First time Fiero owner- my thoughts (Page 3/3)
82-T/A [At Work] SEP 12, 07:48 AM

quote
Originally posted by markopolo:

There are no horrible rust spots, just some normal surface rust on a 41 yr old car.

Trunk pics…







My advice on this... there is a LITTLE bit of rust there that's creeping in. I'm not concerned about the Trunk, but it's likely that there is rust on the frame rails. Typically, any rust in this area represents 2x the amount of rust on the frame rails. If it was bad, I'd recommend removing the rear quarter and patching it... but more than likely, it's not bad at all.

My only advice here would be, as you're going through the car, remove the rear wheel liners so you can see the condition of the upper frame-rails. Then, take a wire-wheel attachment and power drill, and you can sand down any areas where there's rust. There may be even a little bit of rot which you'll want to clean up. Then hit it with rust convert once you get it to mostly bare metal, and then spray it with a black chassis epoxy.


That should keep it good for another 10+ years.
Dennis LaGrua SEP 13, 11:31 AM
My advice is simple. Just realize that you have bought a car 37-43 years old. In most locations they consider that an antique automobile. Parts wear on any car that old will require maintenance and repair. Parts like belts, hoses, ignition parts, bushings and tires should be the priority to replace. It also looks like your headlight motors need some work. Stay with it and you'll have a car that's really fun to drive

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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 "

rickiep00h SEP 13, 07:57 PM
Hi fives fellow '84 haver. The biggest problem I had was finding a new gas tank--they're effectively unobtanium on the used market, and the only guy that regularly made new tanks is getting out of the Fiero biz altogether. I ended up getting a junkyard tank that had gotten the ol' punch-a-hole-in-the-tank-and-stick-a-stopper-in-it treatment, and I basically slathered the stopper and its hole in JB SteelStik. Haven't had a leak yet. Yet.

The main thing to remember is that '84-'87 are mostly interchangeable. But '84 does have some differences from the others, the headlight system changed in '87, and those headlights mechanicals are like nothing you've ever seen in a car.

If you have a 3d printer, you can find a lot of handy things to make up for shortcomings, like cupholders.

You should probably also check and see if your car has had the recall kit put on it, which is some extra shielding between the block and the exhaust header, and some other stuff. As long as you keep your oil topped up and don't drive it like a maniac (that 4500rpm redline is the real deal!), you should be okay.

Also, if you have air conditioning, my condolences. You are never getting to that pump. Sorry. (Source: having a bad A/C pump.)

But man, I love my dang weird lil guy of a car. It's got its foibles, but for a 40-year-old car, it's a nice cruiser, and you'll absolutely find the other car guys on the road. Have fun with it!
1985 Fiero GT SEP 13, 09:12 PM

quote
Originally posted by cliffw:

Correct, no cup holders ... but I have heard that we can set a water bottle behind the instrument panel.



Depends on design, behind the instrument panel there's a hole on each side that fits just about any tapered cup/thing. Just about every fast food drink can sit there just fine (specifically the right side one), some small cups won't, but then they can actually fit in the door map pockets, leaning slightly forwards onto the vent panel. I don't know how well a normal water bottle (non tapered) would fit, but I put any sealable ones I have on the parking brake, there's space there and it doesn't take around to much.