I just bought a Fiero!!! (Page 2/4)
Flying_Dan MAY 31, 01:13 PM
That is a clean looking GT, congrats!
michfiero1 MAY 31, 07:46 PM
Welcome to the Fiero world. It's the one place where the people here really can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. The folks on this forum are super creative and very helpful.
Zentaury JUN 04, 09:49 AM
I have the car sitting in a friend's garage, since the day I bought it, I have been reading a lot here in the forum and I want it to have the car away from me to plan the project before do anything... I can't wait to start doing something to the car haha!


This is the steering wheel, the temperature gauge does not work, so is the first thing to work on. The plastic on top of the right gauges has a bump, I read about removing the sponge inside and glue it back.

The interiors are clean, but not perfect, the seats are complete, not ripped, only "you can feel that they are 33 years old". But for now they are ok. Interior door handles are working, glove box is working too. The ceiling is falling, that needs to be adjusted or replaced. It has power window but not power doors... is possible to install power doors o is a PITA?



One of the things that I like the most, the engine matching the exterior paint. We all know is so "Ferrari" but it makes me feel I own a true sports car haha!
I will repaint it... here is where my OCD will hit me. I want to have a pristine engine all the time.



There is some work to do in it, I would ask for your opinion at "picture glance" what do you see wrong on it, that would be ideal to address first.









Now the bad news... looks like the exhaust is all rusty. Is there possibility to fix it... or is cheaper ( and less headache) just replace it?







Thanks for the warm welcome. I really appreciate all of your advices!
da.slyboy JUN 04, 03:51 PM
Unless the rust on the exhaust has holes in it, or you are creating a show car, you should be fine on the typical surface rust we are seeing.
Patrick JUN 04, 05:44 PM

quote
Originally posted by Zentaury:

I have some work to do: looks like something with the exhaust system because some of the smoke goes into the engine bay instead of going out trough the exhaust...




quote
Originally posted by Zentaury:

Now the bad news... looks like the exhaust is all rusty. Is there possibility to fix it... or is cheaper ( and less headache) just replace it?



Surface rust is normal... but if your exhaust manifolds are cracked, then that's a whole different story.
Spadesluck JUN 04, 07:30 PM
Just leave the exhaust alone is my opinion. All I see is surface rust. Now if it is making a lot of noise in the engine bay it could be a cracked manifold like others have mentioned. That would need to be fixed.
Kitskaboodle JUN 04, 10:56 PM
Would recommend removing the upper plenum and valve covers and have them repainted. There was a guy in Oregon that used to do an exchange service for them. Electrathon was his ID. Not sure if he still does that though.

Regarding detailing your engine compartment: would you like some engine compartment dress up advice that will make your 85 GT look much newer than it does now and cost you only 3-4 measly bucks? Impossible you say? Fret not, little one. Ready for my secret? It’s SOS pads. That’s right my fine feathered friend. See those dirty exhaust crossover tube shields? Yours need some help my friend. SOS will make them nice and shiny. Transmission housing greasy, dirty and dark grey? SOS to the rescue. Exhaust manifolds discolored and rusty? SOS to the rescue.

Would recommend you trim away (or glue down) some of the insulation that covers the right side strut tower.

You can easily retrofit your factory dog bone to accept poly and you can also polish your upper dog bone and make it nice and shiny. You can even use toothpaste if you don’t have any plastic polish.

Man, I love saving money!
Kit

[This message has been edited by Kitskaboodle (edited 06-04-2019).]

Zentaury JUN 07, 06:51 PM
More pictures:


RPO sticker:



Jack still in place (looks like new)


This picture make it look better than it is... but needs some cleaning.


Behind the headlight there is some (mold?) but both headlights are working, noisy but working.


Brakes fluid might had spilled at certain time.


Passenger side headlight


Inside the engine bay


The front trunk



Under the passenger side interior



Here inside is a black "sponge/foam" slightly loose. Is it to seal the car or window?


This panel is a little out




Needs new paint


This side looks in very good condition
Patrick JUN 07, 07:11 PM

quote
Originally posted by Zentaury:

More pictures...



We love seeing pictures here... but why are you posting such small ones? They're only 533 pixels wide!

Images can be posted here up to 1024 pixels in width, and up to 300 kb in file size.

If you're running a Windows computer, it would be best to host/post the images using PIP, which is provided by the administrator of this forum.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-08-2019).]

Zentaury JUN 07, 07:12 PM
Enough complaining about the condition of the car... now the other side of the coin!

First at all... this is the third time in my life I see a Fiero. The first one it was parked between two 5ton trucks and I couldn't calculate the size of the car. The second time is when I bought it and I was very nervous so I closed the deal and drove it to a friend's house and parked it there around 11 pm. This third time finally I was able to do a better inspection at the car... and there is many things that I love!

1 It is so low and short! I love that... it became my favorite car right away. My other 3 favorites are the slk300, bmw z3 and miata 1990 (I really like small / 2 seat cars). Me and my wife, we don't plan to have kids, so her Mini Cooper is kind of the SUV of the "family" (we have the backseats folded most of the time) for the groceries and that errands, and I was planning to buy a Smart as a daily driver.

2 I like the "middle engine" thing. It feels the Fiero is a real sports car.
3 Even with the possible issues on the manifolds (it might be the "bulkhead manifold"), the stock exhaust sounds really good. Is not that ugly noise like the civic or acura... it has a nice and deep grrrrruuuurr that feels like a v8 old school. It accentuates the sports car image.
4 The front trunk opening to the front.
5 POP UP HEADLIGHTS!
6 Seat speakers! (my side is working, I need to check the passenger side)
7 Removable sunroof
8 How to open the gas cap
9 In pictures I don't like it at all, but in person I like a lot the aero nose.
10 The back window so straight / vertical.

These and a few more things make the Fiero so unique and I like that.

That now that I literally stared at the car for 3 hours, there is no doubt it is a sports car, a head turner and is at the level of many classics.

Thanks for reading my long post!