Depressing end to a long love affair (Page 1/2)
tbone42 JUL 10, 07:28 PM
Well just before hitting 82k miles, the T Bone special started getting a creaky and hard to press clutch. I lubricated the adjuster on the neutral safety switch and it broke free and for two days, my fiero was shifting so nice. So nice.

Then I sell my winter beater at CarMax and the same day come back home to move the fiero back in the driveway. I push the clutch down and it starts screaming at me. Soon enough there is a bit of smoke and I smell clutch disc burning up.

I tried bleeding three times, but I can get it in gear fine. Something is just rubbing in there, and it only happens when I press the clutch pedal down. I'm no expert but I'm thinking it's the throw out bearing/clutch disc. I bypassed the neutral safety switch so I could start it without depressing the clutch pedal. No noise or smoke.

I called some reputable mechanics because this is beyond my experience not to mention i have nowhere to do it nor the necessary tools. Nobody gets back to me, even when I call back.

I guess what I'm saying is I'm hanging it up. I have owned 3 fieros in the last 25 years, this one since 2010. I love it. I love this car. I put Mr mikes in and all the Rodney parts I could. Custom wheels. I took great joy in knowing and loving this car for the last 15 years and fieris for the last quarter of a century.

My relationship with this car eclipsed my 14 years of being together with my ex wife. I've never had a dog live this long. With the exception of a few surviving family members and 3 friends, it is the longest lasting thing I've ever been a part of.

But it's time to move on. I can't afford to restore it, and I need something that doesn't develop a new problem every month. Which will probably happen anyway.

Tuesday I'm going to buy a newer, and hopefully more reliable car. I won't say better because this has been the vehicle I have owned the longest and got the most enjoyment out of in my life.

Fellas, I'm getting old. I don't get excited about wrenching anymore, and if I was going to be a mechanic it would have happened a long time ago.

Somebody can make her shine. With a clutch rebuild, a paint job, and a seat cover stitch up it would be a sharp and rust free starter so.eoen who can get the job done might want But I'm not that guy, so I'm letting her go.

For now? I'm tapping out on the coolest cars I've ever owned. If anyone is interested I'll make a mall post about it when the depression goes away. As far as fieros go she's nothing special, except to me. I just can't meet her needs anymore. It was a good run, but we won't be crossing the finish line together like i thought.

Shoot. *Kicks a rock* They're right, the only constant is change.

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Vintage-Nut JUL 10, 07:41 PM
Sad indeed at only 82k miles...

Sorry for your loss

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Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT
Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles

82-T/A [At Work] JUL 10, 08:16 PM

quote
Originally posted by tbone42:

For now? I'm tapping out on the coolest cars I've ever owned. If anyone is interested I'll make a mall post about it when the depression goes away. As far as fieros go she's nothing special, except to me. I just can't meet her needs anymore. It was a good run, but we won't be crossing the finish line together like i thought.

Shoot. *Kicks a rock* They're right, the only constant is change.




Hey man... welcome back. Look, it's totally cool, and I totally understand. I do love these cars, but they are just cars. My daughter is restoring hers, and she says she wants to keep it forever (like me with my original Fiero from high school). But I tell her, remember... it's just a car. At the end of the day... there's an emotional attachment, but sometimes it's better to just let go and let someone else enjoy it.

Hang around though man, I enjoy your stories!
82-T/A [At Work] JUL 10, 08:18 PM
... speaking of, did you ever finish that book you were writing?
tbone42 JUL 10, 09:13 PM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

... speaking of, did you ever finish that book you were writing?



Still writing but making progress. It has 7 different stories, none are finished but all are working. I'm also making AI art for the characters and music videos using them on Instagram. It helps me see the people I'm writing about.

Good hearing from you again, Todd. Yeah I'll be around. It would be weird if I came back from car shopping this week with another Pontiac. 🤔
82-T/A [At Work] JUL 10, 10:09 PM

quote
Originally posted by tbone42:

Still writing but making progress. It has 7 different stories, none are finished but all are working. I'm also making AI art for the characters and music videos using them on Instagram. It helps me see the people I'm writing about.

Good hearing from you again, Todd. Yeah I'll be around. It would be weird if I came back from car shopping this week with another Pontiac. 🤔




I liked the excerpt I remember you sharing with us before, so I'd definitely be interested when it's done!


Newest Pontiac is now 15 years old.

My daughter and I are always on the lookout for Pontiacs. The sad thing is, I almost never see them anymore. I see the occasional G6, maybe a Vibe. I actually see more Solstices than any other Pontiac, which is weird because they made so few of them, honestly... but I guess they're unique enough that people keep them around. But I did see a Pontiac G8 GT in The Villages when I was visiting the other day!
Dennis LaGrua JUL 11, 04:30 AM
Sorry to hear about the burned clutch but they can be replaced. It sounds as though you were using a 40 yr old car as a daily driver. When a vehicle is that old it is expected that there will be reliability issues. Fieros were not designed to last forever. You did not state your location but there are repair shops all over, Perhaps if you stated it someone here would come on and offer to fix it or point you to a garage that will fix it for a decent price.

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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 "

Dennis LaGrua JUL 11, 04:31 AM
Sorry to hear about the burned clutch but they can be replaced. It sounds as though you were using a 40 yr old car as a daily driver. When a vehicle is that old it is expected that there will be reliability issues. Fieros were not designed to last forever. You did not state your location but there are repair shops all over, Perhaps if you stated it someone here would come on and offer to fix it or point you to a garage that will fix it for a decent price.

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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 "

cartercarbaficionado JUL 11, 06:12 AM

quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:

Sorry to hear about the burned clutch but they can be replaced. It sounds as though you were using a 40 yr old car as a daily driver. When a vehicle is that old it is expected that there will be reliability issues. Fieros were not designed to last forever. You did not state your location but there are repair shops all over, Perhaps if you stated it someone here would come on and offer to fix it or point you to a garage that will fix it for a decent price.



i used my 88 as a daily for a year after replacing most of the worn out downright dangerous parts, the gotcha was the cooling system like most fieros it seems (still stock and got fixed but took awhile)
as for our thread poster? well if he wasn't getting up there in age/had the time and space i know he would fix it. i did my clutch the morning of having to drive an hour to work, truthfully i wish i was closer to either offer storage or a hand.....no one should have to give up a dream
Frenchrafe JUL 11, 07:22 AM

quote
Originally posted by cartercarbaficionado:

....truthfully i wish i was closer to either offer storage or a hand.....no one should have to give up a dream



Good on you mate!

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"Turbo Slug" - '87 Fiero GT. 3800 turbo. - The fastest Fiero in France! @turboslugfiero
https://youtu.be/hUzOAeyWLfM