When I moved to Tampa, my wife was willing to move into one of the older homes, many of which came with multiple buildings (e.g., workshops and garages on site).
There was one house for sale before we moved that we would have won, but at the last minute I didn't put a bid in on it. It was in an A-rated school district, 2 acres, had 4-bedroom home w/ 2-car garage on the lot, a lake in the back yard that was shared with 3 other lots, a mother-in-law house which was a single bedroom w/ small kitchen building of which half of it was a large full-length (400 square foot) air conditioned workshop with solid work bench around all four sides of the room... and then there was a SEPARATE steel construction building in the back hidden behind the trees (so it wasn't something people saw when they visited your house), and it had a large two-car garage, but could easily fit 6 cars inside. It even had a circle driveway with a fountain in the middle.
My wife was totally OK with getting this, but I came to the conclusion that if I bought this house, I would fill it. I knew that if I bought it, I'd end up buying a car for every spot that there was. To that point, I'd at least be able to take my VW Bus and my Fiero out of storage and put it in there... but there would be more cars. And this scared me... (remembering a time when I had 9 cars and a golf cart).
So, we bought a smaller home in a clustered community with a small HOA and a 3-car garage... I don't regret it because I know the feeling I'd have of being owned by all of my stuff.
But with that said, what do you guys think of these?
After reading your house story above, I thought...
"Chronic Vehicle Addiction"
I concur. But my wife and I have a system. She says, "I want a puppy." I reply with, "Fine. I want a car. Go for it." We have three dogs. I have three Fieros, So it kind of works.
I wouldn't want that heap if I was paid $4500 to take it.
Don't be like those people on the Canadian house-flipper shows Patrick!
This is a SOLID chassis that's already had most of the demo-work done. All you need are parts at this point, a good paint job, a new top, and a crate motor!
That doesnt look TOO bad, cant really tell from the pics how much rust is there. I see some on the door edges. Thats what scares me, motor/trans, paint job, interior, easy peasy. But it what parts are missing that counts. Some of the rarer more expensive pieces are likely sold off. When I got my 66 mustang (on craigslist), as I went thru it, I found most of the hard to find parts were already sold off(probably also on craigslist). Dash cluster, dash top, heater core box, shift bezel, a whole buncha stuff was missing. It was a roller but had an insanely well done set of t-tops so that was the selling point for me.
No engine/trans, interior, brakes locked up, hole in the floorpan so big you could stand in it (came w new panels), buncha random parts in the trunk, what was left of the exhaust system and the bare seat frames in the inside. I remember my wifes face at the time looking like( hes not really gonna buy this turd), and my neighbor who was outside w a buddy as I pulled up w the trailer. I needed help unloading, they were trying not to laugh. If theres one thing I can do its polish a turd. 3 months n $10k later
New interior, new 5.0 efi/ 4spd aod, wheels/tires/ paint/ granada front brakes, custom body kit, cougar tail lites. Kept it simple, got maybe 12k in it.
If its complete and the rust is manageable, its really not that much work to bring a classic back. Having to weld on quarter panels or frame rails is a deal breaker for me.
I do want that kit car tho, went back n watched it often.
Nothing wrong w a chronic vehicle addiction, couple that w a lack of space......... now thats a problem!
shem
[This message has been edited by shemdogg (edited 08-12-2023).]
Update: the non-running rebodied Fiero that was referenced in the first post on this thread is again for sale on Facebook. It looks the "bid" that he had on eBay was in fact from a stooge. Unless you are there in person to give it a thorough inspection and drive it;. from what I can see this is not a good car to purchase
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
I'm telling ya, that beauty is gonna be mine! I can't wait to admire that mighty duke power plant in person. I'm sure it sounds incredible!
It is a project vehicle and should be sold as such. If you examine photos of the interior, its pretty beat up.. My guess is that the OD has probably been turned back. "It hasn't been run in a while" is a sure red flag that it may or may not start and even run. Then there is no description or statement on frame condition. This man is definitely a Stooge that's bidding on his own item. As such I would not trust this seller. Buying this for $5000 on the blind would probably end up being an asinine decision. Non-running vehicles are not worth much. 8/17/ 4 bidders/6 bids and one bidder has the last four bids that raised the price. Statement says sold but don't be surprised if we see this 84 again. . ------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 08-17-2023).]
I guess Dennis was right. You will be seeing this car again!
Look how happy it was when I picked it up today. Look at that smile..
Seller was a good guy. He got a lot of nasty flack from the Fiero community about the car. Some folks were just down right rude actually and should be ashamed. He showed me some of the messages. Not cool on our end at all.
Yes I was one of the bidders, yes, some of the bids were real. Yes the car is definitely a project and definitely going to need a LOT of work, but it deserved a second chance. Yes I will go broke spending money on it.
Thanks to 82 - T/A for posting this, otherwise I'd have never come across it!
It photographs WAY better then it looks in person.. Tires are 23 years old. It's got some really janky stuff going on with the kit install.
Engine ran smooth for one day and then started stalling out badly after idling for 30 mins. Will have to look into that with everything else.
Oh man!!! So glad that someone on here bought it!!! I'm really happy for you!!! Can you detail your progress on here? I would love to see the progress!!!
Smartaxel good luck with the car. " He got a lot of nasty flack from the Fiero community about the car. Some folks were just down right rude actually and should be ashamed. He showed me some of the messages. Not cool on our end at all." The sad part is some people are proud of this behavior.
Patrick... do you see what I see... down vertically in the image, below the decklid release switch, in the passenger footwell?
Yep. I'm not surprised it has the interior fresh air vents! It's an '84, with no A/C.
It probably doesn't have A/C because it's a Michigan car... but armed with that knowledge, there's a high possibility it's also rotted out underneath.
However, I wouldn't be at all surprised if smartaxel, who's been around the block, has plans to be transferring those body panels over to a much "cleaner" Fiero.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 08-24-2023).]
Yep. I'm not surprised it has the interior fresh air vents! It's an '84, with no A/C.
It probably doesn't have A/C because it's a Michigan car... but armed with that knowledge, there's a high possibility it's also rotted out underneath.
However, I wouldn't be at all surprised if smartaxel, who's been around the block, has plans to be transferring those body panels over to a much "cleaner" Fiero.
Furthest north I've ever lived was Massachusetts back in the late 80s / early 90s. All the cars I grew up around (which were 70s and 80s cars), they all had air conditioning. So it still astonishes me that some cars don't have air con. That said, my aunt had two cars, an early 70s VW Beetle and (later) a 1984 Toyota Starlet, neither of which had air conditioning, but we only drove it in the spring, and I was skin and bones back then because I was a kid and hyper... so I never noticed it.
I just get excited by the fact that this is a 1-year only feature, and that... to some extent at least, it can be added to all other Fieros. I'm just wondering if there's a use for the passenger one. I'm curious if it isn't possible to attach this to some other flap or something within the HVAC air box to get the same effect. I think you said that the frame is actually different from 84-85 in that specific area (or at the very least, this hole is now solid sheet metal) ... the least of which is that it's blocked by the air box.
Patrick, I like buttons... so, get used to it!!! Haha...
That said, my aunt had two cars, an early 70s VW Beetle and (later) a 1984 Toyota Starlet, neither of which had air conditioning...
Brings back memories of the 1983 Honda Civic which was the first car my parents ever bought brand-new. It had no AC (because "that's just something that'll be real expensive to fix if it breaks") and pretty much no other options either. No radio, no armrests, no sound deadening. It was about as comfortable as a cardboard box on wheels and not much faster either.
Thanks. I'm terrible at taking before pics. Yep, it will get a 3800sc. I actually have that in the garage. Had the heads redone and have to put it back together, but was going to go into my orange 88. That plan may change due to the unplanned purchase.. LOL. Or now I have to buy another 3800 engine.
quote
Originally posted by Vintage-Nut:
Congrats smartaxel for your new project!
We hope you'll start a thread with photos and the process....an engine swap too?
[This message has been edited by smartaxel (edited 08-26-2023).]
Lets just say I know I overpaid, but reality was if I didn't, then I wouldnt have it (which in some aspects may have been a blessing since its yet another project)
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
I thought you were just kidding around... but damn, you're serious!
Alright, well... I'll be looking forward to your future posts on this beast.
Most of its life it was some form of Southerrn car, but was in NY a few years, which makes the lack of AC really strange. . Its got rust in places moreso due to the swap then anything else. They have no gaskets on the 308 panels, so the trunk has rust, engine has rust, and they cut the back window into three pieces and siliconed it together, so the interior has rust and mold due to being wet. The cradle and framerails dont look so bad. Its really odd. I hope to get it cleaned up, de-spidered, and on a lift this weekend to see the frame better and determine if its getting a frame swap, or if im cleaning this up ad building on it. it has 3 to 4 layers of paint on it, so its going ot have to be stripped down at some point and all the body cracks fixed as well.
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
Yep. I'm not surprised it has the interior fresh air vents! It's an '84, with no A/C.
It probably doesn't have A/C because it's a Michigan car... but armed with that knowledge, there's a high possibility it's also rotted out underneath.
However, I wouldn't be at all surprised if smartaxel, who's been around the block, has plans to be transferring those body panels over to a much "cleaner" Fiero.
Most of its life it was some form of Southerrn car, but was in NY a few years, which makes the lack of AC really strange. . Its got rust in places moreso due to the swap then anything else. They have no gaskets on the 308 panels, so the trunk has rust, engine has rust, and they cut the back window into three pieces and siliconed it together, so the interior has rust and mold due to being wet. The cradle and framerails dont look so bad. Its really odd. I hope to get it cleaned up, de-spidered, and on a lift this weekend to see the frame better and determine if its getting a frame swap, or if im cleaning this up ad building on it. it has 3 to 4 layers of paint on it, so its going ot have to be stripped down at some point and all the body cracks fixed as well.
I definitely hope you start a long thread on here. Any chance you'd be willing to start a new post with the images you sent me in PM? Would love to be able to follow it and see it... even if it takes years.
Seller was a good guy. He got a lot of nasty flack from the Fiero community about the car. Some folks were just down right rude actually and should be ashamed. He showed me some of the messages. Not cool on our end at all.
Cars are about personal taste. All that matters is that it is what you like.
But I still recommend that you remove the decals and don't try to pass it off as anything but a kit car.
Be sure to keep us updated. That car will be sweet when you get it all lined out.
[This message has been edited by fredtoast (edited 08-27-2023).]
If the metalwork is all intact and not rusted out then you have a nice Fiero rebody to restore. My criticism of this vehicle was mainly because it MAY have many unknowns. If all is solid the engine starts and runs it may prove to be a decent buy. One thing for sure is that the body looks nice but for $5K beauty is in the eye of the beholder. .Good luck on the project.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
It's outside of my "sympathy" price range, so while I'd like to have it, not worth the cost to me... but maybe someone else closer to my neck of the woods would want one.
I concur. But my wife and I have a system. She says, "I want a puppy." I reply with, "Fine. I want a car. Go for it." We have three dogs. I have three Fieros, So it kind of works.
It's outside of my "sympathy" price range, so while I'd like to have it, not worth the cost to me... but maybe someone else closer to my neck of the woods would want one.
For nearly $7K its not a good buy. It may cost another $7k or more to get it running and restored.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
So that giant horse on the back.. Its not a decal. Its paint Surprised me as well. Its one of the few things on the car that was actually done well (taste aside). That looks like they put time into it. But yes, when it gets repainted, it will be gone.
quote
Originally posted by fredtoast: Cars are about personal taste. All that matters is that it is what you like.
But I still recommend that you remove the decals and don't try to pass it off as anything but a kit car.
Be sure to keep us updated. That car will be sweet when you get it all lined out.
Oh no, it was not a good buy - but I knew that going in.
1. When I drained the oil, 7 quarts came out, 3 of which were coolant, so while the engine did run at the time of inspection, its got issues. 2. The Framerails and front of the car/suspension are excellent, as far as rust. Very clean. The Floorboards, however, look like the titanic. I moved the driver seat forward and it broke free from the chassis. The frame will be junked soon. 3.Its getting swapped onto another 84 chassis, however with true lower miles, that I purchased a few days ago, then that chassis will eventually get engine swapped to 3800. 4. The car has its own ecosystem. I have found a live frog inside, wasps nest, and mice remains.
quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:
If the metalwork is all intact and not rusted out then you have a nice Fiero rebody to restore. My criticism of this vehicle was mainly because it MAY have many unknowns. If all is solid the engine starts and runs it may prove to be a decent buy. One thing for sure is that the body looks nice but for $5K beauty is in the eye of the beholder. .Good luck on the project.
It's outside of my "sympathy" price range, so while I'd like to have it, not worth the cost to me... but maybe someone else closer to my neck of the woods would want one.
Once I get some time to settle things out I can start a thread for it, sure.
quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: I definitely hope you start a long thread on here. Any chance you'd be willing to start a new post with the images you sent me in PM? Would love to be able to follow it and see it... even if it takes years.
