Could someone please explain to me the difference in suspension (or anything else) between an 88 GT, and an 88 non-GT? I have an 88, 4 cyl that used to be a notchie, but a GT body was swapped onto it, so I am just wondering what I might be missing. -Thank you

The suspension brakes steering rack front and rear cradel. and the skirt around the bottom of the car is the same color of the car not silver like on previous years.

Rear sway bar and stiffer spring rate. Otherwise I believe they are the same.

quote Originally posted by Mike Gonzalez: Rear sway bar and stiffer spring rate. Otherwise I believe they are the same.

this is correct. One nice thing about the 88 coupe is it has a more compliant ride. Some swap the 88 coupe front springs onto the 88 GT with a coil cut to lower it and still get the 88 GT ride quality

the rear wheels are different as well

??? What is the difference in the rear wheels of the coupe as compared to the rear wheels of the GT or Formula? You must be thinking of the difference in the offset of the front wheels on the GT and Formula. The coupe didn't have the crosslace wheels, but came equipped with the Tech wheels and there was no difference in offset on those.

I have an 88 absolute bare bones coupe, with only AC as an option. It has the same aluminum Tech wheels that were available from the inception of the Fiero.

The GT rear wheels are 1" wider rims.
The se model has the same suspension as the gt, but with a notchie back.
the base coupe has the lighter rear bar and lighter front springs.

I'm confused on the different models I guess... So there's the GT, the SE, the coupe, and the formula? What is each of these? I have an 88 fastback with the 2.5 engine. That wasn't offered stock, right?

There is so much misinformation in this thread!!!!!!!

The GT and Formula were mechanically the same, featuring the WS6 suspension (higher spring rates, larger front anti-roll bar and the addition of a rear anti-roll bar)

The lace wheels were 15X6 w/42 mm offset (front) and 15X7 w/ 35 mm offset (rear).

All 88 steering racks are the same. 85 - 87 GT had a different (faster ratio) than the other 85 - 87 cars

The 88 V-6 cradle featured different driveline mounting points than the 4 cyl cradle.

All 88's had the same brakes, that were different than earlier years.

The V-6 was only available in the Formula and the GT.

The 4 cyl 5 speed was the Isuzu, the 6 cyl used the Getrag.

The instrument cluster and the auxillary gauge cluster in the GT and Formula are the same. THe base coupe had an 85 mph speedo and different tach, guages were not back lit on the base coupe, they are on the Formula and GT.

The Formula and base coupe shared the same bodywork and interior, GT bodywork was the fastback and the interior was upgraded with map pockets, power accessories and different seat upholstery scheme.

There was no SE in 1988, the only models were GT, Formula, and base coupe.

Edit to add - There was no 4 cyl fastback ever - check your VIN and you will find that it is probably a base coupe with a fastback rear clip. What nose and lower rear fascia do you have? Any aero rocker moldings?

[This message has been edited by olejoedad (edited 11-05-2009).]

He is correct. there is no SE in 88. it is a formula. I always forget that.
the formula has the notch back and aero front fascia with side aeor rocker ground effects.
the coupe does not.

quote Originally posted by tjm4fun: the formula has the notch back and aero front fascia with side aeor rocker ground effects.

The Formula does not have the aero package. The body is the same as the base coupe, but it has a spoiler and Formula stickers.

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1984 Fiero SE

How can so many people on a Fiero forum have so much misinformation about the 3 '88 models? Also, the 88 15 inch diamod lace wheels were 15x7 30mm rear and 15x6 37mm front. The 88 rear wheels are the same as every other 15x7 Fiero wheel. The fronts are a bugger because the hubs are pushed out about an inch further in the front making proper wheel fitment a problem.

Carbon
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1988 Pontiac Fiero GT Automatic

[This message has been edited by carbon (edited 11-05-2009).]

quote Originally posted by carbon: How can so many people on a Fiero forum have so much misinformation about the 3 '88 models? Also, the 88 15 inch diamod lace wheels were 15x7 30mm rear and 15x6 37mm front. The 88 rear wheels are the same as every other 15x7 Fiero wheel. The fronts are a bugger because the hubs are pushed out about an inch further in the front making proper wheel fitment a problem. [FONT=Verdana]Carbon

I've seen conflicting numbers for the offset, so I can understand confusion there. Some people swear that the fronts have the same offset as the earlier wheels, and that the one inch is taken off the lip and doesn't change offset. Others claim that there was less offset on the front to compensate for the brakes.

olejoedad got everything else correct.

[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 11-05-2009).]

quote Originally posted by jscott1: I've seen conflicting numbers for the offset, so I can understand confusion there. Some people swear that the fronts have the same offset as the earlier wheels, and that the one inch is taken off the lip and doesn't change offset. Others claim that there was less offset on the front to compensate for the brakes. olejoedad got everything else correct.

I hear ya... I wasn't really referring to olejoedad, with the exception of the wheel offsets, his post actually made me think "finally..."

[This message has been edited by carbon (edited 11-05-2009).]

my 88 gt wheels are 35mm and 42mm IIRC.

*I have a front/rear wheel spare for my 88gt.
I'll take em off and measure the offset today or tomorrow when I get a chance.

**My 88 Factory service manual not only doesn't mention the offset,it has no special instructions for rotating.

[This message has been edited by DefEddie (edited 11-05-2009).]

quote Originally posted by DefEddie: my 88 gt wheels are 35mm and 42mm IIRC. *I have a front/rear wheel spare for my 88gt. I'll take em off and measure the offset today or tomorrow when I get a chance. **My 88 Factory service manual not only doesn't mention the offset,it has no special instructions for rotating.

They are 30mm and 37mm. The rears are the same as every other Fiero 15x7. There are no special instructions for rotating them, as with all vehicles with different wheels front to back, you can only swap side to side. Its the same deal as with all the LS4 W-bodies with wider tires up front.

Joe Torma's Offset thread <- Just remember that this is with all hub faces in line, the 88 front is actually 1 inch outboard of the others.
Fformula88's calculations

[This message has been edited by carbon (edited 11-05-2009).]

Offset info was from memory, (as was the rest of the post), I wonder where I came up with those offsets?

Thanks for the correction, I hate bad information.

the instrument cluster on all fieros was backlit

quote Originally posted by drebinpk: the instrument cluster on all fieros was backlit

You must have a different definition of backlit. The 84 & 85 and the 4 cyl 86-88 used what we call a "side-lit" of "front-lit" configuration where the light is reflected into the front of the gauge face from the side.

As the gauge face is completely opaque there is no way it can be considered back lit.

quote Originally posted by carbon: ...The 88 rear wheels are the same as every other 15x7 Fiero wheel...

I'm going to split hairs here just to give a new member more information. This is 98% correct but as someone pointed out earlier this summer the '88GT and Formula rear wheels have the air valve hole machined at a different location on the wheel than the earlier wheels.

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RickN
White 88GT 5spd
White 85GT Auto
White 99 F250SD 7.3PSD 6spd
1956 Ford 860 Tractor w/ Freeman Loader
20Ft H&H Tilt Bed Trailer

[This message has been edited by RickN (edited 11-07-2009).]

quote Originally posted by RickN: I'm going to split hairs here just to give a new member more information. This is 98% correct but as someone pointed out earlier this summer the '88GT and Formula rear wheels have the air valve hole machined at a different location on the wheel than the earlier wheels. It's machined at an intersection of the lace pattern versus at an opening in the pattern for earlier wheels.

WOW... LOL

This is how Lotus Suspension myths get started.

Another popular misconception is that the springs had different rates from one model to another.
This is not true. All of the front spring rates were the same. It was just the height that was different. Same for the rears.
There was a very long thread about this, a few years ago.
I believe that Doug Chase or Will came up with this info, but don't quote me on it.
(It certainly was one of the contributors who usually knows what they're talking about.)

Regarding the supposed softer ride of the base coupe, I believe it had to do with the hardness or density of the front lower control arm bushings.
The 88 Formula and GT had the same part numbers for their LCAs. The coupe had a different part number.
Not that it matters now. They're probably all worn out and in need of replacement if they haven't been, already.

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Raydar
88 4.9 Formula IMSA Fastback..........................88 3.4 coupe -soon to be something other than red

Read Nealz Nuze! Praise the Lowered!

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 11-05-2009).]

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Another popular misconception is that the springs had different rates from one model to another. This is not true. All of the front spring rates were the same. It was just the height that was different. Same for the rears.

This hasn't been settled to my satisfaction. I own a coupe and GT 88 and there is no question in my mind the coupe is a softer ride. Just making the spring taller is going to affect the rate in my opinion. Not to mention that my coupe had ARC up front and the GT ARD. Both will eventually be replaced with lowering springs.