Fiero 2m8 LT1 NX Roadster conversion (Page 16/46)
BERKELUSA AUG 20, 10:06 PM

quote
Originally posted by Fiero2m8: Yes Rob, your thread popped in my head when I stumbled across a Sunbird convertible at the boneyard - and yes, those windshield parts haven't been modified at all yet - so they fit pretty good.
Rob takes the best pictures I have seen - kudos!



Thanks..
All we need now is a way to lock the tops in the factory holes in those plates and grab something out back (on mine) I also have a Lathe and was considering a steel pin of some sorts with a side-locked thumb screw..

But whats your top going to be?

Hard-top removable?
Wire formed jeep like soft top?

Rob
Fiero2m8 AUG 20, 11:54 PM

quote
Originally posted by BERKELUSA:


Thanks..
All we need now is a way to lock the tops in the factory holes in those plates and grab something out back (on mine) I also have a Lathe and was considering a steel pin of some sorts with a side-locked thumb screw..

But whats your top going to be?

Hard-top removable?
Wire formed jeep like soft top?

Rob



Agreed on those holes!
For now it's going to live life as a true roadster, wearing my boat cover in the garage.
In the spring, I plan to get an unholstery shop to make a tonneau cover I can keep onboard for emergencies.
I would prefer a removable hard top made from a donor car as I don't like the look of the soft top folded down since you can't hide it very well.

So I see a hardtop project in the future, but probably a year or two off as this project is a 3rd vehicle (just my toy that plans to only see fair weather for now)
I envision locking buckles on the rear deck like a Miata and the locking pin mechanism and handle from the Sunbird welded to a non sunroof Fiero notchie donor roof...

Maybe I'll wait till someone engineers one successfully first

Cheers,
Ryan

[This message has been edited by Fiero2m8 (edited 08-20-2006).]

Fiero2m8 AUG 21, 01:44 AM
Hey - I finally took the time to read my thread through from the start!
Not bad...when I'm done, I can print it for a nice photo album.
A little pat on my own back here for me
I think I'll give myself a postive rating too!

Ryan & Fiero2m8

------------------

1986 Fiero2m8 (LT1 NX / 4T60 Roadster Build)
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/071642.html

crazyfieromike AUG 21, 08:35 PM
that thing is cool i wana see. you driving that thing around at all. i might have to con you into meeting up on one of my trips up to the falls.
Fiero2m8 AUG 23, 10:25 AM
I have a problem with the driver's door sagging, prior to the roadster build and finally got around to fixing it.

I removed the front fender bolts:




Unbolted the top hinge and drilled out the 3/8" holes to 7/16" to allow the holes to act as slots, for adjustment purposes:




Then I used a floor jack under the door and raised it until it lined up perfectly with the jam and retightened the 13mm hinge bolts:



Now the door closes with one finger just like the passenger side.


Under hard braking I heard the front right tire rubbing, so I drove that wheel up a small ramp to check the interference:




The new shocks were countered by lowering the front end 1-1/2 coils, so I trimmed the fender flare slightly for additional clearance. P245/50ZR16 seems to be the widest tire I can fit on the front and rears with stock struts:




While I had the front end jacked up, I reinstalled the mud flaps onto the wheelwheel liner to finish the front edge of the side skirts:




Next, I installed the temporary seat covers, I went with a Bell product in black:




They went on easy and will fit even better after they get some use:




I am satisfied with these until I can afford Mr. Mikes tan leather, probably next year:



Fiero2m8
HitesFiero AUG 23, 11:27 AM
Your wheels are off a Grand Am right? If i remember correctly, those are 16x6 in dimension. I guess my question is how did you get a 245-50-16 on a 6 inch wide rim and still maintain a vertical side wall? Oh and for someone calling themself an amateur your build certainly doesn’t show it! Great work!
Fiero2m8 AUG 23, 11:08 PM

quote
Originally posted by crazyfieromike:

that thing is cool i wana see. you driving that thing around at all. i might have to con you into meeting up on one of my trips up to the falls.



Thanks - call me when you're in town as per PM I sent.



quote
Originally posted by HitesFiero:

Your wheels are off a Grand Am right? If i remember correctly, those are 16x6 in dimension. I guess my question is how did you get a 245-50-16 on a 6 inch wide rim and still maintain a vertical side wall? Oh and for someone calling themself an amateur your build certainly doesn’t show it! Great work!



Welcome to the thread!
Thanks for the compliment - I don't have any formal mechanic training, not even from high school. I like to think I'm smart enough to read books and combine that with my passion for cars to get the job done. Experience is the key, keep tinkering and when that gets boring, try something bigger you haven't done before. I played around with my cars since I got a garage....VW's, BMW's, Jeeps, and now the Fiero.
As long as I remember that I'm building a toy that will be driven and not a concours show car - I should stay within my limits and be happy
A nice side effect of these projects is you build a great tool collection along the way!

The 1992 Grand AM GT rim is 16x7 (I thought they were 6.5" so I measured them) They are Goodyear Eagle Unidirectional Gatorbacks P245/50ZR16 from a 1985 Camaro IROC-Z. Can't buy them anymore, but they are sticky and help keep the front end of the Fiero from understeering. They do stick out 1 inch from the rims and I remember the Tech at Niagara Battery and Tire throw a few curse words my way when he was mounting them

Here is an old photo showing the rims and tires on before the fender flares - I went from the 13" steel Fiero rim, to a set of 14" Sunbird rims, to these and what's next? Maybe 18's in a 5 spoke design - two sets of tires to wear out first though



Fiero2m8 AUG 23, 11:41 PM
O.K.

Last night I was tinkering around with the wiring and found the backup light wire!
After it was connected that the trans switch was off by half a position because the lights came on when the selector was between R and N and the car would start in P but not N.




The fix involved rotating the switch counterclockwise and retightening the bolts when the test proved it was in the perfect spot to start the car in neutral and see reverse lights in R.



After reading some of the Haynes manual, I noticed I haven't had the instrument cluster out before
(One of the few remaining things I haven't had my paws on)

After following the steps, I completely R/R the cluster and removed the Tach while it was out.
I would like to upgrade to a Tach modified for the V8 and run separate oil and voltage guages (either the Fiero ones or aftermarket, have to do some research first...)
Here are some shot of the cluster, it was quite easy and only took an hour. One more thing I won't have to check the book on next time

Looks like a race car without the cluster in place:




Instrument cluster removed as a whole unit - just unplug three plugs, 2 on back and one on the bottom left:



Speedo / Odometer comes off with faceplate, note the mileage in Kilometres:




The Tach is held in by two screws - I used 5.5mm, 7mm, 10mm socket drivers, and T-15 torx for this mini project:




This Tach has the Oil pressure guage built in to it, but I think I accidently fried it the other night:




Back of Tach when mods occur for V8 swaps:




Holley sticker to cover temporary opening - at least I have a Holley fuel pump on the car




Fiero2m8
tvelarde AUG 24, 01:18 AM
OK, you are my hero! I have had a carbed LT1 sitting in my garage for over three years until I started reading about your installation. I have started a whole new build thread for myself on my web site where I originally built a 383 SBC for my 88 Formula/GT. I have had the 88 running about 2 years and only drove it on short trips or to autocross. Now that I work 70 miles away I was driving an 87 GT with stock 2.8 and 125 and wanted something with more spunk and good mileage.

So.... I went to the local Pull-A-Part and got a 89 Buick Regal 440T4 or 4t60 for $83 with 2315 rpm stall torque converter. I spotted the car yesterday while I was in the yard picking up other stuff. I looked at the engine and trans and thought they looked awfully clean for an 89 until I found a receipt from the local GM garge for a complete drive train replacement, new V6 and completely rebuilt transmission. I was so excited I could hardly sleep, got there when they opened this morning and yanked the trans. Looks so new I was afraid someone would call me on it! I had pulled a spare cradle into the garage and started getting it ready for the swap a week or so ago and had actually bolted up a core trans to my LT1 and set it in the cradle to look at it. Now I have thre actual trans and will go full-speed forward.

Thanks for the inspiration!

My build is located on my old V8 site at http://64.17.190.253/
Fiero2m8 AUG 24, 11:48 AM

quote
Originally posted by tvelarde:

Thanks for the inspiration!

My build is located on my old V8 site at http://64.17.190.253/



Awesome stuff there and nice site.

I was hoping more would catch the LT1 / 4T60 disease, so we can help each other out down the road.
I understand that everything is "custom" to fit in the Fiero engine bay - most people give their head a shake or do a double take and ask "How did you manage to shoehorn a V8 in there? My response is usually: "I planted it when it was smaller - you just add water and they grow to fill the engine bay!"

Tonight my 9 year old son Andrew is helping me with the Nitrous wiring - my wife calls us "Sanford and Son"

Ryan