------------------ DONE: 86gt 5 speed 4.9 complete rebuild with buds outback northstar pistons , delta cams E303 cam , full ported , polished , stronger head springs, and flow tested heads and manifolds. rockcrawl's custom chip , polished crank . too much to list
Seems like the PPE has changed hands about every 2 years I have been here. Still a very nice looking Fiero. Other than mentioning that the AC no longer worked, and the paint/minor panel cracking, the seller didn't say much about the running condition. Like I said, nice looking and it and the GBCT are probably my 2 favorite non-stock Fieros.
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02:54 PM
Foxy Fiero13 Member
Posts: 1496 From: racine,wisconsin,usa Registered: Mar 2008
i dont think archie made that one. i believe it was the only one he didnt do. the guy who invented/mastered the choped fiero and showed archie how to do it, did it. (or so i was told)
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09:34 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
002. Purple Pavement Eater (notchback)......... 1998 (Finished at Archie's shop by Archie and NIFE Volunteers)
quote
Originally posted by jscott1:
Here is the chop top chronology...
Rich created the Puple Pavement Eater in it's fastback form to be the first known chop top. That would make him #1 on the homebrewed list.
Rich worked with Archie to build the great blue chop top as Archie Chop Top #1.
After Rich passed away, Archie along with volunteers from NIFE, helped to complete the PPE in it's current notchback form making it Archie Chop top #2.
Hello, new owner here. PPE is snug and cozy in my garage. I purchased it off Ebay the day after driving to see it in person Since then I have been working on detail stuff and exploring this facinating car. I am quite impressed with the work that has been done on this car to date. The car has so much power I didn't realize at first it wasn't running right. I became suspecious when it caughed and died while driving with a cold engine. I found the plug wires were in terrible shape. I replaced them right away with immediate results. I was curious about an unmarked switch on the engine computer cover. The previous owner didn't know what it was so I went digging. The switch was connected to the EST bypass signal and probably was used to force it into base timing to make it easy to set. The switch was defective so it was always in base timing...no advance! I bypassed the switch, cleared the ECM error and then Vroom! The PPE is back to good form. Gas mileage increased from 10 to 17.5, which is about what I expected. The AC has no charge and I don't see evidence of a leak so I am thinking it was never charged after the V8 conversion. I will have to investigate more before I pay the $$ for the R12.
One of the things I have enjoyed is discovering the history of the car. About all I knew when I bought it was that it was purchased from V8 Archie and had been built by one of his employees, Warber, who had passed away. Thanks to this fourm and other internet sites I have learned much more and the research is on-going. If anyone knows what work was completed by NIFE members after Rich Warber's death I would like that information. Thank you to all who have posted information about this car!
Dave, the previous owner was very generous with providing me all the documentation he had on the car. One thing I treasure is a V8 Archie key fob with "Warber" written in ink on the back. Dave purchased the car from Archie. He owned it for about 5 years.
------------------ V8, Chop top, coil-overs, 12" disks
[This message has been edited by newin55 (edited 09-29-2008).]
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10:43 PM
IMSA GT Member
Posts: 10680 From: California Registered: Aug 2007
Hello, new owner here. PPE is snug and cozy in my garage. I purchased it off Ebay the day after driving to see it in person Since then I have been working on detail stuff and exploring this facinating car. I am quite impressed with the work that has been done on this car to date. The car has so much power I didn't realize at first it wasn't running right. I became suspecious when it caughed and died while driving with a cold engine. I found the plug wires were in terrible shape. I replaced them right away with immediate results. I was curious about an unmarked switch on the engine computer cover. The previous owner didn't know what it was so I went digging. The switch was connected to the EST bypass signal and probably was used to force it into base timing to make it easy to set. The switch was defective so it was always in base timing...no advance! I bypassed the switch, cleared the ECM error and then Vroom! The PPE is back to good form. Gas mileage increased from 10 to 17.5, which is about what I expected. The AC has no charge and I don't see evidence of a leak so I am thinking it was never charged after the V8 conversion. I will have to investigate more before I pay the $$ for the R2.
One of the things I have enjoyed is discovering the history of the car. About all I knew when I bought it was that it was purchased from V8 Archie and had been built by one of his employees, Warber, who had passed away. Thanks to this fourm and other internet sites I have learned much more and the research is on-going. If anyone knows what work was completed by NIFE members after Rich Warber's death I would like that information. Thank you to all who have posted information about this car!
Dave, the previous owner was very generous with providing me all the documentation he had on the car. One thing I treasure is a V8 Archie key fob with "Warber" written in ink on the back. Dave purchased it from Archie. He owned it for about 5 years.
Welcome to the forum.
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10:54 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Did you know it used to be a Fastback Chop Top, and was black at one time?
I wasn't sure they were the same car, though I was tending to believe they were. Thanks for the information. I had looked up the service codes and found the car was originally black with silver so that ties in. I am not sure when it was painted it's current color, perhaps when the NIFE members finished it? The color change was done very well, by the way.
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05:49 PM
Russ544 Member
Posts: 2136 From: S.W. Oregon Registered: Jun 2003
I'd say that was a pretty good price for that car. Where in Oregon do you live newin55?
Cheers, Russ544
I thought it was a good price, especially once I saw the car. I am in the mid-Willammette valley. I have shown the car at Newport, Silverton, and Shedd so far.
Fella, you don't need to R-12 on the air. Ancient tech. You can buy upgraded fittings anywhere and fluids that work in your old system. I had my old conversion van done by somebody else, and with front/rear air it was only 150 total. Should cost you maybe 50.
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12:15 AM
Archie Member
Posts: 9436 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 1999
I believe Rich bought the car new. When Rich died & the NIFE club helped us finish up the conversion to the PPE, his wife tried to sell it twice. Two different people at seperate times mailed a down payment to her then came to pay it off & take it home. In true car buyers style they both tried to beat her up a little on the price by critiquing the car to get the price down. She wouldn't have anyone beating up on Riches' dream car, So she promptly refunded their deposits & sent them packing.
The 2nd time she called me up crying about the whole experience, she didn't want to have people beating up on his car just to save a few $$. I agreed to buy the car & then resell it to someone who would appreciate it.
I had the car for several months but I never put it in my name & only drove it a couple of times.
