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Removed the rack from the car this morning. It was a piece of cake. Removed the two mounting bolts I had left in place. Loosened and opened the coupler and moved the rack forward to un couple. Removed the brake line fastener that lives under neath the brake master cylinder. I had some slack in the lines. Removed the one brake line fastener on the passenger side. Mover the rack to the passenger side to get the outer tie rod clear, raised it upwards . Then just lifted it out on the driver side. About 10 minuets total. I used a small hammer to re seat the plastic bushing. Wish I hadn't. Now it is seated in there and I'll have to play with it to get it out of there.






I'll be ordering my rack bushing from Rodney Dickman Tuesday.

My back is giving me fits again today. I didn't sleep to good last night.

Maybe some more later.

Lowered the rear of the car to where the trailing arm mount was on wooden blocks 12" high. One 10 X 10, and one 2X4. Tomorrow I am gonna use a level to get the camber set pretty close by the bubble and tighten it down. This will get the rear tires pretty flat and square on the ground. Then the rear wheels will go back on.

Went outside after supper and used the level on the rear rotors to square the camber. Tightened everything down.

Wheels go on in the mroning.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 07-26-2010).]

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 07-28-2010).]

I got a 4 foot piece of beechwood headliner fabric, 3 foot of the same color vinyl as my seats, and a can of 3M Super Trim Adhesive. The 3M stuff is $20.00 a can now. I am gonna cover the firewall cover I got from MstangsBware on the end of June. It is in real good shape, just dirty and nasty looking.


and


I put the rear wheels on the car this morning. Looks more like a car now than a swap in progress.


After installing the vinyl on the firewall cover I am not happy with the 'Plastic' look, and have trashed it in the can. I prefer the one in the car now.

Got this in today's mail:

and


Nice instructions, and appears to be well made. I will photograph the install and post them up for prosperity. I am gonna try to do this Sunday morning.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 07-30-2010).]

I finished up the rack this morning, and installed it on the car. The coupler is a 'HOE". there is no other word for it. After fighting it for a while, I remembered someone said to take it off of the steering column and put it on the rack, then put it back on the steering column. So that's where I am at now. Both front wheels are back on the car. Made a quick look underneath the car to look for any thing hanging down or loose before lowering it down all the way.

Stay tuned.

Got all 4 wheels on the ground, started it up, I now have a Service Engine Soon light on all the time. Also the Temperature light comes on as soon as I started the engine. Great time for the batteries to die on my AutoXrtay 5000. Switched those batteries out. Couldn't find the battery hold down bolt, used a substitute. Backed the car back out of the garage the first time. I have a nice 'Reverse' engagement , and it lunges forward a bit when I put the shifter in Drive. This is our only automatic car. Checked the transmission fluid. It needed a quart to reach the full marks. Torqued all 20 lug nuts to 100 Ft lbs.

Backed out of the garage in to my street. The shift cable came off of the stud. Cant get the transmission in "Drive". Great parking brake, while I went back in the garage for a long screw driver . The cross over pipe is very warm by now.

Drove 1/2 mile around my block, then back in the garage. I had loosened the lower radiator hose to move the clamp out of the way when I was removing the rack. Nice little leak there now. Tightened that down good. By now the temperature light is just flickering on and off. I am just gonna un plug that thing. I don't want to have to look at it.

Drove around my 1/2 mile block three times. Looks like the speedo is working OK. It agrees with the speed on the scanner unit pretty well. I have 1st and 2nd gear, I will have to fix the shift cable coming off problem before I will get it on the County Road to check for 3rd and 4th gear shifts.

I have nice brakes. Something positive!!!!!!!!

The exhaust is a bit louder than I was hoping for. It sounded pretty good when I got down in it once for just a second or so.

So I now have about 2 1/2 miles on my Fiero.

To hot in the garage now, heat index is supposed to be 108* here today. 4 1/2 hours in the garage this morning, and I am soaked all over. Time for a good shower.

Driving this car was neat !!!!!!!!!!

Backing out reminded me why I love power steering.

All four on the ground.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 08-02-2010).]

Sounds alot like my first drive. Its the time when alot of problems come to the surface. Dial her in a bit more and go for that second drive. I'm pretty sure my 3rd drive was the best. Congrats Joe!!

I had a huge constant smile for a week after that first drive! WOO HOO!!!!

[This message has been edited by Fieroseverywhere (edited 08-03-2010).]