fiero308 Buildup thread (LOTS OF PIX!!!! ; ))

[dguy]

as you can see I haven't dug into this part at ALL.......yet.  So in your note above, when you say the 'other half' (of the C500) you mean literally the 'second block' that splits away at the C500 so that ONE 'block' is for ie lighting etc ONLY (note: I am assuming EVERYthing here, not making statements...) and the OTHER 'block' of the C500 is for 'non-engine management etc'.......

Correct.

Identifying which is which is simple--of the two male connectors at C500, one will have a bundle which snakes over to the engine.  The other loom normally loops up and over the upper RH frame rail, between the outside of the frame rail & the rear clip.  Hopefully whomever originally installed your body kit followed similar routing.

if so, then where do the ECM 'controls' come in?  I expect it must be in there somewhere...  for oil pressure/fuel pump linking; ignition control; injector control etc etc..... is that sort of stuff all run thru ONE block (only) of the C500 or is that stuff separate wiring altogether?  I have some VERY good wiring diags of the fiero circuitry BUT it doesn't show where the wiring goes thru connectors.... 

Yup, it's in there somewhere. 

The ECM has a direct connection to the injectors, ignition module, MAT & CTS sensors, fuel pump relay, and a few other things I'm probably forgetting.

The main harness carries the signal from the VSS, connects to the fuel pump, oil pressure sending unit, idiot lights, etc.

Yet the ECM needs the VSS signal for some of its work, not to forget ultimately having control over whether or not the fuel pump is running, and directly drives two of the idiot lights.

Under the center console, just below the ECM, there are a couple of flat connectors which link some of the circuits in the main harness with those of the ECM.  Power to/from the fuel pump relay's contact goes through there, as do the signals which operat the "shift" and "check wallet" idiot lights, and more that I can't think of at the moment.

Bottom line: I can literally leave 1/2 of the C500 alone; a whole 'block' of it (lighting etc) and only have to use the wiring for the other 'block' or 1/2 of the C500?  Seems almost too convenient....   which is why I am asking.

With respect to installing your engine, yes.

With respect to your alluding earlier to having some work to do with your rear lighting, possibly no. 

[fiero308]

 
thank you sir.
I think I have the gist of it for now.
More questions to come, no doubt. Don't you just love these smilies?  They say EXACTly what I want to get across!!!

 

[aaron88]

Other than a new engine harness, the only connections I had to worry bout went through C500 and C203 (the one under the center console).

Aaron

.

[fiero308]

wooo hoooo
got my first set of new control arms; tacked together to try out today.....they look GOOD; gotta get some pix as soon as I load the software for the new digi camera; finally gave up on my old one; too many probs and no flash anyway.

So with luck, I will do my test fit this wknd and assuming no probs have the OTHER set as well by next wknd!!  That means the front end is about 90%!!

will get some pix up asap.

[cowans]

If you have a chance, Sandy; could you post a pic or two of the upper and (more importantly) lower strut connections/adapters you have?

I am simply curious but blutes is prob very interested; he has a 355......

Ok, spent the day fighting with building a custom power steering pump mount! But I did take some pics for you Graeme.... hope it's what you want...
Sandy

[cowans]

and 2 more pics..

[fiero308]

thnks Sandy
hoped to get some test fitting done this wknd but got into kitchen painting.  I can't explain the attraction........

THIS is the part I am interested in; where did it come from; what is it (guessing alum) and what can you tell me about it;
I suppose it is just 'spacers' on the inside where the strut USED to be.......

[Joe Fieroshop]

fiero308 if I'm not mistaken Held Motorsports are the people that sell this item, just before Christmas, I installed a 3800 Supercharged on a fiero chassis that is going to be a Lambo Diabelo. The owner bought all suspension components from Held. He bought the wide track kit, alsong with the rear kit came these two big bulky spacers for the rear struts. I have no clue what thier worth?

Joe

[cowans]

The aluminum brackets are from CK3 (now defunct). I would think that Joe is correct (being Helds) as CK3 usually copied everyone else! Give 'Lee' a call if you're interested.... I would not think that they would be hard to duplicate.
Sandy

[fiero308]

aluminum, eh?  It looked like that; that is why i asked.
hmmmm
boy, I would want to know that they are carefully made from the best grade; putting those corners/bends in them and then squeezing them like that with those big bolts.  Sorry, Sandy; not trying to give you ulcers or anything; I am just thinking about the stresses on the part and I am NOT sure how it was made; specifically how it was bent (radius of bend etc).

On the plus side, the piece/assy shouldn't have too much lateral stress on it as the top of the strut would allow some movement in that instance.  And being very short is going to help a lot as long as the corners are radiussed properly.  And you have been running on them for a long time so that is the proof of the pudding.

I think Brian will be interested in those for his 355.  He has to widen the rear a lot.

[fiero308]

anyway; it was nice and 'not too cold' in the garage today; did a test fitting of the new right front control arms and they will need a bit of a tune up.  But I also found a few interesting things;
(first pic)
the new tacked together control arms; they are heavy duty SOB's; evidently the shop doesn't want me coming back about them for the next 40 years...... but they will need to go on a diet ..... too heavy for my liking right now.

I bought a 'scrap' white box ball joint for the LCA so that repeated in/outs wouldn't screw up the splines on the expensive MOOG one.......  turns out the cheapo was about 3-4 thou BIGGER than the MOOG; which is the one the LCA is sized for.......so a bit of grinding was needed to put the cheap one in place for test fitting.  Oh well.

The poly bushings go in a LOT easier when you take out the inner steel sleeve and drive in the bushing ONLY; then tap in the sleeve after (everything is greased at this point of the game)

What I found:
The POLY bushings have a 'fat end' and a skinny end.  I first installed the bushings (the easy way!) from the outsides-inwards...... but then the LCA simply wouldnt fit!  I was ready to take it back when I noticed the difference in the end lengths of the bushings.... so I turned one around and it was perfect!  (2nd pic)

The LCA 'rear' member sticks out too far; when the wheel is turned hard right it acts as a 'stop' and that is no good.  So that has to be fixed.  The UCA ball joint mounting plate is actually TOO heavy in my opinion, it doesn't have THAT much stress on it and is NOT subject to any bending moment unless the balljoint seizes solid I suppose....

And the plate is at too much of an angle toward the inside of the car; I THINK the balljoint was binding when I took the wheel to the upper limit of travel; we are going to look into that.

Otherwise things look good!  I am hoping to get things back BY thursday (+7 degrees!!) and that I can work out there again.  Oh yeah.......there is still lots to do...
but that is OK; at least I am getting a bit done..

[fiero308]

here's the difference between the stock (on top) and the new LCA's.  Notice how the rear member of the new one sticks out more and this is acting as a wheel stop.

the 2nd pic is the wheel assy at the top of travel; max bump compresson.
The wheel WILL turn except for what I said above re: the LCA.  But we will fix that.

slowly but Shirley.....

 

[fiero308]

Wednesday update: well the shop modified the LCA and it looks "pretty" good; they lightened it so that it is only 1/2 lb more than stock and it IS a bit longer..... I will consider drilling it and lightening it a bit more, too.  It still sticks out a bit and may act as a wheel stop; will find out I guess when i do a mockup.
 
The upper: they weren't sure what I would be happy with so had to talk to me on that.  With luck they will finish that too, and I can get them back for a FINAL test fit Thurs; it will be +10C!!!!  hope so!!
but there is still lots of other work to do so I will be out there grinding away in the engine bay area with the "Gary machine"...

[fiero308]

Fri AM update: got the modified test control arms (for lack of a better word) back from the shop thurs PM;
test fitted them last nite and I think there is still a bit of tuning up to do but it is getting so close I am almost ready to take them (patience, grasshopper!).  They are definitely so close that the shop can mock up most of the LEFT side now and just wait for my bit of input.
I am taking the right front set back in this AM to check one or two things then see how fast they can finish them all up.
Here is the shock lower mount positioning for ride height setting of the control arms and proper shock setpoint.
This is shown on the new 'tacked together' LCA.  It is fine; fits great.  Just the upper that I may adjust the ball joint mounting plate a bit.  More to follow soon, I hope!! Want to work on it this wknd!!

[Bandit58]

Hi Graeme - Keep it coming, the work you are doing is tremendous and very interesting!! Good pics!!