I hit 105 mph for the first time in my 88 GT yesterday after tuning it up. I was moving down this long straight when the frigin headlight cover pops up scaring the crap out of me! that is when I looked at the speedo and let off the gas. The cover didnt go down until I reached about 70 mph. It was kinda funny after I calmed down and pulled the seat out of my a**.
Just thought I would share.
CHARLIE MIKE !
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09:47 AM
PFF
System Bot
skitime Member
Posts: 5765 From: Akron, PA, USA Registered: Aug 2000
Don't go faster than 104 mph. Common occurance btw.
------------------ Red 88 GT T-Top 3800 INTERCOOLED SUPERCHARGED White 88 GT Stock Please give me a rating if you appreciate my contribution. History of Skitimes Car
[This message has been edited by skitime (edited 06-08-2004).]
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09:56 AM
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
yeah, mine used to do that too. scared me good the first time. then, one time, it finally ripped right off. now that REALLY scared me. good thing the new one has a stronger spring, it hasnt popped up yet. I think you can make the spring tighter, by moving into the next hole. supposedly, hood vents keep that from happeneing. some people say popping the hood helps also. I find keeping it under 100 works every time, but that seems the hardest fix. I'm going for the hood vent.
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10:06 AM
528sosb Member
Posts: 136 From: pulaski, TN 60 mls south of Nashville Registered: Mar 2004
I regularly top 120 mph with my stock 2.8l but then I'm in Germany. I had that problem but since I put the 355 front on the covers stay down. Must have changed airflow...
------------------ www.yellowfiero.com 17" DEZENT T wheels with 215/40 tires front and 235/45 rear, KONI shocks, EIBACH springs, polyurethane dog bone, bushings and engine mounts, K&N air filter, OZELOT exhaust, Mercedes SLK yellow, Mr. Mikes seats, shift and e-brake boots. Custom sound system with subwoofer behind passenger seat, F355 style front.
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07:07 AM
crzyone Member
Posts: 3571 From: Alberta, Canada Registered: Dec 2000
I've gone 130mph in my current fiero, no headlight popping. But when I go past a truck at 80mph they pop up for a second. The first time, it happened to me a couple fieros back, it scared the crap out of me as well. Sure seems like they will rip off.
------------------ 86GT 4 speed
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07:07 AM
Boomtastic Member
Posts: 2359 From: Athens, Alabama Registered: May 2000
Hood vents will probably be the way I will go along with flush mounts. Right now it's not a priority as how I have a bent r/f wheel, like that when it was given to me. But when I get that 3800 sc, then I will have to upgrade. Then I will be 3 didit more often.
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11:49 AM
CC Rider Member
Posts: 2037 From: Cameron Park, Ca Registered: May 2001
You can adjust the tension on the headlamp door hinges to keep the headlight covers down. On the flip side when I'm traveling that fast, I usually have the headlights on, ya want those nuns and boxes of kittens to see you comming and get out of the way!
Put a set of hood vents in and the lights still pop up at 100 mph. Looks like I wasted my time installing them! Am I getting too much pressure under the hood and lifting up the front end?. Anyone put in a larger vent(s) for 140 mph+ speed
i made a hoodvent for my 3.4 SE a few years back using the deck lid bubble from a spare decklid - i turned the bubble around to let the air out and cut an opening in the steep side.. headlight doors stayed down at 145mph
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01:14 PM
LZeitgeist Member
Posts: 5662 From: Raleigh, NC, U.S.A. Registered: Dec 2000
Imagine, if our fieros were designed with the engine in the front, we could of probably had just about the most effective Ram Air system around
------------------ I own an original yellow 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT, (wingless, currently purple) and very proud....Truly is.....Driving Exitement! Matching numbers GT #17889 of 26,402 made in 1988
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01:38 PM
normsf Member
Posts: 1682 From: mishawaka, In Registered: Oct 2003
Anyone here ever hear of this hapening with Firebirds & Trans Am's of the same era? Maybe it's just me, but the TA's seem to have a couple more degrees of downward pitch to that area of the hood.
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06:00 PM
cunninghamsean Member
Posts: 876 From: Dahlgren, VA Registered: Jan 2002
Anyone here ever hear of this hapening with Firebirds & Trans Am's of the same era? Maybe it's just me, but the TA's seem to have a couple more degrees of downward pitch to that area of the hood.
Aren't the "doors" actually part of the headlight assemblies on the Firebirds? I don't think they have a separate door like the Fiero design. Could be wrong, it's been awhile since I've driven a Firebird.
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08:04 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Kohburn-- do you have a pic of the vent? Fierophrek-- my vents are smaller size mine are off of a ?Sunbird? Yours are from a what? I have included a link to my car as the passenger side cover broke off. http://www.angelfire.com/mb/HouseboatsNorthern/camera/briansCar.jpg
Kohburn-- do you have a pic of the vent? Fierophrek-- my vents are smaller size mine are off of a ?Sunbird? Yours are from a what? I have included a link to my car as the passenger side cover broke off. http://www.angelfire.com/mb/HouseboatsNorthern/camera/briansCar.jpg
yeah somewhere either on my computer or in pics i can scan -
edit: here they are
[This message has been edited by Kohburn (edited 07-27-2004).]
on 3rd gen firebird/TransAm the headlight cover is attached to the moving assembly and is REALLY lightwieght plastic so they dont have this problem... will the headlight doors rip off the fiero if they are already up???
Originally posted by TaurusThug: will the headlight doors rip off the fiero if they are already up???
no - there is almost no air pressure on the doors if the headlights are up - so in emergencies when they pop up and you don't want to slow down - turn on your headlights
I've heard that some people put vents to the wheel wells, if you don't want to cut up the hood... Any pics of these or comments on how well they work?
I would prefer to keep my spare tire compartment watertight, so opening up area between the rad and compartment as well as cutting a hole in the well would not do it.
I would prefer to keep my spare tire compartment watertight, so opening up area between the rad and compartment as well as cutting a hole in the well would not do it.
not sure why you think you would have to cut a hole in the front trunk tub...
installing vents in the left and right wheel well liners may help some - may even help with brake cooling but a good hoodvent will help with front end downforce
First time it happened to me I was racing a Mustang GT in the Great Blue Chop Top and had the speedo well burried (the Mustang too) and they both flipped up one right after the other and went back down. I thought I had hit something, my heart jumped in my throat. BTW, the hood on the GBCT was vented....gives you a clue how fast I was probably going....
