Since I am new to posting in PFF, I figured I would tell my story to those that are reading. I first got word about what a Fiero was when I was about 13 (now 19). My dad and I were going to the Corvette Show in Kissimme around this time several years ago. He started off by saying what his first car was (Chevy Nova) and asked me what I would like for a first car. I said I wanted something with a rear engine. I though that would be so cool. His instant reply was, "Well you're not getting a Ferrari." After a few moments of silence (and me a little frustrated by not getting a Ferrari haha) he said he remembered Fiero's from back in the 80's. He started talking to me about them and I was intrigued! I didn't know what they looked like, but it didn't matter. Ironically, there was one at the show!! (In the sale area, it was a "Vette only" show) It was a Dark Red Metallic with Gray two tone. (like the one I have now) I don't remember how much they were selling it for, but I did try to "sit" in the grass to see how low the car was to the ground. On the way back home, I didn't stop talking about how much I wanted a Fiero.
Later that week, my dad started searching eBay for Fiero's. I told him I wanted a 1986-88 GT, V6, 5 speed, Dark Red with Gray two tone. (I remember everytime we would find one that fit the profile I wanted, we'd click on it and to our dismay, automatic.) But eventually we did find one!! I was about 14 at the time. The Fiero had 27,000 miles on it. Orignally from Utah (no salt damage)!! And now it was in West Virginia. We bought it for, I think, $6,800. We flew up to get it and drove it back down to Florida (without a Lisense Plate) We got a "2-day" driving permit and onlt one cop stopped us beacuse the permit was on the upper left side of the rear window. He was the only cop to every stop us, ALL THE WAY TO FLORIDA....? On the way down, my dad noticed that it needed a clutch, but that was about it.
It sat (with a car cover on it) in the back yard until I was almost ready to drive. Because it needed a clutch, my dad talked about swapping out the 2.8 for a 3.4 or a 3800 or V8. I wanted to keep it looking stock at the time, so we went with the 3.4. I called the local junkyard to find one that was out of a '96 Camaro. The build started. My dad was a mechanic in the 80's for a Ford dearlership and is still a ASE Master Tech. I've learned A LOT of things out of our garage. The first time around, my dad did most of the rebuilding and I watched and "took notes". We did a overall cleaning of the car also (buff, wax, we actually took out the interior carpet and seats and pressure washed them to clean them. WORKED GREAT!!!) After we were done, I still didn't have my Permit yet, but I remember me driving around the block over and over (with my dad of course).
When I got my permit, I wanted to drive everywhere. 16 years of age came around and I drove to high school. My friends started to hang out around my car and found me to be a little "hostile" about people sitting on my car or setting stuff on it. They didn't understand that I worked hard on it, plus it was original paint!! I am glad to say that my car survived my high school without one scratch of nick of any kind. I took (and still do) GREAT care of it.
Sometime during high school, my dad and I decided to go to our local dragstrip about 5 minutes away. It was only an 1/8th mile, but my dad would rather me race on the strip than on the street which I completely agree with now! He took his ZO6 and I took my Fiero with the 3.4. I think I got my record down to about 9.3 seconds in the 1/8th with that engine. We got hooked (of course) and decided to swap to a faster engine. We built the 3800 SC L67. First without the intercooler, I did about 8.5 seconds, but right as soon as the intercooler was put on it knocked a second off!!! I raced almost every Thursday night. Because I was there so often, I started breaking parts. Mainly differentials. (We tried one of the "posi" units one person sells, I don't reccemend trying it because it didn't last either.) Then I broke the 5 speed. I blew the cluster shaft straight through the side of the case. Along with that, I broke another differential. Still, all those times I still drove it home.
Along came the automatic 4T65-E. We built it to the hill beacuse my dad didn't want to take out the transmission anymore haha. We even bought the GM Racing Torsen Differential so that particular part would NEVER break again!!! My times didn't ever drop at the drag strip and neither did my gas mileage all that much I get about 16-18 MPG. But I started breaking CV axle tripods. I think I broke three or four. Each time (except once) I drove home. One time we even fixed it at the strip! We decided, after a few more breaks, to get the Impala tripods (they were a different spline and were larger) and custom Moser axles. I haven't broken anything since, but my transmission is acting up under full torque. Right off the line, it acts as if it goes to neutral. I'll let off the throttle and get back into it and it's okay. Around town, you wouldn't know anything was wrong. It's only when I'm making the most torque that it will happen.
Lately, I've just been driving my daily driver drag Fiero. Everything is still stock from factory except the engine and intercooler set up. (line lock and fan switch on the left side of the intrument cluster where the rear defrost buttons would go that I don't have) I have about 42,000 miles on it now I think. I've made over 200 passes at the 1/8th mile strip and have never gone down a 1/4 strip or dynoed my Fiero.
Last but not least, I love being a Fiero owner!!! I would get another just to drive around town with better gas mileage if I had the money. Even though I'm a teenager, my dad says I have the cheapest insurance! Also, I cannot wait for the Daytona show. I will now try to make it every year!
Thanks for all of you who actually read all this!! I know it's a lot, but I have finished my homework and I have nothing else to do! Thanks again, Curtis.
Matt, I would love to go to a 1/4 mile track, but when I do, I want to make the run the best I can do, because supposedely the 1/4 mile strips will have safety rules if you go too fast. I'm thinking that I'd do a low 11 second run, but I have no roll cage. It'd be a great story to tell about how I got kicked out of the 1/4 mile track, but it would suck in the long run. I don't want to put a roll cage in my car, because I daily drive it. I know my father and I would be able to do it though! BTW, not that I don't believe you, but how have you seen me at the strip if you live in Ohio?? ------------------ "GuitarFiero" on YouTube 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT 3800 SC Engine Fastest 1/8th mile: 7.392 sec/94 MPH/1.582 sec 60'
[This message has been edited by GuitarFiero (edited 02-01-2011).]
Here's some pictures: I hand polished the supercharger myself, took all day, but WELL worht it! This is the intercooler set up. The copper heat sink is from an old computer proccessor and the tank is from a full size Ford van. Intercooler from the bottom. If you look closely you'll notice the 3" exhaust dump. For the strip only of course. Scan gauge and boost gauge on the left A pillar and the Line lock and manual fan switch where the rear defrost buttons would be. First time using the PIP hope it worked!!
[This message has been edited by GuitarFiero (edited 02-01-2011).]
Nice story. It's good when the young guys, who were not even alive when the Fiero came out, fall for our little cars too.
I saw and fell for the Fiero when they first came out but, being newly married with a little one on the way, I was not able to get one then. I had to wait until my boy was grown and on his own before I could indulge and get my Fiero.
Now I'm having a lot of fun with it.
It would seem odd welcoming you to the Fiero world when you actually had one before me, so, instead, I will just say, welcome to the Fiero Forum.
Edit to add: Nice pics and nice work, I'm envious of your car. ------------------ Jim Martin White '86 GT California
[This message has been edited by Jim_Martin29 (edited 02-01-2011).]
Nice story. It's good when the young guys, who were not even alive when the Fiero came out, fall for our little cars too.
I saw and fell for the Fiero when they first came out but, being newly married with a little one on the way, I was not able to get one then. I had to wait until my boy was grown and on his own before I could indulge and get my Fiero.
Now I'm having a lot of fun with it.
It would seem odd welcoming you to the Fiero world when you actually had one before me, so, instead, I will just say, welcome to the Fiero Forum.
Edit to add: Nice pics and nice work, I'm envious of your car.
I fall under this category! The last Fiero was made 4 years before i was born.
Great job on your car, it looks really nice. I also want to say, cherish this time that you are spending with your dad, this will be some of your best memories you will remember when you get older. Hopefully I will get to meet you and see your car in Daytona.
Are you using race gas? Do you change PCM programming @ the track? Those are killer times. I am still trying to break into the 11's but I run 7.6 in the 1/8 th,
Are you using race gas? Do you change PCM programming @ the track? Those are killer times. I am still trying to break into the 11's but I run 7.6 in the 1/8 th,
No, I do not use race gas, I use 93 oct. I use HPTuners to tune the PCM and no, I do not retune. All I can say about faster times is cold air, cold air, cold air. You wouldn't believe how it felt once I put the intercooler on. Also, a little side note: with the manual fan switch I have, I will run it with the intercooler pump on also to cool off the temperature to ambient air (usually about 80 in Florida) right after a run, you wouldn't believe how high it gets. Usually it's an increase of ~20-30 degrees!!!!
I have the stage II aluminum intercooler from ZZP. I heard the phenolic isn't the greatest with extreme heat. The intercooler pump is from the Ford Lightnings, works great!
Very beautiful Fiero!!! Nice 3800 installation. They are very lovable little cars. With the cookie cutter cars of today a Fiero really turns heads, and with many of them sporting turbos, 3800s, or v8 they are nothing to laugh at. They have the looks and the performance to match.
Originally posted by GuitarFiero: This is the intercooler set up. The copper heat sink is from an old computer proccessor and the tank is from a full size Ford van.
What on earth is that heatsink from... looks like an early Zalman of some kind.
Beautiful setup, if only my Fiero was so nice! The attention to detail is fantastic.
Bravo Bravo my friend, I am glad there are other youngsters out there that appreciate cars. I am 21, so relatively young still... Lol anyways, very nice car.
P.S. Don't let the abundance of knowledge and wrenching capabilities of your father ever go to waste lol.
I remember we had found them on eBay, just checked to see if they were still on and no luck. A whole set I think was 400!! The brand is Maxxim and they are 17x8.5. Anything beyond that I have no idea what the "product name" is for them.
quote
Originally posted by exoticse: Wow Guitar that is one sweet GT ! Very, very nice !
You should come over to one of our Central Florida Fiero meetings.
We meet the first thursday of every month, in fact we have a meeting this week !
I would LOVE to come to the meetings, but where are they? What time? (Sent PM)
quote
Originally posted by Adamdiz:
Yeah I was thinkign the same thing. Must be nice to have rich parents!
Cool story!
We are NOT rich by any means. Right now my father is very unhappy with his mechanics job and we are losing money every month. Luckily my mom has gotten promoted at her work otherwise we would not be looking good financial what-so-ever. We had finished this build as little money as possible because of sheer knowledge and how capable our garage is. We did everything by ourselfs entirely, except for honing the block. I have learned quite a lot from my dad. He's forgotten more than I'll ever know.
Nice car. Mine looks just like it, Minus the wheels and engine. I'm getting ASA's. I just have to wait til the end of the month so they'll be there when I get out of the desert.
Nice to see some other fieros in FL. I'll be back in Tampa area this time next year.
No, I do not use race gas, I use 93 oct. I use HPTuners to tune the PCM and no, I do not retune. All I can say about faster times is cold air, cold air, cold air. You wouldn't believe how it felt once I put the intercooler on. Also, a little side note: with the manual fan switch I have, I will run it with the intercooler pump on also to cool off the temperature to ambient air (usually about 80 in Florida) right after a run, you wouldn't believe how high it gets. Usually it's an increase of ~20-30 degrees!!!!
Do you run Drag Radials or Slicks? What Gear ratio is in your trans 2.93, 3.29, etc, and is it the 65e-HD? You tuning is aparently top notch because those times can not be acheived without a matching tuning.
I run pretty much the same intercooler setup as yourself but I can't run a 1.5' 60ft. What cam\springs do you have?
Also, what adapters did you use to get the LS1 throttle body to work and did you port your supercharger to match?
Do you run Drag Radials or Slicks? What Gear ratio is in your trans 2.93, 3.29, etc, and is it the 65e-HD? You tuning is aparently top notch because those times can not be acheived without a matching tuning.
I run pretty much the same intercooler setup as yourself but I can't run a 1.5' 60ft. What cam\springs do you have?
Also, what adapters did you use to get the LS1 throttle body to work and did you port your supercharger to match?
I run drag radials, that are at the moment about shot from how many times I've ran them. They are Nitto Extreme Drag Radials if I recall. 245/45/17. Gear Ratio is 3.69. 4T65-E transmission. "Top notch" tuning was done after many many tunes. It takes a while to tune, but when you get it right you see your times drop. I still haven't gone completely into the tuning program and tuned every little thing. If I do change any more tuning, I will be changing the timing advance tables. I have the XP cam and #130 springs. Stock bottom end and stock rockers. We custom made the adapter plate for the throttle body and port matched everything ourselfs. The blower intake is ported out to 80mm just like to throttle body and the lower blower housing and intake is port matched to the intercooler. I have a 4" intake system to the original intake vent/scoop on the drivers side. I do not know if the intercooler even has a "brand name" we just found it on eBay. There is no extra fan, just the stock from factory behind the radiator. At some point, we are going to put a cowl induction type hood scoop on the spare hood we found at the junk yard for better flow through the intercooler and radiator and it'll remove the "air brake headlights" option. haha ------------------ "GuitarFiero" on YouTube 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT Fastest 1/8th mile: 7.392 sec/94 MPH/1.582 sec 60'
[This message has been edited by GuitarFiero (edited 02-02-2011).]
nice story and very nice car, welcome to the forum.
