I'm thinking about buying an 87 gt, and I was wondering if there is anything special about an 87. I know the 88 has updated suspension, and other improved components, but doe the 87 have any special or newer features? thanks. -Mark

87 was the year they started putting in the upgraded headlight motors and headlight wiring harness. Not aware of anything else.

I think 87 was the only year you could get a bright blue fiero.

"87 was when they started engraving the 2.8 plenum

It also has the different coolant routing, where the heater return line T's into the coolant tube before going back to the motor.
The most important thing is that the 87s also got the larger gas tank.

I personally think the 87 was the best year because:

1. it had the upgraded headlight system which was faster, smoother, and more reliable than the earlier years and could also use the motors from a firebird;

2. larger gas tank which added about 1 gallon;

3. was available with the 5 speed getrag or isuzu instead of the 4 speed muncie;

4. uses the common suspension, instead of the expensive and sometimes hard-to-get 88 parts

5. i think the A/C compressor was upgraded to the DA-6 (?)

It also was available in special blue (and yellow ?)

[This message has been edited by PaulJK (edited 12-01-2006).]

cool, did not know about the fuel tank. Pretty sure though, that yellow was an 88-only option. Did the 88 also have the bigger tank and coolant routing?

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If you can't be good, be good at it.

quote Originally posted by fierodeletre: cool, did not know about the fuel tank. Pretty sure though, that yellow was an 88-only option. Did the 88 also have the bigger tank and coolant routing?

Yes. The 88 has the larger gas tank. This perhaps the main reason for getting a 87 vs. 84-86...the larger gas tank.

[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 12-01-2006).]

quote Originally posted by PaulJK: I personally think the 87 was the best year because: 1. it had the upgraded headlight system which was faster, smoother, and more reliable than the earlier years and could also use the motors from a firebird; 2. larger gas tank which added about 1 gallon; 3. was available with the 5 speed getrag or isuzu instead of the 4 speed muncie; 4. uses the common suspension, instead of the expensive and sometimes hard-to-get 88 parts 5. i think the A/C compressor was upgraded to the DA-6 (?) It also was available in special blue (and yellow ?)

According to the specs I have, the 87 was the lightest of the Fastback's.

Pontiac introduced the metallic blue and the metallic red (maroon)

A noteable difference in the other years mentioned is the 84 stands apart from all other years in several aspects. The wiring and the A/C are just 2 that I've heard of. The 84 only came with a 4-cylinder with either a 4-speed or automatiac. The 84 had a 2-speed cooling fan. There may be other differences.

Oh, yeah, and all the 84's caught fire and burned up. So there's none left

My 86 GT has a 5 speed, just so you know it also has a V8 but its not stock

quote Originally posted by PaulJK: 4. uses the common suspension, instead of the expensive and sometimes hard-to-get 88 parts

I'm going to have to kind of sort of disagree with you on this. All the "hard-to-get" 88 parts are commonly available. There is an 88 parts car in the mall right now with all suspension intact for $150. I've had three complete 88 parts cars offered to me for free. Not to mention all the reproduced hubs, ball joints and tie rods from Rodney Dickman.

There isn't any part on an 88 that's significantly harder to find than the 84-87.

On topic, I agree than an 87 is much better than the 84-86 for the headlights and bigger gas tank alone.

Didn`t 87 also have the exspansion tank ? Or was that 88 ?

i guess I was thinking of the front wheel hub assemblies that were made in the special run a few years back - these will be "hard-to-get" sooner or later, so I'm just early

By the way - the '87 was LIGHTER (!?) ... how the heck did THAT happen ....

[This message has been edited by PaulJK (edited 12-02-2006).]

Isn't the '87/'88 V6 a little different from the earlier V6s? Internally balanced versus externally balanced, something like that. At that same time there was a change in oil pan/timing cover change? While my first love is the '88GT, I think the interior of the '87 is nicer than the '88s. There are some extra trim details that I like.

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RickN
White 88GT 5spd
White 85GT Auto
White 99 F250SD 7.3PSD 6spd

[This message has been edited by RickN (edited 12-02-2006).]

84s - yes, only muncie 4 spd and TH125 auto, only 4 cyl, but not all of them burned up. I realize that might have been hyperbole, but very few of them actually did burn up, AND they sold 128,000+ units that year, WAY more than any other year. The sales numbers decreased each year the fiero was available except for 86, when it came back up just a little, probably because of the fastback body style's introduction, but who knows? Many would probably blame the problems 84s had for the reason for the decline, and maybe I do too, but I had an 84 that ran for many years, so not all of them were bad. There are many left running on the road today in good shape if they've had recall work done.

I too am curious as to why an 87 would be lighter than an 86 and an 88 fastback, seeing as it has a bigger fuel tank and 86-style suspension...

cheers
Austin

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If you can't be good, be good at it.

quote Originally posted by 3800superfast: Didn`t 87 also have the exspansion tank ? Or was that 88 ?

Both.

when they weigh the cars for specs they dont count gas so any size tank doesn't matter. Try and find a car that weighs specs, they don't, they weigh more.
it is hard to really say the weight difference since they don't list what options they are useing. A/C, non A/C for example.
Every single year is different in Fieros. Very minor things but different. the 2.8s even change throughout the years.

quote Originally posted by RickN: Isn't the '87/'88 V6 a little different from the earlier V6s? Internally balanced versus externally balanced, something like that. At that same time there was a change in oil pan/timing cover change? While my first love is the '88GT, I think the interior of the '87 is nicer than the '88s. There are some extra trim details that I like.

Only the 88 V6 was internally balanced. And I agree, they really dumbed down the interior details for the 88s... less fabric and more silk screening on vinyl and no more GT seats.

In the book "Fiero Pontiac's Potent Mid-Engine Sports Car" by Gary Witzenburg, page 118, Major Specifications, lists the curb weight of the 86GT-2696 lbs., the 87GT-2708 lbs., and the 88GT-2735 lbs. They got a little heavier each year. Curb weight would be fully serviced with all fluids. I can see 86-87 weight gain with the slight additional weight of the larger fuel tank on the 87 plus an extra gallon of gas at 8 lbs. The 88 got complete new suspension and some items like the engine bay cooling fan and some other engine bay hardware deleted.

My mistake. I was working from an old and worn out mind.