I'm back! I havent been active in the Fiero world since my last project, 88GT 3800sc in IIRC '09. I am picking up my best friend, Garth's, 87 GT 3.4TDC Fiero next month. This is a track car so its going to be rebuilt from the ground up. I have been around this car since... wow..mid to late 90's? Its been setting for quite a bit and Garth called me today and asked if I wanted it. Obviously I couldnt see it sold of to some stranger so I said hell yeah!
Wouldn't you know, I sold/tossed all my spare Fiero stuff years ago! So here we go again. I know I need to find curved 1/4 windows and a set of taillights for sure.
Short history on the car. Its the 1st 3.4TDC swapped Fiero. It was built in the early 90's in Az. Its been around more road courses than you could guess. It was drag raced a at NOPI (high 12's back in '02ish) and was kicked out of the competition. lol
I'm not sure what I am gonna do with it yet. Mechanically its sound but its gonna need a lot of cosmetic work. I plan to completely tear it down and rebuild it. Wife doesnt know yet.. either of ours. This may get interesting!
What kind of taillights? notch or fastback if its notch i have some spares in decent condition
------------------ 1987 Black GT Custom interior with Mr. Mikes seats Newly acquired 1985 coupe with series one 3800SC 5speed Getrag as a donor to the Fri Fri (87GT)
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05:27 PM
Ratfink Member
Posts: 1045 From: Opelika,Alabama,USA Registered: Nov 2008
I'm excited to get back into the swing of it. My wife and I were talking about the "fiero situation" tonight. I counted my previous fieros... all 26 of them. I've had pretty much every model and nearly all of the popular engine swaps. This will be my first TDC fiero.
The GT currently has 2 ECU's. The grand prix ECU running the engine and the fiero one is there just for the stock gauges. I always though this was kinda odd. I plan on switching over to a megasquirt stand alone EMS. Garth said the car tends to stall coming to a stop from time to time. The super light flywheel he has installed doesnt help the situation. Thats one of the proplems I am going to try and sort out straight away. The car has no heat or a/c. That was all removed in the name of weight reduction. Florida is too damn hot not to have a/c!
The car has all kinds of custom mods. Tubular a-arms, prototype (s/n001) Quafie LSD in an Isuzu 5MT, adjustible sways, solid mounted cradle, 600# springs, big brakes, poly everything, Koni's and the list goes on and on.
[This message has been edited by BV MotorSports (edited 09-22-2011).]
Since I have been gone a while, I thought I'd ask;
****Anyone using a later GM steering column? Something with the headlight switch etc on the stalk?*** this is the most important to my 87GT 3.4TDC resto-mod project.
Anyone figured out a way to speed up the headlight motors? They are pitifully slow.
PWR Steering mod ever get finished?
Damnit.. I had another really good one, I forget. Getting very forgetful these days!
Ah ha! I remember!!! Mitsubishi Evo Recaro seats. Anyone fit a pair of these wonderful seats? If so, I am gonna grab a pair of the Evo9 SE ones!
Lastly, Its getting close now. I'll be heading to Hampton Roads, Va (turkeyday weekend) to see my best friend and pick up his... err my 87GT! Garth is trying to get all his parts and such together. This car has a lot of custom, one-off, parts.
Since I have been gone a while, I thought I'd ask;
****Anyone using a later GM steering column? Something with the headlight switch etc on the stalk?*** this is the most important to my 87GT 3.4TDC resto-mod project.
Anyone figured out a way to speed up the headlight motors? They are pitifully slow.
PWR Steering mod ever get finished?
Damnit.. I had another really good one, I forget. Getting very forgetful these days!
Ah ha! I remember!!! Mitsubishi Evo Recaro seats. Anyone fit a pair of these wonderful seats? If so, I am gonna grab a pair of the Evo9 SE ones!
Lastly, Its getting close now. I'll be heading to Hampton Roads, Va (turkeyday weekend) to see my best friend and pick up his... err my 87GT! Garth is trying to get all his parts and such together. This car has a lot of custom, one-off, parts.
Welcome back Steve .... maybe when your in town, you can look up a few of your old FOCOSEVA (Now VAFieros) club members. Im sure you heard that Curry passed? I put a thread about it here in Pennocks. We have a few members with LS3's, some 3800SC and one member working on a LS4.
Cheers
Rob
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04:51 PM
BV MotorSports Member
Posts: 4821 From: Oak Hill, WV Registered: May 2001
Hey Steve! I guess the notchback is still at Bobby's? I ran into him like a year ago and he said I could probably pick it up for cheap... I was thinking of putting it in my coupe --- wasn't it a 4.3?
I have no idea. Once I left that shop and bill aka remix situation, I never looked back.
Unthinkable? Nah, Id expect nothing less. I've been known to give a bunch of Fiero stuff away, just never a car! Arent all those GT body panels from that parts car I used to have behind my garage?
[This message has been edited by BV MotorSports (edited 10-13-2011).]
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11:02 PM
Oct 14th, 2011
USFiero Member
Posts: 4879 From: Everywhere and Middle of Nowhere Registered: Mar 2002
I think the nose was. The rest came from another one I found. I actually got every little piece to do the conversion - except for the exhaust before that. Ah well - Fieros.
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07:32 AM
Dennis LaGrua Member
Posts: 16091 From: Hillsborough, NJ U.S.A. Registered: May 2000
Welcome back Steven. As they say "Once a Fiero owner, always a Fiero owner" . Sounds like the new Fiero has an interesting combination of modifications. It should make for an interesting project. Those 3.4TDC engines can need a few thibgs that should be looked after, but if monitored they can be overcome and reliablity will result. New timing belt needed at 60K miles (or 5 years), lower intake gaskets (known to leak as they age ) and there were some oiling issues. The 3.4TDC engine should work well with a stick and since the power comes on at the higher RPMS, quick launches shouldn't be a problem for the drivetrain. Just for reference the listed engine weight is 492 lbs. Good luck with it and keep us posted on the progress.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, ZZP Intercooler, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
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10:15 PM
Oct 15th, 2011
BV MotorSports Member
Posts: 4821 From: Oak Hill, WV Registered: May 2001
Hey Dennis, its been a while, yeah? It funny, everyone keeps mentioning how fragile these TDC's tend to be. Garths car has probably a solid 10k worth of track miles on it. It's never been opened up since the swap in '93 (or ever for that matter).
Garth just did a bunch of maintenance on it last yr with the timing belt & idlers, and the trans was fully rebuilt and such. Its even running with the stock ECU untouched. I am not sure if I am going to leave the current ZEX dry N20 kit on it. I may switch to a wet system. We will just have to see what the car needs since its been setting a lot over the last 3 years.
I plan to run the TDC till she blows, then swap in a L67. My last Fiero with the 3800sc was just too strong not to go that route again!
I am itching to get my hands on it and get busy!
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12:26 AM
PFF
System Bot
Nov 27th, 2011
BV MotorSports Member
Posts: 4821 From: Oak Hill, WV Registered: May 2001
Well, my eastern seaboard trip is complete. 2700 miles in 7 days with my wife and kids, 990 were last night from 7:10pm till 11am today. I am wore out!
Here are a few quick pics as she sets in my garage. More later..
Here we are loaded and ready to go. The truck bed was completely full, as was the Fiero. No space went unfilled! I am sure we were pushing the max capacity of my Toyota. Pulled the load with no problem but damn, SC has more hills than I remember. We passed everything BUT a gas station! I averaged about 13MPG. Yikes!!
Quick needed list: Front bumper - DONE 1/4 windows Tail lights- Ordered Decklid- Done Front hood (for vent project) - DONE Paint Chassis stripped and painted (tons of overspray from the MACCO paint job. Its held up very well...I'll give them that!) - IN PROGRESS Head light motors need rebuilt - DONE Y pipe splitter after the rear mani is cracked New exhaust as it is way too loud Trunk weather strip Dew wipes Clean clean clean Swapping to a Non-AC HVAC- Parts sourced thanks to gtxbullet- No go. worked around the problem PWR window/mirror doors (since the originals were tossed for manual versions to save weight) Re-wire the engine to eliminate the Fiero ECU- In progress Fix the VSS signal (cross yellow to purple) Fix the clutch line- DONE Replace ALL fluids The injectors need cleaned and balanced, may just upgrade to 25# injectors... not sure yet- DONE Get tuned! Its running 100% stock, untouched 3.4TDC ECU Relocate battery up front Spare tire, jack & tools Need to fit a stereo Recover stock seats or find some Evo Recaros Remove the 5pt harness aka nut cracker Front fender liners - DONE Front side marker lights... well all the black side trim Find the electrical drain. Something is draining the battery and the radio never stays programmed. Stock tach is pegged at 6k Fuel gauge is unreliable at best! Swap to the later intake & TB (I have all the parts) Convert to a CAI and toss the stock Fiero air box. Although, I think I may be able to fit an old '04 STi air filter assembly in the stock location. Rims, I have two sets now (you can see the stockers and those super light racing wheels with rock hard V700's in the pics).
So, basically it requires a LOT of cosmetic work. The interior is pretty much trashed but, all there. The stock steering wheel is pretty mint though. Its way too thin of course.
Did I miss anything? LOL
I have a bunch of spares. I need to post in the FS section. I hope I can gather some $$ to get the ball rolling. I promised my financial adviser, aka wife, this would be primarily a side project, funded by money I can earn on the side. We all know how that goes! LOL But I must restore the first known 3.4TDC swapped Fiero! This car was built around 1994!
[This message has been edited by BV MotorSports (edited 06-26-2012).]
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11:18 PM
Nov 28th, 2011
BV MotorSports Member
Posts: 4821 From: Oak Hill, WV Registered: May 2001
I picked up a bunch of stuff to get started. I am not sure if I'll run this as a YABT or just update it here and there. Its going to be a LONG project. I figure atleast 1-2yrs (lol so double that!). My MX track and full time student status keeps me pretty busy.
I pulled everything from the doors forward. I plan on working on the car in sections. No surprises! I went to pick and pull and found everything but the taillights and rear decklid. I found a billet aluminum shifter in one of the Fieros and 2 Holley scoops & AUX gauges as well. There were a set of aluminum "Fiero GT" pedals but, not really my style. Man its been FOREVER since I have been junkin'. I had a great time. I really need to post a FS thread. I have tons of stuff. PISA Gator light housing, PISA door panels for some sort of upgraded interior, engine parts, you name it! LOL Of course as soon as I sell something, I'll need it.
[This message has been edited by BV MotorSports (edited 12-01-2011).]
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09:30 AM
BV MotorSports Member
Posts: 4821 From: Oak Hill, WV Registered: May 2001
Not much to report. I went to pick and pull and found a bunch of goodies. I picked up a hood, fenders and bumper cover. Plus a bunch of little odds and ends. Mostly I have been waiting on parts, cleaning, painting and maybe I'll get around to getting a decent inventory of all the parts I have on hand.
I may need to get with a mod to change the title of my thread (to 1st 3.4TDC swapped Fiero restoration) or start a new one to cover the SLOW resto-mod of this little piece of Fiero history. Thanks to MRJ & gtxbullet, they have been helping me sort some of the parts I need. I really appreciate it!
Cheers!
[This message has been edited by BV MotorSports (edited 12-08-2011).]
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11:01 PM
Dec 9th, 2011
KurtAKX Member
Posts: 4008 From: West Bloomfield, MI Registered: Feb 2002
So the front bay is pretty much buttoned up. I deleted all the A/C components to keep in Garths original weight reduction plan. Getting the spare tire "well" to seat was a real PITA. I had to break out my trusty 2x4 block of wood and hammer to straighten out the metal. Presumably from where Garth collected a 3rd gen F-body in the drivers side door at Langley Speedway back in our Wacky Wednesday days. Otherwise the repairs performed by Dale at MACCO seem spot on.
I finally found a pass side headlight motor out of a 92 f-body as well as the headlight control unit. Guess it is time to move onto the front suspension and then the front body. After than I am trying to decide if I want to move to the interior or back of the car. I am trying to do it in sections so I wont get bogged down and feel like I am not making progress.
On a side note... the local PnP had a Z34 w/ 5MT and they crushed it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It sat there for over a year and the engine only had the alt & some misc sensors pulled. I cant believe I missed it!!!! A friggen 284 got scrapped! Grrrrrr Also, I guess some local Fiero owner saw that I started pulling parts off the 3 Fieros there and went back and he stripped them of all the "good stuff". I am debating on grabbing the 88 Formula cradle that's just setting there. Its been pulled for the trans but everything else is there.
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08:58 PM
L67 Member
Posts: 1792 From: Winston Salem, NC Registered: Jun 2010
I'm rockin' an Isuzu though! Either way, I hope you're right. The trans lived behind 270whp for the last 15+ yrs now. Granted Garth had the trans freshened up less than 500 miles ago.
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12:17 AM
L67 Member
Posts: 1792 From: Winston Salem, NC Registered: Jun 2010
I've got a SBC fiero. It makes 2000 hp. Archie built it. The engine only makes 180 whp (like the 3.4 DOHC), but I put twenty 100 wet shot bottles in the trunk.
You knew this was coming.
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01:06 AM
BV MotorSports Member
Posts: 4821 From: Oak Hill, WV Registered: May 2001
I've got a SBC fiero. It makes 2000 hp. Archie built it. The engine only makes 180 whp (like the 3.4 DOHC), but I put twenty 100 wet shot bottles in the trunk.
You knew this was coming.
You can't help yourself, can you? That's OK, I understand your need to try and empower yourself. Just not here, MMmkay pumpkin? To be BRUTALLY honest, you mean nothing to me, therefore I don't feel then need to accommodate your request.
[This message has been edited by BV MotorSports (edited 12-24-2011).]
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01:12 AM
L67 Member
Posts: 1792 From: Winston Salem, NC Registered: Jun 2010
No, I can't. I live by a scientific principle. Either something is, or it isn't. It's nothing personal. It's a car. I'm not picking fun at the way you look, or your girlfriend. We're talking about a piece of steel and aluminum. Either it does something, or it doesn't.
Either way, I hope you're right. The trans lived behind 270whp for the last 15+ yrs now. Granted Garth had the trans freshened up less than 500 miles ago.
