I bought an Fiberfab Avenger GT kit from eBay. Currently sitting on a VW Beetle pan. I realized that I will be severely limited with horsepower and handling keeping the VW frame soI after comparing Beetle and Fiero measurements I got a 1987 Fiero donor car for the project. Has anyone on here done this before? I found a few pics off the web, so I know it has been done. I just wanted to hear some firsthand experience.
There is an old thread where someone started doing the same thing and ran into lots of issues with wheel base, track width, and Fiero structure.
He basically cut the body down the center to make it wide enough for the Fiero, cut it along the length to make it longer, and hacked the vast majority of the fiero structure away.
VW based kit car bodies only have the vw floor pan to contend with.
There is an old thread where someone started doing the same thing and ran into lots of issues with wheel base, track width, and Fiero structure.
He basically cut the body down the center to make it wide enough for the Fiero, cut it along the length to make it longer, and hacked the vast majority of the fiero structure away.
VW based kit car bodies only have the vw floor pan to contend with.
Personally, I would go with the LS4 V8...Much lighter, and has the bellhousing shape for the Transverse transmissions. With a Iron SBC, you will be worse than 40/60 % weight distribution to the rear- spooky handling.....
They were in 2005-9 Pontiac Grand Prix, Chevy Monte Carlo/Impala and Buick LaCrosse.
How much structure is under the FG body? That will tell you how much Fiero structure you will have to cut away. Also, compare Wheelbase and track width to see how much the body has to be stretched to fit over a Fiero chassis.
Just checked- Fiero has 93.4" wheelbase and VW Beetle has 94.5" wheelbase.....width is 68.9" Fiero and 60" for Beetle- but actual beetle body used very narrow tires, while your Avenger would use much wider tires/wheels.......so Avenger body should be substantially wider......Can't find actual specs.....
Biggest issues with using an old body with a modern chassis is the fact that the newer stuff is usually way wider - in your case you need to 'lose' a whole 10" of width. Which means a huge amount of chop and glassing and that if you just widen the whole body, you'll never find a windshield to fit it. Even finding the original Corvair glass might b a challenge today.
You'd probably be way better off to create a new chassis that fits the body and stick whatever drivetrain you want into it. In other words, forget about the Fiero connection entirely. It is possible to build a V8 powered car based on a VW floorpan, but the suspension isn't ideal and the reinforcements needed are significant. Fiberfab did the new chassis thing and called it the GT15.
At least the Fiberfab bodies were pretty good quality. This is my Fiberfab Jamaican based on an MGA chassis, ironically using Fiero components (well, at least a 3.4 GM V6)
Beautiful car! The Fiero should only be 6 inches wider but the tires on a Fiero are much wider than a beetle so hopefully there is only a 1-2 inch difference. Already having problem with the shipper. The Avenger was supposed to be here in July, now it's pushes back to August.
Almost anything can be made to fit with anything but it all comes down to how much you want to spend and how much time you have to put into the project. The fiberfab body design is quite old but IMO it was ahead of its time. Good luck on the project but get ready to do some frame work.
------------------ " 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 "
At least the Fiberfab bodies were pretty good quality. This is my Fiberfab Jamaican based on an MGA chassis, ironically using Fiero components (well, at least a 3.4 GM V6)
