Would you recommend me getting this one? Hmm, I would have to arrange monthly payments or take out a loan, that looks like a good deal. Thanks will talk to my parents about it.
If you would need to take a loan out on $650 then you should consider putting your 355 dream on major hold. Perhaps consider joining the military in a high demand field and getting a large signing bonus, I.e. 20,000 plus. Then consider making a 355
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12:42 AM
BanditBushman Member
Posts: 19 From: Groveport Ohio Registered: Nov 2012
Well not a loan, I'm not that broke lol. And I can't join the military. But I have contacted the seller, he is only an hour away, my parents don't want me to have a job because I have to focus on grades... Even a 4.1 GPA doesn't sway that opinion so I'm stuck to cutting grass and the occasional odd job. And my time to earn money in the summer is even more hampered by football, it starts in March and ends in October.
Well not a loan, I'm not that broke lol. And I can't join the military. But I have contacted the seller, he is only an hour away, my parents don't want me to have a job because I have to focus on grades... Even a 4.1 GPA doesn't sway that opinion so I'm stuck to cutting grass and the occasional odd job. And my time to earn money in the summer is even more hampered by football, it starts in March and ends in October.
Well, that's a pretty good deal for the body panels, an it's not too far away. I think it would be a fun long term project.
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01:00 AM
BanditBushman Member
Posts: 19 From: Groveport Ohio Registered: Nov 2012
Ok, what are the chances that they are nice quality panels or does it matter as all kits need bondo and serious prep work?
Some kits are better than others, one of the guys on here can tell you tomorrow from the pictures if those are worth your time. Also, yes, you're looking at a lot of work no matter what haha. You can modify the panels to fit a non-stretched fiero, but it will look weird. To mount the panels you will have to stretch the frame of the car. Fun fun.
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01:15 AM
BanditBushman Member
Posts: 19 From: Groveport Ohio Registered: Nov 2012
Where do they stretch the frame the required (3in?)?
You can just stretch the cradle 3" and then move the top of the struts back 3". No need to cut the car in half and then reweld it back together. Mine has the rear wheel well moved three inches further forward, an Airdynamics option. Keep researching. It will always cost way more than you planned in my experience. I would sell you my incompleted build for less than my cost, but I'm sure that it would be too much. I sold one of my IFG 355 spider body's for $1000 after buying an AD355 to get an accurate body.
[This message has been edited by dratts (edited 11-26-2012).]
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11:26 AM
VF1Skullangel Member
Posts: 190 From: Southern California Registered: Jun 2008
Your best bet kid is to go pick up a mint conditon GT with the hatch back look. like the 355. The the PISA Euro tailights and front end that looks like a 355. Send the whole car off to paint at Macco or do the Rustoleum $50 dollar paint job yourself. Get nice wide wheels for it.
As far as an engine goes your best bet is to get a 3.4 out of a Camaro or Firebird and slap a Turbo on it. not only will be a simple install because everything simply bolts up but getting decent power from it isn't going to be to bad either. I believe the Turbo itself sells for $1000 on ebay. You get that and get it tuned and you should have something decent for under $7000 if you do all the work yourself.
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01:39 PM
BanditBushman Member
Posts: 19 From: Groveport Ohio Registered: Nov 2012
As far as an engine goes your best bet is to get a 3.4 out of a Camaro or Firebird and slap a Turbo on it. not only will be a simple install because everything simply bolts up but getting decent power from it isn't going to be to bad either. I believe the Turbo itself sells for $1000 on ebay. You get that and get it tuned and you should have something decent for under $7000 if you do all the work yourself.
Gonna have to step up and disagree wih ya here.
Having both a 3.4 and a 3800sc in my possesion AND being a 60* fanboy, I would say the above statement is just not good advice.
The 3.4 with a turbo slapped on it will not compare even remotely with my 3800sc. In several fields no less.
It will struggle to make the same power, all while endangering reliability and efficiency. The 3800sc is good at what it does, which is namely taking boost without hurting itself, while maintaining a stock level of driveability and efficiency.
Not to mention the ENDLESS amount of advice, how-tos, support and aftermarket the 3800 has to go with it.
Wanna go fast cheaply and be able to rely on your car? 3800.
Wanna go fast and be different? 3500 and turbo. Thats my future project at least. ------------------
[This message has been edited by TheRealShadowX (edited 11-27-2012).]
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02:24 AM
BanditBushman Member
Posts: 19 From: Groveport Ohio Registered: Nov 2012
Are you sure your ready to take on a project of this scale?
Yeah, I'm pretty confident. I used to restore garden tractors and sell them off. And my dad could help me, he is always constantly working on his TL1000R or his 740iL, lol.
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06:44 AM
BanditBushman Member
Posts: 19 From: Groveport Ohio Registered: Nov 2012
Like rcr said, the mad mechanics forum is pretty much the definitive forum for 355 rebodies. You will get more information there on that particular build than anywhere else that I know of.
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10:03 PM
BlownFiero86 Member
Posts: 295 From: Jackson,Ohio,US Registered: May 2012
I live an hour and a half south of you in Jackson, OH. My shop is in Beaver where my dad lives. If you have any question about the 3800sc, I have done a lot of research and have had mine up and running once for about 1200 miles (decided to make some more changes). I agree with and earlier statement buy the Fiero and do an engine swap. Then you have a running fun car while you collect parts for your replica build and the engine work will already be done. I should have mine back together in about 2 weeks with the new trans, brakes, and suspension. Shoot me a PM and we can meet up and you can see what you think of a 3800sc swap. Thanks, Ben
------------------ 86GT, 3800SC, F23, true duals, 3.4 pulley, comp VS cam, zzp power log, WCF air intake, ARP bolts, comp lifters and push rods, 90# springs, SI stainless valves, aero-force scantech meter. Here is my build thread https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/122548.html
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11:08 PM
ericjon262 Member
Posts: 3138 From: everywhere. Registered: Jan 2010
Having both a 3.4 and a 3800sc in my possesion AND being a 60* fanboy, I would say the above statement is just not good advice.
The 3.4 with a turbo slapped on it will not compare even remotely with my 3800sc. In several fields no less.
It will struggle to make the same power, all while endangering reliability and efficiency. The 3800sc is good at what it does, which is namely taking boost without hurting itself, while maintaining a stock level of driveability and efficiency.
Not to mention the ENDLESS amount of advice, how-tos, support and aftermarket the 3800 has to go with it.
Wanna go fast cheaply and be able to rely on your car? 3800.
Wanna go fast and be different? 3500 and turbo. Thats my future project at least.
FWIW Caffine's car has dipped into the 13's with IIRC, a mostly stock 3500 and a 4 speed.
I can't wait to see what my turbo 3500 will do...
------------------ there's a Group on 60degreeV6.com for us 660 Fiero owners!
I like to think my fiero makes at least 400 horsepower. My firebird 400ci Pontiac V8 made 450 hp / 460 ftlbs on the dyno. There are lots of options when you have a death wish.
------------------
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07:15 PM
ericjon262 Member
Posts: 3138 From: everywhere. Registered: Jan 2010
I like to think my fiero makes at least 400 horsepower. My firebird 400ci Pontiac V8 made 450 hp / 460 ftlbs on the dyno. There are lots of options when you have a death wish.
I would expect 400 hp out of it with just one turbo on it and modest boost. 5-8 lbs.
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10:45 AM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
You can find unfininshed project kits on EBay all the time. Under make & model, just pick 'Kits and Replicas'. You likely will save tons. I bought an unused brand new Ferrari 308 kit for $2500. I did put a 383 stroker v8 in one Fiero with Archies kit. I also made the mistake thinking the Fiero auto would work. After much professional beefed up rebuilds (4), I couldnt keep the tranny in it longer than 1,000 miles. Go with a better trans or a stick.
