So I have been the proud owner of a '86 2M4 for close to three years now but have never been able to do much work due to financial restraints. Well courtesy of the Army sending me on back to back tours of duty, I now have enough to really get things going on the car. The first major addition I will be making after all general repairs would be installing an AC system. Has anyone done this before, and if so, how challenging would you say it is to do on your own? Besides that, I have been having trouble locating parts online for my front suspension and my brake system. Apparently my booster has quit working. I'm just looking for any recommended sites for general items.
Thank you for all your help with this and feel free to add some suggestions to make it a more enjoyable/exciting daily driver!
I suppose I should also mention that although my Fiero passes SMOG, it burns a bit of oil on a cold start. First start of the day and any start in winter I'll always get the white cloud and I have no idea what's been causing it. I've rebuilt most of my engine and have had the entire engine, bay, and underside steam cleaned and yet I still can't identify where my problem lies.
The first major addition I will be making after all general repairs would be installing an AC system. Has anyone done this before, and if so, how challenging would you say it is to do on your own?
I acquired an '88 Formula that had A/C. I hate A/C. I wanted to remove it, as to me, it's just extra weight to pack around. My buddy has an '88 Formula with no A/C. He loves A/C.
So I let my buddy swap over everything he needed. It was a b!tch of a job for him to do, plus it was still relatively expensive as numerous components needed to be upgraded/replaced.
Unless you have a donor Fiero parked right next to yours, I'd say you'd be crazy to bother.
If you really need A/C in your car, I suggest you simply get a different Fiero that already has functioning A/C.
Perhaps this isn't what you wish to hear, but you'll thank me later.
...although my Fiero passes SMOG, it burns a bit of oil on a cold start. First start of the day and any start in winter I'll always get the white cloud and I have no idea what's been causing it.
Burning oil is blue.
Steam is white.
Sounds to me like condensation in the exhaust system is simply being evaporated... unless your coolant level is also dropping.
Sounds to me like condensation in the exhaust system is simply being evaporated... unless your coolant level is also dropping.
Thank you for the clarification on that! But my coolant levels hold just fine. I actually have a new cooling system as of a year and a half ago. The steam has been happening since I've owned the car. Do you think it may have something to do with the fact that it's my daily driver but before I owned it, it sat idle for 10+ years following an accident on the freeway involving a 4Runner?
Do you think it may have something to do with the fact that it's my daily driver but before I owned it, it sat idle for 10+ years following an accident on the freeway involving a 4Runner?
Absolutely. It's a known fact that colliding with a 4Runner ultimately leads to clouds of white smoke being produced.
The scenario would make more sense if it indeed was blue smoke that was being produced. Perhaps the valve guide seals hardened up while the car was sitting for ten years.
I have replaced the valve guide seals and that didn't fix it. There is a chance that it has a blue tinge but I've been away from my car for over a year at this point. I can honestly say I'm a bad car owner and never paid too much attention to the color of it. I'm hoping to redeem myself as a Fiero owner once I'm home though. In the meantime, I'll have my roommate back home fire it up and confirm if it is steam or oil and I'll post it back in here. Thank you for dealing with my ignorance with all of this.
I make my living fixing helicopter powertrains and yet I'm clueless when it comes to my car. Go figure. But with the help of everyone here I think I can make do!
I make my living fixing helicopter powertrains and yet I'm clueless when it comes to my car. Go figure. But with the help of everyone here I think I can make do!
it is a tad different, working in the crapped confines of a Fiero and the open spaces of a helo. If you've had it 3 years you should be used to it though. I have never bought any 20 year old car that didn't need something from time to time and these are no different, usually worse.
enjoy you time with her, the scraped knuckles, burnt fingers, banged knees from getting in and out, cuts on various body parts, and lets not forget every time you take it for a drive the sucking sound coming from your wallet as the cost of repairs and parts keep mounting up!
Ah never mind just sell me the car and you can buy a new Vette
Enjoy
edit to add
Oh Ya the brake booster people have used S10 boosters on their Fiero's, do a search and I am sure it will come up, but do a search of all the forum, archives included because I think it has been a long time since anyone has posted about that.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 06-30-2016).]
it is a tad different, working in the crapped confines of a Fiero and the open spaces of a helo. If you've had it 3 years you should be used to it though. I have never bought any 20 year old car that didn't need something from time to time and these are no different, usually worse.
Yes, I've owned it for three years but I've been unable to do extensive amounts of work due to a thin wallet. Now that I have finances to do so, I'm going to do all I can to make this thing run like a dream!