Wow.... amazing what the cars been transformed into. Its gone from plain 88 coupe with just a few options... to a street machine and a half reminds me of a tuner transformation, an then some!
it sounds like its made a great platform for a build up. How many mine does it have now?
The 4-banger only had about 88,000 still running strong but totally out of place in a chop top. I would have liked to keep it but if I'm going to do any more swaps it wont be to install a 4 banger.
Here is a shot of the roof. My brother is fitting with inches of headroom to spare and he is about 6 foot even.
z Mack I'm glad you approve of the changes. I will have the Car in Toronto in September maybe we can hook up.
-Jonathan
[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 07-31-2004).]
WoW... I am in shock.. I will post more later when I can breath again...
Well... I feel a little better now...
J~.. Man, I never saw this coming.. NEVER! I know you have talked about wanting to do this for awhile! Congrat's!!
{bow's to you} I am glad to see you go with the 4.9L. Now maybe the 4.xL will get a lil' respect!! What else do you have planned for this monster..?? When are you driving back..?? Maybe if you come through East Texas {Tyler} maybe Loki will see this and us 3 can get together somewhere.. What color are you gong with..?? I may have missed it, but I would suggest Navy Blue with navy and cresm interior.... That's the color I am going with "SmoothGT" after I get finished.. NEVER!
Anyway's.. Congrat's Master J!!
------------------ Custom Built -- W I D E B O D Y-- GT!! One of One!!
The 4-banger only had about 88,000 still running strong but totally out of place in a chop top. I would have liked to keep it but if I'm going to do any more swaps it wont be to install a 4 banger.
Here is a shot of the roof. My brother is fitting with inches of headroom be spare and he is about 6 foot even.
z Mack I'm glad you approve of the changes. I will have the Car in Toronto in September maybe we can hook up.
-Jonathan
Very, very nice. Suggestion: Before you paint it, PM' me. I have a few ideas for your choptop you might like?. Hey, your already there!
Jonathan--I am a huge wing fan but the more I see your "new" car, the more I think that you should leave it wingless. (Not that my opinion matters any.) Great job you've done so far. (And kudos to Archie and PBJ.) If you're coming through north central Indiana on your way home, feel free to drop by. I don't have much to offer but I'd love to see your car and I can probably offer you a great rate on a nice motel room (wife works at one nearby--subject to availability, of course).
Looks awesome! ....with no wing! There's no reason to punch holes in a perfectly good decklid. If you have an extra lid, you should bolt a wing on to it and swap them out and see which one you like better. I personally like the no wing look on a chop top. Looks sleek and exotic.
jscott1................Thats a pretty sweet car you are building, with the help of Archie of course , and if you ask me, i say that wingless is the way to go! Keep up the Good work! and i hope to see more pix comming
------------------ I own an original yellow 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT, (wingless, currently purple) and very proud....Truly is.....Driving Exitement! Matching numbers GT #17889 of 26,402 made in 1988
I think he said he's going to use a wing with stands or extentions on it? I don't know how tall? However, if he goes "wingless" it's still a BAAAAD car!
IMO use a Camero bow tie wing. That way you have the best of both worlds. You can always bring another to Archie if you can't make up your mind, right?
Question: Jscott What type of headliner are you going to use? Got any more pics?
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 08-01-2004).]
I think he said he's going to use a wing with stands or extentions on it? I don't know how tall?
Question: Jscott What type of headliner are you going to use? Got any more pics?
I've got 5 inch wing stands from the Fiero Warehouse, but with all the votes for wingless I might use them on a different project. I will probably do as suggested and get a second decklid and try it both ways and see which I like better.
I've got a stock headliner that Archie graciously donated to me then cut it down, My old one was great while it was is the car but once It came down it was a mess.
I've posted nearly every pic that to took before leaving the car with Pete. By tomorrow I should start getting updates on the 4.9 swap.
this one looks like they are trying to mate and produce those little chop, top turbo 4.9s
Look what followed me into Canada!
[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 08-02-2004).]
The reason why I asked about the headliner was since some of the replacement are made of fiberglass, I painted mine to match the outside car's color. What i wanted to do on my next one is to used carbon fiber on all of the fiberglass part and dash. Sppy's knows a company that can just about cover anything with this special carbon fiber process. Any part or piece that can be painted .
So far, what has been the reaction from the neighbors? Will, heading back home? I know I had a lot of looke-lues while driving back from Archie's.
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 08-02-2004).]
Welcome to the club. Sorry to sound like a broken record, but drive defensively. Try to stay out of folks blind spots and don't pull up too close behind folks because they will not see you behind them. I agree with moving the spoiler back but I still feel the stock height looks best. I'd like to see a 18/20 wheel combo, alloy wheels, chrome finish.
The only reaction I've had So far was on the way to Pete's house, there were some very interested people checking it out at a gas station, wanted to know what it was, what color I was painting it, Etc. Since it is probable the only chop top in Canada right now they had never seen anything like it. I'm not going to get the car home for at least or month, so other reactions to follow.
I'm still undecided on the spoiler thing but I have a while to think about it. I'm still making my way back to Houston. Here's a question... I've driven 3,000 miles through 19 states and 1 province and did not see a single Fiero on the road. Are they all gone?
Hey JScott, how tall are you? From the pic with Archie, you seem to be 6 Feet tall. Did you try a choptop out first or did you just went for it? Looks like Archie got you by a couple of inches (in height).
let me throw in my 2 cents too, a mustang stallion wing (or if you go with a raised stock wing, lenthen the ends like madcurls or the ppe) and a sage chin extension. once you add those wide rocker scoops, you almost have to do the rest to balance things out.
one more. if you go with stock facias to go with the archie rocker scoops consider filling in the seam where it looks like the ground effects are added on (where it changes from red to silver on your chopper facias), or try to make the rocker scoops look like they have it too. it makes the bottom flow better when you look at it.
jscott1 congratulation on your new chop-top, and welcome to the club. I know you almost bought the GBCT from Joel, but I'm sure you will love making your own car even better. { I did get the air fixed on the GBCT }
Well.... it's about time you made the announcment! Not that I would ...slip... or anything like that . I can't wait to see the finished product. Regarding a color, I vote for Dodge Viper red!
Thanks for all the suggestions. That's one reason to make this public while it's still a work in progress.
I don't know about the whale tail... If I do anything it will be a stocker on stands, but I will move it back and I like the way the stands look filled in.
As DL10 revealed I nearly bought the GBCT, which I sat in and drove. I fit just fine in a chop top. I think ultimately I will enjoy building this to my specifications rather than buying a turnkey.
My tranny will be the 4T60E or whatever comes with the engine. This car is an auto and everything I read tells me that the 4T60 is the best tranny for the 4.9.
As for the chin, I prefer the Lawrence/Skitime chin spoiler, it flexible and cheap...I have at least 2 ripped fascias to build one from.
I need to find a good fiberglass person to fill in all these seams though, I know my skills are not up to it, and I agree it looks better. Color suggestions, and photoshops, are appreciated too.
Today's progress, it's not a 4 banger anymore...
[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 08-02-2004).]
This is also our first 4 cyl to 4.9 swap. It looked like you could put the 4.9 in beside the 2.5 with all the open space in the engine compartment. It has also been a long time since I drove a 2.5 auto, but now since I have it is interesting to drive around and see the fuel guage not move very fast but also the tach and speedo does not move very fast either but we will fix that.
------------------ -Chris - Custom Gun Metal 86 GT 3.4 5spd 3.4 SOLD & 4.9 being installed "It's too low, too rough, too loud, drinks gas, it's totally impractical, but damn good lookin. In other words, It's almost perfect!" Build up tread or MODS w/ Pics
I know it is a ways off, but have u begun to think about what rims you might possibly want ?? Any thoughts to the wheel size combo you plan to go with ?
If you decide to ditch the wing stands let me know, i plan to go with 5 ' wing stands.
Before you decide to ditch the wing idea,. go back and look at this:
^ Is madcurl's wingstands molded into the decklid?
Yes. I live in CA.......the wing capital of the world for imports. Thief(s) will steal anything if it ain't bolted and molded in. Notice I don't have a antenna. Some people must love stealing them and chrome valve stems.
that is awsome!! congrats, i would love to see it when ur in toronto,
now about your Photo shop skills. They are mad, best I have eva seen. 
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