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| Just picked up an 87 SE basket case (Page 4/37) |
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78_elky
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APR 23, 12:56 PM
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Still no ashtray or gauge pod switches and that shifter trim is not bolted down but the interior is mostly back together.
I also was able to have my Dad come out and watch the engine while I cranked it and it looks like the coil is working just fine.
There is spark going into the distributor but there isn't any spark coming out of the distributor. So I've got some checking to do to see if the ICM is working or if the pickup is the issue. The previous owner said he had put a new cap and rotor on and coil but I don't really know what he did or just wanted to do to it. I also have a fuel pump that keeps buzzing as long as the battery is plugged in and it looks like that could be a fuel pump relay and/or a oil sender unit so I'm going to upgrade the oil sender to an 88 style and replace the relay. I just need to verify that the fuel pump is in fact the thing buzzing.
Jessica[This message has been edited by 78_elky (edited 05-01-2017).]
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PaulJK
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APR 24, 06:20 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by 78_elky:
... I went on craigslist and found a Fiero for so little money I couldn't pass it up.
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personally i think 87 was the best fiero year - good luck with it. BUT be careful because a basket case fiero could end up being he most expensive car you'll ever own. GM built these cars to self-destruct and if you start buying new parts and customizing, you'll have 5 to 10 thousand in it before you know it. For that kind of money, you could buy a LOT of late model really nice cars - early 90s corvettes, mid-2000 mustangs, etc. Don't forget there are better made (MR2 turbo) and more exotic (lotus esprit) mid-engine cars that can be had on the used market. Spend your money wisely  [This message has been edited by PaulJK (edited 04-24-2015).]
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78_elky
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APR 24, 10:49 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by PaulJK:
personally i think 87 was the best fiero year - good luck with it. BUT be careful because a basket case fiero could end up being he most expensive car you'll ever own. GM built these cars to self-destruct and if you start buying new parts and customizing, you'll have 5 to 10 thousand in it before you know it. For that kind of money, you could buy a LOT of late model really nice cars - early 90s corvettes, mid-2000 mustangs, etc. Don't forget there are better made (MR2 turbo) and more exotic (lotus esprit) mid-engine cars that can be had on the used market. Spend your money wisely
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Thanks, I'm noticing how once you take one thing apart on these cars it can really snowball on you (more so than my other cars and there are not too many places to get parts). Plus some of the systems are pretty intertwined and that could be an issue as well (I doubt I'll ever get the A/C working because the compressor is seized and was given to me in a box when I bought the car). I've got 1300 into the car at this point with the purchase price (I'm logging all my receipts) and it looks like the really rough ones in this area are going for around that price; so if I can get it running I'm still within a reasonable range to sell it. The nicer examples look to be in the 3K or more range and the ones with a swapped motor are kind of all over the place. I'd like to replace the suspension components, springs, shocks, and struts all at once and have a nice little go kart but we'll see how that pans out. That kind of modifications will leave me in the 2K -3K range on cost. I may drive it for a bit before I do anything major; then just sell it if its not something I really like. Considering I haven't driven one before and this one doesn't drive now I've got very little frame of reference to go on. Plus my S10 and my El Camino are more my "permanent" fleet and this was supposed to be a simple detour so I'd have a backup daily driver if the S10 goes down for maintenance  Having the El Camino blown apart for a frame off and LS swap in the middle of my 2 car garage also makes working on the Fiero a pain and everything I do the Fiero is a drain on the resources that could go to getting the El Camino back together. Believe me I'm thinking a lot about what to do with this car.
On a positive note I took the ignition system apart and found it all works. So I think I'm missing a spring inside the distributor and that is why I'm not getting any spark at my plugs. So I ordered one and hopefully that will fix the issue and I can start the car. I'm also going to try to rebuild the caliper this weekend and I can button up the brakes. I only plan on rebuilding the calipers if they look bad or they come apart on accident so I'm going to hope that the rest of the brakes go easy.
Jessica
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PaulJK
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APR 25, 07:35 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by 78_elky:
... I'd have a backup daily driver ...
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The cheapest way i've ever found to get parts is to watch your local scrapyard for the weekends they have 50% off sales. Hopefully there will be a fiero or 2 in the yard when they have the sale. This is also a good way to learn about how the car is put together and how to get stuff apart . Good job so far.
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78_elky
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APR 27, 04:36 PM
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There was one Fiero in the local pick and pulls within 100 miles and it was pretty well pulled apart already but I got some good stuff from it. I also found a really nice guy parting one that he bought running and driving to use on his kit car Ferrari project and he's been very helpful getting me the parts I needed and giving me some insight into how the running gear should be put together.
I think the distributor was put in wrong on mine by the previous owner so I ordered a Haynes manual and I'm going to verify TDC and try to set the distributor up so I can get this car to start. I also got the rear caliper back together that came apart when I was trying to put new pads and rotors on. The only hiccup is that the piston needs to move in about 1/16" more to fit over the rotor and once I figure out that I'll be able to put the passenger side back together and move onto the drivers side. I'm optimistic I can figure this little car out, but it would have been great if it could have gotten done a week ago. My S10 blew the lower intake gasket on the 4.3L so its down while I wait for a new injector spider to get delivered because I found it was leaking when I took the intake apart.
Fun times working on the cars!
Jessica
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78_elky
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APR 29, 12:53 PM
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So the spring was not the issue on the Fiero. It still won't start, its like its not timed right, so once I get my S10 up and running again I'll be back to work on the Fiero. I rebuilt the rear caliper with a new dust boot and square cut seal that came apart on me. I've got to get the piston to move about 1/16" further into the caliper to get the new pads to clear the rotors but I'm optimistic I'll get it figured out. The piston and bore looked to be in great shape and had no pitting or anything so that was also good.
Nothing much else to report, the car is way on the back burner till I can get my daily driver going again 
Jessica
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78_elky
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MAY 01, 11:08 PM
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Took a break from the S10 this morning and focused on getting the brakes back together on the Fiero. I did the rears in the morning and I installed the new seals on the spindles (so that took some time)
I tackled the fronts this evening (about 12 hours after I did the fronts).
I'm not too thrilled with the fact the suspension looks very much original and questionable. That is however part of phase 2 after I get it running and driving and get plates on it
Jessica
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78_elky
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MAY 04, 12:28 PM
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Pretty sure I figured out the issue with it not starting. I think the fuel line isn't hooked up. I went out yesterday and its pouring out from under the car when the pump is energized. Previously I had been working with my Dad and he had me cranking the engine while he was doing things under the hood to the timing and such. This time I was alone and I noticed it was just dripping down onto the ground. It is very dirty brown gas so I kind of let it pump a bit out because I think its very old gas anyways (apparently the PO hadn't moved/ran the car in over 3 years).
So I'm going to get under the car tonight I hope and replace the fuel filter, check the fuel pressure and plug this leak (it may be the PO never hooked the lines back up). Then I've got a couple of transmission mounts to tighten and an exhaust to hang and I should have everything under the car done (I hope). My punch list is getting a lot smaller. I also got a lot of good ideas on what is the issue with my passenger side headlight not coming up.
Jessica
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78_elky
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MAY 05, 01:21 PM
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Update! The fuel line was hooked up. I found it is completely rusted through the hydraulic fitting part as well as a rust hole in the metal part. So I'm going to go to a local shop and see if they can make me up a replacement. At this point I think the return line is OK but its hard to tell when all the fuel is leaking out of the supply and not making it to the return. I also may just get some new fuel injection hose and make something myself if I can't get something locally.
I also tried to hook up the exhaust the previous owner had hacked together. Its a complete mess. He cut the cat out and then welded in a pipe that is too long, he omitted all the hanger points and he also used a universal muffler so it'd have only one exhaust pipe, he also didn't seem to measure anything so I've decided its almost completely hopeless. Luckily, I had a spare cherry bomb (I think its really a "Red Hots") muffler with a turn down sitting up in my rafters so thats all I'm going to run until I get this thing going and can justify buying all the parts to fix the exhaust. It needs new not completely bugger welded manifolds as well as a new Y-pipe along with everything else. So for now it'll have the muffler where the cat goes and a turn down and we'll see how completely horrible it sounds with a glass pack on such a little engine haha
Jessica
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78_elky
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MAY 07, 10:20 AM
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Well the good news is I've fixed the S10. It involved making the bed dump so I could get to the fuel pump ;-)
That means I'm back to work on the Fiero (once I bolt down the bed and such).
I fixed the fuel supply line, it was rusted through and now its been replaced by a injection rated hose and some decent injection rated hose clamps. I know its not the nicest option but it'll work and its not near any heat. And besides the line it is replacing is also rubber.
I also took apart the passenger side headlight and found a brush was damaged on the motor (I may have caused it taking things apart who knows?) I also broke two screws off on the motor mount and had to drill and tap for new ones. But the biggest surprise was there were no bushings left inside the mechanism, just dust. So I got some spacers from the store and put them in my drill press and sanded them down to .48" and they work great! No more winking Fiero lights! I may have to do the drivers side soon, its not sounding very healthy
My next step is to test the fuel pressure again. I know the pump is running through the oil sender unit because it won't turn off once the battery is attached (unless I unplug the sensor) so I'm going to put a new relay on it and if the pressure is low I'll figure out why and try to fix that. I feel like I'm really close to getting the car running. I can't wait to drive this little thing
Jessica
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