Rebuild of Indy Fiero #163 Super Duty 4 (Page 7/29)
Santa Nic NOV 25, 08:46 PM
Tony, having seen the car from the pick up moment, I am extremely impressed with the outcome. Having talked to you many times during reconstruction, and sometimes helping, I still did not know the extend of the work you did. I would not, however, have expected anything less from you. JOB WELL DONE. My hat is of to you........... Santa Nic
fierosound NOV 26, 08:38 AM
Thanks guys. But at this point, it doesn't look quite as good as the photos if you walk around it in person.
As I learned the HARD WAY (expensive too) even a "20 foot car" CAN be made to look great in photographs.
You only use the "right" photos from clever angles that highlight the good points and deliberately HIDE the car's flaws.

This Indy was nowhere "near mint" by any stretch of the imagination (except in Chester's) and neither was the paint.
The car had been in an accident, the damage poorly repaired (or not at all), the clear coat was etched from tree sap and there were many other flaws in the paint and body - none of which was even hinted at.

Sales pitch here: http://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...070315-4-032634.html

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 03-04-2019).]

Hudini NOV 26, 09:01 AM
Very nice build. Looks like your hard work paid off.

You said earlier the carb was too big?

Would it be possible to turn the Holley so the bowls are left/right instead of front/back?
whodeanie NOV 26, 09:25 AM
looking good keep us posted.
fierosound NOV 26, 10:19 AM

quote
Originally posted by Hudini:

Would it be possible to turn the Holley so the bowls are left/right instead of front/back?



Yup, but you would have uneven fuel distribution. You'd have both primaries "closer to one end" of the engine - either cylinders 1&2 or 3&4.

I've found another carb that should be more suitable. Just haven't installed it yet. More on this later.

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 11-26-2008).]

hye_4_life NOV 27, 04:27 AM

quote
Originally posted by fierosound:

In the meantime, I also got the engine bay ready. The old ratty insulation was removed, everything scrubbed down and paint touched up as needed, before new OEM looking insulation went in.








What did you use for the OEM looking insulation?
fierosound NOV 27, 09:00 AM

quote
Originally posted by hye_4_life:

What did you use for the OEM looking insulation?



Manson Akousti-liner. It's a commercial duct insulation.
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...070315-1-059476.html

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 11-27-2008).]

fierosound NOV 28, 08:42 AM
The final touches, just done in September 2008. NEW PAINT!!
A long hard road since I had received the car in August 2006.

New paint was the ONE THING I thought I wouldn't have to do.
The paint is the single most expensive NEW thing when restoring a vehicle (you don't use Maaco on something like this).
Cost almost as much as buying the car in the first place (and I overpaid for the car! )

The Indy had under 19,000 miles and was pitched as being "nearly mint", but in reality, the car had body damage from an undisclosed accident,
the clear coat was etched and there were many other flaws in the paint that made it necessary to repaint the entire car.

Pictures as I got it here: http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/095615.html

The underside of the hood and decklid had already been repainted when I had the necessary repairs done on them, so only the exterior bodywork and all doorjambs (edges) were to be painted.
To assure the best paint coverage, I stripped the car of the moldings, mirrors, ground effects, gas filler etc. and transported these in a box to the shop.

Here's the car as it came off the trailer back from the paint shop.





It would take me another 2 weeks to put it back together, realigning fenders and several panels including the driver's door to get the gaps "just right".
All the parts that were dismantled: the scoops, decklid side panels, mirrors, gas filler door, moldings and miscellaneous "small bits" were reassembled and reattached to the Indy with all new hardware.

The rear tail-lights had also been completely disassembled for cleanup and reconditioning, prior to reassembly and reinstallation on the car while it was away being painted.



As you can see, I repainted the car with all white moldings as on the Indy #1 Pace Car.
With the door decals and red fader stripe, the black molding just seemed to become a "distraction".
The white moldings give the car a cleaner look. A medium tint was applied to the door's window glass.

All new decals from Paul at www.fierosails.com were applied. I used the Dark Grey Pace Car door decals.
The faded Pontiac Arrow emblems in the sail panels were replaced with NOS pieces from www.fierowarehouse.com .



I found a pair of NEW Wing Emblems for the front fenders. I just hadn't installed them yet when I took these pictures.



Paul also made the 3-color Pontiac Racing decal that is applied to the rear window and stands out sharply against the dark rear window tint
and he worked with me to design the SD4 on the Indy Fiero decal on the rear decklid (it only looks crooked in the pictures).
I later removed the SD4 - so it just has the stock Indy Fiero now.





Wing LED install here: http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum3/HTML/000078.html

The engine is nicely framed by the white decklid side panels and scoops.





I'm still having issues with the fit of the molding around the new windshield and haven't applied the PONTIAC windshield decal yet for that reason.

It's been a lot of work and money

...but you know you've got something when you see an older couple in a Bentley convertible checking you out.

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 09-02-2023).]

Santa Nic NOV 28, 06:26 PM
I recently came in the possetion of a 1986 Fiero GT fastback, had three at one time before that and I am ashamed to park any of mine in the same parking lot as either of Tony's cars. I am proud to know Tony and watch him do the quality work he does. You should see his Bike! It is stock, but looks like it came out the factory and was detailed after that. Thanks Tony...........
Raydar NOV 28, 10:21 PM
I have been watching this thread with interest.
I saw Tony's other car (at the 20th) and if was flawless.

This one appears to be nothing less.

Bravo!