do you have any idea how much you spent on the 3800sc and manual trans swap? id really like to do the same thing because i also have a 3 spd auto and would much rather have a manual. the black interior looks really good im seriously considering tearing mine apart to do that.
First I really went through your build thread, looks great! I was actually looking at getting that exact steering wheel, how do you like it? Do you have a link to the hub adapter you used? Also lovin' the sparcos!
kk86 2m6, I'll send you a pm to answer your questions about $$ spent.
ConvictedRedneck, I love the steering wheel. The suede feels great, much more grip on the wheel. The flat bottom gives my legs a bit of extra room which is always nice. I used the NRG short hub as well.
Thats the link to one. The dodge hub works on the fiero. Take a look around ebay or local buy and sells, you could luck out like I did. I got mine for 50 bucks rather than 100. One thing to note is that this hub is so short that when installing my NRG steering wheel, the horn button was contacting the splined steering shaft. I had to take apart the horn button and come up with my own creative solution.
... and I also love the sparco seats I don't have to use my knee up against the door anymore through the turns
[This message has been edited by doublec4 (edited 07-17-2010).]
Finished off the calipers today, removed the stickers from them too. Cleaned off the inside of the rims.
I also painted all of the inner fender liners, looks pretty new again.
Removed the front "winglets" from the front bumper. They were okay for a while, but I don't like them anymore. Instead, I bought some splash guards and actually placed them in front of the the front wheels. I'm running 225 series tires up front with a 38mm offset rim so they stick out a bit. I've seen these "reverse mudflaps" on some other sports cars. I figured I'd give it a shot, they look pretty good and shield the edge of the tire from air that would create drag on them. Basically they just look cool.
Took the car out tonight for some fun... I don't know if I'm imagining things, but after installing those "reverse mudflaps" I've noticed a significant decrease in front end vibration at speeds above 100km/h. Maybe they're actually helping a bit?
Took the car out tonight for some fun... I don't know if I'm imagining things, but after installing those "reverse mudflaps" I've noticed a significant decrease in front end vibration at speeds above 100km/h. Maybe they're actually helping a bit?
Your reverse mudflaps being in front of the front tires? If so, what you've done is not too far removed from a very old NASCAR trick called a "Gurney lip", and it was done to increase front downforce. I suggest you research this, then mold the flaps if necessary, try to actually end up with real Gurney lips, not just vaguely similar results.
[This message has been edited by Isolde (edited 07-29-2010).]
Your reverse mudflaps being in front of the front tires? If so, what you've done is not too far removed from a very old NASCAR trick called a "Gurney lip", and it was done to increase front downforce. I suggest you research this, then mold the flaps if necessary, try to actually end up with real Gurney lips, not just vaguely similar results.
Come to think of it, I have heard of gurney lips before. I know I've seen and looked into gurney flaps (at the back edge of a spoiler).
I would like to have something shaped for the front bumper, but I would first need to learn some fiberglass skills. I've never 'glassed before. I might try something similar for the rear wheels as well. Thanks Isolde
Not sure if a two part epoxy would work... but I know they sell a fiberglass "paste" that could be easier to work with. It has the fiberglass strands already mixed in.
I feel the difference with the gurney flaps above 60mph... probably closer to 75 mph where before I would get a strange vibration in the front end. This probably also has to do with my tires protruding outside of the front bumper. If you had wheels with a greater offset or thinner tires, you might not need the flaps because the leading edge of the tire is already covered.
Either way, you could give it a try with some universal mud flaps. Cost me 15 bucks. If it looked goofy or didn't work, I wouldn't be out that much money, and I could always just use the mudflaps for what they were intended for on another car.
I don't know about Canada, but in my state, there's speed limits as high as 80 mph, so of course everyone does 85 mph. I tried it when I first got my stock '84 Fiero, and the nose went light above 70. By '85, it was spooky. I haven't driven it above 70 mph since then, but I have started on an airdam, and a hood vent. I think the Gurney lips were supposed to help even when the front tires didn't protrude. I'm not finding very many pics, and none of them are helpful so far. If you find more details on that fiberglass paste, I'd be very interested. Thanks.
Speed limit around here is 60mph...but everyone does around 70 - 75 mph... where I find the difference is made. Check out another member's thread about 3/4 of the way down this page.
I think you should come get that extra hood i have and cut an extractor scoop in it!! Or, I could bring it to you if you have any extra parts i need and wanna do a trade....
MSN me if your interested.
Also, have you thought about doing something to your license plate? I got the hide away plate holder from davies corvettes (corvetteparts.com), Its pretty awesome...kinda pricey i guess tho. http://www.corvetteparts.co...tails/gid/003636.htm
EDIT: i just realized your car might be too low for that plate holder....
[This message has been edited by Dougie Murder (edited 08-04-2010).]
I think you should come get that extra hood i have and cut an extractor scoop in it!! Or, I could bring it to you if you have any extra parts i need and wanna do a trade....
MSN me if your interested.
Also, have you thought about doing something to your license plate? I got the hide away plate holder from davies corvettes (corvetteparts.com), Its pretty awesome...kinda pricey i guess tho. http://www.corvetteparts.co...tails/gid/003636.htm
EDIT: i just realized your car might be too low for that plate holder....
I'll take the hood off your hands! Thanks!
You can come by anytime you like and take your pick at the stuff I have here.
I thought about the license plate flip thing, but you're right, my car is too low for it.
Oh and today I replaced my ignition lock cylinder... the key and cylinder decided it no longer wished to turn. 25 bucks and a little time with some tools, I'm good to go again!
Just FYI, I think that if you start that far forward, you'll find that the opening is in on top of the radiator, or slightly too far forward. This may not matter for what you're doing, but it will limit the depth of the extractor there..
If you start an inch or two further back you can cut down just behind the radiator.
doublec4 u should consider putting round fog lights (1 1/2 inch diameter) on the chin you added. I've seen it done and it looks sweet. The only thing is you got to dig /carve into the chin, but totally worth it.
for functionality your going to want the vents back by the top of the headlight doors. i put mine a little far forward when doing mine, still functional but not as good as they could be.
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will be moving the scoops back a bit, the photoshops were just to get a general idea of the type of scoops I'll be doing. I don't think I'll be putting foglights in the front chin spoiler... I don't want the front end to get too busy looking.
I'm going to start cutting the hood either today or tomorrow. The car needs an oil change first!
The hood project has just been put on hold until next season... however...
A carbon fiber rear diffuser will be the finishing touch for this season
It's from Shine Aero products and its friggin sweet. It weighs pretty much nothing and fits pretty nicely. I may or may not have to trim the rear of it, but we'll see. This will cover up the unsightly exhaust, and extend right to the rear of the subframe. I still need to bolt those "fins" on, they're just sitting there, but I love the business look of this thing. I've been waiting a long time to do this! I think Blacktree is the only other guy who has a tunnel style rear diffuser on his fiero!
A carbon fiber rear diffuser will be the finishing touch for this season
It's from Shine Aero products and its friggin sweet. It weighs pretty much nothing and fits pretty nicely. I may or may not have to trim the rear of it, but we'll see. This will cover up the unsightly exhaust, and extend right to the rear of the subframe. I still need to bolt those "fins" on, they're just sitting there, but I love the business look of this thing. I've been waiting a long time to do this! I think Blacktree is the only other guy who has a tunnel style rear diffuser on his fiero!
Very, Very nice. That is a lot nicer than what I could do for you without a vacuum unit. It looks very nice with the thinner fins.
Very, Very nice. That is a lot nicer than what I could do for you without a vacuum unit. It looks very nice with the thinner fins.
Thanks Adam. I'll take some pictures when I install it (a day or two). I have to figure out how I'm going to mount this thing. Might take a trip over to the home depot racing department lol.
Hood mod is going to look great and yes that's a great winter project... I'll be watchin the diffuser mod since I can't visualize how it's going to look
I took some pictures of the installation.. first we have my work bench... the ground.. very comfortable:
Then I bolted up the fins to the diffuser tunnel... pretty easy, just drill some holes:
Next up, I decided that mounting it would be easiest with some flat stock aluminum. Its easy to drill, and light weight. My mounting locations are the rear cradle and the underside of the bumper. Get your measuring tape and measure out some dimensions for where to drill:
Here you can see my mounting points on the rear bumper. Ignore the old two sided tape residue from the old fins. I have to clean it:
Then mount the aluminum flat stock to the diffuser:
Mount up the front side, support the rear, and mark off the mounting points on the rear:
Then I removed everything to drill the mounting points in the rear. I also took some sheet metal and made a heat shield (muffler is close by) / deflector for air so that air doesnt hit the leading edge and go over the diffuser. I also had to trim about 3 inches off the back of the diffuser.
Reinstall and enjoy!
I still need to wash the car (remove the old two sided tape residue) and take some pictures from a distance. It was a rainy day and really dark out, a lot of pictures were turning out like crap.
Hope you guys like it! I do
[This message has been edited by doublec4 (edited 08-23-2010).]
Talk about a perfect fit. My biggest concern when we discussed it was the exhaust cutouts interfering with the diffuser. That one fits perfectly and is just the right size. Hell, I may have to buy one for myself
Edit to add....if you are concerned about the heat from the exhaust, you can always buy a few feet of the really thick fiberglass structural material on Ebay and just glue it on. That way no heat will make it through to the diffuser.
[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 08-23-2010).]
It was pretty close to perfect for the fit. I did have to trim about 3 inches off the rear. I could have left it on, but I didn't want the diffuser to extend too far.. I have a small oil leak from my oil pressure sending unit fitting, I didn't want the oil to puddle on the diffuser. I figured cutting it at the rear cross member of the subframe would be a good location.
Hopefully the sheet metal does a good job of deflecting some of the heat or even absorbing it a bit from the muffler. I don't want this thing to go up in flames! (knock on wood)
I test fitted a few other diffusers before I bought this one, but this seemed to fit the best with the least amount of cutting. If you're looking for one, try googling Shine diffusers.
I am very excited for you! The diffuser looks really good on that thing. I love the wrap around spoiler as well, it all flows well IMO. Let us know how the ride is affected now.
I don't have to use my knee up against the door anymore through the turns
