"A work in progress" or the story of the Thestral Fiero

[falcon_ca]

Hi everybody

I am Fiero owner from northern Quebec and I am redonning a Black Formula and adding some modifications.

Because more we are, better are the ideas, I would like to share my work with you.

First off all please be patient with my English, it is not as good as I would like it to be.

If some of you read French or would like to some practice, I am maintening a very detailled work log, since the beginning, at Virtualshowcar. Unfortunatly the site as recently been attacked and is under re-construction. A lot of pictures are still missing. It is supposed to be back soon.

 

[falcon_ca]

It started early spring 2007 when I decided (read: my wife said) that it will much better to have a car project than a motorcycle project. I have a very small garage so I looked for a small car but something different than a Ricer and a little bit exotic. I don’t like doing body work, so the Fiero is the perfect fit.

I bought the Formula locally,  in May 2007. It was not in really bad shape, but needed a lot of attention.

At the first look, the muffler was missing, paint was sunburned, frame has some rust (holes), slave cylinder is leaking and there is a lot of dirt, but sub-frame looks good.

First run, when driving home, find a grinding 3rd speed (synchro) and a leaking heater core.

So that is the way the “project” began.

Pictures took in May 2007



More here: http://picasaweb.google.ca/falcon1960/FieroLArrivEMai2007?feat=directlink

[falcon_ca]

First summer, 2007, I have done the following
-  Heater core
- Air filter K&N (was missing)
- PCV valve and grommets
- Few engine shampoos
- "loose nut" everywhere
- Inside cleanup (smoker car)
- Rebuilt door hinges
- Engine oil flush and a Badhall2
- New Fuel Filter
- New transmission oil (Synchromesh)
- New spark plugs
- New spark plugs cables
- New distributer (cap rotor pickup coil and arm)
- Top engine gasket kit
- Water pump
- Muffler
- New rear tires
- Brushed aluminum dash kit
- Brushed aluminum pedal kit
- Hurst Pistol grip brushed aluminum shifter knob
- Home made short shifter (2.5 inches)
- Rodney Dickman Idler pulley

[falcon_ca]

While I was in vacation, I stop by a “pick it yourself” and they had a blue 87 GT. So I took some parts in preparation for the winter.

- Starter
- Vacuum hoses
- Valves covers
- Intake and plenum
- Exhaust manifold (both no cracks)
- Engine heads
- Fuel injection rail
- 2 doors (electric windows and locks)
- 4 speakers (not stock)
- A bunch of Bolts, relay and other electric parts and other small things.

Unfortunately, the fascias, hoods, sunroof and the seats where absent or in bad shape.

[falcon_ca]

The big work started in November 2007

Interior:
Leather custom shifter boot
Auto dimmer rear view mirror
Electric door locks
Leatherette headliner
Leatherette bottom door padding
Leatherette inside firewall padding
IGGEE custom seat covers
1999 Firebird Delco 7 equalizer CD Radio
Speakers
Double pillar gauge pod (O2+vacuum)

Exterior
5" X 7" Diamond cut sealed beam conversion housings
H4 halogen bulbs rated at 65/55 Watts, with an output of 90/100 Watts
5 inches wing stands
Logo erased Sail panels
Front compartment cleaned and painted where needed
Sub frame cleanup, sanded and painted (por-15 + Tremclad)
Engine bay cleanup, sanded and painted (por-15 + Tremclad)
Painted wheel weld

Engine/transmission
Old-new cradle (Fiero Factory) sanded and painted (por-15 + Tremclad)
Ported exhaust manifold
Magnum roller rocker (1.52 like stock)
160 degree thermostat
176 degree fan switch
New Timing Chain
Crank Power pulley
Adjustable polyurethane dog bone engine mount
Polyurethane bottom engine mount
Used Cadillac Cimarron getrag transmission
Rodney's FWD transmission conversion kit
Rodney’s Getrag Selector Arm Rebuild Kit
Rodney’s Ultimate Getrag Shift Kit
Grease everywhere
New rear Wheel Hubs
New clutch fluid

Suspension
Polyurethane rear suspension bushing kit
Rear and Front sway bars polyurethane end link kit
Everything cleaned, sanded painted (por-15+Tremclad)
New bolts and nuts
Grease everywhere


Brakes
Stainless Steel brake hoses
New front callipers
Rebuild rear callipers
Apex performance brake pads
New fluid
Rebuild back plate
Redone rear break line

[falcon_ca]

Pictures are all (336) available at Picasa


Here some:

[falcon_ca]

The car rolled out in May 2008




Because I already had other plans for the Formula, some parts have been bought during the summer of 2008 for the next winter. 

Unfortunately, I had an accident at the beginning of July. I have been stocked at home for 14 weeks and my left hand will never completely recover. 

So I had a lot of time to think about “what will be the next move with the Formula”.

I bought a Cadillac 4.9 V8.
I started to clean it and prepare it, but I need to slow down, I already have a lot of work to do this winter, the Sombral (Thestral in english, it's her name) need a new paint. I am still grabbing information.

[falcon_ca]

Done yet this winter (08-09):

Interior
Bigger steering wheel (better grip)
White face glow gauges
Battery relocation box (battery not in yet)
Tweeters

Exterior
Ribbed IMSA rear panel (Fiero warehouse)
Front hood Cowl induction scoop
Rear mounted mustang scoop
GT front fascia
Reverse GT fascia front lip
Replaced flasher assembly with dual white Hella lamps (flasher and daylight)
Flasher smoked cover
Hidden radio antenna

Front suspension
New tie rod ends
New front Upper ball joints
New Rodney’s 1 inch lower ball joints
Polyurethane front bushings
New KYB shocks
New Front upper control arm shaft
New bolts and nuts everywhere
Everything sandblasted and painted (por-15 + Tremclad)
Poly ball joint/tie rod dust boots

Rear suspension
New Gabriel Gas shock (or should I say strut ?)

Engine
1990 Honda CRX Cold-air
Camaro SS exhaust tips

Left to do
Install scoops
Paint, Black Mica
Reassemble
Install exhaust tips
4 wheels alligment

[falcon_ca]

Pictures available at this other Picasa

Here some:

[87GT]

Nice looking and thorough job - that's a lot of work - are you retired or just high energy?

By the way, where did you get the seat covers - my car could use a set like that?

Where in Northern Quebec?

Gord

[falcon_ca]

Nice looking and thorough job - that's a lot of work - are you retired or just high energy?

By the way, where did you get the seat covers - my car could use a set like that?

Where in Northern Quebec?

Gord

Thanks Gord

No I am not retired, but I spent most of my spare time working on the Fiero. In fact winter 07-08 was very Fiero oriented. 

Seat cover are from IGGEE. They usually have some on eBay or go to their web site IGGEE

I live in Chicoutimi, Saguenay. Google map

[dguy]

Nice attention to detail!

[falcon_ca]

Nice attention to detail!

That's the fun parts 

Nice transmission you have there. Where can I see more about your project ? Found

[dguy]

Nice transmission you have there. Where can I see more about your project ? Found

Hopefully that will stop being a dusty old thread a by March...   

[87GT]

falcon_ca

Where did you get these -

"Exterior
5"X7" Diamond cut sealed beam conversion housings
H4 halogen bulbs rated at 65/55 Watts, with an output of 90/100 Watts"

Thanks,

Gord