i just sold my 81 corvette ... was drawn to these things since i was an teen late 80s... finally decided to jump in. i owned a challenger a few years back in the same color.. love it. i cant find any info on production stats or availability of the 87 in "sunburst orange". anybody have some tidbits? so far my plans are to return the radio to a GM cd radio , clean up the driver seat and replace foam if needed, maybe an exhaust , and definitely swap out the wheels.
wow ok... yeah i would have put money on it being oem... of course the dealer said "rare color" check out the sales link... unless somebody did the mother of all resprays... this looks dead on factory.. no overspray or anything. https://www.worldwidevintag...9/1987-pontiac-fiero
[This message has been edited by domer94 (edited 07-31-2025).]
Originally posted by domer94: unless somebody did the mother of all resprays... this looks dead on factory.. no overspray or anything.
All of the panels on the Fiero are removable. The only part of the Fiero that puts up a fight when trying to be removed is the roof panel due to the adhesive. Your car was probably a panel-off paint job so that's why there's no overspray. Looks gorgeous.
apparently it was consigned from an estate sale... i guess the dealer had no idea. i will have to look up the paint codes at some point and see what she was born as... ive been in so many car forums over the years.. this will be the new subculture adventure. seems like an interesting bunch that are drawn to these unsung sports cars. was out on a cruise in the 81 vette some weeks ago and saw a guy in a notchback.. was the first time ive seen one on the road in years. it surely caught the eye and was pretty cool.
i offered 11,700 which they accepted , and out the door delivered for 13. so wasnt so bad IMO. i have to ship it from CO to NJ. should be arriving next wed.. im excited. as far as cd's.. i still have many and when i cruise in these older cars, it forces me to go through my collection. i guess a nostalgic thing
[This message has been edited by domer94 (edited 08-01-2025).]
Personal preference plays a significant role about 'what' audio head unit goes in their Fiero, or their choice of the formats between analog and digital recordings.
I'm a 'stock' guy with a huge high-quality tape collection
Some install a 'Pontiac' Radio/CD unit
Others go 'aftermarket 'and install a custom stereo system
The point?
There is 'no point' - enjoy "whatever blows your hair back"
[This message has been edited by Vintage-Nut (edited 08-01-2025).]
Best of luck on the buy. Car looks to be in great shape but in a non-stock color. Also the air grills should be black and not orange. I have a few very good used grills here that you can have on the cheap if needed.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, 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 "
Congrats on your purchase! And welcome to our obsession.
Yeah... no Fiero - of any year - ever left the factory with orange paint. So you have a one-of-one. Beautiful, by the way.
Like you, I am/have been a member of lots of different automotive forums. This one has probably been around as long as many, and longer than most. Generally, people here are well behaved, and try to help when they can.
Early 90s Delco CD players can be adapted fairly easily. There is one head unit that really stands out, to me. It looks like the top of the line (other than the pushbutton keypad) Fiero unit, but plays CDs instead of tapes. What makes it special? Under the CD slot it has a "COMP" button. Which compresses the audio a bit, to make it a bit more listenable in the car. Others may differ, but that's a feature I like. One of my Fiero friends actually thought I had a subwoofer system but, in reality, it was that headunit, Playing through Pioneer TSA-4103s in the dash.
Edit - I checked out the other thread. Patrick posted the exact headunit I was talking about. Borrowed from his post.
CLICK FOR FULL SIZE
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 08-01-2025).]
Edit - I checked out the other thread. Patrick posted the exact headunit I was talking about. Borrowed from his post.
CLICK FOR FULL SIZE
That's my radio!!! Hahaha...
That picture is from the eBay auction from like 16 years ago. I have that very radio in my 87 Fiero, which has been sitting in storage for literally 14 years now.
They actually sell them on eBay now where, instead of an aux jack, they even have a built in BlueTooth adaptor and you can pair your phone with the late 80s radio, it's wild.
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: That's my radio!!! Hahaha... ... They actually sell them on eBay now where, instead of an aux jack, they even have a built in BlueTooth adaptor and you can pair your phone with the late 80s radio, it's wild.
I've got a early 2000s Delco radio from a Sonoma in my GT. It's had an iPod adapter and a Bluetooth adapter (both aftermarket) added. I like it better than the Retrosound Newport in my coupe.
car arrived today... the engine sounds like garbage. tell me what you guys think. it almost sounds like either timing chain , or bad water pump... or bad alternator. that kind of sound. i dont know how to attach a video.. its about 17 seconds. oh and the guy failed to mention the marlboro man was the previous owner... had more nicotine coated everywhere than a cigarette factory... i wonder what the guys lungs look like.
also , when i turned on the ac , the motor sounded like it went under heavy load and was hunting or struggling to keep proper idle. now that i think of i t, could it be a bad ac compressor? the ac wasnt blowing nearly as cold as it should
Hey man, are you able to upload the video to YouTube and post the link here?
I always recommend going to check the car out in person before purchasing. I think a lot of these dealers will say whatever they need to get a car sold.
didnt think of that... this should work . the car was in colorado ... and the "classic car dealer" had a recent third party inspection posted on the listing. i usually hire somebody if i buy out of state... i emailed the guy and asked how he could let it go out the door like that.. havent heard back i hope its an ac compressor
didnt think of that... this should work . the car was in colorado ... and the "classic car dealer" had a recent third party inspection posted on the listing. i usually hire somebody if i buy out of state... i emailed the guy and asked how he could let it go out the door like that.. havent heard back i hope its an ac compressor
You paid a premium price for that car and it doesn't seem like a premium example. If you ask me you really got laid on that deal.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, 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 "
i was 13 out the door shipped... i didnt pay the advertised price. how cheap are these thigs going for now? from what i searched nationwide, 11,700 was probably in the pocket. that was my price, then 1500 to ship from colorado to nj
[This message has been edited by domer94 (edited 08-06-2025).]
Looks like a really a very nice GT, thanks for sharing. Those dents on the pillar look to be very simple fixes (if you even wanted to address them) like mentioned above likely someone pried at the door. I love the color. Make sure you check out the heater core box, even the nicer Fiero's seem to have debris in there that can catch fire, mine certainly was plugged up!
Before you invest a lot in work really take a good look around and see what it may need and what condition it really is. Things like pulling down the carpet in the trunk on the left side will help show if it has rust under the body. Fieros like Corvettes can hide rust. Look over the rear axles too.
Yes the color is a repaint but good compare to most I see.
The Radio I did was a late 90's Pontiac with CD. It will light up red like the rest of the dash. It looks stock and even GM offered a plug in adapter for it. Metra does too. plug and play.
You made a comment on the seat. Note these seats do not have replaceable foam like most cars. The foam is molded to the seats. You either need to glue and build up the foam on the seats you have for repair.
Or if the lower part of the seat is sagging you pull the seat install metal slats across the bottom of the seat with a piece of burlap on it and it will restore the seat bottom to where it should be. The foam is dead in all Fiero seats at this date as it gets hard and fails. Most of us will need to do this repair at some point.
As for price it is on the high side but prices are going up. Many have yet to grasp that a car needing little work is now at or over $10K anymore. Many cheaper cars will cost you more to fix up than the money you paid and it is still an old beat up car.
Not trying to scare you but it sounds like you are new to the Fiero. It also sounds like you may not know what to look for so really check out the car before investing much as too many buy a good looking car and invest a lot of money to find that they have rust or other issues too late to stop. I think you will be ok but just be safe and look first. Get under the car and really look around.
Welcome to the club. Note many parts are difficult to get today. So getting a complete car was a good idea. Body and trim parts are not an easy find in like new condition and if you do they are not cheap.
It's hard to hear, honestly... I'm only hearing the engine itself and nothing external that I think you're alluding to.
Can you explain the sound in more detail?
As for the price... the price of these cars has shot up considerably in the past few years. They're outrageously priced right now. A running / driving Fiero that you can take down the street without the wheels falling off is like $5k minimum. You hop on eBay and most weeks you don't see a single car selling for less than $8k, with most examples above $10k. It's just what it is. It's a bad time to buy a Fiero because everyone is into 80s cars right now. But the engine looks VERY clean, and leads me to believe that for the most part, it was probably taken care of, or at least not neglected.
Anyway, if you can, please try to explain the sound in more detail... like where you hear different sounds coming from. I'd like to know too what you're used to in terms of how cars sound. If this is your first older car, then it could be you're not accustomed to what the older engines sound like. Most older cars, particularly in the 80s... the engines are rough sounding. There's literally nothing in the engine compartment except along the firewall that's meant to deaden the sound. Cars today have sound deadening beauty caps that go on too... which help reduce the undesirable part of an engine sound... so you only hear the rumble and the exhaust noise.
Come on Dennis, we're here to help new members if we can, not make them regret their acquisition of a Fiero. What's the benefit of doing that?
Certainly I am here to support new members and am always glad to help whenever I can. We just need to start someplace and my comment should be read by the seller as a reflection on how he does business. The buyer is NJ based and the car he purchased looks like a very nice platform to move forward on. . If the car is driveable and he wants to come down to West Central NJ I'd be happy to take a look at it. My garage is equipped to the max with all kinds of diagnostic tools. In the new semi-active Garden State Fiero owners group there are a few mechanic members. Should it be needed, local help is near. If there is a suggestion to be made at the moment, the owner could buy an inexpensive stethoscope to pinpoint the noise.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, 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 "
It's hard to hear, honestly... I'm only hearing the engine itself and nothing external that I think you're alluding to.
Can you explain the sound in more detail?
As for the price... the price of these cars has shot up considerably in the past few years. They're outrageously priced right now. A running / driving Fiero that you can take down the street without the wheels falling off is like $5k minimum. You hop on eBay and most weeks you don't see a single car selling for less than $8k, with most examples above $10k. It's just what it is. It's a bad time to buy a Fiero because everyone is into 80s cars right now. But the engine looks VERY clean, and leads me to believe that for the most part, it was probably taken care of, or at least not neglected.
Anyway, if you can, please try to explain the sound in more detail... like where you hear different sounds coming from. I'd like to know too what you're used to in terms of how cars sound. If this is your first older car, then it could be you're not accustomed to what the older engines sound like. Most older cars, particularly in the 80s... the engines are rough sounding. There's literally nothing in the engine compartment except along the firewall that's meant to deaden the sound. Cars today have sound deadening beauty caps that go on too... which help reduce the undesirable part of an engine sound... so you only hear the rumble and the exhaust noise.
so the more i hear it , its a grinding type noise... stays constant and is very prevalent. this is why i started to think ac compressor... plus when the ac is turned on , some whacky stuff happens, and it seems like the clutch engages every couple of seconds and cycles off and causes the engine to go under what seems like an odd strain. even when the ac is off, it sounds like a bad bearing. thing is it sounds like its all over the engine compartment.. maybe because of the acoustics in there.. but u started to freak thinking it was bad valve train , or timing chain tensioner etc etc. oh there is an exhaust leak too , but i have an ocelot system on the way anyhow so im not concerned at the moment. i think im going to start at the ac compressor and see what happens from there. makes the car sound like a sewing machine.. which is why i told the dealer guy " how could you have let that go out the door". for a "classic car" specialty dealer, you would think they would have gone the extra mile.. not like an auction flipper.
Certainly I am here to support new members and am always glad to help whenever I can. We just need to start someplace and my comment should be read by the seller as a reflection on how he does business. The buyer is NJ based and the car he purchased looks like a very nice platform to move forward on. . If the car is driveable and he wants to come down to West Central NJ I'd be happy to take a look at it. My garage is equipped to the max with all kinds of diagnostic tools. In the new semi-active Garden State Fiero owners group there are a few mechanic members. Should it be needed, local help is near. If there is a suggestion to be made at the moment, the owner could buy an inexpensive stethoscope to pinpoint the noise.
thanks. i will have to take care of this before going on any extended ride. it will probably be a couple weeks before the car is "on the road" anyhow. im waiting on the papers from out of state then have to do the dmv thing. if there are any fall gatherings , id be game.
so the more i hear it , its a grinding type noise... stays constant and is very prevalent. this is why i started to think ac compressor... plus when the ac is turned on , some whacky stuff happens, and it seems like the clutch engages every couple of seconds and cycles off and causes the engine to go under what seems like an odd strain. even when the ac is off, it sounds like a bad bearing. thing is it sounds like its all over the engine compartment.. maybe because of the acoustics in there.. but u started to freak thinking it was bad valve train , or timing chain tensioner etc etc. oh there is an exhaust leak too , but i have an ocelot system on the way anyhow so im not concerned at the moment. i think im going to start at the ac compressor and see what happens from there. makes the car sound like a sewing machine.. which is why i told the dealer guy " how could you have let that go out the door". for a "classic car" specialty dealer, you would think they would have gone the extra mile.. not like an auction flipper.
Ok, lemme think... I'll go through these each:
- Timing Chain / Timing Chain Tensioner: It is highly unlikely to be anything to do with that. Unless the engine has been modified or rebuilt, the factory chain basically lasts forever. They do stretch a little (it is a chain), but it's always well oiled, and you maybe lose a little bit of timing. Never in all the years have I been on Pennocks (here) have I seen one fail on the V6/60. So it's definitely NOT that.
- An exhaust leak will definitely cause what almost sounds like a "lawn mower" on the Fiero. A very common place to look are the exhaust manifolds. They tend to crack, particularly the rear-most one (meaning the one closest to the front of the car). It almost sounds like a loud ticking noise, but then also sounds like a lawn mower when you rev the engine.
- The only noise up front that I can think of that might sound like a crunching noise, could be a failing harmonic balancer. If the car has been mostly in a dry climate (or just by sheer age), the rubber between the balancer donut and the hub itself will deteriorate, and the balancer will split. It will then make all kinds of crazy noises.
- A/C Compressor... the bearing on the compressor can DEFINITELY start to go bad, and will most definitely start to sound like crap. Does the A/C work on the car now, or not? Another thing worth mentioning too is that the A/C compressor used in the V6s was a really crappy compressor (in my opinion). It had an enormous load on the car... and typically sucked like 9 horsepower from the motor to operate. The 86+ 4 cyl Fieros got a much nicer A/C compressor... mostly because they HAD to have it since the 4 cyl was almost undrivable as an automatic with economy gears and the A/C on. They had what was called the V5 compressor. Some people have switched to this, which is a huge pain in the butt since it's not a simple upgrade. But there is a newer version of the A/C compressor that fits your car (a little lighter), called the HRT. You have the DA6 right now. Anyway, that definitely could be it. If you want peace of mind and don't care about A/C right now, you can just cut the belt off the A/C compressor and see if the noise stops. The belt for the A/C compressor is independent, so everything else will still work. By the way, if you want to see a nice bunch of upgrades for accessories, you can watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg9-t8kzhdM It's my daughter adding accessories to her 2.5 Iron Duke, which is the 4 cyl one, but all the same things basically apply. The alternator she uses is also an upgrade for the one you have, and the smaller High-torque starter is also an upgrade. All covered in her video. As for engaging and disengaging... my guess is you probably have a slight freon leak, and freon is low... so the low pressure switch keeps shutting it off. If it's all orginal, or was upgraded to R134A MANY years ago, it might be worthwhile to go through all the O-rings and seals again.
Anyway, let me know if that helps you isolate the issues...
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Ok, lemme think... I'll go through these each:
- Timing Chain / Timing Chain Tensioner: It is highly unlikely to be anything to do with that. Unless the engine has been modified or rebuilt, the factory chain basically lasts forever. They do stretch a little (it is a chain), but it's always well oiled, and you maybe lose a little bit of timing. Never in all the years have I been on Pennocks (here) have I seen one fail on the V6/60. So it's definitely NOT that.
- An exhaust leak will definitely cause what almost sounds like a "lawn mower" on the Fiero. A very common place to look are the exhaust manifolds. They tend to crack, particularly the rear-most one (meaning the one closest to the front of the car). It almost sounds like a loud ticking noise, but then also sounds like a lawn mower when you rev the engine.
- The only noise up front that I can think of that might sound like a crunching noise, could be a failing harmonic balancer. If the car has been mostly in a dry climate (or just by sheer age), the rubber between the balancer donut and the hub itself will deteriorate, and the balancer will split. It will then make all kinds of crazy noises.
- A/C Compressor... the bearing on the compressor can DEFINITELY start to go bad, and will most definitely start to sound like crap. Does the A/C work on the car now, or not? Another thing worth mentioning too is that the A/C compressor used in the V6s was a really crappy compressor (in my opinion). It had an enormous load on the car... and typically sucked like 9 horsepower from the motor to operate. The 86+ 4 cyl Fieros got a much nicer A/C compressor... mostly because they HAD to have it since the 4 cyl was almost undrivable as an automatic with economy gears and the A/C on. They had what was called the V5 compressor. Some people have switched to this, which is a huge pain in the butt since it's not a simple upgrade. But there is a newer version of the A/C compressor that fits your car (a little lighter), called the HRT. You have the DA6 right now. Anyway, that definitely could be it. If you want peace of mind and don't care about A/C right now, you can just cut the belt off the A/C compressor and see if the noise stops. The belt for the A/C compressor is independent, so everything else will still work. By the way, if you want to see a nice bunch of upgrades for accessories, you can watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg9-t8kzhdM It's my daughter adding accessories to her 2.5 Iron Duke, which is the 4 cyl one, but all the same things basically apply. The alternator she uses is also an upgrade for the one you have, and the smaller High-torque starter is also an upgrade. All covered in her video. As for engaging and disengaging... my guess is you probably have a slight freon leak, and freon is low... so the low pressure switch keeps shutting it off. If it's all orginal, or was upgraded to R134A MANY years ago, it might be worthwhile to go through all the O-rings and seals again.
Anyway, let me know if that helps you isolate the issues...
Is it a manual transmission or an automatic?
thanks for taking the time to offer your thoughts. good to know it most likely isnt a timing chain issue. the car is a manual , they said "new clutch"... i only drove the car from the transport to my house so far... about 1.5 miles. clutch and trans feel ok to me. shifts smooth goes into gear fine. there is something loose on the exhaust.. maybe a heat shield or broken hanger... i can shake the tailpipe and hear something rattle around. not concerned because im scrapping what is on there shortly. as far as the prevalent grinding noise, im leaning towards compressor.. i believe e the system is low and the ac clutch cycles on and off pretty frequently. if thats the case maybe its shot already...
[This message has been edited by domer94 (edited 08-08-2025).]
thanks for taking the time to offer your thoughts. good to know it most likely isnt a timing chain issue. the car is a manual , they said "new clutch"... i only drove the car from the transport to my house so far... about 1.5 miles. clutch and trans feel ok to me. shifts smooth goes into gear fine. there is something loose on the exhaust.. maybe a heat shield or broken hanger... i can shake the tailpipe and hear something rattle around. not concerned because im scrapping what is on there shortly. as far as the prevalent grinding noise, im leaning towards compressor.. i believe e the system is low and the ac clutch cycles on and off pretty frequently. if thats the case maybe its shot already...
The Getrag (so I've been told), has something called the Getrag Rattle... which is when specific parts of the internals of the Getrag get some wear and tend to rattle like crazy. Not sure if that sound is what you're hearing, as I've never owned a Getrag Fiero (though I have three Getrags in my garage, haha). But it could be what you're hearing.
Definitely exhaust will rattle in sync with the idle fluctuation... I've definitely had that. The Fiero Store (http://www.FieroStore.com) sells all new exhuast hangers... way better to go with those than the "sh1t" that most exhaust shops weld onto the frame.
Before you spend any more time or money chasing this... Remove the A/C belt. Kind of a PITA to loosen the rear compressor pivot bolt, but it may be loose enough to allow the compressor to pivot if you loosen the slider bolt and the front pivot bolt. Or, if you don't feel like screwing with the bolts, a big pair of wire cutters will dispatch the belt in a hurry. Then start the motor. If the noise is a bad bearing in the A/C compressor clutch, it will become apparent right away, by its absence.
If the noise is still there, do the same thing with the serpentine belt. Loosen the alternator. The pivot bolt is on the top, and the slider bolt on the bottom. Start the engine and listen. It could be an alternator or (less likely) a water pump.
If both belts are removed, and you still hear the noise, you will need to investigate further.
Wishing you luck in your endeavors. That is a beautiful car.
------------------ Raydar 88 Formula IMSA Fastback. 4.9, NVG T550 Praise the Lowered!
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 08-09-2025).]
