200k mile fiero, parked for 20 years... list of parts help (Page 1/1)
Kameirocco SEP 21, 10:56 AM
Drove to the middle of the state, in the high desert last year and picked up a 86 SE iron duke that had been last registered in 2000.
Has 200k miles on it and after some tinkering i got it to idle... checked compression and we're right around 150 psi per cylinder. So all in all, I'm off to a really surprising start...
I've been spending the last year tracking down and getting parts here and there... while i've got the majority of everything i can think of to do a basic refresh on the engine and replacing every rubber part i can think of... wanted to see if you guys can spot anything i might be missing.

Still on the list
Sunroof seal
CV joint seals (still solid / no noises/clunking)
Clutch disc

Suspension / Steering / Cradle
front lower ball joint
front upper ball joint
rear lower ball joint
front upper CA bushings
front lower CA bushings
rear lower CA bushings
sway bar bushings
Sway bar links
KYB Front Strut
KYB Rear Strut
Rear Shock Mount
rear tie rod end
front tie rod end
rear inner tie rod
front inner tie rod
Poly cradle bushing kit

Engine
Oil filter
Oil
02 sensor
Air filter
spark plugs
fuel filter
AC Belt
Alt / Water pump belt
Vacuum Line Set
Crankcase Breather Element
Intake Manifold Gasket
TBI Gasket
cylinder head gasket set (i started buying individual gaskets, which is why there are a chunk, but then i just bought this set...)
timing gasket set
poly cradle mounts
motor mount kit
Radiator Hose
Water pump
Heater Hose
Radiator hose
cylinder head bolts
rear main seal
front main seal
main output shaft seal
Clutch pilot bushing
clutch release bearing
Fuel injector
TBI Rebuild kit
Timing gear
Slave Cylinder

Brakes
Front Pads
rear pads
rear rotor
front rotor
Brake Fluid
front caliper rebuild
rear caliper rebuild

Interior / Exterior
dash lights
trunk lock kit (mine was broken off)
windshield beauty seal
Driver / pass door handles
Iggee Seat covers
Rear sail windows
window scraper set
ignition and door lock set
82-T/A [At Work] SEP 21, 12:14 PM
Well... if I can be completely honest, it really depends on what you want to get out of all of this. I think I've shared my daughter's videos with you before, her channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/@GenerationZGarage


She's almost done with the car... the only things left (really) are:

- Rebuild entire front suspension and brakes
- Rebuild one headlight bucket
- Restore the doors (and dew strips)

Everything else is actually, totally done. The one last little thing which I haven't mentioned is, the machine shop that did the original machining, didn't catch that the cyl head was cracked. They assumed good... and it blew steam and burned coolant from the very minute we started it up. Cartercarbafficonado on here sold me a really nice solid 86 cyl head, which I got back from a different machine shop, and we are going to swap it out. Otherwise it's done. Now, she's like 50 videos behind or some such, but the car is basically done.

Keep in mind that minus paint (exterior paint was already pretty decent), the total cost of all the parts, to make the car ... basically a brand new car... will come in around $25k, plus the cost of the car.

That's with the cost of the car ($4k), and $3,200 we spent on having the transmission rebuilt (which we didn't want to mess with). All the labor and parts were ours, and we shopped around, usually buying high quality close-outs on Rock Auto. Now, for me... $25k for an 85 SE 2m4 5-Speed in like new condition is probably a bit wasteful, but it was the education that I was imposing upon her that was the key goal for me. She learns the value of hard work, and gets a car out of it.


But... I think the first thing you want to do is figure out what you expect to get out of this. Are you just trying to get something that you're going to be happy driving around in and having fun? Or do you want to restore the car to "like new" condition?

Ronald Finger did a restore of his 1984, and his restoration was fairly thorough, but he didn't spend anywhere near the amount that I have... and probably more responsibly so. He only replaced the things that needed replacing... but for my daughter, I wanted the car to feel like a brand new car. So you maybe want to go down the path that Ronald Finger went. He didn't rebuild the engine, he didn't rebuild the transmission, and he really just freshened up the interior, suspension, and brakes. He did a fantastic job painting it too... which was amazing.


Most important advice I can offer is... do things in stages. I'm 47 now... but I started working on cars when I was 18 (because I had to... couldn't afford to pay someone to fix my car). The day I got a house, I bought cars and stripped them down and started fixing them. There's nothing more irresponsible in restoring a car, than what I did... basically taking it apart without any real plan. You'll end up with a car that's half disassembled, a lot of money into it, and you'll be fatigued, over it, and probably unloading the car on someone else in a few years. I hope that helps... (and not discouraging). Unless you have a place to keep all those parts... I'd just work it area by area... and not just buy everything at once.

I also KIND of did that, and have a couple of extra bedrooms, one of which I just had a massive pile of new parts in the corner... not ideal. But I will say, parts are becoming harder and harder to find, so if there are things you really, really want... you do want to get them now. Sorry if that's a ramble... but hopefully it provides some perspective.
Kameirocco SEP 21, 12:37 PM
Nope, i totally get that and i understand what you're getting at, and appreciate the words!
i'm almost 40 here and have been working on cards about the same time frame as you (bought a scirocco right when i turned 16, about a year before i got my license).
Should have specified above, this is pretty much a list of the wear and tear items to make the car up to snuff and living again, outside elements proof, engine refreshed and basically nice and drivable... I have everything currently to do the body work/paint as well. That's a whole separate thing though.

I was actually watching your daughters channel this morning as I had a question on something with the cylinder head that she went over. It's been extremely helpful.

Forgot to say, the car was $750, i think i've spent about 2k on parts already
Shop space is no issue as well. Back corner where that spot light lamp is has my CO2 laser and my CNC routers and such, so i can make some aluminum flanges and such if i need to.

[This message has been edited by Kameirocco (edited 09-21-2025).]

Kameirocco SEP 21, 12:42 PM

82-T/A [At Work] SEP 21, 01:44 PM
Damn, that's right... I forgot about that (we talked about that in another thread).

Yeah... it's really hard to say... I figure, you'll find out as you start to go through stuff. There isn't anything particularly rare on the Fiero except for body panels and interior components. I'd check the lower cooling tubes of course, those tend to get crimped and block flow... but other than that... hard to say until you get into it and then see something needing replaced...

Maybe the turn signal stalk? There's an inexpensive replacement now that's a little better than the factory one, and still is period-correct.
Kameirocco SEP 21, 06:43 PM
How dare you not remember a random dude on the internet! i'll never forgive you... haha.
richard in nc SEP 22, 04:58 PM
i feel lucky only paying 2300 dollars getting my aerostar trans rebuilt.and they removed it and replaced it too.