Words cannot describe the feelings that I have right now. I am so very happy to be a part of this community. To all of those that have rallied around this young man, a big heart felt thank you goes out. All of the names involved in this build, money, time, thoughts, and prayers, you all have a special place in my heart. Thank you all for being human.
I posted this in the General thread as well, but here is probably better. Thank you for keeping the white one Tyler, oh and Fred did port the exhaust manifolds for ya and we tuned it up as best we could...
[This message has been edited by carbon (edited 11-23-2009).]
I'm not sure how I missed all of this. Just watched the vids and read the stories. Amazing. With all the other negative stuff that goes on here sometimes, to see so many pull together to accomplish something like this.....words escape me. I don't think there is anywhere on the Internet a better forum of any kind. For all those who participated, you really did us all proud. You guys are the best, I just regret that I wasn't up to speed on this so I could have done something.
You guys are the best. I know it doesn't mean much, but you all have my deepest respect.
( this is also posted in the main thread if you don't want to read it twice )
WOW..........unbelievable what happens when you don't pay attention to the Forum for a couple weeks !!!! Wouldn't have missed this for anything !!!
Read on for an inside view of the weekend....
Though i heard about this really late, & unaware of the magnitude of the help needed to do this. GTJeff stopped by my shop for some parts & told me what was going on. Chris ( Synthesis ) happened to call at the exact same time. I rearranged my entire weekend to do this, with a slightly ticked off family at first. I told Chris & Jeff i'd offer anything right up to driving my 19' flatbed up there with my toolbox on it & even a spare car. They seemed to think most everything was covered so all i needed to bring was myself. Planning the trip to ride with Jeff on Friday fell through when another "helping hand" project rolled in the shop Friday night. Adjusted the plan to head up later, but again missed the meet & greet & tried for midnight. That didn't work either. Got home at 2:00 a.m. With only $25 & 21* temps i bundled up in the early a.m. on a GSX-R 1000 & headed for Frazee. 2.5 hours later i arrive.....frozen, at 10:00 a.m. and missed my mark by 2 hours. By 11:00 feeling is coming back & were chest deep in the project. Looks like they wanted to freshen up the top end, give it a tune up to run well. With the exception of INCREDIBLY worn parts, side slop in the dist. missing grounds on spark plugs, etc, i find the infamous cracked in half exhaust manifold. This car would have sounded horrible !!! Knowing the history of the broken bolt in the head of the Fiero, it didn't look good. With literal blood, sweat, tears, & a torch, the manifold was out without one broken bolt !!! Welded the manifold back up & got it back in, finished the top end & tune-up. We have ignition !!! Except BOTH manifold gasket leaked BAD, and it ran rather poor & rich enough to burn your eyes in 15 seconds. What a bummer. Where are we going to find manifold gaskets at this hour. The crew worked their magic & found some in Fargo, so the decision is a go to remove both of them....again. Repaired one comes out no problem. Y pipe bolts needed heat & were so rotted, needed replacement. Off to the hardware store someone went. Rear manifold came out with a fight too, except for one bolt......1/4 of the way out, snapped flush with the head. Great, this will be fun.While Fred quickly ported them for a few extra ponies, believe it or not with the VERY limited tools we had, someone had a right angle drill. So more than 2 to 3 hour was wasted drilling the bolt & snapped 1 easy out in the hole before i could tap new threads. With a tap & vice grips mind you Reassembly begins again much later than expected. Gaskets show up & were on the way. Few more hours & were trying again, except the starter is bad Bendix won't engage on the flywheel. Napa Johnny to the rescue again with another starter. Except once again PK breaks the solenoid ( among many other things !!!!! Ha Ha Rick ) New starter makes it's way in & the car runs again.....except poorly Need to deal with the rough run/rich issue.Fuel pressure test shows 30PSI on initialize & immediately drops to 0. Leaking injector is trying to hydrolock the motor. Tear down the top half again.....pull up fuel rail/injectors/coldstart injector as an assembly, key it up, & found cylinder 2 injector wide open. Replaced it with one in the pile & retest. Looks good. By about 4:30/5:00 a.m. were done ....again. Trying for another fire up, the doesn't run at all Everyone's exhausted, i actually nodded off a couple times laying on the motor & head against the back glass. Few more tests finds no pressure....looks like we need a pump. Until a new set of eyes looks around & found the broken clip on the connector to the ICM it wasn't plugged all the way in. Little push of the connector & it fired right up, ran beautifully, & quiet !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Time to sit for a bit. Keep in mind all of this was done with limited tools that were all someone elses, almost NO air tools, UGH !!!!! Finishing touches & some little rework is done, & the only issue it has is the rebuilt headlight motors....not to shabby for a 24hr resto. Time is running out, get the car to the unveil location, head to Jeff's hotel room & grab a shower & 45 min of sleep ( not very good either ) 9:30 and were underway with the awesome unveil & everything goes well. Outside of a minor coolant leak easily fixed & the new ICM failed on Tyler's test drive :bandhead: ( saved by 87antuzzi ) they're back. Short break for breakfast & back to the body shop to clean up, finishing touches of the car & say goodbyes. Sun afternoon, top off gas & head out, most of the ride back extremely hard to stay awake after 31 hours & no sleep, until 45 min away from home it starts raining. Now i'm REALLY cold & fighting a fogging helmet visor. Made it home, took the family for food & home again by 6:20p.m. lost consciousness & didn't wake till 11:30 the next day for a little food & then 4 more hours of sleep, and here i am posting. My goal was to make Tyler's car run....run well.....and quiet. And that happened. The entire crew of about 64 people worked so well together ( even with PK breaking stuff j/k ) and flowed like an orchestra. Simply awesome.
Everything possible can & does ache in places i never thought possible. But it was SOOOOOOOOO worth it & would do it again !!!!!
Take care of yourself & the car Tyler !!!! and a HUGE thanks to the Family, Dave & Karen at the body shop, our Dream Team Crew, all of the volunteers, sponsors, donations, donator's, those that outreach across the globe, Vendors, and everyone not mentioned that should be. It was a heck of an accomplishment seen & heard by many.
P.S. We will definatly make an event out of coming up there each year !!!!! As long as PK doesn't break anything else
Purple Reign
------------------ MINNESOTA MAFIA Real men get blown If you're going to run your mouth make sure the proof isn't all over the net that you're full of sh!t. 87 GT MP-112 powered, 3800 Supercharged on 19's 372 rwhp & tuning____88 GT T-top 1 of very few, 000,194.4 miles 87 GT custom______90 Grand prix STE Turbo_____2007GSXR 1000 Nitrous is like a hot chick with an STD, Ya want to hit it, but are afraid of the consequences. IF YOU AIN'T BREAKING STUFF..................IT AIN'T MODDED ENOUGH If your'e not living on the edge..........you're taking up too much room. Best Fiero mounts available
[This message has been edited by PURPLE REIGN (edited 11-23-2009).]
I've been telling Lori about this endeavor, and she just made the observation that this was such a major event, you guys who actually went and participated will never forget it. This was a weekend you'll remember and talk about for the rest of your lives.
I've been telling Lori about this endeavor, and she just made the observation that this was such a major event, you guys who actually went and participated will never forget it. This was a weekend you'll remember and talk about for the rest of your lives.
You and Lori are completely correct. And think about how this will effect the younger guys that participated. I mean in todays world its all about ME ME ME, and what cool things "I" can get. Its never about giving back, or helping someone that is down. I really hope that now that some of these guys got a taste of that, and they make a point of helping people the rest of their lives. Pay it forward is a really great thing.
I just can't say how proud of you guys/gals I really am!!
[This message has been edited by DeLorean00 (edited 11-23-2009).]
You and Lori are completely correct. And think about how this will effect the younger guys that participated. I mean in todays world its all about ME ME ME, and what cool things "I" can get. Its never about giving back, or helping someone that is down. I really hope that now that some of these guys got a taste of that, and they make a point of helping people the rest of their lives. Pay it forward is a really great thing.
I just can't say how proud of you guys/gals I really am!!
Honestly, I think that this project actually disproves that the "world" is about ME ME ME... people in the spotlight, yes, but not average everyday people. That is why I can't stand it when the media tells us how horrible the United States is as a country. This place is filled with giving people. I agree that the pay it forward concept is awesome. I think the young people that participated already had it in them and the older guys and gals got an affirmation that we aren't doing as bad as we have been told.
Honestly, I think that this project actually disproves that the "world" is about ME ME ME... people in the spotlight, yes, but not average everyday people. That is why I can't stand it when the media tells us how horrible the United States is as a country. This place is filled with giving people. I agree that the pay it forward concept is awesome. I think the young people that participated already had it in them and the older guys and gals got an affirmation that we aren't doing as bad as we have been told.
You are probably right carbon. I guess I am looking at things for a California view point. Believe me out here, by and large, its a ME ME ME culture. This is why I have distanced myself from most of my so called friends.
87antuzzi and I were talking yesterday about if Tyler had lived here in California it would have been a lot harder to pull this off. You would have been very hard pressed to find any body shop to help at all, let alone paint his car and host the event. Local tire shops wouldn't stepped up, etc, etc. I have tried in the past to get places involved out here in help a family in need, and it was like pulling teeth. I got a lot of broken promises and no one following through. I think that is the main culture difference between selfish California and rest of the nation. Now thats not to say California doesn't have good people, its just you have to look harder.
And also my statement was not meant to take away or discredit the younger guys. In my life I got involved in a few good projects like this when I was in my mid-teens and I really think it was something that change my life a lot. What I was trying to say was that I think being involved in Tyler car will probably change their lives as well. I am sure this project has changed the lives of everyone involved in someway.
[This message has been edited by DeLorean00 (edited 11-24-2009).]
I've been telling Lori about this endeavor, and she just made the observation that this was such a major event, you guys who actually went and participated will never forget it. This was a weekend you'll remember and talk about for the rest of your lives.
Probably every day for the rest of our lives. As I left it all started hitting me how big this is in sooo many ways.
I was reloading the video feed for Hulki at the reveal on a laptop I think was from a newsatation that I think DIYStu had a handf in setting up that the signal kept getting dropped. I was waiting for the guys to get back from Ty's Fiero run with them, and a young girl came up to me. She had to be in Ty's class. I'd say 17 or 18. She had tears welling up and asked if I was one of the guys who built the car. I said I was one of them. She expressed alot of care and said thank you soooo much for what we did. She sort fo said "I feel..." and stalled hardly able to talk. I was tearing up too and gave her a big hug and said "I feel the same way". That is about all I could say and not bust into tears. I hope I was some comfort. She certainly impacted me.
I do hope this all can be an inspiration to everyone what is really important, and how precious we all are.
Shawn I saw you in the trunk of Tyler's Fiero for many, many hours. You may have gotten there late, but it looks like you gave at least as much as anyone else. Don't think we didn't notice here at home.
Oh, and Pontiac Kid... we know you didn't break it. Lighten up.
Shawn I saw you in the trunk of Tyler's Fiero for many, many hours. You may have gotten there late, but it looks like you gave at least as much as anyone else. Don't think we didn't notice here at home.
Oh, and Pontiac Kid... we know you didn't break it. Lighten up.
Yeah, i was only 2 hours late of my target....though i did stay up through the night on the project.
Originally posted by PURPLE REIGN: Rear manifold came out with a fight too, except for one bolt......1/4 of the way out, snapped flush with the head. Great, this will be fun.While Fred quickly ported them for a few extra ponies, believe it or not with the VERY limited tools we had, someone had a right angle drill. So more than 2 to 3 hour was wasted drilling the bolt & snapped 1 easy out in the hole before i could tap new threads. With a tap & vice grips mind you Reassembly begins again much later than expected. Gaskets show up & were on the way.
For those watching on the webcam, we watched for hours as you guys drilled/retapped those exhaust manifolds, Good Job
I think I just got a bit caught up on the posts. Wow what a wonderful time I had, Yes there will be stories to tell and many of them. I am SO PROUD to have the privilege to be a part in this. There's somethings I wish I could have done and one thing I really wish I hadn't. For those that didn't catch it Syn kicked my butt first. I ripped the window tint while changing the dews. The tinter..... I cannot remember names for crap is an awesome guy and I can't wait till he moves back to TX. I have made many new friends and do plan a return trip once my car is ready for paint. If it wasn't for all of the donations then there never would have been a need for as many people on this build so I will say it again... THANK YOU ALL.
Tyler if it wasn't for you many of us wouldn't have had the privilege to do anything this selfless in our lifetimes. You will forever be in our minds and hearts. Thank you my friend.
I will ad pictures and a full write up on the swap later, but I figured I would share that the new engine runs, and holy hell it sounds bad ass. I need to finish up making the harness so it looks as clean as factory. Then it all goes back in and the final tweaking will be done. The car for the most part will be able to drive under its own power on Monday.
------------------ Blue 1987 GT, Yellow T-top 1986 GT www.FierosandMore.comThis is a link to my personal web site, has pictures of all my projects and parts for sale.
I will ad pictures and a full write up on the swap later, but I figured I would share that the new engine runs, and holy hell it sounds bad ass. I need to finish up making the harness so it looks as clean as factory. Then it all goes back in and the final tweaking will be done. The car for the most part will be able to drive under its own power on Monday.
I will ad pictures and a full write up on the swap later, but I figured I would share that the new engine runs, and holy hell it sounds bad ass. I need to finish up making the harness so it looks as clean as factory. Then it all goes back in and the final tweaking will be done. The car for the most part will be able to drive under its own power on Monday.
With only $25 & 21* temps i bundled up in the early a.m. on a GSX-R 1000 & headed for Frazee. 2.5 hours later i arrive.....frozen, 
at 10:00 a.m. and missed my mark by 2 hours. By 11:00 feeling is coming back & were chest deep in the project. Looks like they wanted to freshen up the top end, give it a tune up to run well. With the exception of INCREDIBLY worn parts, side slop in the dist. missing grounds on spark plugs, etc, 
i find the infamous cracked in half exhaust manifold. 
Great, this will be fun.While Fred quickly ported them for a few extra ponies, believe it or not with the VERY limited tools we had, someone had a right angle drill. So more than 2 to 3 hour was wasted drilling the bolt & snapped 1 easy out in the hole before i could tap new threads. With a tap & vice grips mind you 
laying on the motor & head against the back glass. Few more tests finds no pressure....looks like we need a pump. 
Time to sit for a bit. 
