Project Ford Fiero - '86 GT (Page 2/4)
Rickady88GT MAR 22, 06:38 AM
I did an LS4 in an 88, I used the entire wire harness from bumper to bumper. Doing this saved me some issues but created others. I used all of the electronics from the donor car like the gauges, radio. HVAC, and window/headlight switches. This mentioned that I installed the need computers to run the added systems. I also installed electronic adjustable pedals that made driving long distance easier. I even have remote engine start, anti-theft system remote door locks and trunk release. Along with all of the new stuff that comes with the modern car, I now have automatic headlights, one touch windows, entry lights and the headlights stay on for a few seconds after I get out of the car so I have light as I walk away from the car at night.
It is all super cool, but add more challenges to the build. Like the new automatic HVAC system, it tune on and cools the car as I am walking up to the car and is set by temperature and maintained by computer. This mentioned that a lotry of fab work went in rather than wire and computer converting. It is a tradeoff.
fieroguru MAR 22, 08:51 AM
Sounds like an awesome project, but as Rickady88GT says the plan to swap everything from the Ford vehicle to the Fiero chassis is a lot of work well beyond just shortening and extending the wires. His build thread is full of information:
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum3/HTML/000114.html

Having all the new car features would be cool to some and over the years several people have added in the BCM and other sub systems to install some of these newer features. Only a small handful have gone to the extent that Rickady88GT went and you are planning to go.

You likely can install the engine into the Fiero w/o all the electrical complexities and have the car running much sooner. Then you could add the other electrical features after you have started to enjoy the car.

Halcyon25 MAR 22, 01:08 PM

quote
Originally posted by Spadesluck:

You are not "to" far from me! If I am ever in that area I will try and reach out. Will be watching your build.



Sounds great Spades! Im always down for meeting up with fellow hobbyists!



quote
Originally posted by Rickady88GT:

I did an LS4 in an 88, I used the entire wire harness from bumper to bumper. Doing this saved me some issues but created others. I used all of the electronics from the donor car like the gauges, radio. HVAC, and window/headlight switches. This mentioned that I installed the need computers to run the added systems. I also installed electronic adjustable pedals that made driving long distance easier. I even have remote engine start, anti-theft system remote door locks and trunk release. Along with all of the new stuff that comes with the modern car, I now have automatic headlights, one touch windows, entry lights and the headlights stay on for a few seconds after I get out of the car so I have light as I walk away from the car at night.
It is all super cool, but add more challenges to the build. Like the new automatic HVAC system, it tune on and cools the car as I am walking up to the car and is set by temperature and maintained by computer. This mentioned that a lotry of fab work went in rather than wire and computer converting. It is a tradeoff.



Hey Rickady!
Love your build and have been following it for the last 10 or so years now. That's the plan here too, everything electrical and the full harness is coming out and going into my GT, minus the airbags if I can. Im looking forward to the challenge though, the small fab work for new brackets sounds fun and relatively easy in the grand scheme of the project. Versus the modification of the wire harness which Im not looking forward to and will be extremely tedious for me.



quote
Originally posted by fieroguru:

Sounds like an awesome project, but as Rickady88GT says the plan to swap everything from the Ford vehicle to the Fiero chassis is a lot of work well beyond just shortening and extending the wires. His build thread is full of information:
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum3/HTML/000114.html

Having all the new car features would be cool to some and over the years several people have added in the BCM and other sub systems to install some of these newer features. Only a small handful have gone to the extent that Rickady88GT went and you are planning to go.

You likely can install the engine into the Fiero w/o all the electrical complexities and have the car running much sooner. Then you could add the other electrical features after you have started to enjoy the car.



Yep, That's the plan.
Unfortunately with Ford, they require everything or nothing, unlike GM/Chevy were you could get away with just the engine/tranny swaps with minimal effort. Everything is routed through a CamBus system and everything talks with each other to an extent. So its generally easier to swap something into a ford than it is to swap the ford into something else unless everything is coming over.
Rickady88GT MAR 22, 06:54 PM
Cool, I will be watching.
BTW I highly recommend that you get the entire donor car for a project like this. That way all the electronic parts are already compatible. This would have saved me some time on my project.
RichLo1 MAR 24, 10:49 AM
You gotta keep that wheel/tire combo!
Halcyon25 APR 18, 12:08 PM
That's definitely part of the plan Rickady88GT!

As amussing as it looks RichLo1, I can only promise that they'll be there until I start working on the suspension.

Update on the build, finally...

Continuing work on my '86 GT...
Todays episode focuses on stripping the larger panels from the Interior!
Sorry for the delay, I had planned to post this two weeks ago but at that time all the schools decided to close for Covid-19 and it took awhile to fall into a normal routine.

Episode 2 - https://youtu.be/JxrMYpCFTYs

[This message has been edited by Halcyon25 (edited 04-18-2020).]

Halcyon25 APR 18, 05:28 PM
Also as I tear stuff out of the car, if there's anything you guys see that you want/need, hit me up and we'll work out a deal.
A lot of the stuff coming out is in great condition and just isn't needed. like the interior trim, dash, Center console, any wiring harness, carpets, etc...
Halcyon25 APR 23, 11:12 AM
Small progress update...
Got the brake booster and cylinder out as well as the spare tire tub out.





Really struggling to remove the entire air ducting unit. I have all the bolts removed from the frunk side and its loose, but it wont move past an inch and Im not seeing anything in its way... Any advice?
Halcyon25 MAY 05, 08:20 PM
So this topic doesn't look like I up and quit on this, Heres an update photo while I work towords the next video!
Managed to remove all of the forward body panels and most of the supporting brackets.
olejoedad MAY 05, 11:59 PM
If I remember correctly, once it's loose, you pull it out and then to the driver side and it kind of angles out.

But it's been a while....