I've been ignoring this project for too long, so I've decided to start a build thread to motivate me. The Fiero carcass is an 88 Formula. My current plans are to get the body trimmed up and mounted, then start working on the drivetrain. I have a supercharged LSJ ecotec motor and trans from a Saturn ION Redline that will be going in eventually, unless I decide to sell it before I finish the body... I'm not entirely sure that the 4 cylinder will be a particularly good match for the GT40 rebody. If I do use the motor, I'm also planning to adapt the ION interior to fit the Fiero.


Here I have the front and rear clips resting resting on the car:




And here the door skin is sort of dangling on the outside of the door frame. It is not exactly where it is supposed to be, but close enough to take a picture:




That's all for now. Hopefully there will be more sooner than later.

Are you useing the fiero frame? Do you have to strech it?
Keep us posted on progress.
Thanks
Gary

How much time would you estimate it is going to take? Not man-hours but calendar wise? The 25th anniversary for the Fiero is coming next year. You make that?

[This message has been edited by Hudini (edited 07-21-2007).]

Wow!Looks D*a*m* nice.......Live the dream!

That looks like a copy of the NAF (later ASPP) GT40 MKII kit. I bought mine in '89. What happened to the front clip? It's missing the short section that wraps around the A-pillar and over the door. It can be seen on mine below, directly forward of the exterior mirror.

[This message has been edited by WAWUZAT (edited 07-21-2007).]

At the rate I have been going, a few years of fiddling around with it is probably optimistic. The kit will need a lot of finishing work. It is not the most carefully laid fiberglass, but you get what you pay for. I was told the molds were broken off at the edge so that section is missing. I was thinking it will be easier to build out the door there rather than try to extend the front clip. It is indeed a copy of the NAF/ASPP kit, and fits on the Fiero frame with some trimming in the front and rear.

That is a sharp looking car WAWUZAT, did you have to have those wheels custom made?

Here's my free advice ...

1. don't use the 4 cylinder because it will wreck the value of all your hard work.

2. do the engine and all the other stuff before you mount the body.

Building a kitcar is a LOT of work - probably more than you first realize. If you try to do too many different things, it will take years and be a frustrating experience. I've been back and forth between the fiero mechanicals and my kit for 6 years now ( just this evening found out I no longer have a functional clutch ! ). make sure your base fiero is good first, then proceed with the body and the kit.

quote Originally posted by jmarek78: That is a sharp looking car WAWUZAT, did you have to have those wheels custom made?

Thanks, but no, they're 3-piece Compomotive wheels made in the UK. Got 'em here http://www.usacomp.com/hb.htm
When I bought the wheels in early '94, they offered a 5x100mm bolt pattern that fits the Fiero. I just looked at their .pdf brochure, and I couldn't find any bolt pattern info on any of their wheels. You'll have to contact them to find if they still offer the Fiero bolt pattern.

My kit was the 8th one built by NAF (later ASPP) back in '89. When my car had a nice shiney coat of red paint on it, ASPP used it as part of their display at Carlisle for a couple years.

quote Originally posted by jmarek78: It is indeed a copy of the NAF/ASPP kit, and fits on the Fiero frame with some trimming in the front and rear. That is a sharp looking car WAWUZAT, did you have to have those wheels custom made?

Can you tell me who made the kit you are using? I have been looking for one to do but couldn't afford the $7000.00 w/ shipping for the ASPP kit. Do they make a MK I version?

quote Originally posted by rjblaze: Can you tell me who made the kit you are using? I have been looking for one to do but couldn't afford the $7000.00 w/ shipping for the ASPP kit. Do they make a MK I version?

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/051535.html

Make sure you tell him you want the "thicker" version.

Buyer Beware

[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 07-22-2007).]

That thread is wicked. Want a cheap GT40 body? You absolutely get what you pay for.

Archie was politely dumbfounded (to put it lightly) that I was still considering dealing with Cory as I poked at the "flexible flyer". I had the benefit of being local and I knew exactly what to expect having read that thread. I got the usual story about his business being for sale, etc. I originally called him to see if he would make me a kit to a specified thickness without a down payment. I was told his new standard thickness was 1 layer of 3/4 oz and 4 layers of 2 oz mat. Actual thickness varies quite a bit, but overall the kit is stronger and better fitting than I was expecting. I didn't give him a penny until after the parts were in my garage. The first set of doors were junk, so I refused them. What the man lacks in attention to detail and quality, he makes up for in having a BS excuse for anything and everything. I am satisfied with my purchase, but please don't mistake that as an endorsement. As Archie said, buyer beware.

(edited)

Seriously, I would love to see you finish the car right, despite that kit maker.

[This message has been edited by Saxman (edited 08-09-2007).]

Here's another shot of mine (before I lowered it) from September, 1995 upon returning home from an FOA gathering in Kissimme, FL. I came home with 2nd place rebody AND "Pontiac Enthusiast" magazine editor's choice trophies.


I sure wish I still had that big box trailer ... only have an 18ft flatbed now.

And another (now in white primer) sitting next to my wife's Stang ...

[This message has been edited by WAWUZAT (edited 07-23-2007).]

The red is NICE!

quote Originally posted by WAWUZAT: Here's another shot of mine (before I lowered it) from September, 1995 upon returning home from an FOA gathering in Kissimme, FL. I came home with 2nd place rebody AND "Pontiac Enthusiast" magazine editor's choice trophies. I sure wish I still had that big box trailer ... only have an 18ft flatbed now. And another (now in white primer) sitting next to my wife's Stang ...

How about some pics of it lowered?

OH NO! Not HIM again! Thanks for the information......definitely will stay away from HIM!

quote Originally posted by 30+mpg: How about some pics of it lowered?

Scroll up. Do you see that white-primered car above? Same car ... but here's another one taken while I was still working on the body ...


And another sitting next to my wife's ride ...


Jmarek78? - I hope these pix give you some incentive to complete yours!

[This message has been edited by WAWUZAT (edited 07-27-2007).]

.............NICE...........

...and I'm back.

I've probably spent a good 40 hours just taking parts on and off, moving the rear clip around, and trimming the hell out of the door to get everything where I want it. I finally have the gaps on the driver side looking pretty good. The doors on this kit are made from two separate pieces that are patched together with fiberglass. On the car at Archie's, the doors have a huge gap between the door panel and the frame along the window sill. I had to trim a lot off the door panel to get the fiberglass to rest in the groove on the door frame, but eventually I got it in there. The top portion curves towards the glass at the front and rear, so I trimmed the lower inside section off in those areas so it just sort of floats next to the weatherstrip. I also had to do a lot of trimming along the side edges to get it to sit next to the door frame properly. The door fits up better with the bottom edge of the panel sitting on top of the bottom edge of the door frame, so I trimmed that up as well to allow it to slide into the door. I may still trim a little more and make a few more adjustments, but for the most part I am happy with the way this area is lined up. I’ve got the rear clip mounted and hinged, but I’m trying not to permanently fasten anything until I have the entire body together with everything lined up at once.

I was hoping I could just ignore some of the comments people have been making in this thread, but I think I need to say something since I just noticed Saxman has taken the liberty to link here from his Cory-bashing thread. I started this thread to document my build for the benefit of others, and hopefully to get some good advice from some of the talent on this board along the way. I've read through tons of build threads on here and learned a lot from seeing how other builds are done. I did NOT start this thread to bash or praise the maker of this kit. My transaction with the builder is complete and I am satisfied with it. These are now my parts and the quality of the finished product is in my hands. I would appreciate if we could keep the discussion of other cars from the maker of my kit out of this thread.

[This message has been edited by jmarek78 (edited 08-05-2007).]

The fit-up looks like it's coming along nicely. I spent many hours getting my panels to line up, and still had to add material to the edges of the door panels before the gaps started to look right. Does your rear clip include an inner-panel that's supposed to meet with the top edge of your trunk? Mine did, but it fit so poorly that I cut out the inner-panel, and fabricated a separate trunk lid.

There's no inner panel on the rear clip. Good thing too, since it already weighs too much for the hinge setup when it is hanging fully open (~110 lbs). There is a 1/8" thick plate of metal in the fiberglass running across from hinge to hinge, which seems fine when the clip is closed but when it is open all the weight ends up concentrated at the very edge around the hinges. Do you have any pictures of the hinge setup on your kit?

quote Originally posted by jmarek78: I was hoping I could just ignore some of the comments people have been making in this thread, but I think I need to say something since I just noticed Saxman has taken the liberty to link here from his Cory-bashing thread. I started this thread to document my build for the benefit of others, and hopefully to get some good advice from some of the talent on this board along the way. I've read through tons of build threads on here and learned a lot from seeing how other builds are done. I did NOT start this thread to bash or praise the maker of this kit. My transaction with the builder is complete and I am satisfied with it. These are now my parts and the quality of the finished product is in my hands. I would appreciate if we could keep the discussion of other cars from the maker of my kit out of this thread. Saxman - Please do not involve me in your private transactions. Your dealings with the maker of my kit are none of my business. I can't believe you would be such a prick as to publicly judge me for doing business with someone who you also conducted business with. I lost a lot of money on a junk kit I bought from a highly regarded member on this board, so I know how it feels to end up with something that is less than what you were expecting. Lots of people have to learn the hard way to be careful what you buy and who you buy it from. If you want to whine and cry about your transaction for the rest of your life, go ahead, but leave me the hell out of it.

My point is proven. If I helped someone avoid Cory, then my work is done. I still wish you good luck-

-The "Prick"

[This message has been edited by Saxman (edited 08-05-2007).]

What point have you proven? If you really wished me luck on this build, all you are doing is advertising for Cory by linking here.

Also, I removed my comment to you from above, as it would have been better served via PM.

So what motor do you have planned????

Well I still have the LSJ, shown mocked up in the Fiero cradle. I'm torn between the lightweight advantage of this motor or the V8 rumble I could have if I swapped in an LS4 instead. Maybe I just don't have enough Fieros

quote Originally posted by jmarek78:There's no inner panel on the rear clip. Good thing too, since it already weighs too much for the hinge setup when it is hanging fully open (~110 lbs). There is a 1/8" thick plate of metal in the fiberglass running across from hinge to hinge, which seems fine when the clip is closed but when it is open all the weight ends up concentrated at the very edge around the hinges. Do you have any pictures of the hinge setup on your kit?

I sent a few photos to your e-mail address. Since they were kind of boring, I decided not to post 'em here. Besides, I've posted plenty of photos in this thread already. Feel free to pick my brain on your GT40 build anytime you wish.

quote Originally posted by jmarek78: Well I still have the LSJ, shown mocked up in the Fiero cradle. I'm torn between the lightweight advantage of this motor or the V8 rumble I could have if I swapped in an LS4 instead. Maybe I just don't have enough Fieros

Is that the supercharged ecotec by any chance? :-p What car did you get it out of, and how much did it set you back?

-M

Yep. I pulled it from a saturn ion redline (sister car to the chevy cobalt ss). There's an F35 trans attached to it as well that you can't see in that picture. I paid $3,000 for it.