There's an Indy for sale, and I know the owner. I've wanted to buy a fastback, drop a 4.9 and do a few mods. I liked the indy too, and talked with someone about buying that Indy, drop a 4.9 or 3800SC, add some scoops, side vents rather than the central vent on the decklid, and probably a third vent like Skitime. He said it would be crime to do up a Indy like that, and better left alone stock.
What do you guys think about Indys, better left stock, or engine swaps is okay but other bodily modifications be nixed?
------------------ AIM: CanadianFiero Project conversion to an aero V6. (85 GT)
[This message has been edited by Ferrari_cdn (edited 08-15-2002).]
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12:48 AM
PFF
System Bot
Heretic Member
Posts: 1102 From: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. Registered: Aug 2001
That would be true, it would be my car. But I respect the Fiero, and the Indy is a special car, so I do have respect for it and just wanted to have some public input.
There were only 2000 pace cars made by Pontiac, so this is the rarest Fiero out there. So I would let someone else buy it who would keep it stock. The 4 cyl has a lot of HP so it is not like the other 4 bangers. If you have the Vin, I could look it up. Look for a cheaper coupe or Gt to modify, that's what I did. Leave it stock if you get it, you will get more respect for having that Fiero completely stock, then modified to your taste. Please post the info so someone else on here can look into restoring this to take to Fiero shows.
But the thing is, I WANT a 5 speed! A manual transaxle in a Indy is super rare, and IF this car is, the 4 speed would be bad with mileage if coupled with a 4.9.
If auto, no biggie. Manual, then gonna have to find a 5 speed.
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01:54 AM
STUK'N'80s Member
Posts: 342 From: Los Angeles, CA. USA Registered: Apr 2001
HUH!! WHY WOULD YOU FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THATS SACRED IN FIEROLAND WOULD YOU WANNA ALTER AN INDY FIERO?? As scarce as INDYS are modifying one which is in great shape in my "collectors" mind is sacrilege!! It is harder to maintain, restore, and upkeep any fiero to total stock status than doing endless mods to it....TRUST ME you will receive more appreciation, respect, and admiration if you keep your INDY STOCK,STOCK, STOCK!!!
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02:21 AM
DarkRain Member
Posts: 609 From: Calgary, Alberta Registered: Jul 2002
Originally posted by STUK'N'80s: TRUST ME you will receive more appreciation, respect, and admiration if you keep your INDY STOCK,STOCK, STOCK!!!
Not always true.. When I went to shows with my Indy it got lost in the large amount of modified Fieros. Yes, I was lucky to always win my class but.. people always ran over to the moded cars & drooled. Example: I brought 3 cars to a show last year. (Indy, '85 Coupe & '84 SE) I forgot my camera at home so I didn't take any pics. I was interviewed by a local cable TV show with my Indy. Even with that.. No one took any pics of my car. (I take it back. Oreif took a few for me ) Anyway.. After that show you saw pics of just about every modified car that was their posted on the Forum. Now I'm not saying that people should want to take pics of my car but you would think there would have been at least 1 pic taken of the only (rare) Indy that showed up.
My point is: Most of the time a Indy gets lost at shows because its a 4 banger. So mod it out & get some attention.
BTW: There was only 1 pic of the '85 taken that I know of. (& that took 1st place too)
Most.. not All.. Want to see a wild looking tastefully modified Fiero. Why do ya think Archie gets a crowd of people around his cars?
Werent there only 2 red Fieros produced in 87? Its my understanding that they were both custom orders. I could be wrong, but a factory red 87 would be extremely rare.
I bet people with stock Indy's are saying modify it so theirs becomes even more rare.
I'd try to keep it stock but anything like a bolt on mod I'd do. It looked like someone at Osage Beach this year put some 17in wheels on an Indy and it looked great. If it runs great, keep the 4 but I doubt you can hurt the value by dropping something else in it.
[This message has been edited by Tigger (edited 08-15-2002).]
If the Indy is truly in as good of a shape as you say, as you said the guy really knew how to take care of it, then my first gut reaction would be to definately not modify it at all.
It seems to be becoming even more of a trend in the past 10 years or so to mod a Fiero. Why not? They are so versatile and a great platform to do pretty much anything you want. Almost everyone wants to be different, and what better way than to customize it to your taste and make it unique in your own special way. True, it IS your car, so do with it as you see best, as the enjoyment you get out of it is priceless. But it seems to be becoming easier these days to modify a Fiero, than to keep it original. If you take a Fiero that had huge production numbers or a model that just isn't considered that rare or difficult to find, modifying that model is not going to become critical to that models numbers that are still out there.
However, an Indy is one of the rarest Fieros ever made. They actually only made 1,550, NOT the 2000 that is always quoted. Of that, only 200 of the 4 speeds were made. Now that IS RARE!! How many of these do you think are still out there? Sure you can still find them, but I am talking "original". If you modify this Indy, you will be just one more person who will be modding a Fiero, and in doing so making the Indy's numbers shrink even more. Now that can be good and it can be bad. The Bad is obvious as I have stated allready. The good is that in a bizaar way you will help make the value of the Indy go up even that much more for the rest of us. That is good if you allready own one, and not so good if you are wanting to buy one later at some point The Indy is also seen, unlike the 87 SE's and the T-Top models for example, as soon to becoming valuable similar to other older low production cars like certain model Vettes and T-birds for example. Also keep in mind that the Indy Fiero being an 84 model, is coming up on being 20 years old. Soon it will, with the other 84 Fiero models, be the first of the Fieros to hit that magical 25 year old bench mark. A classic! Now, how would you like to be one of only a very few who own an "original" Indy Fiero when that happens?
In the next ten years or more, how many truly "original" Indy Pace Car Fieros do you think you might realistically see at car shows, or anywhere? I like modding the Fiero as much as the next guy, but after awhile, it get's a bit "same old" seeing just one Fiero after another with a high wing, mecham scoops, big chrome rims, Mr. Mikes seats, interior trim mods, vents in the hood, lowered, big engine installed, etc.
The last few years that I have been to Fiero shows, the sections that had original Fieros in them was absolutely dwarfed by the sheer large numbers of modified Fieros.
I would agree that since it is (or would be) your Indy, to do with it as you want. It's your car after all, so have fun.
As I mentioned earlier, many people want to be a bit different, and what better way than to customize it and make it unique. It seems however that lately, you will be unique and different from almost everyone else by NOT customizing and modding it. Isn't that an interesting thought. You could decide to do something that very few Fiero owners are doing these days, and that is to keep it original. Keep it stock.
Every Fiero that I have owned up till my latest one and that is quite a few, I modified in some way or another. Some were more subtle than others, but I took an original Fiero and I changed it. Now some mods can be switched back, as mecham scoops replace the stock panels for example, and hood vents can be put back to stock by replacing the hood with a stock one, etc. But some mods on an Indy would be tough to replace or put back like new as the Indy parts are becoming even more scarce over time.
I enjoyed doing what I did to my Fieros, as they won me many awards and I still like the looks of them today. In all honesty though, each of those models I customized were not rare models by any means. Then I got a great deal on a rare 4 speed Indy. It was in need of a lot of TLC, but nothing we couldn't handle. Now I could have customized it as we went, but I had quickly realized over the last few years how many other people were doing that, and how few original Indy's (or any original Fiero models for that matter) I had seen in those last few years at shows or anywhere. I quickly chose instead to go a different route than most others and decided to keep my Indy as original and stock condition as I could.
The Indy Fiero is one of the most beautiful Fiero examples you could ever own. The interior alone is georgeous. Yes the engine is a 4 cyl, but it is an Indy after all. The actuall Fiero that paced the Indianapolis 500 in 84 was also a 4 cyl, the first 4 cyl. pace car ever to do so if i remember correctly. And it ran the fastest lap in the history of the Indy pace cars. Not to shabby. So with that kind of ground breaking history behind it, I am not embarrased at all with my stock Indy. I have something that very few other people have, and that is pretty cool.
I vote for hack it up! I personally don't believe Fieros will ever be worth much as a collector car, but that is solely my opinion and I know that many disagree with me on it.
If you're really worried about it - save the original pieces. Nothing you mentioned sounds like it couldn't be undone if needed. Get a new rear decklid and save the original, the side scoops will replace the lower quarters, save the wheels, save the engine and all of it's decorative pieces, etc. Then if it turns out Indy Fieros do become worth more than their weight in gold, you can go back to stock.
And if any of the Fiero collector people give you grief, just tell 'em what I told a guy once: "Well, I guess that makes yours even more rare then doesn't it? You're welcome!"
I'm for hacking it up too. There was a near mint low mileage Indy for sale here locally for $1,300 the other month. I thought it would be a cool car to throw on the auto-x courses with a different engine, and slightly tweaked suspension. But, I wised up, and decided a 3rd car isn't for me, especially, a 3rd Fiero. I passed on it, and it sold pretty quickly. Probably has a more sedate life with current owner than I would be giving it anyway.
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11:00 AM
Poncho Jim Member
Posts: 869 From: Woodlands, MB, Canada Registered: Mar 2000
Originally posted by Fiero5: If the Indy is truly in as good of a shape as you say, as you said the guy really knew how to take care of it, then my first gut reaction would be to definately not modify it at all. [/B]
I agree it would be a shame to do anything to a stock Indy pace car. They're so rare.
On the other hand, you'll be helping the current Indy owners since there'll be one less factory original out there for collectors to buy.
I originally got my car with the thought of doing a V8 Mod.. But the thing is so clean and has such low mileage, I'm having second thoughts.. Why chop up a clean 65,000 mile car that runs great ? I'm going to put quite a few miles on it before I do the conversion.
Best bet is to resurrect an old $1000.00 (or less) car with a decent frame and interior. Better yet, try pick up a clean car with a blown engine.. Do the 8 swap and body mods to that...
------------------ 1988 Fiero Coupe 2.5L 1990 Trans Am GTA 5.7L
Yeah, that is one sweet looking Indy! keep in mind that Al's Indy Fiero is an automatic model of which only 1,550 were made, which as we all know isn't as rare as the manual models of which only 200 were made. If Al is getting that much enjoyment and attention with his Indy Fiero being an automatic.....
As much as I like street rodding and modifying my V8 Fiero, I'd hate to see a good Indy get "hacked up". If it was already in poor shape, that would be different.
Hey, I have one of those rare 87 SE 2.5 Fieros (with a dead duke) that Haze mentioned. I keep thinking about what to do with it. Maybe I should just restore it?
The body is in great shape, the paint is "fair," the interior is "good" but the motor is 9/10s dead.
At the VERY least, it needs (or needed) a new bottom-end. It's been a while since I've seen it, but 1 year ago, it was sitting in a shed waiting for a rebuild.
IMHO, there is nothing "rare" about that 4-cyl, other than the aircleaner. It is not a beautiful or unique snowflake!
I say slap something horny under the hood, and LEAVE the rest as-is. It's a BEAUTIFUL car.
If you ever need to go back to an iron-duke ( ), you can do so... I'd rather have something that COMMANDS respect; if not just by looks, then by way of tail-lights.
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03:06 PM
FieroGT87 Member
Posts: 3195 From: St. Louis, Mo, USA Registered: Jul 2001
Originally posted by Haze_Performance: Well the Indy is a rare Fiero.. Not the rarest thou.
1987 SE: 1,401 built (4 cyl.) I bet ya no one would think twice about moding this out.
There were only around 1252 real T-Top cars made in '88. How many of them have been moded?
====== how bout... an 87 ORG BLUE SE 4cly, auto, W/ TTOPS!?!?! hehe.. im tring to get this car.. THanx Jason I say mod it.. If I would have kept my Indy, I planned to stuff a 3800S/C in it.
My next Fiero will be a Indy.. I'm going to make a street legal drag car out of it. (SBC, 12pt cage.... etc)
I don't have EITHER the GT or an Indy. The only car I have is an 84 SE. I was going to buy a fastback GT, but then added the Indy to my list of cars to consider. So I was just gathering feedback before buying a car.
I guess, according to everyone, if the Indy he has is in GOOD shape, I'll buy it, drop a v8 but leave the body stock. I've never liked the central vents, and preferred the side vents, sooo...also an automatic might have to do. I'll give him a call and let you know whats up.
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03:33 PM
Steve Normington Member
Posts: 7663 From: Mesa, AZ, USA Registered: Apr 2001
I say go for it. I think we have to face the fact that even if certain model Fieros are rare, they won't be worth anything due to the general public's impression of the car, that they burst into flames. If you feel bad about modifying it, just keep the stuff you changed, that way if you ever want to sell it or show it as a pure Indy, you can change it back.
------------------ 87' Fiero GT 5-spd 84' Fiero SE 2m4 4-spd SOLD
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06:22 PM
Mickey_Moose Member
Posts: 7583 From: Edmonton, AB, Canada Registered: May 2001
...my opinion, it's your car to do with as you please...if it was mine and needed to be restored one can always rebuild it to be a replica of the rear Indy complete with a super duty, etc But if it was in mint condition I would tend to leave it be...
AIM: CanadianFiero
Like I've said before. "Anyone can restore a car, But it takes a real man to cut one up !!!" It's your car Bubba... just make it "clean & trick"
HUH!! WHY WOULD YOU FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THATS SACRED IN FIEROLAND WOULD YOU WANNA ALTER AN INDY FIERO?? As scarce as INDYS are modifying one which is in great shape in my "collectors" mind is sacrilege!! It is harder to maintain, restore, and upkeep any fiero to total stock status than doing endless mods to it....TRUST ME you will receive more appreciation, respect, and admiration if you keep your INDY STOCK,STOCK, STOCK!!!
), you can do so... I'd rather have something that COMMANDS respect; if not just by looks, then by way of tail-lights. 
