84 unibody (Page 1/1)
Fitz301 JAN 03, 04:16 PM
Hi all,

Haven't been on this forum for a number of years, and to be honest had forgotten I was registered here - so hello again!

I actually remembered because my Fiero told me, not literally of course, but I was out in my garage looking at my 84 and wondering what I could do with it. I really don't want to part with it, so I decided not to but it's in sad shape. The reason I stopped driving it was because I discovered that the unibody rotted out in and around the trunk area and strut towers.

So my question is does anybody know where I could find a decent, intact unibody? Has anybody else ever swapped an entire chassis? Is it even possible? Is it legal?

Just weighing my options.

fitz301
Gall757 JAN 03, 06:07 PM
Sorry to say....but you can get a whole car for the price of a frame. If it's a labor of love, yes the body swap can be done and has been done....rust free cars are still around, but you may need to travel a ways away from Michigan to find one.
RCR JAN 03, 06:49 PM
Welcome back Fitz.

As Gal mentioned, it won't be "cheap' to find a chassis, but they do pop up for sale every so often. If that is the direction you go, you would simply transfer the parts and register the new chassis VIN as the car.

Another option is to fix the car you have. A few tools and a small MIG welder can be used to replace the rails and rusted panels (I went this path). There are plans on this site for the rails, or you can purchase a set from a scrapped car (also what I did). It takes time and patience to strip the parts off, but it can be done and done well.

Bob







[This message has been edited by RCR (edited 01-03-2020).]

olejoedad JAN 03, 06:55 PM
Hey Fitz!

Its not a unibody, its a spaceframe....
Patrick JAN 03, 07:04 PM

quote
Originally posted by Fitz301:

I really don't want to part with it, so I decided not to but it's in sad shape. The reason I stopped driving it was because I discovered that the unibody rotted out in and around the trunk area and strut towers.



Believe me, I understand all about sentimental value and such... but to go through all that trouble for a rotted out '84?

It's not also an automatic, is it?

There are still plenty of solid Fieros around for a decent price that could use a good home.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 01-03-2020).]

RWDPLZ JAN 04, 10:52 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
... but to go through all that trouble for a rotted out '84?




It's been done...

http://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...160323-2-121544.html

One of the previous owners had this car in Grand Rapids, it's always been a Michigan car (except the two years I had it out in California). I also did this work in a freezing garage in Traverse City in January/February.

If you want an intact space frame, you'll have to look outside Michigan and get one shipped in, and you definitely want to go look at it before buying and shipping unless it's already stripped.
Patrick JAN 04, 03:49 PM

quote
Originally posted by RWDPLZ:

It's been done...



Yes it has, and I've commented before that I greatly admire what you were able to accomplish. However, few of us have the time, determination, skillz and resources to duplicate what you've done!

longjonsilver JAN 04, 04:26 PM
FieroMontreal did that. He bot a spaceframe that was in good shape. Sprayed it with POR15 and moved all of his parts over. Did a 3800 swap at the same time. Lotsa work. Labor of love.
jn

------------------
Astronomy says we will find a coded signal from outer space. Then we'll KNOW that life exists there, for coded signals aren't by chance.

Biology says there are coded genetic signals in every cell, but we KNOW that no intelligence created life.

I'm the original owner of a white ' 84 2M4 purchased Dec 10, 1983 from Pontiac. Always garaged, no rust, 4-wheel drifts are fun!