Hey guys, it's been a while since I've been online here. I've spent all my time on a Fiero forum, they've been awesome help. I'm also posting this build there, so everyone can see it. I know most of you guys live in England, so you don't have Fiero's there, but this is one helluva project for me (It's my first project car, engine swap, brake job, and restoration ever). You may also be interested since the whole project is being kept a secret from my parents, and I am only making minimum wage so this is quite a balancing act. I'll post some pics in a little bit, but I really want feedback.
Project Fiero
- Thread starter MisterHolaMan
- Start date
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Alright, so the junkyard I visited was the place for all the clunkers, so there's a TON of good car parts. There are a couple drug dealer cars with really expensive rims, so I'm gonna get stuff from there and sell it for a lot more!
charger69
Pro Tuner
Alright, so the junkyard I visited was the place for all the clunkers, so there's a TON of good car parts. There are a couple drug dealer cars with really expensive rims, so I'm gonna get stuff from there and sell it for a lot more!
nice idea mate.
but, hey, why are you so much stuck up with the fiero, can't you change it for another better car?
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Well, like I said before, I like this car too damn much. I feel connected to it. I might get another car to drive around until this one's done anyway. Oh yeah, and Fiero means "proud" in Spanish, so...
charger69
Pro Tuner
so you're mexican?
well, try getting tuning tips from a toyota mr2 and compare them with the fiero.
what's the list of problems you have?
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
My main problems are the engine, which after sitting a year in a garage (wasnt prepped for storage) then was left in a thunderstorm, then it wouldn't even turn over. The battery box was completely rusted, so I threw it out. Also the brakes are frozen because they left the e-brake on for a year, but new calipers are $100 for a new set. And I'm not Mexican btw
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
OKAY, I finally got the engine! It's a 4.9L V8 out of a 90's Cadillac. It's kinda weak at 200hp, but that's plenty for a light car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hncXUqPd2rI&feature=related
Check out some of his other videos, it shows his build and stuff. My problem now is getting it shipped, and getting an engine crane.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hncXUqPd2rI&feature=related
Check out some of his other videos, it shows his build and stuff. My problem now is getting it shipped, and getting an engine crane.
charger69
Pro Tuner
OKAY, I finally got the engine! It's a 4.9L V8 out of a 90's Cadillac. It's kinda weak at 200hp, but that's plenty for a light car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hncXUqPd2rI&feature=related
Check out some of his other videos, it shows his build and stuff. My problem now is getting it shipped, and getting an engine crane.
hey, that's not a problem, the engine sounds cool, it seems like a nice food with no spices, when you'll add the spices, you'll have the best dinner.
you don't need an engine crane,just 2 other strong friend of yours, some chains and a strong metal stick.
that's how we do here mostly when removing or adding engines.
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
The thing with the engine crane is I'm going to use it for lifting the back end of the car, since most people go through the bottom with the engine. I also need to buy the engine wiring harness and ecu, but I've got that lined up too.
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Okay, so now I've payed for an engine crane and it'll be here friday. In other news, I found out that the Fiero is lowered!!! I compared pictures of mine to the same model on google, and mine is at least half the height as stock.
charger69
Pro Tuner
hey cool, so that means you're saved from lowering your car.
hey how can i find you on facebook, myspace... etc...?
pm me.
hey how can i find you on facebook, myspace... etc...?
pm me.
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
My url for MySpace is on the contact information part of my profile page...
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
I have bigger pics there too, and some of the Buick I have that I'm getting rid of.
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Buick now sold!
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Okay, new question. Other than being extremely loud, what are the drawbacks of not using bushings on the engine mounts?
pgarner
TC ModFather
no flex at all so movement is passed onto the frame.
also if you do have slight slack them you will have metal rubbing on metal wearing it away quickly
also if you do have slight slack them you will have metal rubbing on metal wearing it away quickly
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Okay, forget that then, I'll go with poly bushings.
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
I think that my engine is coming tonight, but I'm still confused. What the hell else should I do to the Fiero? Give me some cool ideas. For later I'm thinking leather racing seats, scissor doors, an MR2 dash, and flush mounted headlights. What else do I do!?!?!???
Don't run before you can walk. Get the car up and running first then start planning the interior and styling mods.
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
I think I'm going to work in teams, that worked pretty good before. What happened was I worked on the engine, while somebody else was taking the brakes off, while the rest were figuring out how to remove the seats. I hope if I can work like that again, I can get more done at once. Any ideas on what to do?
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
I got more pics on my profile for people still interested. The new engine's here, but it's too cold to work on it right now.
charger69
Pro Tuner
where are the car pics on myspace?
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Oh, I forgot to tell you. I had to delete the pictures off myspace. My parents are monitoring that and my Facebook, I'm very lucky they didn't go through my pictures on there. I'm telling people that I sold the car because word was spreading like wildfire, but I reposted the pics here, since they don't know about this site. I'll get everything back on myspace when it's all over.
charger69
Pro Tuner
so what's next to be done?
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Next, I need to figure out what will affect the rest of the swap, wiring. I've been doing some reading, and some people out there have converted the 4.9 to a carburetor, and ignition via a distributor instead of a computer controlled ignition. Since I hate cars having ECUs and I don't need to worry about emissions tests, what else do I need to do to get rid of the cars computers?
If you go with a carb setup then You don't really need much else in the way of electronics. The door locks, immobiliser and window mechanisms are often managed by the ECU so you probably won't be able to do away completely with a computer.
You'll be switching the ignition for a distributer and points setup.
You'll be switching the ignition for a distributer and points setup.
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Not true in this case. The ECU on the Fiero barely even runs the engine, it doesn't do much. The electronic locks and other stuff is so old I'm pretty sure they act alone.
New issue at hand though, I want as many accessories off the engine as possible, like a/c and power steering, along with useless electronics like passkey and all stereo and anything else like that you can think of. I know that I'm going to be pelt with error codes. My problem: How to I program that stuff out of the ECU?
Reprogramming an ECU is a specialist job. An aftermarket ECU might be an idea, but as you are going to drop fuel injection for a carb you will probably get away without one.
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I think I'm staying with fuel injection for now. People on the Fiero forum are telling me that it shouldn't be too hard to wire it up, it's just like connecting hoses, only these lines carry electrons.
Have a look at Mega Squirt if you can get this over there. It is a stand alone fuel injection management ecu.
MasterAuron
Very Senior Member
Have a look at Mega Squirt if you can get this over there. It is a stand alone fuel injection management ecu.
You can. In fact if you buy a kit here, chances are you'll have to get it from the US. I have to agree with Waynne though, you could have MS up and running for less than £250 but it's a LOT of learning and very time consuming so it's ideal if you're on a budget. Go standalone, bin everything you don't need such as electric windows etc etc.
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
I do like the idea of running a megasquirt, but that is a TON of programming. I need to keep reminding myself about how I only found this car while searching for a beater, so I don't really want to put too much effort into it, like with running a standalone. Running the 4.9's stock ECU shouldn't be too big of a problem, but I still need to reprogram some parameters a little bit anyway. I'd rather touch up a couple small things rather than programming the entire thing, which would take forever. The 4.9 I'm running is kinda fast, but if I want to make the Fiero really fast in the future, I'll do a supercharged 3.8 from a grand prix GTP with pullies and a standalone. With that kind of setup, I could run 11's. The 4.9 can get into the 14's max, so I won't work too much on it.
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Okay, does anybody know about hotlinking here? I tried to embed pics of my car on the fiero forum, and I'm the only one who can see them on my post.
pgarner
TC ModFather
does the forum require a login ? is so then maybe thats they wont work.
open a photobucket account if you use multiply forums this way you can have all the photos in one place and use the code for all the forums
open a photobucket account if you use multiply forums this way you can have all the photos in one place and use the code for all the forums
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Okay, I felt like doing a quick update now. Nothing much has happened, but now I'm trying to sell the thing, because it is turning out to be a money pit. I found another Fiero of the same model and color, sunroof, everything is the same but it's the 4 cylinder with a 5 speed, and it's absolutely mint with 75,000 miles.
charger69
Pro Tuner
if the fiero is such a trouble, why do you hit the wall with your head bro?
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Well, I just can't afford to rebuild the whole car, it's cheaper to buy a newer one. Fieros are a dime a dozen, that's why a lot of Fiero enthusiasts have 7 or more of them. Plus, I'm getting sick of paying rent on the garage, and my dad is wondering where his lights are that I'm using. Plus it's way too cold to work on it.
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Stick it out don't give up we all go through problems.
But I can't afford to stick it out!!! It'll cost me at least $2000 to finish this swap, and that's only the beginning. I'll need a new transmission since this one'll rip apart from the torque, the wiring is a disaster, and I can't even get the old engine out! It's waay too much work for one person to do, especially in secret, and with no money. It has 197k on it, so everything else needs replacing. The brakes are shot, and I can't afford the parts, nor do I have the skills. The suspension is crap, and the car has potential to be undrivable by the amount of rust, which may have eaten through half the frame by now! This car doesn't want to live, honestly, and my humane mind is telling me to put it out of its misery.
That's fair enought hope you have better luck next time.
MisterHolaMan
Torque Junkie
Well, project Fiero is officially a failure now. I finally gave up on selling it, so I gave it away.
Similar threads
Similar threads
