Is it normal for a fiero to feel light at higher speed, near 100mph. My 4 cyl that I had seemed OK. But the new V6 I have seems lighter almost to the point I don't feel safe. This is a frist for me as the cars I have had in the past never seemed to get to the float point.
Pat
86 2m6 SE
IP: Logged
02:56 PM
PFF
System Bot
2000RagTop Member
Posts: 3999 From: Sussex, (Milwaukee) Wi. USA, Earth Registered: Jun 2003
You need to make sure that your cars alignment is dead on. I also added a rear sway bar to mine and now it feels better at speed. Next would be to work on the stock brakes. They also say that a hood vent will help relieve the pressure bubble that forms under the front of the car at speed.
[This message has been edited by avengador1 (edited 03-02-2004).]
IP: Logged
03:27 PM
Godson Member
Posts: 36 From: Raytown, MO, USA Registered: Feb 2004
You need to make sure that your cars alignment is dead on. I also added a rear sway bar to mine and now it feels better at speed. Next would be to work on the stock brakes. They also say that a hood vent will help relieve the pressure bubble that forms under the front of the car at speed.
I wonder how well norms front end makes the car feel? Anyone know about this?
------------------ Don't judge me for how I talk, judge me for who I am.
IP: Logged
05:16 PM
ka4nkf Member
Posts: 3702 From: New Port Richey, FL USA Registered: May 99
Well I guess it's not just me than. I was figuring a rear wing. But was not sure if the GT's stayed down Better or not. Also I had figured mabe some type of air dam modification, althoght I am not a body mech. You would figure a car of this size and shap would hug the road and not try and float above it.
Thanks for your input Pat
86 se V6
IP: Logged
06:59 PM
Jdlog Member
Posts: 494 From: Coral Springs, FL Registered: Jun 2003
At 113+ mph (highest achieved in my 86 4cyl.) it did not feel bad at all. I've done it 3 times. All in good dry flat Florida highways. Previous attempts had been scary after 90 mph. The difference was a proper 4 wheel alignment. (This, BTW, also almost totally eliminated some bad bump steer.)
Beno
P.S. The "+" is the small but uncertain amount over the speed indicated. The first time, 113 mph was verified by another car.
IP: Logged
07:21 PM
ka4nkf Member
Posts: 3702 From: New Port Richey, FL USA Registered: May 99
Soft shocks will cause 'floating' at high speed. The other factors are well known but to re-iterate, tires rated for high speed, springs that meet specs, venting the front, alignment,alignment,alignment
Arn
IP: Logged
08:22 PM
Rickady88GT Member
Posts: 10648 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
There are alot of factors that would cause the car to act like that. One of the most important is to have a good suspention system. Tires are the single most important part of a sports car so make sure they are good. And get the air pressure out from under the hood. You can drill holes under and next to the head light bukets to vent the air throu the fender and inner fender and out next to the door. Or do a hood vent.
------------------
Rickady88GT QuadCam 3.5 V6
IP: Logged
10:50 PM
PFF
System Bot
Mar 3rd, 2004
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
I have a '85 SE - V6, but base coupe body. the nose does feel light at higher (>80) speed. It doesnt seem to bad, even to the limit (3-spd auto @ 5400 rpm), but I know a hood vent would make a world of difference. I've lost a headlight cover from it popping up & ripping off the hinge. Theres alot of pressure under the hood. Some people have said hitting the hood realease (front, not back...) helps with this. But, I would suggest making sure you have: Good tires, reliable steering & suspension, and brakes that can safely brake from 100 down to 55 QUICKLY without shattering pads, warping rotors, locking up, or pulling the car into a spin. So, basicly the stock stuff is OK, but has to be in GOOD condition & aligned properly, a hood vent will be the most helpful thing for high speed driving, then brake & suspension upgrades.
IP: Logged
08:30 AM
ditch Member
Posts: 3780 From: Brookston, IN Registered: Mar 2003
You need to make sure that your cars alignment is dead on. I also added a rear sway bar to mine and now it feels better at speed. Next would be to work on the stock brakes. They also say that a hood vent will help relieve the pressure bubble that forms under the front of the car at speed.
Don't mean to hijack the thread, but you say you installed a rear sway bar. Where did you get one and was it easy to install? I'd be interrested in putting one on my 86 and 87 V6's
I also experience the "float" feeling at high speed and my alignment is fine
thanks Dave
IP: Logged
08:34 AM
DustoneGT Member
Posts: 1274 From: The U.S. Superstate Registered: Dec 2002
Don't mean to hijack the thread, but you say you installed a rear sway bar. Where did you get one and was it easy to install? I'd be interrested in putting one on my 86 and 87 V6's
I also experience the "float" feeling at high speed and my alignment is fine
thanks Dave
theres plenty of threads on this - most of them using a stock front sway bar on the back - I'm in process of doing it right now
At 113+ mph (highest achieved in my 86 4cyl.) it did not feel bad at all. I've done it 3 times. All in good dry flat Florida highways. Previous attempts had been scary after 90 mph. The difference was a proper 4 wheel alignment. (This, BTW, also almost totally eliminated some bad bump steer.)
Beno
P.S. The "+" is the small but uncertain amount over the speed indicated. The first time, 113 mph was verified by another car.
alligator alley?
IP: Logged
12:50 PM
Jdlog Member
Posts: 494 From: Coral Springs, FL Registered: Jun 2003
Close. Twice on the Sawgrass expressway (which runs north where I-75 turns west and becomes AAlley). Once on the turnpike going north to Orlando...close call with FHP...all of a sudden 70 mph seemed like a very sensible gas-saving speed .
Just reading through all the new post on this thread.
Noticed a couple of intresting items.
-for a sports car the fiero is relativly slow. With the V6 and a 4spd. ( this is what I have) it is really only capable of about 120mph anyhow. Also a car that is a rear drive almost perfectly balanced car should hanld more nuteral than they do.
- I have also noted that alot of people are installing the front swaybar on the rear of the car. Is this a better option than buying an actual rear unit. Ot just a little more cost effective. I thought you wanted the swaybar in front to be larger than the one in the rear of the car??
- Tires are a large issue from my past experince with the 4cly fiero I had I put rims from a 2000 neon and the 205/50 15" on it boy it handled good. But I never really had this one up to speed. So am not sure about high speed handling. But it did handle better than the v6 I have now.
- I still have the stock 14" rims and Eagle GT II tires on the car.
Thanks Pat
86 SE V6
IP: Logged
02:35 PM
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
- yeah, a stock Fiero is slow.... - depends on what your going for. I think, generally speaking, getting a larger front sway bar, and putting your original front sway in the back is the sway to go - so yeah, like you said, larger in front - yes - tires mean more than sway bars - I still got the stock "turbo" wheels also...
IP: Logged
03:12 PM
TaurusThug Member
Posts: 4271 From: Simpsonville, SC Registered: Aug 2003
Well we have to be faster than some one. My problem is that my other car is a 84 300z turbo. It will do 140 mph. It also handles a lot better at speed.
Anyhow I think I will put larger wheels, looking at mabe 17". Althogh the 15" neon spokes I had on my 84 looked great. And were quite cheep compared to new. Had also been thinking about 16" of a grand am??
Pat 86 se V6
IP: Logged
07:12 PM
ditch Member
Posts: 3780 From: Brookston, IN Registered: Mar 2003
I realize the following is a bit unusual but my 87 GT handling was a bit shaky so I did the following: Replaced the front steering damper with two new units from Monroe and used Rodneys doubling kit to do it. This takes 20 minutes to do. Then I bolted a 30lb. steel weight from a weight lifting set in the hollow section of the front donut spare. Placed here it takes up NO ROOM, you don't see it. The handling is stiff in parking lots, but at speeds up to 110 (I got scared to go higher) it is rock solid. Well, It worked! Ed
Mid 15's is pretty respectable and that is alot of Fieros.
Look at the comparable cars from the 80's for cost in the 2 seaters.
The Triumphs, 4 cylinder Porches, even Jag six's are not going to show you up on a track. Top end? maybe.
GM made sure we weren't driving something to challenge a Vette, but I wouldn't say we are slow either.
I've driven slow. It surely ain't mid 15's.
Arn
quote
Originally posted by Pyrthian:
- yeah, a stock Fiero is slow.... - depends on what your going for. I think, generally speaking, getting a larger front sway bar, and putting your original front sway in the back is the sway to go - so yeah, like you said, larger in front - yes - tires mean more than sway bars - I still got the stock "turbo" wheels also...