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| Just picked up an 87 SE basket case (Page 36/37) |
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78_elky
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AUG 25, 04:10 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by bjc 350:
That hood is looking good! Seems jobs/work get in the way of all the car fun. |
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Yeah that does seem to be how it goes. Last summer was pretty slow at work and I didn't have to do any service calls out of state.
This year its been a lot more crazy and its really cut into my time to work on the projects. I ended up taking a week off to get ahead on my crew cab project and that helped though.
I've got too many cars and trucks at this point, and they all seem to be projects in one way or another, either just maintenance or they are large scale projects.
Jess
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tshark
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AUG 25, 06:36 PM
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My symmetry OCD is kicking in on those scoops, but it's coming along.
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78_elky
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AUG 25, 07:40 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by tshark:
My symmetry OCD is kicking in on those scoops, but it's coming along. |
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I know what you mean, I measured so many times before I made the first cut,
then I measured again a few times before I bonded the insert.
The outside edges of the insert are not symmetrical so I measured from the scoop itself.
Of course that means the areas that need sanding look off and the picture is not exactly lined up.
I hope it turns out OK. I really dont want to have to cut it and redo it, or scrap the project.
Jessica
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78_elky
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OCT 18, 12:52 PM
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So I'm still here and still working on the car. I stalled out on fixing up that hood.
I ended up wrapping the dually I've been working on and trying to get all the major mechanical problems the previous owner created fixed.
Just thought I'd share because I've spent most of my summer cutting out and replacing rusted panels, redoing the interior and also all the suspension and driveline parts.
It was a serious heap of crap when I bought it, but its low and cool so I'm hooked.
I put the new radiator in and added another trans cooler to the front (in addition to the one in the rad) so that stopped my coolant leak in the front.
The stock radiator must have had a crack in it, but either way the aluminum one works great, and the temp stays more constant.
I installed my A/C hoses I had made by a guy on here, and they worked pretty well, but were a pain to install.
I also put new O-rings in the A/C fittings, and replaced the dryer. I need to install the new orifice tube, but I don't know where it is located on the car...
I'm still chasing a gremlin with the cruise control, but I have verified it is wired correctly so its a matter of testing the multi switch, the pedal switch and the module in the engine bay.
The last nagging issue is a coolant leak in the rear of the car. Its coming from the passenger side, there is a heater hose that ties into the coolant tube and its leaking.
When I did the engine swap, as some may remember I tried to replace all the rubber hoses on my car, I took this one off because it looks horrible.
I don't know where to get one, or if I should just cut this one and the hard line it is pressed into (near the gas tank) and replace it with a new hose using some hose clamps.
Any advice on how to proceed would be really appreciated! I love driving it, but I'm scared to when I leave a good size puddle of coolant everywhere I go, I'd hate to drive too far or too long and have it overheat on me 
Jessica
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Quad Raider
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OCT 18, 02:03 PM
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78_elky
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OCT 18, 02:31 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Quad Raider:
That truck is awesome. |
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It was a $900 piece of junk when I got it. The owner before me had bought it running and driving and he tried to drop it and put it on air ride.
He managed to put 3/4 ton spindles on it (the wheel bearings didn't even fit) he couldn't get the calipers to work or the tie rods (no surprise)
He did a flip on the axle and a notch in the frame. The axle wasn't welded to the spring perches so the first time I tried to move the truck it spun and almost broke the U-joint.
The notch has to be cut out and redone, because it is dangerous/scary/not welded garbage.
The floors were rusted out, and he cut the front A-arms to make room for the air lines.
The truck was owned before the moron I got it from by a racer that my friend lived down the street from and it was only used to tow an enclosed trailer with a race car in it.
I've since put a new fuse box and wiring harness in the truck, replaced the A-arms and every suspension part under the front, as well as fix the driveline and welded the perches on the axle.
I cut out the rusted floors and made them work with some '01 Suburban seats and redid the rest of the stuff in there. I put power doors on it from an '89 Suburban as well.
Now I'm going to tackle cutting out and replacing the step notch as well as finishing (and fixing) the previous owners attempt at Caddy tail lights.
At least I found a tailgate thats stock, he had welded the original one shut, put a piece of 1/4" plate over it all the way to the bottom of the tail lights and installed a tilted license plate pocket.
Its getting there though, and should make for a fun cruiser and if I need to tow a car it'll have no problems with the 454 and turbo 400.
Jessica[This message has been edited by 78_elky (edited 10-18-2017).]
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bjc 350
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OCT 19, 12:38 AM
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Great to see an update. That's one hella big project you are on, now! Good job.
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78_elky
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OCT 23, 12:30 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by bjc 350:
Great to see an update. That's one hella big project you are on, now! Good job. |
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Thanks! Its been a lot of work but pretty fun too.
I think I'm done driving the Fiero for a while, it has a gas leak I can't seem to track down. It only happens after I fill the tank and/or parking with the nose up.
I've been under the car multiple times to try and figure it out, but I'm about ready to put it away for the winter.
If I can figure it out I'll buy whatever seal or thing is leaking and park it and fix it over the winter and do my other stuff it needs at the same time so its ready for spring.
Jessica
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78_elky
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MAR 19, 04:37 PM
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Well I'm getting the little car ready for summer again, and I happened to run across a set of NOS GM outer dew wipes, so I bought those. Truthfully I may need to replace the inners at some point in the near future, but they look perfect and still work so I'm not worried because they are so easy to get to. I also got a set of the guides/sweeps that go inside the door from the Fiero Store. It was a heck of a project, but I'm glad I did it. I also went ahead and put the power mirrors on the car because they have fresh paint on them, and hopefully they won't move around with the vibrations from the engine. The remote mirror on the drivers side has been basically unusable the entire time I've owned the car, so this will hopefully be an improvement.
I also redid my return line and supply line for the engine, and bent up some new hard lines to replace the rusted stuff. Today I got my new fill tube and vent hose, as well as a new sender ring and seal from the Fiero store so that should fix the gas leak.
I'm hoping to take the car to the drag strip in April to just see how it does and I want to make sure I'm going to pass tech.
My dew wipes were in bad shape, both came out in pieces and were horribly rusted stuck.
Doing the dew wipes can be as bad, or worse than anything you've read.
To install the sweeps/guides for the windows without taking the glass out, I just cut a couple access holes in the inner door frame. Its not too hard, and it looks almost like it should have been there from factory.
The new sweeps, mirrors, and dew wipes really were worth it.
I did snap a few of the clips that go on the door trim so I may buy a couple new sets and just replace those if the trim doesn't stay stuck really well.
Jessica
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tshark
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MAR 19, 05:34 PM
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Glad to read these updates.
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