I am very happy to get it back on the road. Maybe 250 miles since last week. I am quite pleased with the 3.4 so far. Seams to have lots of Pep. It rained all day here, so I didn't take it to the alignment shop to try and locate the 'clunking' in the front. Didn't want the guy to be working underneath a car driven in the cold rain. Maybe tomorrow?

I wanty to flush the coolant out this week end and get teh antifreeze back in the car. I have Peak System Flush in there right now.

I got Page 8 !!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 02-13-2012).]

Was able to get the car on the alignment rack this afternoon after work. Both lower ball joints are bad. The uppers were still good. Go Figure!!! I think I remember the uppers as being attached with bolts instead of rivets.

$100.00 from Rodney Dickman. He sells the good ones. I don't want the 'Made in China' crap.

.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 02-18-2012).]

quote Originally posted by josef644: Upgarding ????????

Hey, don't knock the 4.9, just make sure you replace the expensive oil pump and a few other things before you install it.

I have the ball joints here now, and a new ball joint press from AutoZone. The temperature outside is 49* with rain. I just don't want to get out in it. Maybe this afternoon! if the temperature gets over 55. I am off work until Tuesday.

Finally got warm enough to go out in the garage, 56*. I got the car raised and the front wheels off of the hubs. Upper Ball joints were originals from the factory.
I will replace the lowers first thing in the morning. Remove the upper ball joints while waiting on new ones to arrive some time next week. Don't think I will be driving to the Fiero meet in Houston next week.

Got my two upper ball joints ordered from RD

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 02-18-2012).]

Beautiful Texas day here. Sun is out and the temperature is 68*.

I removed both front hubs this morning.


Upper ball joint removed:


Lower removed:


Lower installed:



Little bit of the old' Fiero Two Step' this morning. While removing the caliper on the driver side I found brake fluid around where the banjo bolt goes onto the caliper. I will check the torque and add two new copper washers there when replacing.

Upper ball joints arrived from Rodney Dickman today. Will install them tomorrow.

Busy day today. I installed the uppers ball joints and replaced the knuckles. Greased the 4 new ball joints.

After installing the calipers back on the rotors, I replaced the two copper washers on the left front brake hose. It was wet. Torqued to spec. I will check on it after some miles are driven.

Removed the one small starter bolt and loosened the long bolt. I added a 1/32" starter shim. Nice quiet engagement now.

Added the 'A' pillar trim to the drivers side door frame. I have been knocking hide off of the top of my bald head there.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 02-25-2012).]

I drove to Florida July,2009 to bring this 88 coupe home. Today is the first time since then that the car is ready to go for a drive. Nothing needs to be finished, or any parts ordered to finish some repair.

It starts easy, has plenty of pep. A pretty darned good ride without any clunks from bumps in the road. Throwing no codes. Good smooth idle. No leaks underneath. I will still need to finish the 3 hours of driving before I flush the coolant system cleaner out and add the 50/50 green coolant.

Dare I say it? I have run out of things needing to be done to my Fiero.

Not including a good paint job and body work.

Run out of things to do to it!!!!!!

What a I gonna do with myself?

quote Originally posted by josef644: I drove to Florida July,2009 to bring this 88 coupe home. Today is the first time since then that the car is ready to go for a drive. Nothing needs to be finished, or any parts ordered to finish some repair. It starts easy, has plenty of pep. A pretty darned good ride without any clunks from bumps in the road. Throwing no codes. Good smooth idle. No leaks underneath. I will still need to finish the 3 hours of driving before I flush the coolant system cleaner out and add the 50/50 green coolant. Dare I say it? I have run out of things needing to be done to my Fiero. Not including a good paint job and body work. Run out of things to do to it!!!!!! What a I gonna do with myself?

Whoops, meant to say I'm glad you're finished!

[This message has been edited by ThatFieroKid (edited 02-27-2012).]

I'll bring my F355 Spider to you, and you can install my 4.9L. You know what they say about idle hands!
Could go fishing more often, now.

------------------
Life is just SO much better when you own AND drive a Fiero!

I have been doing a bit of body work on the car trying to get it ready for primer and paint. The weather has been bad the last few days here, so no progress. I used Vette Panel Adhesive to fill some bad spots on the deck lid and front roof section. All spots sanded out nice. I need a nice day to get some primer on the work I have done.

Got a package form FieroSails in the mail Monday.


I had sanded the sail panel frames for a repaint. I am gonna do the frames with a gloss black. I have seen a set done with the gloss black and was pretty happy with the way they looked.

Rain has curtailed any body work for a few days here. I have an extra day off Friday and hope to be able to get some work done out in the shop.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 03-21-2012).]

Here is today's progress. Rear section and both quarters removed for sanding and primer coat. Also have a 87-88 passenger side front fender to sand and prime tomorrow.

and

Drove to Houston this morning to a Pick N Pull yard to get me some 4T60 mounting brackets to install me a 4T60E. I located a 89 Cadillac Fleetwood with the 4T60 in the first 3 minuets of searching. A 97 LeSabre was parked next to it. So I located the three electrical connectors needed to shift the 4T60E.

Parts were $17.00. I spent $32.00 on gas, round trip.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 03-24-2012).]

quote Originally posted by josef644: Drove to Houston this morning to a Pick N Pull yard to get me some 4T60 mounting brackets to install me a 4T60E. I located a 89 Cadillac Fleetwood with the 4T60 in the first 3 minuets of searching. A 97 LeSabre was parked next to it. So I located the three electrical connectors needed to shift the 4T60E. Parts were $17.00. I spent $32.00 on gas, round trip.

Nice!

quote Originally posted by josef644: Drove to Houston this morning to a Pick N Pull yard to get me some 4T60 mounting brackets to install me a 4T60E. I located a 89 Cadillac Fleetwood with the 4T60 in the first 3 minuets of searching. A 97 LeSabre was parked next to it. So I located the three electrical connectors needed to shift the 4T60E. Parts were $17.00. I spent $32.00 on gas, round trip.

Joe....It is about time you get that thing on the road before you tear it apart again....I am hoping to see it as the SA show....Looking good though......


How did you install the LBJs?

quote Originally posted by MstangsBware: Joe....It is about time you get that thing on the road before you tear it apart again....I am hoping to see it as the SA show....Looking good though...... How did you install the LBJs?

I will not be dropping the 125C until I have everything here and ready to install the OD unit. I will have some 125C CV shafts for your 4T65 installs.

I removed the knuckle, and put a jack stand underneath the control arm about an inch away from the LBJ. A 3LB hammer will knock them out in about three hits. Mine did not have a tack weld. I used the Autozone BJ tool to press in my LBJ's. Isn't fun, but works. Tops were originals, and just had to remove the rivets. Rodney's upper BJ's came with new bolts to replace the rivets.

I am gonna have to remove my steering rack and recenter my pinion onto the rack . I have very little left turn, and more right turn than I need. I will order the new inner and outer tie rods from Rondey Dickman Wednesday or Thursday. I will need a full left turn driving the Kerrville Kruze.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 03-25-2012).]

Ordered a full tie rod set for my 88 from Rodney Dickman. I am gonna replace these parts while I reposition the rack and pinion. I have very little left turn, and a full turn to the right. Not good enough for the Three Sisters in Kerrville.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 03-26-2012).]

All my Rodney Dickman front steering parts came yesterday afternoon.

Todays progress:

Forward roof section:

Rear roof section with DA sander work finished:

Rear roof section:

Deck lid primed and ready for top coat:

Pieces awaiting primer 1st thing in the morning:


Hoping to get top coat on tomorrow. I'll post new photos if top coat is sprayed on.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 03-31-2012).]

quote Originally posted by josef644: All my Rodney Dickman front steering parts came yesterday afternoon. Todays progress: Forward roof section: Rear roof section with DA sander work finished: Rear roof section: Deck lid primed and ready for top coat: Pieces awaiting primer 1st thing in the morning: Hoping to get top coat on tomorrow. I'll post new photos if top coat is sprayed on.

How did you remove the forward roof section without damage?

Poe and I removed it last year about this time. VERY carefully. It has been hanging in my garage since then. I am changing from a sunroof to a non sunroof. I was tired of the wind noise and a sunburned bald spot on top.

I am considering doing the same thing. How did you cut thru the adhesive?

I have been told that it is easier to remove a Sunroof top than the non sunroof top. Tbone here has a thread on removing and swapping the roof out with another member. It is pretty good. I purchased a few used butter knives from a resale shop. As I was able to saw threw the butal, I slipped paint stir sticks underneath to seep it from re sticking
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...120111-2-109675.html

I got this from Poe 6-28-11. It was hanging there until yesterday afternoon.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 03-31-2012).]

Buff primer going on:


Primer work finished:

more pictures after Top coat. Primer needs to cure 2 hours before a lite sanding with some 600.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 04-01-2012).]

quote josef644:I drove to Florida July,2009 to bring this 88 coupe home. Today is the first time since then that the car is ready to go for a drive. Nothing needs to be finished, or any parts ordered to finish some repair. It starts easy, has plenty of pep. A pretty darned good ride without any clunks from bumps in the road. Throwing no codes. Good smooth idle. No leaks underneath. I will still need to finish the 3 hours of driving before I flush the coolant system cleaner out and add the 50/50 green coolant. Dare I say it? I have run out of things needing to be done to my Fiero. Not including a good paint job and body work. Run out of things to do to it!!!!!!...

Do you have working A/C?

It going to be another record setting summer in Texas.

quote Originally posted by 30+mpg: Do you have working A/C? It going to be another record setting summer in Texas.

I had a new hose set made, and have installed a rebuilt 4 Seasons compressor. I need to pull a vacuum and see if it will hold before installing a new accumulator and adding my 134A. So , maybe, I am hoping I have a good working AC system.

I haven't started that as I am thinking of adding a 4T60 or a 4T60E to the drive train, and don;t want to waste the refrigerant.

Just sort of drifting along untill I get all the body work finished.

New paint is a pure white, not like the 23 year old door skin next to it.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 04-02-2012).]

Removed both front fenders after work today. Humidity is around 90%. Nasty in my garage , even with the two fans on!! Enough for today.

Gonna start on removing the drivers door skin tomorrorw after work. Something done every day.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 04-03-2012).]

I removed the door skins yesterday morning. I was able to mount the rear section of the car and add the deck lid. Added a decal:


Mounted the front roof section this AM. I am gonna try to get the headliner in today. I need to run a wire for my auto dimming mirror before I put in the headliner board.

Wire installed and head liner board put back in the car. I will add the interior mouldings tomorrow AM. I have to do some mowing tomorrow, so I won't be able to get very much finished.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 04-07-2012).]

Haven't been doing much, as it is already hot in my garage when I get home from work around 3:00pm. It has been very windy on the weekends, hence to windy to try to spray. Windy with rain forecast for tomorrow. Sunday morning is supposed to be a nice day. I did these this morning Masked off the back part, and silver on just the lug part. One coat of clear over the silver:


I'll add a picture of them on the wheel this afternoon.

Here is a shot of them added to the car:


Replaced chassis part of the upper passenger side door hinge. Easy to do with the front fenders off the car.
Before:

After:

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 04-20-2012).]

Met Tom Slick in Corsicana, Texas today for a 88 Formula style front fascia. In great shape. Mine on the car was full of holes, and a few rips. Thanks Tom.

Picked up a new door hinge pin while in Huntsville today. All I needed was the retainer clip, but the new shiny pin will look nice.
-Joe

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 04-22-2012).]

What in the hell happened to that door hinge?? It looks completely out of place, it looks like it was in salt water for 25 years or something.

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 04-22-2012).]

I haven't a clue. None of the car was like that except it.

I got a set of real nice beechwood armrests in the mail yesterday too. Here they are on my saddle color inside door panels:


New fascia:

Got me a new 3M SUPERBUFF III. Expensive little buffing pad. $39.00 local.

Planning on getting some work done tomorrow after work. I have the one BO-BO to sand out and rebuff.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 04-24-2012).]

I buffed out the bad spot on my rear roof section, above the gas cap part. Not perfect, but better than before. Added the driver side sail panel. I will add the interior 'B' pillar moulding tomorrow AM.Got all the metallic red paint off of the passenger side front fender. Hoping to have the door skins and front fenders all in primer by tomorrow noon ish. Weather will be the factor. The wind has been blowing hard the past two weekends.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 04-27-2012).]

All went pretty smooth this morning. Got a good two coats of primer on all four pieces. They are out on the top of my GMC baking in the Texas sunshine. I will bring them in the garage after 6:00pm. They will get a small abrading with a gray 3M pad. might go get me some 800 wet or dry. A second wash with a mild hand soap, and good to go. Top coating tomorrow unless the wind gets back up to 20 MPH again.

I don't know what is going on with my camera. It will not take pictures in the bright sunshine.

I painted the four pieces I primed yesterday. I had runs on the driver side door panel, and will have to sand them out in a few days, and re-shoot it. I had no runs at all on the other three pieces.
Left front fender:

Door skins in the Texas sunshine for baking:

Both fenders:


I was worried about the wind yesterday. It was almost completely still this morning.

This ones about ready to go back on the car:

Got off of work late today. Not much done. I removed the upper hinge pin, and replaced it with a new pin that had the little retainer clip intact. This is the pin I repalced:

Added the black trim moulding to the rear of the door handle. Installed the lock mounting plate and a new outside door handle.

I am ready to put the passenger side door skin back on the car. Maybe tomorrow after work.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 05-01-2012).]