I have an extra set of '86 GT exhaust tips that have been tarnishing away in the basement for the last dozen years... so I thought maybe I could clean them up a bit and install them on my '88 Formula. The picture below shows one side semi-done with steel wool and rubbing compound. Looks a lot better, and can probably be improved upon.



However, with some research here on the forum, I discovered something I had probably previously known and forgotten... '85-'87 GT exhaust tips do not fit an '88... at least not without some surgery. Dammit. I'm now weighing my options.

I found an image that shows what factory '88 exhaust tips look like. Notice how they're the same length, as opposed to the different lengths in my photo above.



And finally, a helpful post (from almost exactly 21 years ago!) explaining it all...

quote Originally posted by Raydar Here: Here's the low down on tips. BTW... I have never seen this posted anywhere, before. This was done by "eyeballing" an early set of GT tips, and comparing them to an 88 GT system "on the cradle" at Ed Parks'. (This info was also verified by one of the folks, there.) There are actually three lengths of tips. The 84-87 dual exhaust uses one short tip and one long tip. The 88 tips are identical in length, left to right, and are "medium" length. By my estimation, there is approximately 1/2" difference between each length. IOW, there is approximately 1" difference between the shortest and longest.

I was going to comment until I saw who you quoted.

I think what I ended up doing, since I was doing GT tips on a Formula, was going with two "longest" tips, so they wouldn't be so close to the black painted part of the lower fascia. Fiero store used to sell repop tips. I think Rodney may, too.

Aren't you using an Ocelot system? Your tips might be easier to adapt, since that thing is sold as "one size fits all". There should be some wiggle room built in there, somewhere, unless you were particularly meticulous about getting it "straight" with your Formula tips.

Both are used in other years.
"Plan" one is on just about everything non GT but Dukes mostly only have left side tip.

87-88 often has 1 or both tips as part of the muffler to save time to make the car at factory. Giant pain when someone backup hitting the tip and crush the pipe over the frame/cradle.

Note: Both above have "Neck down" pipe joints and may not fit third party mufflers w/o help. May need a "shim" pipe between the sizes to fit. The Shim may be cut long ways so clamp on outer pipe can grab inner pipe w/o too much force.

Yes could weld a tip but have even bigger problems to fix where tips are hit.

------------------
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)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

A) I actually prefer the non-chrome, non-flared exhaust tips....(My personal taste)

B) I am not sure- but I think that is the wrong type of "CAT" to install on your Fiero....

quote Originally posted by Raydar: I think what I ended up doing, since I was doing GT tips on a Formula, was going with two "longest" tips, so they wouldn't be so close to the black painted part of the lower fascia.

Yes, I understand what you're saying. What I may end up doing is cutting and extending the shorter tip to match the longer one.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Aren't you using an Ocelot system?

No sir... factory exhaust on all my Fieros, although both my '84 and '86 GT have had replacement exhaust systems swapped in from the wreckers (back when Fieros could still be found in the local wrecking yards).

From This thread...




From This thread...



It's actually the original exhaust tips from this GT that I pictured in the opening post.

quote Originally posted by cvxjet: I am not sure- but I think that is the wrong type of "CAT" to install on your Fiero.

That's... The Terminator® She was probably hoping for a rodent to pop out of one of the exhaust tips!