I got my Red GT on a lift, finally. Towed it over to the shop because it blew a coolant hose. Do not make comments on how I racked it up :P I know it aint a perfect way to rack it, but that lift sucks for lifting Fieros. The lift arms arent adjustable enough.
It needs some work... I picked this up for $400. Here are the known problems
Engine has a spun bearing Tires rotted Brakes sticky Clutch Line Rotting Front Bumper Rotted Exhaust Bent/Broken Interior has minor seat rips No Horn Button Needs Hood Needs Front Fascia Needs Quarter Windows Needs Battery Tray Rubber Coolant Tubes Rotted RR Wheel Bearing Loose Front Wheel Bearings Loose Brake Hoses Dry Rotted Mice have chewed some wires (not many) Radiator Upper AND Lower support brackets needed MIGHT be able to salvage radiator fan Coolant Overflow Bottle needs replacement Cradle Bushings Worn Engine Mounts Dry Rotted
Might need even more than that... but thats pretty much the list
Here are the pictures:
So... What would YOU do with this car?
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11:03 AM
PFF
System Bot
Synthesis Member
Posts: 12207 From: Jordan, MN Registered: Feb 2002
looks like that and you still paid $400 part that thing out and recoop your money. OR spend 5 or even 6 times the price you paid to fix it up to a running car.
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12:07 PM
GADJet Member
Posts: 1466 From: Star City, AR, USA Registered: Sep 2010
looks like that and you still paid $400 part that thing out and recoop your money. OR spend 5 or even 6 times the price you paid to fix it up to a running car.
The way I look at these cars, unless it's a 88' the value is hard to recoupe from it most case. I bought mine for $400, I will have at least $1500 in it to get it back on the road and I know how to get parts pretty cheap. If you are looking for an investment, a Fiero is usually not the car you pic for that. If you are looking for a fun car to play with, then you got it. :-) Rebuild for fun, or part out for investment. my 2 cents.
------------------ 86 Fiero 2M4 Silver, bought for electric conversion. Currently just fixing all the old stuff
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01:32 PM
Racing_Master Member
Posts: 1460 From: Hooksett, NH, USA Registered: Nov 2007
I was thinking on throwing a 3.4L Pushrod in it, since I can find one for cheap. The chassis itself looks really good, that is why I asked here what you would do. The exterior was vandalized, so it is only cosmetic damage. The biggest concern is the radiator area because something went through the hood and bent the upper support, crushed the coolant bottle, and ripped apart the weak lower radiator support. I was thinking on selling a bunch of stuff to pay for this one to get mechanically sound and inspectable, even though it looks like a hunk of crap. If I throw a 3.4 in it, I would consider this thing a sleeper :P.
My thoughts were: if I spend $2000 to get this mechanically perfect, then its possibly worth it, OTHERWISE I could take some interior parts, the pedals, the transmission, cables, etc etc, and swap the manual transmission into my Automatic 87 GT. My other GT needs a wing too, and this one has it. Then I would part out every part I do not use, then scrap the chassis or sell it for dirt cheap, since it appears in decent condition.
Still floating over the idea of fixing it, since I can get the bodywork done for cheap, and I know where to get all the parts for it. I am an automotive mechanic (pictures taken at the shop I have my toolbox at... that black toolbox is mine :P) so doing the work is easy as hell. I just don't like taking a Fiero off the road, that doesn't deserve to be taken off the road.
With a turbo maybe... In this market with $2K you can buy a much better running car to start with without so many body/line issues.
lol, Well I can get the bodywork done for cheap, the 2K would be on Engine, Clutch, Clutch Line, Brake Hoses, Radiator, Support Braces, Tires, etc. The body would be left in that condition, and the brake lines themselves are good. The bushings on the control arms look new, only the cradle bushings are starting to dry rot. The frame is mainly rust free (VERY SUPRISING because it is a northern car). All in all, the Chassis itself, is in better condition than my other GT... the body on the other hand, could use a lot of work >_>; With the scarcity of Fieros in NH, finding a good one for less than I would invest into this one, is next to impossible. Maybe out west, but up here we got NOTHING! I swear these two GTs I have are the only GTs in NH... and trust me I look :P
A car like that is what I dream of, like an old woman. Cheap and abused.
You can take a hammer to it and it doesn't matter.
Anything you do to it will always improve it.
I have one myself, I am going to strip it and make it a street fighter. Function before form. Who cares what it looks like, as long as you have fun. Get it running and play demo derby with it. That's worth 400 bucks. Hell I've spent 250 on a single meal before for just myself. Gary Danko's, SF Cali.
Just sayin.
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04:35 PM
PFF
System Bot
DLCLK87GT Member
Posts: 2717 From: South Jersey, USA Registered: Feb 2009
how's the rear frame over the wheels (behind plastic wheel wells), trunk area (sides and bottom under carpet), cradle & floor pans as far as rot? If it's solid then fix it up, but if those areas show excesive rust/rot then get rid of it, not worth the trouble. Just my .01
[This message has been edited by DLCLK87GT (edited 05-03-2011).]
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04:49 PM
Racing_Master Member
Posts: 1460 From: Hooksett, NH, USA Registered: Nov 2007
how's the rear frame over the wheels (behind plastic wheel wells), trunk area (sides and bottom under carpet), cradle & floor pans as far as rot? If it's solid then fix it up, but if those areas show excesive rust/rot then get rid of it, not worth the trouble. Just my .01
Solid, No rust at all. Found a mouse nest next to the trunk blower though <_<. The biggest bit of rust is the front bumper metal which rotted out, and the lower radiator support Everything else is very clean. Cradle has a little bit of surface rust. From the sounds of it, if I can sell enough stuff, I will totally fix this thing up!
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05:00 PM
shawnk Member
Posts: 968 From: San Francisco, California, USA Registered: Mar 2008
That Fiero is better for someone with a rotted or crashed frame and preform a "frame swap". So I guess in a way that means FIX IT, but seriously, I understand that there is a lot wrong with it, and that sucks, and but what purpose would it serve it part out a good frame and scrap it?
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05:17 PM
Racing_Master Member
Posts: 1460 From: Hooksett, NH, USA Registered: Nov 2007
That Fiero is better for someone with a rotted or crashed frame and preform a "frame swap". So I guess in a way that means FIX IT, but seriously, I understand that there is a lot wrong with it, and that sucks, and but what purpose would it serve it part out a good frame and scrap it?
The biggest things wrong with the body is just in the front, the quarter windows, tail light covers, mirror, and paint. The hood can be fiberglassed, or find one on any other Fiero and swap it on, the Fascia I can buy a new one, quarter windows I can buy, I can find some molding for the one that is falling off... And the rest appears to be mainly dropping the cradle and swapping a new long block in there. I can do a long block engine swap in a day to a day and a half. As stated before, Who cares what the body looks like if its a car that is fun to drive? It was cheap and abused, and if I can fix it up for reasonably cheap, it can be a fun car to rip around in, even if it looks like crap!
The previous owner wants me to get it to a body shop for an estimate, so he can sue the company that damaged the body. I am sure I can get some of that money if he wins to help fix the body. He only sold it to me cause he wants to see it back on the road. He might also be able to get me a hood for it... if he remembers :P. The headlight motors are just unplugged, they should still work. The hood damage is why the headlights are in the position they are in.
Hell I wont be winning any car shows with this... but maybe I can save a Fiero from destruction!
The biggest things wrong with the body is just in the front, the quarter windows, tail light covers, mirror, and paint. The hood can be fiberglassed, or find one on any other Fiero and swap it on, the Fascia I can buy a new one, quarter windows I can buy, I can find some molding for the one that is falling off... And the rest appears to be mainly dropping the cradle and swapping a new long block in there. I can do a long block engine swap in a day to a day and a half. As stated before, Who cares what the body looks like if its a car that is fun to drive? It was cheap and abused, and if I can fix it up for reasonably cheap, it can be a fun car to rip around in, even if it looks like crap!
The previous owner wants me to get it to a body shop for an estimate, so he can sue the company that damaged the body. I am sure I can get some of that money if he wins to help fix the body. He only sold it to me cause he wants to see it back on the road. He might also be able to get me a hood for it... if he remembers :P. The headlight motors are just unplugged, they should still work. The hood damage is why the headlights are in the position they are in.
Hell I wont be winning any car shows with this... but maybe I can save a Fiero from destruction!
What's better than 1 Fiero? 2 Fieros...
Exactly! Why not get it running and on the road, who cares what looks like at this point. You saw how many people who would part it out if it was them. Just because there was so much wrong with it and it wasn't "Financially the best choice", never-mind the good frame. People, no one is making new Fiero's, the numbers can only go down. I parted out an 88, and I hated it, but the frame was toast. I wrecked it. Some owners wouldn't even part it out, they just throw the whole thing in the dumpster.
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06:15 PM
02greens10 Member
Posts: 813 From: Ashland, Ohio Registered: Feb 2008
Aside from the wreck it was in all the problems are pretty common for a 25 year old vehicle. If it's rust free I would fix it. A motor can be found pretty dang cheap or even free, and half the problems you listed can be fixed when you drop out the cradle in one hit.
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06:33 PM
Racing_Master Member
Posts: 1460 From: Hooksett, NH, USA Registered: Nov 2007
Aside from the wreck it was in all the problems are pretty common for a 25 year old vehicle. If it's rust free I would fix it. A motor can be found pretty dang cheap or even free, and half the problems you listed can be fixed when you drop out the cradle in one hit.
it actually wasnt in a wreck at all, the front has fire damage because the storage facility it was in caught fire, the rest of the damage is from a tree removal company hitting it with trees and messing it up
In this market with $2K you can buy a much better running car to start with without so many body/line issues.
