Well, with the popularity of these post I figured I should start one! I'm in the middle of about 20 projects on my car right now, so this would be one good thread to post my pictures and progress in! Anyway, back in 2000 I was looking for a car. I was into Fiero's (currently had one then) and had decided I wanted another one. Every Fiero I had owned was a big POS and had needed about everything replaced. I was tired of driving crappy Fiero's, so I decided I wanted a nice one. There was a Fiero posted in the paper, was an 88 coupe with 27K miles for $5500. I decided to go check it out (30 min drive). When I got there I saw a PERFECT red 88 Coupe sitting in the guys driveway. I knew the moment I saw it that I would own the car. It was a 4 cyl auto. I knew I could only spend $4000 because thefts the biggest loan my parents would co-sign on. I told the guy I could only give him $4000, and he said his lowest price was $4250. I told him I would talk to my parents and let him know.
That evening I talked my dad into looking at the car with me. I called the guy and told him we were coming to check it out again, and he told us to come on out. When we got there my dad was amazed at the newness of the car. It still smelled new inside! We sat down with the guy to discus the price. When he told my dad he could only go $4250, my dad said he could only give him $4000, GOT OUT HIS CHECKBOOK and began writing a check out to the guy for $4000. The guy couldnt say no! I didnt even know my dad had his checkbook, and couldnt believe what was happening! After everything was said and done we drove home and I parked it in the garage! Now, before you start thinking my parents bought me the car I should tell you they didnt. They were just helping me out. The next day I went to the bank and got a loan to pay them back! I had to promise I wouldnt modify the car in any way, which they never should have made me do. Anyway, here are some pictures of the car a few days after I brought it home.
------------------ 88 Coupe (Currently under the knife) Soon to have 30* plus 2 more Cylinders of power......
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11:53 PM
PFF
System Bot
Jul 7th, 2004
FieroMaster88 Member
Posts: 7680 From: Mattawan, MI Registered: Nov 2000
After a while I wanted to mod the car. I know I wasnt supposed to, but hey, it was in my name and was my car! First thing I did was add a BBJ Resin scoop, then a factory spoiler! After that, I decided since it looked quick it needed to be quick. I went to Ohio for a week to visit Craig (The Fieromaster here on PFF) and we installed a 2.8 into my car. In the process I decided a 5 speed would be awesome, so we also converted it to an Isuzu 5 speed. And yes, we got a engine swap from 4 cyl to V6 and from auto to 5 speed done in a week! I have no idea how, but we did it. The car was a blast to drive now! I added a MSD 6a ignition box, and decided on some factory Formula/GT wheels' (black) which I traded my stock 14" wheels for. So now my car is basically a "Formula" minus the rear sway bar.
After about 10-20K miles the 2.8 we put in gave out. I have no idea how many miles the engine had on it, but I bet it was over 100K. I wanted to do an engine swap, but since it was my only car I had to get it done quick. I found a built up 2.8L (bored/stroked to 3.2) for sale here on the forum. This engine had anything and everything done to it, and was ready for nitrous! I bought the engine and ordered nitrous for it. The car really moved after the new engine went in and I got it running good.
Next mods were as follows: Cut springs to lower car, painted calipers red, added rear sway bar.
Then last year I added a bunch more stuff. I was following my friend down the highway on the way to the drag strip. He has a turobcharged Civic, and when he stepped into it his boost spiked to 15PSI, which his engine couldnt take, so it came apart all over my car. My hood ended up getting chipped pretty bad. I had picked up a hood from Hartz (from PFF) which had a cutout scoop deal over the radiator. I got that painted and installed on my car. Shortly after I found an AMAZING deal on some 16" Axis Touring Cup rims in white! They were dirty and needed some touchup, but were only $200 for the set of 4 with useable tires. I cleaned them up and installed them on the car. This picture is from last years FieroRama!
Over the winter I took my engine apart so I could change the intake manafold gaskets, clean things and paint things. I added a Darrel Morse strut tower brace and some Grand Sport Corvette fender stripes. I also completely went through my interior. I went with a black and dark grey theme. I painted my dash, gauge pod, aux gauge pod, raido surround and shifter surround black. I replaced my carpet on the floor, lower doors, rear deck thing and headliner with black. I added some racing seats in grey and black with some 4 point black racing harnesses. I also added carbon fiber to the faceplated in the car and a factory subwoofer setup. Heres some pictures of it completed!
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12:15 AM
FieroMaster88 Member
Posts: 7680 From: Mattawan, MI Registered: Nov 2000
And now to my current projects. I must have dropped something into my engine when I had it apart this winter, because it burned oil really bad when I started driving it this year. It was very annoying to me, so I took then engine apart. I found 2 cylinders scored deeply, so in order to get rid of the smoking I would need to rebuild the engine. I decided not to dump a bunch more $$ into this engine, instead I would do an engine swap since now the Fiero isnt my daily driver. I was researching engine swaps and decided on a 4.9. I was sent a link to a cheap donor car on ebay (91 DeVille) which was smashed in the rear. The car has 90K miles on it and is in perfect shape. The plus side of it was the car only being an hour away from where I live. I won the Aucution for $560 and went down the following weekend to pick the car up. I've spent the last week getting the engine out of the Cadillac, and this evening finished takeing it apart to swap all the valve covers and reseal the whole engine. I also have a ZEX nitrous kit with purge to put on the new engine! I still need to get some pictures of my progress. I hope to have the car done in the next 2 to 3 weeks, because I really want to drive it. I cant believe how far the car has come along since I got it. I"ll update with progress pictures sometime soon.
Fieromaster: i like your ride man!...........i also like those center guages....where did you get them? NE more pix? that is.......if you dont mind me askin... -Roy
------------------ I own an original yellow 1988 pontiac fiero GT, (wingless, currently purple) very proud also....Truly is...Driving Excitement! Matching numbers GT #17889 of 26,402 made in 1988
[This message has been edited by roys88fiero (edited 07-07-2004).]
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01:01 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
------------------ If you find my advice useful, then please give me a positive rating, thanks... 1988 GT (Firebird Interior),1988 Coupe (Daily Driver), 1985 SE (Project Car), 1985 Coupe (parts car), Firebird Interior Installation Website
Got a little work done today. Got the Caddy engine stripped down so I can swap valve covers and other thigs to the sides they need to be on. I'm also doing some cleaning to the engine and some painting. It's gonna look good when it's done. I also got done installing firewall insulation the other day. Heres a picture of that.
Also, here's a couple pictures of my Nitrous kit which will be used on the 4.9. Man I cant wait to get this engine in and running. Hopefully I can get some pictures of my engine soon.
Nice, your car is looking good. I like how you have added some Nitrous to the 4.9. We have a guy in SD who recently installed a 4.9. They already have real nice torque and with the bottle you will be fast. Good work.
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03:24 PM
Jul 11th, 2004
FieroMaster88 Member
Posts: 7680 From: Mattawan, MI Registered: Nov 2000
New pictures of the engine. Tomorrow the timing cover goes back on with the new gaskets, as well as the new water pump, new oil pan gasket, MSD wires and the accessories. Need to get my Flywheel machine work done so I can get the engine and trans together and on the cradle. Then get the cradle back in the car and the wireing done. Then it's time to get my chip sent out to rockcrawl so it will start! Hopefully 2 or 3 more weeks and I'll be driving again.
Oh, and some painted engine bay pix. I used a textured graphite metalic paint. It looks really good. I'm going to spray the cradle with the same paint.
[This message has been edited by FieroMaster88 (edited 07-11-2004).]
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02:51 AM
FieroMaster88 Member
Posts: 7680 From: Mattawan, MI Registered: Nov 2000
Today I finally finished cleaning, painting and resealing the engine. It's now ready to go into the Fiero. Have to get my flywheel done now, then I'll be mounting the engine an transmission together, then to the cradle. Should have it all in the car and the wireing started by Friday I hope!
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08:30 PM
Comealongway Member
Posts: 586 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Dec 2002
------------------ -Chris - Custom Gun Metal 86 GT 3.4 5spd 3.4 SOLD & 4.9 being installed "It's too low, too rough, too loud, drinks gas, it's totally impractical, but damn good lookin. In other words, It's almost perfect!" Build up tread or MODS w/ Pics
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07:46 AM
FieroMaster88 Member
Posts: 7680 From: Mattawan, MI Registered: Nov 2000
Well, after the machine shop telling me they couldnt do my flywheel and finding out I didnt have the PCM pulled out I finally have some things going good again! I had to do some major modifications to the donor car to get the PCM out. It's located on the passanger side of the dashboard, which was all smashed because the car went into the tree. I was lucky because somehow the PCM was not smashed! Now I have the chip all ready to go out to Rockcrawl tomorrow! I also found someone who could do my flywheel. I'm now happy, and things are back on schedule somewhat.
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10:23 PM
PFF
System Bot
Jul 15th, 2004
Comealongway Member
Posts: 586 From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Registered: Dec 2002
Ok almost sure that those are those seats i mentioned earlier, did you use the rails they came with or the fiero ones, If you used the fiero ones how did you adapt them?
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12:24 AM
FieroMaster88 Member
Posts: 7680 From: Mattawan, MI Registered: Nov 2000
Ok almost sure that those are those seats i mentioned earlier, did you use the rails they came with or the fiero ones, If you used the fiero ones how did you adapt them?
I used the sliders that came with the seats. Basically bolted them through the floor. Took a lot of work, but was worth it in the end. I think the Fiero sliders would have made the seat sit too high.
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09:31 PM
Jul 17th, 2004
FieroMaster88 Member
Posts: 7680 From: Mattawan, MI Registered: Nov 2000
Well, I'm still trying to find a place to get my Flywheel done. I'm pretty much at a standstill until I get the thing machined. I sripped my donor car (Cadillac) of anything good today so I can haul it off to the junk yard. I also finished my carpeting job under the front hood and workend on a couple other mods. I'll post some pictures tomorrow of the carpet job.
Edit: Spelling sucks.
[This message has been edited by FieroMaster88 (edited 07-17-2004).]
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12:50 AM
Jul 18th, 2004
FieroMaster88 Member
Posts: 7680 From: Mattawan, MI Registered: Nov 2000
I did a couple more things this weekend. Carpeted the front trunck area and cleaned/polished my tail lights. I also removed the numbering/lettering from my tail lights.
I might have found a place local to do my flywheel for my 4.9, so maybe I'll have some installed pictures in a week or 2. Wouldnt that be nice.
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06:18 PM
Jul 19th, 2004
Krhyme Member
Posts: 216 From: Kalamazoo, MI Registered: Jun 2004
I'm gonna have to stop by this week and see this in person man! I've been meaning to get over there, but CD release and work has been eating my time... maybe Tuesday night if your not busy?
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01:49 AM
Aug 11th, 2004
FieroMaster88 Member
Posts: 7680 From: Mattawan, MI Registered: Nov 2000
The engine is now mounted to the cradle! I've got the wireing harness all sorted out and my chip back from Rockcrawl. I need to buy an oil cooler, fuel line and a remote coolant filler neck, then I will have everything. Things are coming together slowly, but everythings turning out nice. All I have left to do is get the flywheel back and then start assembeling things. Once the cars togehter and running agian I'll sort out the exhaust. Man, I cant wait. Hopefully I'll have it running next saturday.
Heres a picture of my Flywheel! It's awesome isnt it? Hopefully I have it back soon!
I have a ton of finishing work to do, such as hooking up the cooling system, exhaust, intake, belt and a few more wires, but it now runs. Wow, is it loud!
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01:53 PM
Black-Azz-GT Member
Posts: 2326 From: Florida Keys Registered: Oct 2003
You did get the flywheel I see guess you are happy now ,Black Azz is also at that stage also few odds and end to tie up before it is ready to go kick some butt.
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03:12 PM
FieroMaster88 Member
Posts: 7680 From: Mattawan, MI Registered: Nov 2000
You did get the flywheel I see guess you are happy now ,Black Azz is also at that stage also few odds and end to tie up before it is ready to go kick some butt.
Yep, Thanks again! It looked awesome.
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03:29 PM
Aug 20th, 2004
FieroMaster88 Member
Posts: 7680 From: Mattawan, MI Registered: Nov 2000
Well, got all the coolant hoses hooked up today along with the belt. All it needs now is the timing set so it runs good and the exhaust and I"ll be done. Well, I also need to replace the oil filter adaptor since I cracked mine where the oil cooler line goes into it. Almost there.
Anyway, here are some pictures of the car a few days after I brought it home.
I still need to get some pictures of my progress. I hope to have the car done in the next 2 to 3 weeks, because I really want to drive it. I cant believe how far the car has come along since I got it. I"ll update with progress pictures sometime soon. 
j/k
Almost there. 
