Here’s today’s disappointment. For the first time since redoing the transmission mounts I put the deck lid on to check the fitment with the engine.

All that work on the new transmission mounts turned the assembly about 1 1/4” forward, so now the timing cover conflicts with the passenger deck lid spring.



Try to ignore all the overspray.



At first the deck would not close, so I used a big pipe wrench to bend the linkage to the side.



Here’s how well the engine fit with the old transmission mounts.



I’ve always planned to remove the torsion springs and switch to a strut, this just means it’s no longer a choice.

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 01-02-2023).]

It’s also time to look over the battery box I installed under the spare tire. This was one of the first big projects I did on the car and I think I went through two or three spare tire panels before I got everything right. That was back when Fieros would show up in the salvage all the time.



The box was an old metal shelf that I cut to shape and MIG welded together. I may remove it and make a fiberglass one, instead. I kinda like the idea of a box that isn’t conductive.



I couldn’t decide if I wanted to use a top or side post battery, but my wife’s old LeSabre went to the big parking lot in the sky last week so I kept the brand new battery, which made the decision for me.

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 01-07-2023).]

Ran into some delays for a couple of reasons. The company where my welding cylinders were rented from was bought out so I had to turn in my leased tanks and am waiting for the new MIG tank to arrive.

This happened right after I decided to upgrade my engine hoist. I built this hoist about 20 years ago by looking at pictures on the internet and at floor models at the car parts store. It works fine, but the boom would not fold all the way down while attached to the jack cylinder, so I finally changed them around to fix that.





As usual, I built this thing with parts I had on hand. The tubing was from a door frame from a house my brother was remodeling and the casters were in a box on the shelf in the shop. I was satisfied with them, until I came into possession of some much, much better casters.

This is a Vinten Fulmar television camera pedestal I got from work. My company just upgraded its equipment, so this pedestal, which dates from the 1970s, was declared surplus. In other words, free.



It weighed more than 400 pounds and was rated to carry another 350 pounds, so I figure the casters would work for my hoist. The thing had chain steering and was built like a tank.







The casters look like landing gear from an airplane.


The main body of the pedestal is a circular tank made out of 1/4” steel plate, which held the gas that allowed the pedestal to travel up and down easily. Everything else is aluminum, so I’ll have to get creative when I mount these to the hoist.

Next up for the Fiero:

-mounting Fiero clutch line to a Fiero Getrag slave cylinder, bolted to the Beretta Getrag with an adapter from Rodney Dickman
-redoing the battery tray and cables
-rear suspension rebuild
-engine harness

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 01-10-2023).]

Getting organized to figure out the clutch system. I emailed Rodney Dickman and he recommends using a Fiero Getrag slave cylinder mounted to an adapter, and an adjustable banjo on the master cylinder. Unfortunately he’s out of his Fiero Getrag slave cylinders so I’ll have to find another one.

I was checking to see what kind of pin my pedal has and saw what I thought was fresh fluid, so out came the master cylinder. Would’ve been easier before I switched out the booster.







Pretty tired looking master cylinder. Wonder if it’s the original.





To do list:
-clutch system
-coolant system (hoses, thermostat & housing)
-vacuum hoses
-Quad oil separator hoses
-engine harness

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 01-15-2023).]

Got some parts in the mail. Somehow getting a clutch master cylinder in the original AC Delco box is reassuring on some level.



The master cylinder was cheap because it was a closeout. Also I got a V6 slave cylinder based on Rodney Dickman’s advice.

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 01-29-2023).]

Meant to post a couple more photos last night but got distracted.

These are the three types of slave cylinders. Top is the stock Quad 4 one out of my Beretta. Middle is the one from my Fiero's Isuzu, and bottom is the V6 5-speed one:



I've found conflicting guidance on how to mate the Fiero clutch system to the Quad's Getrag. Some people have managed to use the stock Quad slave while others have used completely different systems (like one from BMW). Rodney Dickman recommended the V6 Getrag version, with his adapter and then probably an adjustable banjo. I'm going to try fabbing my own adapter.

[This message has been edited by Quadfather (edited 02-04-2023).]