Colinb17's Little Red Rocket Build: 1988 Fiero

over 1 dozen....people were just giving them to me.

I gave one to a neighbors kid after getting it running.

I got a few painted @ Maaco...they came out pretty nice seeing how no body work was ever needed.

 

@MikeyMcFly

 

that's crazy. was this recently? people are making pretty good money these days snatching up rollers or non running fieros and parting them out on the forums. all you have to do it put in a little time to dismantle the cars and clean up the part and people about throw money at you depending on the part

 

Actually had all morning to work on the fiero. Not many overt unities among the 70-80 hour work weeks.

Installed the new flywheel, clutch disk, and pressure plate. Swapped out for a new serpentine belt, but was pleased to see the the PO must have replaced it recently since it was in great shape. I'll keep it as a spare now. Also got about half way through replacing the entire e-brake system.

Very happy to be fully into the assembly stage now. Clearing off more space on my workbench every time a work on the car

 

looking good.....nah, I had mine back in the early 90's.
The parts guy from Alabama (has Fiero junkyard) came and got what I had left somewhere around 2000.
I parted one(no title)swore I'd never part another car again......it was a pain cutting that mono body up.

 

Progress!

wrestled the 150+ pound transaxle back into place last night. it was quite the feat, as the gap between the frame rail and fenderwell is barely large enough for the unit to fit through. goal for the weekend is to get all of the electronics reconnected, and the clutch/shifting assemblies connected this weekend, and the motor pivoted back up into the car. it might be a long shoot, but if I can do that, all that is left is installation of the front and rear suspension, and completing the brake system overhaul.

 

Piece of cake.

 

mmmmmm cake

 

Ditch the Fiero. Rip out that transaxle and build a moon buggy!

 

but I don't have plans to go to the moon?

 

Not that kind of moon buggy! This kind of moon buggy!

 

Sweet build my friend. I've looked at a Fiero for fun myself. Any thought's on doing the V8 swap? I know locally a guy who did it with the engine out of the Oldsmobile Aurora, apparently there is a kit available, and now the thing is a rocket lol.

 

The owners manual gives the balance point to put a 4x4 across that lets the cradle rest on the ground while unbolting, then the car tilts down.
Those things had the best manual I think I've ever ran across. All kinds of tips...like lifting the side to bleed the clutch.

 

Closest I've got is a guy on the forum building a a long travel "adventure car" as he calls it.

My moon buggy will have to wait until we make the move in a few months and have a bigger garage.

 

Where are you headed this time?

That's an interesting build that guy has going.

 

thank you! I think I mentioned it in an earlier post, but i'll be staying away from the V8 swap at this point. a ton of people do it because of how relatively easy it is to do, however without significant other modifications, you really have a straight line car after the swap with how light the front end is in comparison. you see a lot of the V8 swap guys putting exercise weights in place of the spare tire under the front hood. I'd like to keep this as a handling car, over anything else. so if I ever doing anything to add power, it's a supercharged V6, or turbo I4. I'm content to just get it on the road at this point

yeah, its a well designed vehicle. the struggles working on it are not from a poor design, but rather that everything is just so tiny.

I've got the car sitting on the pivot point right now. the back end is about 3 feet off the ground, and the front wheels are on the ground. had to lift the front up the other day and put the front tires on ramps so I could get to the front portion of the e-brake cable. just went to the front of the car and lifted it up by the bumper with my hands, and kicked the ramps under the tires.

 

Charleston, SC is the goal

 

Yeah I kind of hate you. I just looked on Kijiji and a local guy is selling a 1988 mint with the 3400 swap done. Already repainted and everything. $7K CAD = $5K USD. Not bad considering it looks clean as a whistle and has a good working swap. Damn kids letting me have no budget for impulse purchases lol.

 

5 is a great deal if it's truly as described. 88 is the desirable tear too. Suspension redesign that functions better than the prior years.