Just a suggestion about documenting your work...

It's documentation that helps the Fiero community and is also needed when you decide to get an appraisal after doing all that work and spending all that money. Many of you have done mods and documented them - that's what you need to do. Unless it's documented, the information is lost.

Case in point, I know a fellow who has modded his car with:

- swapped in a Getrag 5-speed, and built cable brackets to use the 4-speed cables
- swapped in a 3400 V6 with Gen II aluminium heads
- built a set of custom headers to install a turbo
- built a water cooled turbo installation, with air-to-water intercooler on the above engine
- built and installed a water injection system for the above turbo engine
- adapted and installed a Toyota van power steering rack and pump
- built his own brackets to install 10 1/2" vented rotors (fits under 15" wheels)

After all that work, he DOES NOT have a SINGLE photograph of any kind (film or digital) documenting any of the work he has done. Now that everything is back in the car, there's no way to photograph anything clearly. He has very little written down, so you can't get a "parts list" with part numbers for anything. He hasn't kept any diagrams or paper templates of any brackets he has fabricated, so there's no easy way to duplicate any part he has built.

I'd like to ask him to do a presentation on some of these projects, but without photos, he'd be limited to drawing sketches on a black board. But, the most annoying thing is if you ask him now for anything specific, he's forgotten (and he knows he has a bad memory).

The memory is a fragile thing, PLEASE document your work as you do it. Take and keep a file of pictures (film or digital) and information about your modification on your computer for future reference. Maintain a list of part numbers and where you got the parts from, especially if it was a "hard to find part" from a source that took a long time to track down.

That way, if someone asks a question on PFF, you'll have complete, accurate information that will help them.
An answer like "I got one, but I don't remember where I got it, or how much it cost," isn't helpful to anyone.

Thanks guys...

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Fiero Fiesta - July 24, 2005 - Calgary, Alberta <--- click this LINK

3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner &
Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 02-08-2005).]

had the car for 2 weeks now and ive done..

.. 1.5 to 1.6 rocker swap
.. advance timeing
.. synthetic oil
.. bypassed the EGR
.. bypassed the throttle coolant tubes (stupid ass design!!)
.. Accell wires
.. platinum plugs (not really a help)
.. .. and ive only had it for two weeks....lol

Here's a little work going into my 86 SE...I haven't put it in yet...but it will be going into the engine (with digital pics before and after) in the next week or so.

Basically all detailed engine work...
- Powder Coated Upper, Middle, Lower Plenum, Valve Covers, Collant Filler Neck, Heat Shields, Air Tubes, Air Cleaner.
- K&N Air Filter, New Air Temp. Sensor
- Slightly Ported Upper, Middle, Lower Intake Manifolds (2mm)
- Slightly Ported Exhaust on Lower Intake Manifold (3mm)
- Ported and Polished Exhaust Manifolds to Match (3mm), Ceramic Coated
- Ceramic Coated Y-Pipe
- Detailed Throttle Body (Silver), New IAT, TPS
- New Injectors
- New Spark Plug Wires, Plug Heat Shields (Ceramic Coated), New Spark Plugs, Cap & Rotor
- New O2 Sensor, EGR Valve
- New Rubber Hose's replaced all around
- Chrome & Black Wire Loom
- New EGR Valve Cover
- EGR Tube Ceramic Coated (Don't know how effective this will be?)
- New Coil

Thats about it for me...for now...for the engine. Trying to keep it as close to stock as I can.

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[This message has been edited by powrmajik (edited 02-06-2005).]

1988 Fiero GT
Modifications:
Engine:
0.040” Bored, 9.0:1 Hypereutectic Pistons, Ported, Polished, and Milled Heads with Stainless Steel Racing Intake / Exhaust Valves, Powermax 2030 Camshaft with 1.6 Ratio Full Roller Rocker Arms, 19# Fuel Injectors, Double Roller Timing Chain Set, Bored Out Throttle Body to 57mm, Ported and Gasket Matched upper, middle & lower intakes, Power Pulley Set, Windage Tray, Adjustable Fuel Pressure Regulator, Ported exhaust manifolds with exhaust wrap to lower engine compartment temps, Low temperature 160 F deg. thermostat, Low temp fan switch, Blaster Ignition Coil, Competition Racing KV85 8.5 mm Spark Plug Wires, M95HV High Volume Oil Pump, Cold air intake system, poly dog bone, custom strut tower brace = good for autocross events, all new OEM emission sensors throughout, and a K&N filter.
Transmission:
Racing THM125C Automatic with heavy-duty clutch packs & accessories, High Stall Speed Torque Converter, Transgo Performance Shift Kit, and installed dual in-line trans coolers.
Suspension:
1988 ACE-Eibach 1 ¼” lowering springs, Koni adjustable struts and shocks, larger 1 ¼” front sway bar & larger 1” rear sway bar, poly control arm / trail arm bushings, Moog outer tie rod ends, Moog inner tie rods, Norris upper / lower ball joints, grease-able poly sway bar bushings with ½” grade-8 bolt end links, and new steering rack assembly.
Brakes:
KVR Performance Brakes, Six slotted drilled rotors with Porterfield’s R4-S high friction autocross brake pads, Braided stainless steel brake lines, Motul 600 racing brake fluid.
Exhaust:
Custom made 2 ½” exhaust system consisting of a very high flow 2 ½” Random Technology cat , Muffler-2 ½” dual output Flowmaster 80 Series, this is the same muffler that the 5.7L Camaro/Firebird motor uses. This exhaust system is greater than 100 decibels loudness at idle.
Interior:
CORBEAU CR1 Adjustable Racing Seat, Two RCI 5-point cam-lock 3” racing-harness, Air / Fuel Gauge, Four 6” x 9” 3-way speakers mounted in the dash, One 5 1/2” woofer-mid bass driver in the subwoofer enclosure box, Two 6” x 9” 3-way speakers in the pillar side speaker area, 1.5 DIN FM / CD player, Two 3-way speaker boxes mounted on the rear deck, and a video camera mount located on the rear deck to video tape the autocross races.
Tires:
For daily driving
Falken Azenis Sport 205/55VR16 Tires mounted on Beretta Indy 16” x 7” Polish Aluminum wheels.
Solo 2
Falken Azenis Sport 215/45ZR16 Tires for Solo 2 mounted on 16” x 7” 5-spoke Aluminum wheels.

Here's how I documented my modifications http://fierosound.com/moreMODS.htm

I documented both my 3100SFI Isuzu swap and most of my 3800SC swaps, put all onto disc's. Unfortunately when I tried to send copies across the border South either they came back or were destroyed by US customs. I have no problem sending paper copies its just when on disc. Go figure. Dan

sorry...I'm WAY to unorganized to document. and, still have no digital camara. and, sometimes the mods are done in bulk - as in my auto to manual swap was done while I was changing a cam, since I had the cradle out. ended up sandblasting & re-painting the cradle. and while doing the cam, finally found about the "spring install height" and how important that is. took the heads out & got new valve springs & had the heads machined for proper spring height. while the heads were out, decided porting them with the dremel would be fun. I was scattered all over the place. and was done over 4 months time. you are welcome to come over and photograph & take notes tho. I work much better when I have someone nearby to yack at while working. this seasons work will be cutting into the firewall behind the seats to install subs, doing the LeBaron brakes, replacing the radiator, and my daughter wants to change the interior to black & red. I'm sure something else will come up too. oh yeah, right now working with Darth Fiero to get a custom chip worked out. when theres a post asking about things I've done, I do try & help.

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1985 Fiero SE - Plain Red V6 Coupe
3.1 Crane 272 MSD 4.10-4spd

done that already....

quote Originally posted by Pyrthian: sorry...I'm WAY to unorganized to document. and, still have no digital camara. and, sometimes the mods are done in bulk -

My point is "Pictures are worth 1000 words". They can be much more valuable than a list of "my mods", especially if there's an accompanying write-up that was done while the work was still fresh in mind.

Even a Walmart disposable film camera will at least get your work recorded while it's in progress. The pics can always be scanned anytime after that if needed to get it into a computer. The important thing is that you have a photographic record - you WILL need that if you get an appraisal in the future.

You must have taken pics of your kid as she's grown

quote Originally posted by Pyrthian: this seasons work will be cutting into the firewall behind the seats to install subs,

It's a good thing "someone" has documented with pictures and a write-up on how to install firewall sub-woofers.
It will make your job alot easier

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 02-07-2005).]

Don't worry, dudes. My mods are documented on my website. Once I finish a mod, I usually post a blurb about it on the forum, too.

It helps to have a digital camera. For the kind of pictures you'd post online, the camera doesn't need to be anything special. So it'll be relatively inexpensive. ( hint-hint )

V6 car--
stock 2.8 auto,
no cat,
Ocelot exhaust
CRX intake
msd wires
NGK UR5 plugs,
polly dog bone,
polly swaybar endlinks, and sway bar bushings
2" drop on WS6 springs, (chopped)
KYB's
ported stock manifolds
AC removed
new grounds added throught the engine compartment (MAKES A DIFFERANCE!!!)

im drawing a blank, but i know there is more

V8 car
professionally built 355 SBC 4 bolt block from a 74 vette
arche kit
stout cam,
1.6 roller rockers,
750CFM edelbrock carb
4 speed 3.65 with spec stage 3 clutch
world product SR/Tourkers full port/polish to the max
manley valves
Weiand Stealth intake (gasket matched)
sanderson CC90's
2-1/4 exhaust 2 high flow cats and 2 high flow mufflers ~~~Quiet (that was the goal)
eibach's / Koni's
and everything that wasnt needed was removed!! (all the crap in the engine bay was removed)
full autometer gauges
and lots more but once again .... im drawing a blank

------------------
Rich AIM: ONE FAST 2M8:
86se V6
Gold 86se 355 SBC,
92 BMW 325i

^^^ bump for stragglers

Do you mean like this? My documentation

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Red 88 GT T-Top 3800 INTERCOOLED SUPERCHARGED
White 88 GT Stock
Please give me a rating if you appreciate my contribution.
Click here to read the History of Skitimes Car

I have mine written down, digital camera accesibility all depends on which parents house i'm living at at the time. But my list of mods is short, most of it is replacing worn out things on my 87 GT

New Shifter assembly( old one cracked so it would flop around and not find 5th and would move like it's in neutral all the time)
K&N drop in style filter
Rebuilt headlight motors (rodney dickman rebuild kit)
New brakes(everything)
New tires front and back
New master clutch cylinder
New heater core
Added in a manual rad fan switch, so i can turn it on whenver i feel like it.

And thats it so far. Hopefully some go fast goodies soon, and some new rims.

quote Originally posted by fierosound: My point is "Pictures are worth 1000 words". They can be much more valuable than a list of "my mods", especially if there's an accompanying write-up that was done while the work was still fresh in mind. Even a Walmart disposable film camera will at least get your work recorded while it's in progress. The pics can always be scanned anytime after that if needed to get it into a computer. The important thing is that you have a photographic record - you WILL need that if you get an appraisal in the future. You must have taken pics of your kid as she's grown It's a good thing "someone" has documented with pictures and a write-up on how to install firewall sub-woofers. It will make your job alot easier

yes, I know...at times I wish I had pics so I knew what the %$#@ I did.....but, I dont, and no...no camara, no pics of the kid either....and yes, the pics of other who have done the cutting into the firewall will help. yes, I especially love pictures with highlites, circles & pointers. everyone has skills, photo record aint mine.

My buildups are in my sign.... I think theres no need to keep everything "secret" before you present the final thing, the feedback from people here really helps to get a better endresult....!

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1987 Fiero concept GTR in progress... body buildup interior buildup
1969 Chevy Suburban