Welcome to my Build thread. It has been a long journey and will continue to be so as I continually improve my Fiero. I'm adding this as kind of a "Prologue" to the start of my engine swap. I bought My Fiero In May of 2008, It came from Akron, Ohio, and was in rough mechinal shape.


We fixed it up the best we could, and it ran a whole lot better, but the engine never seemed to run right, even with only 50K miles on the clock. Even so, I drove it until June of 2009 when I decided enough was enough. This is when I decided "The Gold Rush Project" would begin. I decided not to do a Turbo install at this time, as I just want to enjoy my car and get it running. I may do a supercharger in the future.

Here is the start of my original build thread.
I removed the engine cradle from my Fiero this weekend. It wasn't that easy at all I'll say that right now, but fun and exciting! So Friday I start with my friend Alex, i had to work at 5 so we did the most we could. We removed most of the stuff on the top of the engine, jacked the car up, spilled coolant all over the driveway (did that today too :P).

So this is where I started today at about 1pm.

Here I am hard at work. I'm not going to explain everything I did, but it was quite "fun".

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 05-11-2011).]

Then I had to first lower the car back down, remove the 4 cradle bolts, (FUN) and then raise the whole car up.



AND ITS OUT!!!


Hey! Something is missing here.




In the garage it goes.

DONE!

Took a very long time, but I'm 17 and the only one with decent skills so I'd surprise we got it out period.

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 06-22-2009).]

Sweet!!

But why did you take it out?

Couldnt have been that dirty, them duds still look pretty white !!!

Good Job, What are your plans ?

------------------
Mike
'86 Fiero 3800 supercharged '86 Fiero SE original
'85 Fiero SE '85 Fiero GT
'84 Fiero SE '84 Fiero Base coupe

[This message has been edited by Mike Gonzalez (edited 06-22-2009).]

Oh crap i forgot that part.
4t60 swap, port exhaust logs, 7730 computer, lots of cleaning and painting, my cradle is rusting away, powdercoat intake.
Bunch of stuff.

Brand new rear suspension pretty much.

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 06-22-2009).]

Impressive Matt! Keep up the good work and please make sure she see the road again!

quote Originally posted by DeLorean00: Impressive Matt! Keep up the good work and please make sure she see the road again!

Of course she will! it won't be soon though...maybe 4-6 months.
But I'm glad I did it. the 2.8 was getting 18mpg. Timing issues. and the biggest reason is the rust. Cradle is shot, so is my trunk corner, and my battery area. Im going to be moving it up front anyway.

Any one have a idea what I can put in the battery's place? turbo?

sick. how long did it take you ?

quote Originally posted by IVANNATINKLE: sick. how long did it take you ?

Too long. People do it in like 1-3 hours if they good at it. Yea, ok mine took 2 DAYS. *listens to gasps in the crowd*
No problem. its done now.

thats not to bad your 17 was it your first time dropping one?... I would probably take about the same amount of time

quote Originally posted by IVANNATINKLE: thats not to bad your 17 was it your first time dropping one?... I would probably take about the same amount of time

Yep first time. First time doing anything. I haven't even removed a caliper yet so i think i did good.

Edit: Oh and if anyone was wondering, that red 85 GT is my dad's. Yes it runs great, i just happened to be working on it at the time.

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 06-22-2009).]

Well done mate!

I like the look of those rear lenses on your SE.

Good job....this is how you build your skills. 2 days isn't terrible for a first timer....it's more important to take your time and do it right than to be fast. It'll be easier and quicker the next time you do it...

Keep us posted on the progress.

[This message has been edited by Frizlefrak (edited 06-22-2009).]

quote Originally posted by mattwa: Hey! Something is missing here.

You!!! where is your picture of you standing in the engine bay?

For being only 17, you are doing a fine job. Good luck with her, and we will be watching. And feel free to ask questions. We know that you are an allright guy, and many of us will help you along.

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quote Originally posted by BMTFIERO: You!!! where is your picture of you standing in the engine bay?

Eh, I'll get to it.

quote Originally posted by Tony Kania: For being only 17, you are doing a fine job. Good luck with her, and we will be watching. And feel free to ask questions. We know that you are an allright guy, and many of us will help you along.

Thanks! Yes I have a question. How exactly do you separate the engine and the 3-speed auto? I don't know how. With the torque converter and all?

Remove the inspection plate from the bottom of the transmission. Remove the three bolts that hold the torque converter to the flexplate (you will have to rotate the converter/flexplate 120 degrees each time.....you can use the bolt on the harmonic balancer on the front of the engine to turn it). Remove the bell housing bolts. ...now the two will go their separate ways....

.....if you don't remove the three bolts, they still come apart. The torque converter stays attached to the flexplate....and you get a bath in copious amounts of transmission fluid. Much neater to separate it from the flexplate and leave it in the transmission.

[This message has been edited by Frizlefrak (edited 06-22-2009).]

wow great job man i hope everything goes realy well for you !!! The people on this site are realy great people and very good at what they do. and they are all pretty nice. if i can help with any ?'s i will but i really don't know anywhere near as much as most. oh and i think you did a great job taking it out in two days. the important thing is that your learning so much about the car right now and you couldn't ask for a better group of people to help along the way !!

,Jason

[This message has been edited by my86fiero (edited 06-22-2009).]

Yep, this forum is awesome! I have been here for a while now and people have always helped me when i needed it.

Edit: Thanks Frizlefrak for the info!

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 06-22-2009).]

good job bro. would this happen to be for an engine swap? lol and I like the drywall lift/ gennie lift to lift the car str8 up ballin

[This message has been edited by pontiackid86 (edited 06-22-2009).]

are you a clevefiero fiero member?

quote Originally posted by pro street dave: are you a clevefiero fiero member?

Not yet, but me and my dad plan to sign up.
I have been going to the meetings for the past few months though.

quote Originally posted by mattwa: I can't get the lower struts bolts out. I tried air tools, heat with a torch, nothing worked. What can i do besides cutting it?

I am guessing that you are talking about the two large bolts holding the strut to the spindle? I sprayed them with PB Blaster for a couple of hours. That did not work, so I took out a 5lb sledge hammer, and went to town. I had new bolts to install. I actually broke the jaw of my vice beating on the bolt. Just don't put any side force on the spindle. Only hit the bolts.

And don't hit it like I have it in the picture. You want the bolts to take all of the force. Not the spindle or the strut.

[This message has been edited by Tony Kania (edited 06-22-2009).]

quote Originally posted by mattwa: I can't get the lower struts bolts out. I tried air tools, heat with a torch, nothing worked. What can i do besides cutting it?

Use a 6 point socket (impact sockets are good....Harbor Freight Tools) with a large breaker bar (1/2" drive or better). Use a long piece of pipe as a cheater bar....ie...slip it over the end of your breaker bar so you get extra leverage. Apply even force on the end of your cheater bar.....and one of two things will happen; The bolts will come loose, or they will break. Either way, problem solved. Just use caution so that if it lets go suddenly, you don't take a tumble. Better to sit and pull down on the bar than to push on it.

If I wasn't 2000 miles away, we'd have them off in less than 10 minutes.

[edit] I probably don't have to tell you this, but buy GOOD quality tools. Cheaper tools sound appealing...until one breaks at the worst possible moment. You either damage something or get injured....neither is good. Buy good quality tools and they will last you a lifetime. I'm 45 and still have and use Craftsman tools I bought in high school. Now I mentioned Harbor Freight above....they sell some good impact sockets, but for general sockets I would avoid them. Craftsman, Snap-On, even Kobalt (Lowes) are good tools. They can be your best friend. Good luck.

[This message has been edited by Frizlefrak (edited 06-22-2009).]

quote Originally posted by mattwa: Well yea, a V-10 F-350 dually vs a S10? Who you do think would win? its like a F-350 vs. a Ranger.

lol like i said it pulled the whole rear end out of the thing aling with causing a lot of frame damage

I haven't updated in a bit, so here is my progress.

I got my 2.8 down to the long block and on my engine stand. and i have taken everything down to the bare cradle. MRJ (Matt) came up and brought me 2 cradles with suspension parts because the 2 I had are scrap because of rust.
Interesting picture don't you think.


I'm going to get a 4T60 and a 7730 computer soon and then i can start over again.

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 07-06-2009).]

Nice work there! Word of caution - be carefully lifting the Fiero up by the deck lid latch. It can bend or worst, it can rip from the car.
I have seen it happen. The best way to lift the car is with that black brace, on the front side of the trunk. Use a strap with two hooks and hook it to the holes that are on either end of the brace.
If you need a strap, i have one. Let me know and I will bring it over.
Oh, if you still need a 7730 computer, I have one.

quote Originally posted by RumbleB: Nice work there! Word of caution - be carefully lifting the Fiero up by the deck lid latch. It can bend or worst, it can rip from the car. I have seen it happen. The best way to lift the car is with that black brace, on the front side of the trunk. Use a strap with two hooks and hook it to the holes that are on either end of the brace. If you need a strap, i have one. Let me know and I will bring it over. Oh, if you still need a 7730 computer, I have one.

Yea, I'm going to use the black brace next time, the latch didn't look pretty after that.

Cool step by step pictures, but looks sooooo much harder then when i yanked mine from the top

quote Originally posted by Nurb432: Cool step by step pictures, but looks sooooo much harder then when i yanked mine from the top

I don't think you fit a cradle through the top.

quote Originally posted by RumbleB: Nice work there! Word of caution - be carefully lifting the Fiero up by the deck lid latch. It can bend or worst, it can rip from the car.

Agreed. I put a bolt through the dogbone bracket on the firewall and lift from there. It works great.

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World of Wheels Winners
My 3.4L S/C 87 GT
& My SD4 Indy

quote Originally posted by mattwa: I don't think you fit a cradle through the top.

True, but i don't have a cradle in mine. ( just kidding )

Today while I was working on modding the 7th injector to make it less visable (7730 computer), i hit it with a hammer to get a piece off and the whole thing went flying. And it landed right into this sump pump thing that goes down below my basement. There's goes that piece, no chance in ever getting it. Now what can I use to plug that hole on the side of the intake?

Edit: Oh and what can i use to plug the coolant fan switch hole too?

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 07-07-2009).]

quote Originally posted by mattwa: Edit: Oh and what can i use to plug the coolant fan switch hole too?

You dont want to do that.

quote Originally posted by pontiackid86: You dont want to do that.

The 7730 computer I'm switching to doesn't use that, the computer directly controls it.

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 07-08-2009).]