I'm now for the second time restoring my personal 88. By personal I mean I have had 40 plus Fieros But this has always been my put put cruiser,Take on runs and such . Took my wife out on our first date in this car. I still have 6 more even though I technically got out of Fieros a long time ago.
It has an original 117 thou on it. IN the last ten years I don't think it has gotten 1000 miles on it. First time it didn't need so much but this time all the little things are adding up hard. Skrews,tabs,moulds,covers seals,wipes,clips ,seats,pucks,hoses,belts,lines,brake lines,cables and on and on on just little bolt/attach on type stuff.
Second full PPG paint job down to the primer in it's life. Holy crap paint is three times what it was 15 years or so ago.
Taking all the black parts off the car to refinish paint or super clean and found 50 pounds of dirt and various debris tucked in every nook and crevice. No idea how this stuff even finds itsway into these places.
JUst to this point I have $6 grand in and about another 2 in parts on order. Mind it was complete and perfectly drivable when I started about two weeks ago. I have three more 88s I'll be doing one after another here. I'm going to sell them but I don't want to sell them to someone that is looking for a cheap car or a cool car that they dream of fising and then it somehow ends up in the wrecking yard.. SO, I'm making sure that who ever buys them has a serious vested interest in the car.
I'm going to post a bunch of pics and close up later. I have a pic of my security feed as of now. I love Fieros and always have. I remember checking out a new GT on the dealer lot back in the day, Bought my first one at 18 years old from an impound lot. Guy got his car took and impounded in a car chase and went to jail. Lucky me!!!! About four decades later i'm switching to something a little more comfy. Thinking a 63 Lincoln Continental.
Life changes
------------------ Logic doesn't mean correct or right. For example: Punching someone in the face until they no longer think the way they did before is effectively changing their mind in a statistically positive way.
I'm looking forward to watching the process. If you haven't run into the videos or seen my posts on here, my daughter is restoring hers as well, and I'm funding it for her.
We're definitely not taking the cheap path, I'll say that. The previous owner had the car for over 25 years, and maintained it well... but in doing so, he often replaced bolts with ones that weren't the correct ones, or did other little things in order to keep the car on the road. In any case though, we've been buying parts, upgrading things ... basically sparing no expense. I know I've been criticized for it before, but it's been a learning experience for her.
I plan to total everything up, and she'll make a video on lessons learned... but it's looking like (plus the cost of the car) the total cost of this car with restoration will have totaled about ~26 thousand dollars. Which almost seems impossible to even comprehend. We have all the receipts, all the parts, etc. But... the ENTIRE car has been disassembled and completely... I mean COMPLETELY restored from top to bottom. literally everything is new. So I don't feel too bad about it...
I'm looking forward to watching the process. If you haven't run into the videos or seen my posts on here, my daughter is restoring hers as well, and I'm funding it for her.
We're definitely not taking the cheap path, I'll say that. The previous owner had the car for over 25 years, and maintained it well... but in doing so, he often replaced bolts with ones that weren't the correct ones, or did other little things in order to keep the car on the road. In any case though, we've been buying parts, upgrading things ... basically sparing no expense. I know I've been criticized for it before, but it's been a learning experience for her.
I plan to total everything up, and she'll make a video on lessons learned... but it's looking like (plus the cost of the car) the total cost of this car with restoration will have totaled about ~26 thousand dollars. Which almost seems impossible to even comprehend. We have all the receipts, all the parts, etc. But... the ENTIRE car has been disassembled and completely... I mean COMPLETELY restored from top to bottom. literally everything is new. So I don't feel too bad about it...
A restored Fiero is really undervalued. I don't think anything can be dome about it.
Had I not been busy doing other things I wish I would have done a thorough super deep clean and disassembly. It went through the basic clean,pressure wash but that just doesn't cut it. So kind of doing it the hard way now. THis code sticker almost got destroyed.
I had a video I cut up into little pieces to post a bit of cleaning and trim but There doesn't seem to be a way to post short vids without youtube. Bummer
[This message has been edited by pokeyfiero (edited 04-04-2025).]
I had a video I cut up into little pieces to post a bit of cleaning and trim but There doesn't seem to be a way to post short vids without youtube. Bummer
The seats are in 9 out of ten condition. Nothing wrong with but not brand new is all. I intend on buying the covers from RW that are exact repro looking but they are covers. I want to keep these Old seats in great shape.
Center console is warped bad . I have other oem centers I'll be putting in instead of these. I'm toying with the idea of getting after markets from RW The car isn't ever going to be some 10.000 mile all original car and it has after market upgrade 12"brakes already anyway. so I don't think tasteful upgrades shouldn't hurt value. Opinions?
The dash is really sun discolored and I want to get some plastic interior paint to make them look good again but can't find exact colors anymore. I thought Fiero Store sold them but I guesse not anymore.
I have replacements that are in gret shape but not wanting to change out the whole dash.
Head lights are rebuilt and working spiffy.Door jambs still need to be done but I may change the carpet yet.
Lots to do and another on the side watching and waiting for his turn.
Unless you already bought a new one, you can make the inside of that coolant overflow tank look like new. All you need to do is go to any sporting goods store, buy a small box of bb’s, remove the coolant tank, plug up the bottom nipple, pour in some bb’s and a homemade mix of soap, bleach, hand cleaner, etc., put the cap back on and shake, shake, shake till your arms fall off and voila, clean tank. 😀 Kit
Unless you already bought a new one, you can make the inside of that coolant overflow tank look like new. All you need to do is go to any sporting goods store, buy a small box of bb’s, remove the coolant tank, plug up the bottom nipple, pour in some bb’s and a homemade mix of soap, bleach, hand cleaner, etc., put the cap back on and shake, shake, shake till your arms fall off and voila, clean tank. 😀 Kit
I'm looking forward to watching the process. If you haven't run into the videos or seen my posts on here, my daughter is restoring hers as well, and I'm funding it for her.
We're definitely not taking the cheap path, I'll say that. The previous owner had the car for over 25 years, and maintained it well... but in doing so, he often replaced bolts with ones that weren't the correct ones, or did other little things in order to keep the car on the road. In any case though, we've been buying parts, upgrading things ... basically sparing no expense. I know I've been criticized for it before, but it's been a learning experience for her.
I plan to total everything up, and she'll make a video on lessons learned... but it's looking like (plus the cost of the car) the total cost of this car with restoration will have totaled about ~26 thousand dollars. Which almost seems impossible to even comprehend. We have all the receipts, all the parts, etc. But... the ENTIRE car has been disassembled and completely... I mean COMPLETELY restored from top to bottom. literally everything is new. So I don't feel too bad about it...
You spent hundreds of hours with your kid.
Worked together on a major project.
Documented it with pics and videos.
She will have those memories stored FOREVER in her head.
and...
The end result is a reliable, DRIVABLE Fiero!
She completed a major project spanning many months.
My head is spinning over the amount of lessons she might have learned.
The Fiero lights up areas in some folks' brains, man - it's a 'thing'. as long as you enjoy the 'thing', and it doesn't impact your health or hurt anyone, money spent is less important.
Glad you are keeping her goin'.
But... every Fiero I see without a wing makes me a little sad inside. Like a bird without a wing. sad. inside. But it's not MY Fiero, so I'll just shut up now.
Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist: But... every Fiero I see without a wing makes me a little sad inside. Like a bird without a wing. sad. inside. But it's not MY Fiero, so I'll just shut up now.
This car came with a wing stock. I have it off while it was painted. I will put it back on after the paint is cured and it it get its first machine massage. THe wing back on would be the happy ending.
Great work in this restoration. You claim it was only driven 1000 miles in the last 10 years so why are you restoring it for a second time? BTW, nice picture of your pet chicken, That's one bird that doesn't get a lot of respect
------------------ " 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 "
That paint came out really well! If you don't mind me asking though... when you remove the painters tape, you'll be left with ridges and such... what do you do then at that point to create a seamless transition? Do you buff it out somehow? Paint (other than "parts") is the one thing I've never really tried to tackle... but want to.
quote
Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist:
You spent hundreds of hours with your kid.
Worked together on a major project.
Documented it with pics and videos.
She will have those memories stored FOREVER in her head.
and...
The end result is a reliable, DRIVABLE Fiero!
She completed a major project spanning many months.
My head is spinning over the amount of lessons she might have learned.
Yeah, this is true... I appreciate it. It's something that I am really happy about. It's not easy or common for parents to have something they can do with their child at this age (later teen years). This is usually when parents and kids tend to drift apart a little as the kids are "finding themselves" ... so I'm really happy that my daughter not only appreciates the time, but actually likes doing this. Part of me definitely is interested in the financial aspect of it... from a morbid / completely irresponsible standpoint, haha. But I know I can't really put a price on what I've got right now with my daughter.
Great work in this restoration. You claim it was only driven 1000 miles in the last 10 years so why are you restoring it for a second time? BTW, nice picture of your pet chicken, That's one bird that doesn't get a lot of respect
Sitting around a lot of the time in the sun just killed it.
That paint came out really well! If you don't mind me asking though... when you remove the painters tape, you'll be left with ridges and such... what do you do then at that point to create a seamless transition? Do you buff it out somehow? Paint (other than "parts") is the one thing I've never really tried to tackle... but want to.
.
Little wet sand with 2000 and buff. Possibly a little clear and buff again
Hood was not bolted on. I needded my driveway to work on some equipment and had a guy move the Fiero. He didn't realize the hood wasn't aattached and decided to rip down the street!!!
Hood did a sleigh ride down the street scratching it up so now it needs to be repainted!!! I been doing equipment repairs and such and have not returned the car to the work zone. Be another month at this point.
as long as you enjoy the 'thing', and it doesn't impact your health or hurt anyone, money spent is less important. 
