John Stricker

PS: I don't think you want me to tell you what I perceive you as.

Knowing what I know of Archie personally, I doubt he gives you even a second thought, much less 'believes' you're doing anything at all to his bottom line.

"Clearly PFF has a few sacred cows roaming the boards that get treated as deities. They can say whatever they want as rudely as the want and get praised as if they just found the cure for aids."

Great point.

"Well, as most of you know I have a 4.9 and I'm very enthusiastic about of I have no problem sharing. It could be coincidential but there seems to be a rush of people installing 4.9s of late. Now what is the other popular V8 for the Fiero and who installs it and also sell kits for them?
It other worlds I believe I'm percieved as a threat to that person's business and should be eliminated. Sorta like GM did to the Fiero because of its threat to the Corvette. The irony is I would have intalled a 3800SC not a SBC had I not installed the 4.9."

I have a N* that is on the 10-year installation program . I thought about the LT-1, but didn't like the weight and other fitment issues, regardless of whos kit it was. I tried to find a low mile 3.8SC for a while without luck, then happened upon this complete running 1999 DeVille in 2001, so I bought it for 3k. So I'm intrigued with all kinds of engine swaps and really use as criteria the weight and rpm band in relation to the motor as to what the best swap is. The first person I talked to was Archie, and that was on the phone. In all fairness, I think he just got home froma long day and was tired, but he basically read me the riot act whenever I raised an issue with any problems that the SBC/LT-1 would have.

"Furthermore, I believe in a basic level of respect when communicating with others. As I stated previously some of us can get away with the most crass, juvenile statements and get praised."

Without naming names, look at some of the posts and compare them to their respective ratings.

"In essence what I saying is...you can disagree with someone yet keep your comments respectable and civil."

OK lets see what he deserves from me. He designed this v8 kit so's even a country hick like me can put it in my Fiero and have a "poor man's corvette". I enjoy building and driving that around and I can and have gotten support from him on it. He keeps coming up with mods that some day I may want to try and this keeps fresh an otherwise dead line of car (Fiero). So maybe they don't make em' anymore but you can still give it a face lift to your liken'. He is very active creating in a hobby I enjoy. He is very persistant in doing this even with a few trolls always up his a$$ stirrin' his $hit up. Got to give him some credit for his integrity there.

Um....

When you've got a waiting list months long, been featured in many magazines, won lots of awards, and are making a nice living doing 4.9 installs, then I am sure Archie will take notice.

Look, I've got nothing against 4.9s - they're a nice, economical swap. 3800SCs are also cool. SBCs are fun. N*s are a little scary from an electronics perspective, but also very very cool. Heck, let's not forget 3400DOHCs, Quad4s, short stars, 4.3L V6s, diesel and solar powered Fieros - they're all interesting, too.

What people seem to forget is that Archie is the biggest target out there. Someone always thinks they can do it cheaper or better. Sometimes they can, and sometimes (most times) they can't. If you don't like the idea of a SBC in a Fiero, then don't do one. It's not for you. But I don't think it's fair to make Archie put up with a bunch of sniping and punk kid wannabes. If I had to deal with the nitwits he did on a daily basis, I'd be a real SOB too.

And the next time anyone complains about the perception of Fiero owners, and wonders why everyone from Honda to Mustang owners scoff at Fieros - just go back and read these types of threads and have a good think about it. You're embarrassing yourselves and you need to stop.

It's like the fast gun in town. Every little punk and wannabe wants to take a crack at him. Some may be faster, or not, but they all talk a big game. This is nothing new. People have been taking jabs at Archie since before I joined the Forum, so he's heard it all before, and I imagine he's tired of the same old bull. Then some new guy all full of spit and vinegar joins the forum and wants to make a name for himself, so he masterminds some great debate against Archie. Only the names have changed. The BS has stayed the same.

Do you ever get tired of ignorant people bashing Fieros and having to hear the same stupid drivel over and over again?
-They catch on fire...
-They're death traps...
-My buddy had one and fill in the blank...

Well, that's how I'd feel listening to everyone bash me if I were Archie.

But considering the amount of business he does, I don't think anyone here is going to impact his wallet. He's been doing V8 Fieros since long before PFF was here - and I wager he'll be doing it after PFF has finally been shutdown because Cliff finally gets fed up. Unless he retires first. Remember, a lot of his customers join PFF after he does a V8 swap for them. I knew about V8Archie long before I knew PFF even existed.

Before you start attacking someone like Archie who's been helping the Fiero community for a long time, ask yourself what you were doing to help Fiero owners back in 1986, 87, 88..... ?