Oh f*&k you flood control, I just lost a HUGE update post thanks to you!

OK, to recap:

I have installed RD's shift/select cables, RD's Comp short shifter, fixed my coolant temp gauge, fixed my fast idle (needed more min air screw adjustment because the PO diddled with it before I bought the car), and also repaired my radiator fan relay pigtail. If it wasn't for the help of Bloozberry, I probably would still have a half-assed car with a bypassed relay. Thanks!

The radiator fan doesn't kick on like it should, and I narrowed it down to a bad fan switch on the lower intake manifold. Swapped that out, but when I went to burp the system I found a crushed T-Stat. I'm off to get a new one, cursing the PO's of this car the entire way. Will update again once I have something worthwhile to post.

Sounds like it is coming along with no many issues. When you get ready to do the cradle bushing get ready for some cussing when you do the fronts. A pain to do with the cradle out so I can only imagine doing them in the car.

Yeah, it's coming along but I'm leaving out a lot of the nitty gritty. Not a single fix goes as planned, but I refuse to cut any corners. That's why it's taking so darned long. Thanks for the head's-up on the cradle bushings, I'm tacking those tomorrow morning.

Just got back from a 36 mile test drive, including a stop for gas at the halfway point. Not a single issue! It was so much fun actually taking the car down the road without fearing something is going to go completely, horribly wrong. LOL.

Now, to finish up the last of the suspension bits and the CV axle on the driver's side. Got everything on hand, just wonder how long it's going to take to get it all done.

quote Originally posted by GS Jon: Yeah, it's coming along but I'm leaving out a lot of the nitty gritty. Not a single fix goes as planned, but I refuse to cut any corners. That's why it's taking so darned long. Thanks for the head's-up on the cradle bushings, I'm tacking those tomorrow morning. Just got back from a 36 mile test drive, including a stop for gas at the halfway point. Not a single issue! It was so much fun actually taking the car down the road without fearing something is going to go completely, horribly wrong. LOL. Now, to finish up the last of the suspension bits and the CV axle on the driver's side. Got everything on hand, just wonder how long it's going to take to get it all done.

Talking longer than what it should is always no matter what you plan on doing. Something always doesn' want to break loose, can't find the right tool, part is not in stock, ect. I run across this all the time and turns a 2 hour project into 5 hours. Wait till you get the car where you want then swap in the 3800, you will love driving the car then.

I can't wait for that day. Knowing that I was the one who put the engine in the car, that it was assembled correctly with quality parts and a wiring harness that isn't all hacked to crap. Peace of mind...

Decided to do something to make it look more like a Fiero:



Kennith Hines tinted quarter windows. He said they were blems, but dang if I couldn't see any! Can't wait to see how it looks out in the light.

quote Originally posted by MstangsBware: Wait till you get the car where you want then swap in the 3800, you will love driving the car then.

That is a modest understatement. Love driving...more like Extreme Ecstasy as compared to the 2.8.

Oh man! I thought you were going to paint the rims white. I got kinda excited...
I don't think I've ever seen that done before.

Yeah, I was contemplating it for a while but I decided that an all-white car was just way too much for me.

dam that car needs a real roof!!!

I agree 100%!

Once I get that roof from you, I'm ordering the non-sunroof headliner backer from Fiero Store and my Mr. Mikes seats!

Well, the cradle bushing install didn't quite go as planned. As per any typical engagement with this Fiero, it fought me every turn. I have the front of the cradle down, but trying to burn the bushing out by heating the sleeve didn't get me far. I'm going to look for a right angle drill attachment so I can drill the bushing out. Ugh.

*Chants to himself: It's going to be worth it... It's going to be worth it... Whoooosahhhhhh*

quote Originally posted by GS Jon: Well, the cradle bushing install didn't quite go as planned. As per any typical engagement with this Fiero, it fought me every turn. I have the front of the cradle down, but trying to burn the bushing out by heating the sleeve didn't get me far. I'm going to look for a right angle drill attachment so I can drill the bushing out. Ugh. *Chants to himself: It's going to be worth it... It's going to be worth it... Whoooosahhhhhh*

Yeah--I warned you they where going to be a Bitxh to get out. I would probally loose it trying to get them out while the cradle is still in the car. I burned them for some time then took a large flat head screwdriver and use that to beat them the rest of the way out once it was soft. You will never burn out the complete bushing cause once in the middle the bushing is still very soild unlike the outside. A hole saw the same size would work but be careful using it as kickback could occur. Be sure not to remove the outer metal sleeve as it needs to stay in.

You were so right. I'm still a little ticked at the car, so I may not even mess with it tonight. Bah, I want to finish up the last few things so I can drive the Fiero on a regular basis! I guess some of my impatience is stemming from the impending completion of the worst part of this restoration. I got a little taste of how fun the Fiero is to drive, now I want more.

Someone gimme a fix of that sweet Fiero Crack!

Whats new? One of these days I'll give you a call and we can finally meet up. I still haven't put my rear coilovers in, and just yesterday my passenger window motor gears sound like they shredded some teeth and will only go up and down about 2" and is stuck halfway down. I want to get Stu's dew wipes and scratchless replacement windows, i'll probably wait until I have some play money for those before I tear the door panels off to replace the motor.
I still have my Speed3 on the market, haven't had many calls even though its the cheapest one in the country...and its a GT, the competition at my price is usually a salvaged Sport.
I still haven't decided if I'll go with a 3.8S/C or a 5.3L.

I'm so ready to kick this car off the jackstands. Literally. I mean kick it clean off the jackstands just to let it feel some of my pain.

Once I'm done with these cradle bushings, this car's going up for sale. I don't care if I lose my ass on it, it's gone. I'm tired of busting my ass over a POS that should have been in the junkyard a long time ago. I've wasted too much time and money on this pile, and I regret every penny and second spent on it.

I got the front bushings out, and the new ones in place, but now the damn thing doesn't want to let me align the cradle with the chassis to get the bolt installed. I'm so tired of this. Everything I do on this car is a PITA chore. The thing that pisses me off the most is I've done so much to it, and that all the hard stuff is almost done but I'm giving up. It's for the best, I can spend my time and money on more enjoyable pursuits. Not the pursuit of the fun that I could eventually have with a car that's determined to smoke my ass financially.

F&*k you, Failero!

Been where you are before! I have a short fuse and can get really frustrated w/ my '87. What the hell were those engineers/designers thinking!! Are they all sitting somewhere today saying " Wait until he tries to get that part in that hole.....LOL"!!! Best thing for me is to just walk away for a time. Sometimes that's a few minutes.........sometimes it's weeks/months. Have a cold beer. Stop to think if there is a better way to accomplish a task, ask for some help. Take the wife's new HHR SS out for a spin!!

So I guess it will not be at the SA show? You are letting the car get the best of you. It is suppoed to be a project to work on and enjoy. This is your first Fiero so this is not susprising. Get the front cradle bolts line up first and the rears will follow.

Yeah, I am letting it get the best of me, but I'm so sick of the damn thing. I want it to work for the get together, but I don't think it's gonna happen.

Don't think that this project is failing for a lack of effort, because the amount of effort I've put into this vehicle is ridiculous.

I've got the front cradle bushings lined up, but the bolts just are not... going... in! Were there any problems with the Rodney Dickman bushings and the stock front bolts? Do I need a different size for them? Thanks for any insight anyone can give me at this point. I'd hate to burn down my house just to get back at this car!

quote Originally posted by GS Jon: Yeah, I am letting it get the best of me, but I'm so sick of the damn thing. I want it to work for the get together, but I don't think it's gonna happen. Don't think that this project is failing for a lack of effort, because the amount of effort I've put into this vehicle is ridiculous. I've got the front cradle bushings lined up, but the bolts just are not... going... in! Were there any problems with the Rodney Dickman bushings and the stock front bolts? Do I need a different size for them? Thanks for any insight anyone can give me at this point. I'd hate to burn down my house just to get back at this car!

The stock bolts work no need to get differant bolts. If the bolts be not go thru then th crdale is not lined up. Best thing to do is use a small jack to either raise the cradle or car to line them. You need to have the car pretty low to make it easier to get them in. If you where closer I would come over and have them installed in about 10 minutes and make you even madder(JK). The first few times where an pain but I have doen so many now it is second nature.....Make Revin come help you out....

The front cradle bolts really are just one of those things that will drive you insane until you move it that hair just right and then they slide right through. Like mustang said youll be able to do them in minutes the next time around.

If it helps when I did mine I had a jack on each side of the car to raise and lower it a hair at a time on each side while the cradle was sitting on a furniture dolley. Just lowered the car down onto the cradle and with some finessing up and down on each side the bolts slid in effortlessly, To give you an idea just how low it was the car was maybe 3 inches off the ground max.

As far as I could tell trying to move the cradle up to the car was a lost cause and nothing but a good way to get a headache.

Ah, that must be my problem. The Fiero is assuming the standard Air Force position right now (face down, @s$ up), so I'll try to get it lowered somehow. Thanks for the tips, guys. I'll make another attempt soon, maybe later on this week. Got too much to do tonight to even bother looking at the Fiero.

Well, got the front bushings in and bolted in place, now moving to the rear. Once they're in and I doublecheck the install, I'll take it for a test drive.

Then, I start adding everything up for an initial price so I can sell it. Ciao, Fiero!

Leave the rear alone !!! (unless it needs work very badly)

just get the thing running well and bring it up to Austin and I will help ya all sat!!

OR
walk away from it for a few weeks till you get back in the mood!!!

sounds like I will be kicking this non-sunroof roof around the yard longer.........

Just be patient and do your best on those cradle bushings. I just did mine a couple days ago and it was a huge pain for me as well. I had the same problems where the cradle wouldn't line back up for the front ones and the rear ones. It took some coaxing and jacking the cradle up at different points to twist it back into proper alignment. The rear ones were particularily difficult to line up for me. I had to sit with my back against a wall and kick the cradle from the side with both feet at once to get it to budge and move over a bit. Eventually got them though.

Your project looks great, don't give up !

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Check out my build!
//www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum3/HTML/000100.html

quote Originally posted by GS Jon: Well, got the front bushings in and bolted in place, now moving to the rear. Once they're in and I doublecheck the install, I'll take it for a test drive. Then, I start adding everything up for an initial price so I can sell it. Ciao, Fiero!

The rears are very simple.......

And therein lies the problem. Everything that was supposed to be "simple" or "easy" or "straightforward" has not been. Hell, I'm not bad at finding solutions to problems but this car has essentially fought me and refused to be fixed every step of the way. I'm tired of it. I haven't started on the rears because I had yet another family emergency, but I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

First I have to get my other car to the dealership to have them fix a bad cat, then I'll get started on the Fiero.

Oh alright ...just give me the dam car........oh wait, it's not an 88?!?!? nevermind

relax.....it will work out.
Hell if I have to come down there and let you buy me dinner, dancing and a movie, a hot stripper or two, a 6-pack of Shinner, 4 new tires for my car, Large slushie from Sonic, pack of gum, full gas tank, a date with your sister, dinner at your mom's, oh and a nice cigar. I think it totaled $2000 (mainly for the dam stripper )

ok? so when do we start? (before the stripper )

No worries, Revin. I was able to get the rear bushings done (thankfully as easy as everyone said they were) and took the Failero out for a test drive. Drives really, really good. Almost as good as a new car, now. There's still the issue of the driver's side CV axle to address (have a reman one sitting in the garage waiting on install), and of course I'd like to get the roofs swapped out so I don't have to worry about it raining.

Almost makes me sad to sell it, but without a job I can't afford to keep sinking dollars into a project. What a waste, so much money into it right now, too.