Also, did you do anything with the passenger side, or did you just install the drivers side with only the driver's-side knob?
I see that you've already installed it... what's it like? Do you visibly feel the air coming in on the passenger foot-well or under the dash? Just curious how you like it.
Just driving around town, the "rush" of air into the cabin really isn't noticeable, as it's being diffused somewhat by all the stuff under the dash. At highway speed, it's possible I'd feel the air hitting my feet if I was barefoot... but I don't drive barefoot. However, it is noticeable that fresh air is entering the cabin any time the vent is open, and it's nice to be able to do so without having the HVAC blower running.
quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
Also, did you do anything with the passenger side, or did you just install the drivers side with only the driver's-side knob?
The vent can't be installed on the passenger side of '85-'88 Fieros... not only because there is no hole in the sheet metal, but the metal that's there is also formed at the wrong angle. If you look at the photo of the '84, you'll see that where the hole is, the sheet metal is basically vertical, whereas in the photo of the '88, the sheet metal is angled about the same as the windshield. In theory, cutting a hole and reworking the sheet metal to allow mounting of the vent on a vertical surface would work, but it would be a helluva lot of hassle for minimal gain. The single vent on the driver's side works just fine.
In regards to the controls, the left/right levers are all part of a single assembly.
quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
From what I understand, it was a 1-year only feature, and I don't even know if it was an option (any chance I can get a screenshot of your RPO sticker?).
I have two 84's (one being the parts car I robbed the vent and controls from to use in my Formula), and they both came from the factory with the vents. They're also both non-A/C cars. My suspicion is that the vents were standard on non-A/C '84 Fieros... but I don't know for sure. I'll take a shot of the two RPO stickers and PM them to you.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-17-2023).]
Originally posted by Patrick: Just driving around town, the "rush" of air into the cabin really isn't noticeable, as it's being diffused somewhat by all the stuff under the dash. At highway speed, it's possible I'd feel the air hitting my feet if I was barefoot... but I don't drive barefoot. However, it is noticeable that fresh air is entering the cabin any time the vent is open, and it's nice to be able to do so without having the HVAC blower running.
That was kind of my hope... it makes a huge difference... feels different really than a fan-powered air going into the car. When you're getting actual breeze from the speed you're driving, it feels a bit more natural, and also gives a bit more realism to driving the car (my opinion)... it's more of a nostalgia feel, like the old-school vent windows that cars always had in the corner of the front windows.
quote
Originally posted by Patrick: The vent can't be installed on the passenger side of '85-'88 Fieros... not only because there is no hole in the sheet metal, but the metal that's there is also formed at the wrong angle. If you look at the photo of the '84, you'll see that where the hole is, the sheet metal is basically vertical, whereas in the photo of the '88, the sheet metal is angled about the same as the windshield. In theory, cutting a hole and reworking the sheet metal to allow mounting of the vent on a vertical surface would work, but it would be a helluva lot of hassle for minimal gain. The single vent on the driver's side works just fine. In regards to the controls, the left/right levers are all part of a single assembly.
Yeah... I kind of figured that was the case. I wonder if there's anywhere that you could reasonably modify this to attach the other flap. I wouldn't want to create problems (leaks, etc.)... but just thinking about how I might be able to repurpose the other side so that it would be usable to the passenger as well.
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
I have two 84's (one being the parts car I robbed the vent and controls from to use in my Formula), and they both came from the factory with the vents. They're also both non-A/C cars. My suspicion is that the vents were standard on non-A/C '84 Fieros... but I don't know for sure. I'll take a shot of the two RPO stickers and PM them to you.
Thanks, I appreciate it. I have a "Year to Year Changes" for Crown Victorias, and I've been thinking of putting something together like this for Fieros as well (properly cited of course).
... so I went with the only thing that made sense to me! 
But yeah, you're probably right!
However, it is noticeable that fresh air is entering the cabin any time the vent is open, and it's nice to be able to do so without having the HVAC blower running. 
