[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 02-12-2025).]

quote Originally posted by olejoedad: MSD is fine for track cars, show cars and etc., but for day to day reliability - keep the car OEM. MSD plug wires (from experience) are junk. MSD plugs are a waste of money - again from experience. MSD boxes have been copied and reproduced in China - are you sure it's a real box or is it counterfeit? It's hard to tell the difference.

We went with a set of stock-gapped Champion Platinum plugs, and the blue NGK wires (7mm core) that seem to be pretty decent. The ignition coil is the factory one. I didn't see a point in replacing it since the RPMs are so low in the Iron Duke that a performance coil would have zero benefit.

The box is definitely authentic. I got it from Summit Racing from the MSD manufacturer. I tend to agree, adding something unnecessary does add a bit of unreliability. But part of what I hope to do is make the engine as efficient and reliable as possible... and she'll know that if it fails, she can just literally unplug it and plug in the factory harness. I'm going to make it as simple as possible.

The thing about cars from back then... we don't really remember how unrefined they were compared to today's cars. There's good and bad to that... today's cars mute absolutely every sound they can to meet CAFE standards, and are also affected by CARB standards... which I know is CA, but the manufacturers tend to follow California so they don't have to make something that's just for one state (like they used to). But I look at the 1984 Corolla that my brother had... I don't remember it being basically a piece of crap... I mean, it was, but if you hear one now, it's all clackety and the engine is loud. You compare a new Corolla today, and you barely know the engine is running, and you don't hear any sounds outside. Most people from today's generation might feel like that makes the car feel cheap or lesser. So I want to improve the "feeling" of the car, while keeping as much as possible about what's awesome of the Fiero.

I had her installed a ton of low-weight sound deadening material, in addition to all the factory stuff, just because I wanted to make sure the car was free from a lot of the "non-desireable" noises, haha. The car runs really, really well... I mean, amazingly. But I'd like to smooth out the idle as much as I can (even though it's the best running Iron Duke I've literaly ever driven in my life, and that's like 6 Iron Duke Fieros over the past 30 years).

We'll see... it'll be fun and interesting if nothing else. And if it literally does nothing, then I'll put it on the Corvette.

quote Originally posted by 1985 Fiero GT: To be fair, someone learning to drive manual shouldn't be going above that anyhow, this is not learning how to drive fast, this is learning how to drive, period, that means short shifting from 3000 or below, I know if I ever took my dad's Fiero beyond 3000 in his sight when I was learning, he would have banned me for life haha, still might haha, but that's what my Fiero's for now, I couldn't wait for his haha, I'm not certain of the gearing of the 5 speed, but I can't imagine needing to accelerate past 3000 rpm to be able to make a shift and not lug the engine below idle, once AJ gets good at that, good at being able to pick the right gear quickly under pressure (intersections, having to slow down from being cut off, etc), then is a good time to start introducing power and speed haha.

Haha... when I was learning to drive stick in my brother's Corolla... I did a couple of accidental burn-outs. She's driven it a few times in the local church parking lot, but she mostly drives the Ford Edge that we have, which is massive. She's been getting better, but we've been working on the car, so now it's not driving again...

I think for a rev-limiter, I just want to pre-program it (since I have the option) so that she won't damage the engine. 4k rpms seems a bit low. I looked up torque / power curves for the engine, and it seems like the engine stops producing any power after 4,500 rpms. So, I figure 4,800 rpms is probably the limit. I think the stock rev limiter is something like just below 6k in the V6 Fiero, but I don't know about the 4cyl. I'd think 5,000 is a no-go zone for that motor. I just want it to cut out before then in case she screws up. You know... it can happen. I had a floor mat get stuck under the gas pedal of my 85 GT back in the day, and had to think fast as I came up to a bunch of cars stopped at a light.

[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 02-13-2025).]

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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 "