My Quad 4 swap/resto/mod project is officially 10 years old today and I still have a ways to go before it’s on the road. I posted about it in my build thread but then wondered how long the rest of you have been working on yours. So what’s your story?

Technically my project began in September 2010 when rust finally ate enough of my GTZ to convince me to find a replacement. I joined Pennock’s in December of that year (as Quad Raider). I found the Craigslist ad for the Fiero I eventually bought at about the same time. On January 1st, 2011, my brother, our two sons and I drove over to Fayetteville, Arkansas to look at it. What a tired old car it was, but I wanted it so bad.



The original owner was still very attached to the car but it had too many problems and she was ready for it to go. She was glad it was going to someone who’d love it as much as she did. The car wasn’t running when I bought it so I’ve never actually driven it, but I do love it.





It’s amazing how something like this can change your life. In some ways it seems it can’t have been 10 years, in others it feels as though it’s been 20 years.

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 01-01-2021).]

I was reminded the other day that it's been over 11 years since I started the body mods.



to



Hopefully not 11 more to go.

Bob

I joined Pennock' Fiero forum 12 years ago with the aim of purchasing a Fiero shortly after. Living in Canada in the rust belt and with the relative cost of shipping compared to the cost of the car to get one from a none rust belt area it was only a bit over a year ago when I finally found a half decent one locally. It really just needs alot of 'love' and was hoping to get it done over one winter but I will at least be into 2 years before it is back on the road again. So I am hoping it will not spill over into year 3. But I actually do like working on it and there will still be plenty of things to do on it once it get it registered for the raod.

My LS4/F40 Fiero has been a work in progress for over 10 years...

May 2010 - Sourced 2007 LS4 with 18K miles
Sep 2010 - posted video if my LS4/F40 starter solution
Oct 2010 - sourced rust free 88 chassis to build LS4/F40
Mar 2011 - designed and machined LS4/F40 flywheel
Oct 2011 - developed 13" brake kit for the 88s.
Jan 2012 - developed a rod end lateral link kit using off-the-shelf parts - open sourced the details
Feb 2012 - developed Lateral Link Relocation Brackets for 88s & relocated top of struts 1" inboard
Feb 2013 - first engine start
Mar 2013 - first drive
Jun 2013 - first round of suspension upgrades (lowered, coilovers, lateral link relocation, rod end lateral links), attended the 30th Anniversary Show

Jul 2013 - put down 382 whp and 334 wtq on dyno
Sep 2013 - attended LS Fest,
Jul 2014 - developed upgraded F40 shifter kit and reverse lockout, installed Koni rear struts
Sep 2014 - rebuild entire front end with new ball joints, inner/outer tie rods, rack bushing, poly bushings and front Koni shocks
Aug 2015 - ABS headliner, interior panel sound deadener, and developed method to use AR cruise module with DBW pedal for working cruise control.
May 2016 - machined billet belt tensioner arm, interior beautification - fixing warped/delam console, painted door panels and dash, door hinge and power windows using rodney motors, wheel/tire upgrade (17x8 w/ 235/40/17 and 18x9.5 w/ 285/30/18)
Jun 2016 - Long hauled HRPT

Jun 2017 - Long hauled HRPT
Aug 2017 - 3.09 final drive upgrade for the F40
Jun 2018 - STM hood vent install and mustang rear wing
Jul 2018 - Addco sway bar upgrade front/rear
Aug 2018 - 35th anniversary show
Jun 2019 - Long hauled HRPT and car was noticed by Hot Rod: https://www.hotrod.com/arti...-hot-rod-power-tour/

Sep 2019 - DoD lifter failed after 55K miles of abuse... time for more power.

2020 upgrades:
Engine torn down, honed, rings gapped, new bearings and converted to 24x from 58x
DoD delete & Tick Stage 2 Turbo camshaft 219/223 .617/.595 LSA114+3
CNC ported 799 heads from Texas Speed
Ported Dorman LS2 intake
S369-SXE install - modified front LS6 manifold, modified truck rear manifold for turbo
Tubular rear cradle
Billet water manifold and new accessory drive layout.





Goal is to get it back on the road in 2021...

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: Tubular rear cradle ...

Tell us MORE about this.

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My World of Wheels Winners (Click on links below)

3.4L Supercharged 87 GT and Super Duty 4 Indy #163

quote Originally posted by fieroguru:

Your whole car is fantastic but I love the hood vents the best. They’re the right size, shape and location to make them look like they came that way from the factory.

1972; My Dentist buys a Pantera, and I decide maybe I would like to have a car some day (We were boaters and I liked.....Boats!)



1985; I order a 1985 Fiero SE V6/4spd with basically no other options...Weight; 2580 w/half tank



1990; After-market wheels 15 x 7 and 215 and 225/60 tires

1998; Transmission "loses" 2nd gear

1999; Getrag 5 speed + 3.4 F-body long block conversion

2005; Rinse MOSS off of top of car and.....Paint goes with it (Aiyeeeeeeeee!!)

2009; Swap new hood. roof and 86-88 GT rear onto car plus 87-88 base car nose

2010; Install 88 rear subframe/suspension and coil-overs

2011: New wheels; 16 x 7 VOXX Monzas with 205/55 and 225/55 General G-max tires

2012; Moved battery up front w/ Ford starter solenoid

2013; Make custom "B" pillar covers out of aluminum to cover breaks in quarter windows

2014; Install Fiero Warehouse IMSA side scoops

2017; Rebuild front suspension/ shorten bump-stops, and install 88 brakes w/Sluppy aluminum hubs

2019; Switch HL motors to later version

2020; Replace center console skeleton

2021; Renew search for wrench that will fit the "Loose nut behind the steering wheel" (Already took care of the "dip" in the driver's seat)

quote Originally posted by fierosound: Tell us MORE about this.

Right now it looks like this, but still needs some suspension tabs as well as a couple of braces. It is made from 1 3/4" .120 dom tubing. The primary reason for it is for turbo clearance under the stock trunk area. It also simplified the attachments for the motor and transmission mounts. Several more pictures here: http://www.fiero.nl/forum/F.../HTML/000123-41.html

quote Originally posted by Quadfather: Your whole car is fantastic but I love the hood vents the best. They’re the right size, shape and location to make them look like they came that way from the factory.

Thanks! Here are some details: http://www.fiero.nl/forum/F.../HTML/000123-35.html

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: I pulled out the spare hood and STM hood vent and started cutting and fitting. Here is the test fit and final location. The sides of the hood vents start at the center of the headlight covers and flow backwards from there. The vent insert was cut to follow the body lines of the hood, but I cut the side to make them square and 26 1/4" wide to match the leading edge width (this helps with bonding strips). In this picture I have already cut the vents open to make them parallel to the face of the hood and open a little further back.

35 years and counting. Cars are never finished.

[This message has been edited by hyperv6 (edited 01-01-2021).]

quote Originally posted by hyperv6: Cars are never finished.

Specifically, *old* cars. My daily is done, inasmuch as the only mods I've ever done (and ever will) to it are rubber floormats.

But the Fiero, well, either I get a wild hare-brained idea to "upgrade" or "enhance", or something breaks, or something breaks which leads me to a wild hare-brained idea ... or I get tired of the "upgraded enhancement" and put it back to stock. A Fiero is the automotive equivalent of the Winchester Mystery House (those not from central CA, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...hester_Mystery_House ).

-- A

[This message has been edited by dremu (edited 01-01-2021).]

I'm not sure project car was ever begun because it'll be a long time working on it when it commences.

[This message has been edited by sourmash (edited 01-01-2021).]

quote Originally posted by dremu: Specifically, *old* cars. My daily is done, inasmuch as the only mods I've ever done (and ever will) to it are rubber floormats. But the Fiero, well, either I get a wild hare-brained idea to "upgrade" or "enhance", or something breaks, or something breaks which leads me to a wild hare-brained idea ... or I get tired of the "upgraded enhancement" and put it back to stock. A Fiero is the automotive equivalent of the Winchester Mystery House (those not from central CA, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...hester_Mystery_House ). -- A

For me I am always on the look out for a new idea. If I am not doing that I am upgrading a stock part that if it is not like new I try to make it such.

As for black cars and showing them there is always something to clean.

All of my Mera restoration projects have taken an average of 7+ years to get them in final form. A lot of this stretched out time period is because of personal time availability and/or money necessary to do a good job on each car.You are never totally done and I always end up making incremental changes/"improvement" as time goes on.

Nelson

Fiero projects last from the day you buy it until the day you get rid of it. So on that basis, I'm at around 13 years for my current car.

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Anything I might say is probably worth what you paid for it, so treat it accordingly!

Dave

www.ltlfrari.com

When I started this thread I was thinking about major projects or upgrades, but these responses have all been great.

I thought it would take me about six months to get my Fiero on the road with the Quad in it. Doh. What I should have done was fix the Iron Duke and start driving the car, then address all the issues one at a time while still being able to enjoy driving a Fiero.

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: Jan 2012 - developed a rod end lateral link kit using off-the-shelf parts - open sourced the details

Please point me to this part of your build. I'd love to replace the inner tie rod on the rear suspension of my '87 with a link to the lower A frame.

quote Originally posted by Quadfather: I thought it would take me about six months to get my Fiero on the road with the Quad in it. Doh. What I should have done was fix the Iron Duke and start driving the car, then address all the issues one at a time while still being able to enjoy driving a Fiero.

When I make a list of everything I need to do (With any project) I can go down the list checking things off and get a lot done...quickly. If I don't have a list....well, it may take me 3 years to change the wiper blades!

quote Originally posted by Quadfather: Please point me to this part of your build. I'd love to replace the inner tie rod on the rear suspension of my '87 with a link to the lower A frame.

This was specific to the 88 rod end lateral links... Won't be of much help with the 87.

It has its own thread (in addition to being part of the build thread):
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/120882.html

It is also detailed here:
http://fieroguruperformance.com/?page_id=295

[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 01-04-2021).]

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: This was specific to the 88 rod end lateral links... Won't be of much help with the 87. It has its own thread (in addition to being part of the build thread): http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/120882.html It is also detailed here: http://fieroguruperformance.com/?page_id=295

Oh, on the contrary, it’s a tremendous help. I know the suspensions are different from ‘87 to ‘88, but you’ve proven that I could use the same technology to make a much shorter inner tie rod end that attaches to a homemade bracket welded on the ‘87’s A frame, instead of two feet away on the engine cradle where the stock one does.

.

[This message has been edited by Boozeman (edited 01-07-2021).]

quote Originally posted by fieroguru:

Oh wow Guru... $h!t just got real..... so much for my upcoming LF3/4 setup...

I'm seriously looking forward to the results... the S369-SXE is a "900hp" unit.. I assume you're aiming for the 600-700 range.

[This message has been edited by msweldon (edited 01-10-2021).]

I purchased my Black 87GT around the year 2000 and immediately began driving it, showing it and making improvements. You can say that it is a "project" but its only been off the road for about 10 weeks in 20 years and that was when I did the engine swap. The body mods, upholstery and other improvements like the C4 light panel were mainly weekend projects. To get them done quickly I would prepare the parts ahead of time and just install them when they were ready. Its been a full time project but now that most of the work is done, I can now finish the 85 GT ragtop that I purchased in 1994. It has the 4.9L engine swap/auto, a complete new interior, rear Euro light panel and many common fixes (dew wipes, headlight motors etc etc) . It will be on the road this year for sure and I will post pictures.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "