Ok, this is akin to someone in the VW community asking "uh, so what is the difference between a regular beetle and a super beetle?" It's just a question that grates at you, kind of like fingernails on the chalkboard. It's one of the first things a person should find out when they enter into a particular type of car as a hobby focal point.

But, I'll ask anyway, and maybe get a quick answer and some help to get me through.

I am waiting on delivery of an 87 SE stick that is in pretty nice shape. Motor is bad, and it's going to be used as parts for my two 84 2m4 cars (one is stick, the other auto). THe question: I really really like the front end of the 87 much better than the 84. Is it a direct swapover to take the front end (specifically lower bumper) off the 87 and fit it to the front of one of the 84 models (I'm thinking the stick car, because that's just more fun)??

Thanks for the help,
Russell

------------------
Hmmm, let's see. It's either me or the junkyard, you say? Oh, what the heck. I'll take it. C'mere, little friend. There's a spot in the garage just for you.

Ok... let me start off by saying that your 87 SE, if it's a V6, has the getrag manual transmission.

I love the 84 Fieros, I really do... but the 87 SE is a very rare car. They made fewer V6 87 SEs than they did the Indy Fiero. If you are getting a stick 5-Speed 87 SE V6, then I highly recommend that you try to make a project car out of it and fix it up. That said, I don't believe they actually made 87 SEs in the standard red color. I think they made them only in black, medium metallic blue, medium metallic red, and that off-white color.

If I remember correctly, they made black, white, and red for the 84s. Most 87 SEs were painted either white or the burgendy medium metallic red color.

That being said, none of the panels from the 87 Fiero will fit your 84, at least as far as door panels, rocker panels, and nose and bumpers. 84 was the first year, and pretty much everything they could have made different was different. All the other years are interchangeable.

You can take the decklid grills and the decklid, that will fit.

By the way, I'm a VW guy too.... (see sig)

------------------
Todd,
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX
1997 Pontiac Grand Am GT
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6 5-Speed
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6 (3.2L) Auto
1984 Pontiac Fiero 2m4 SE
1981 Pontiac TransAm (sbc 350)
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter

You can make the panels fit, it just requires a little bit of work from what I understand. Not all of the mounting holes will be the same from the earliest to the latest panels, there also are some differences in the way the door panels mount. You also need the Egg crate bumper supports and inner fenders to complete the front end swap. Anything can be done if you put your mind to it. Don't worry about destroying a "rare" car, when they made over 380,000 Fieros they aren't as rare of a car as one that only had 1900 made, like a '77 Pontiac Can Am. They are your vehicles and you can do as you please with them.

quote Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: That being said, none of the panels from the 87 Fiero will fit your 84, at least as far as door panels, rocker panels, and nose and bumpers. 84 was the first year, and pretty much everything they could have made different was different. All the other years are interchangeable. You can take the decklid grills and the decklid, that will fit. By the way, I'm a VW guy too.... (see sig)

Are you high? I can't think of a single panel that won't fit on to the 84. Yes, you will have to make a couple of new mounting holes, but that is about it.
The problem with body panels on an 84 is when you take an 84 panel and try to put it on a newer model, especially the door panels.
I have actually put most of the body panels fron an 86 on to my old 84, from rear clip to door panels. the biggest problem is the wheel well liners, I had to drill out a few mounting holes.

I myself have put a 87 front end on my 84 - you will need ALL of the parts from the 87. honeycomb, wheel well liners, etc... you will need to drill out a couple of holes in your fenders to match up to the new fascia - no worries.

Good Luck!

------------------
You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.

- Robin Williams

Actually I believe they made fewer 4cyl 86 SE models than SE 6cyl 87 models.... But I could be wrong it won't be a first LOL.

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

I put 84 bumpers, fenders, rocker panels, quarter panels, door panels, decklid and hood onto my 86 SE without any problems, just had to drill a couple of holes here and there for mounting purposes. And I dont know why everyone is telling you that the door panels mount differently because they dont, they are exactly the same.

Well look guys, he asked if they fit, and no, they don't fit.

It might be easy to drill holes to make it fit the different mounting points.. but I was just answering his question.

I'm a programmer, while I'm at work, I see things in boolean, YES or NO, not in variations. Probably one of my flaws I suppose.

------------------
Todd,
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX
1997 Pontiac Grand Am GT
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6 5-Speed
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6 (3.2L) Auto
1984 Pontiac Fiero 2m4 SE
1981 Pontiac TransAm (sbc 350)
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter

quote Originally posted by AutoTech: I put 84 bumpers, fenders, rocker panels, quarter panels, door panels, decklid and hood onto my 86 SE without any problems, just had to drill a couple of holes here and there for mounting purposes. And I dont know why everyone is telling you that the door panels mount differently because they dont, they are exactly the same.

I wondered about this myself - I put a 84 door skin on my 86 with no problem then heard from all the naysayers. Did some research and found that early 84 models had a different door panel mounting at the top. They mounted with christmas tree fasteners at the top instead of hooking over the top rail like later door panels.

They still interchange, though - the top rail that the panel mounts to is a separate part. I wouldn't recommend switching to the early 84 arrangement (it sucked, that's why they changed after only a couple of months) but if you have an early 84 and want to use later door panels, just get the top rail too and they'll go right on.

LOL. I have my answer, I think. :-) Cool. Yes, I'll be able to make it work. I was wondering about major, big, no way types of fitment problems. As for drilling holes, relocating things...no worries. I have the upholstery shop set up with a complete metal working section, wood working section, along with the soft materials. So we can do anything (I don't do frame work because of liability, but otherwise, sure). So drilling some holes ain't a problem. I just like the look of the nose on the 87 better than the 84, and that cool hump in the rear deck with the slatted panels off to the side is a nice look. Too bad the damn thing has a luggage rack, though. I'm making these for show, and want a taller wing.

As for the car itself, which was dropped off today. It's a salvage yard car, with a salvage title, and is a bit of a pain to retitle. So I'll be happy with the two 84s, and this one for parts. BUT, it is a complete car, so that means there are parts and pieces on it if people need. It does the obligatory rust on the frame under and next to the luggage compartment area (I'm learning that these cars have hot spots for damage just like the VWs).

The car that I'm using for parts is a 1987 Fiero SE, 4-cylinder, automatic car. So it's not one of the rare ones. It is black. The seats are total trash (I have three sets of 84 seats wtih the speaker housings anyway, so these are also rans). But the panels inside are in decent shape. If it will swap over (going to see) I am going to replace the radio/heater surround with the 87 part, because it has the cool crosshatch pattern in it. Almost like carbon fiber, only for cheapskates.

The last thing I have to do is get my engine from the salvage yard. What I'm going with (don't anyone throw sticks at me) is a regular, stock Iron Duke out of a 1983 Buick Skylark. I'm going to get the ECM along with it. I heard it run, it doesn't smoke, revs nice, seems solid. I know it's not high performance or wild, but it will move me along at 5-8 mph in a parade route, and with some care and detailing, will look good at a car show. It will also make it more of a match with the 84 that I'm swapping for and hope to have by the end of the month (if I'll get off the danged computer and get out and start sewing).

I figure I can do the repairs, get them running, and looking good over the winter. Start using them, and then look around for a 6 or 8 cylilnder and do a conversion down the road. For my puroses, though, it's the flash that counts, not the speed.

Thanks for the input. Any other suggestions or helpful hints, I'm all ears. And I'm getting a stash of parts, so keep that in mind.

Later,
Russell

------------------
Hmmm, let's see. It's either me or the junkyard, you say? Oh, what the heck. I'll take it. C'mere, little friend. There's a spot in the garage just for you.

quote Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Well look guys, he asked if they fit, and no, they don't fit.

But they do fit, I put a body panels off a 84 on my 88, those panels had come off a 85GT/86-87se.. all the fenders are the same(aero & non aero).

------------------
1988 Aero 88 coupe.. 2.8l v6.. more mods to come.
Photo Gallery - Fiero Links - WebShop

DotTc, do you REALLY want to argue about something as silly as the symmantics of Fiero panel fitting?

------------------
Todd,
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX
1997 Pontiac Grand Am GT
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6 5-Speed
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6 (3.2L) Auto
1984 Pontiac Fiero 2m4 SE
1981 Pontiac TransAm (sbc 350)
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter