World's slowest Fiero/Quad 4 Swap (Page 40/51)
Quadfather SEP 25, 09:40 AM
Spent some time yesterday cleaning up the shop and moving stuff around. Probably need to load up some of my scrap/spare metal and make a trip to the recycler.



Not quite ready to dive into the engine harness, because I realized I need to solve the fuel line problem first. The factory setup for the Quad has the fuel lines leaving the fuel rail on the driver’s side of the engine, then curving around to the exhaust side, which is now the back side of the engine. I need the fuel lines to meet up with the Fiero lines which are on the front passenger side of the engine bay. Hope to get some time today to work on that.

Checked over the rear suspension parts, as well as the replacement passenger side front lower control arm. The bushings on the rear control arms look really good, but I should probably replace them. Probably ought to replace the struts, too.

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 10-06-2022).]

Quadfather SEP 25, 09:49 AM
The rear outer tie rod ends are shot, but instead of replacing them, I’d really like to fabricate tie rods that are mounted to the control arm.

ABanks78 started a thread in Technical Discussions about his Quad 4 swap. He’s been driving his swap for years but has a cracked head. I’m obviously interested in his whole swap, but his rear suspension really caught my eye.

Why can’t I make my own version of this, using the stock control arm?
Quadfather SEP 26, 10:16 AM
Began the process of rerouting the fuel lines. The stock FWD location has the fuel lines running toward the transmission end of the engine, then making a 90 toward the exhaust side of the engine. I need the fuel lines to meet the fuel lines toward the timing chain end of the engine, turning toward the Fiero fuel lines which would put them over the alternator.

Here's a shot of the disassembled fuel rail just sitting where it would be mounted.



The fuel rail on the Quad has a very large bore.



This is the first time I've ever disassembled a Quad fuel rail in 14+ years of Quad ownership. Good thing I did because the injectors are filthy and covered in slimy, foul-smelling old gas.

The infamous black hole opened in up the shop, as I was removing the injectors from the rail. You'll notice one of the injectors is missing the clip that holds it to the rail.



I was holding the injector, not even putting pressure on the clip, when the clip suddenly exited this dimension. I have an image of it moving quickly diagonally away from me to the left, but I looked all over that corner of the shop for it and didn't see any sign.

The only logical explanation is that there's a black hole in the part of the shop.

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 10-07-2022).]

Quadfather OCT 06, 07:57 PM
The missing injector clip turned up. Found it on one of my big magnets.

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 10-06-2022).]

Quadfather OCT 06, 08:16 PM
I pulled the engine and transmission off the cradle to remove the torque strut mount that I decided not to use, and to clean up and repaint the cradle.

So now I’m thinking about adding an anti-sway bar. I have a front bar from an 84-87 Fiero, as well as a rear bar that I think is aftermarket. I don’t remember what car it was on when I found it at the salvage yard a few years ago. I just sat and looked at the two bars lying on the bottom of the cradle today and couldn’t make up my mind on which one to use and how to mount it.







When I was a wee lad, I bought a suspension upgrade kit for my ‘70 LeMans. It included polyurethane bushings for all the joints, some other odds & ends, and a huge 1 3/8” rear anti-sway bar. That car was amazing to drive after the upgrade. I read the Fiero debate about the size of the rear bar compared to the front one, but based on my experience I don’t think it’ll be an issue. If it is, I can just take the rear one off.

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 10-07-2022).]

Quadfather OCT 06, 08:23 PM
I’m still trying to find steel fuel line, but haven’t really been looking too hard because I’ve been busy with life. I’m also thinking about how to mount the throttle cable on the Quad. Sure wish I’d held onto the bracket that was on the Iron Duke.

When I was in the salvage the other day I looked at some other 80s GM cars, but nothing had throttle cables like the Fiero’s.





I may just fabricate one from scratch.

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 10-06-2022).]

Quadfather OCT 06, 08:29 PM
I was at the salvage Monday afternoon getting some spares from a Fiero. As I worked, a man walked up to me and commented that we don’t see Fieros in the yard anymore. We talked for about 20 minutes. Turns out he’s the original owner of a 1984 Fiero which has been parked and covered since it quit running in 1993!

He was in the yard looking for parts for another car and didn’t know there was a Fiero there. I also could tell he didn’t know much about Fieros.
fieroguru OCT 06, 09:00 PM
The swaybar on the front of the cradle looks like an addco bar for the 88 rear and someone would likely pay good $$$ to take it off your hands.

Here is the picture of the front/rear addco bars with the stock counterparts. The 88 rear addco one has much sharper corners than the sock one.

[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 10-06-2022).]

Quadfather OCT 07, 06:11 AM

quote
Originally posted by fieroguru:

The swaybar on the front of the cradle looks like an addco bar for the 88 rear and someone would likely pay good $$$ to take it off your hands.

Here is the picture of the front/rear addco bars with the stock counterparts. The 88 rear addco one has much sharper corners than the sock one.





Oh, thanks for the photo, that's very helpful. That bar must have come with the '88 cradle I have in my stash.
Quadfather OCT 16, 08:19 PM
Haven’t had much luck tracking down fuel line. I went to a speed shop in Tulsa and they told me no one is manufacturing that kind of fuel line anymore. They suggested looking in a salvage yard (duh) or buying NOS for a specific vehicle. I found 12” sections of it on Amazon, so I may get some of that and then use compression fittings to get the right length.

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 10-16-2022).]