Fiero Performance

Anyone got any magazine articles or anything on Fieros doing anything track-related? The car gets a bad rep, but I think it can be a mean little track monster.

Modifieds can be pretty quick. Stock 4cy. forget it.

The '88s the best--the rest are GM partsbin cars.

STS_ZX2 wrote: The '88s the best--the rest are GM partsbin cars.

True enough, but you can get a cradel to swap into the 84-87 cars that brings them up to 88 spec, more or less.

I'd love an '88 GT

JeepinMatt wrote: I'd love an '88 GT

A friend just bought one yesterday. made it all of 48 miles before it crapped out on her.

Doesn't mean I don't want one though.

The fastest autocross Fiero's use an 84-87 chassis with a 88 rear end swap.

I remember Fieros with a 4 cylinder running in IMSA with some success , but have no idea what engine that actually was. They looked pretty cool though.

SD4 engine.

They cost mucho nowadays.

Shawn

I had a stick 87 GT. I was a blast ti drive. I should've kept it . Maybe I'll get another one someday.

I've owned several and autocrossed an '88 Formula very well in stock form. Pass on the 4 cly cars unless you plan on swapping engines. They drive very different from anything else, take your time an learn the new dynamics of mid-engine. They are fun and don't deserve the bad press they get.

I've had 2 Fieros, 86 base w/ 5 speed. and my favorite

1 out of 127, White WS.6 T-top formula v6 5 speed, I miss it

Start here: http://www.fiero.nl/cgi-bin/fiero/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro

don't sleep for a week while you read the build threads by themselves and convince yourself you have the skills to build an LSx powered Fiero for $2010 and bring it to the challenge...

Raze wrote: Start here: http://www.fiero.nl/cgi-bin/fiero/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro

+1

THE place to start. A guy I work with races one in Lemons and Chumps. They do pretty well for $500...

www.cartct.com go to the results section. We have 2 that run regularly, and another 6 that can show up on any given day.

my latest idea for evil is a 2.0 Cobalt SS turbo engine in one of these...300hp without the V-8 weight.

Or even a 2.4L NA Ecotec for that matter.

Even if you get an 88, or swap in the 88 cradle, they still are a little sketchy in the handling department. (I have had an 88 GT, oddly one of the few cars I have had that i DON'T Miss..)

Ecotec Turbo is a good idea for a swap, but you will need to buy a bunch of E36 M3 from Held motorsports to get the handling under control.

There have been very few people to document much on running a stock-ish Fiero on road courses, from what I know of. Lots of autocross documentation, which isn't where the car shines IMO, and a few high dollar Fiero-bodied-but-not-really-a-Fiero road course cars, not much in between. I think a properly set up '88 is a LOT of fun on a road course. With some off-the-shelf adjustable anti-roll bars, springs, engine swaps, and brake upgrades it could be a pretty capable car. However, at the end of the day, if you put that same $XXXX worth of bolt-ons into a Civic or a Miata, those cars would end up faster on the track. The mid engine car definitely handles differently and has a lot of potential if you can get it dialed in properly, but mid/rear engine cars are a neat trick to learn how to get up to the limit without going past the limit.

You have to want a Fiero to make a Fiero track car. If you have a passion for the car or mid engine cars in general, you won't be disappointed...but you could probably say that about modifying anything that you have a passion for, so what the hell do I know?

Bryce

Nashco wrote: ...and a few high dollar Fiero-bodied-but-not-really-a-Fiero road course cars, not much in between.

Some pretty stout autocross cars fit that description as well.

http://andyseipos.com/p967098119/h2b8e28c5#h2b8e28c5

National Champ in EM several times--

STS_ZX2 wrote:

Nashco wrote: ...and a few high dollar Fiero-bodied-but-not-really-a-Fiero road course cars, not much in between.

Some pretty stout autocross cars fit that description as well. http://andyseipos.com/p967098119/h2b8e28c5#h2b8e28c5 National Champ in EM several times--

I doubt that Nashco was referring to EM tube-frame beasts when mentioning "documentation".

Having seen the tempermental nature of Tamandli's car and the effort it takes to make it "work" at an auto-x, any road course activity would likely be limited and expensive.

Steve's car, I am sure, has it's moments--but most of the time that I've seen it run, it's been crazy fast. Jeff Cashmore often drives it when it comes to town (Milwaukee)...and that is a treat to watch.

Great just wasted 35 minutes looking at Fieros......

LS1 conversion.

I had an 88 with a small block, it was primarily a street/autocross car (still on the SDS project page I think). Never went to a roadcourse with it, but having much more seat time since then in various machinery at different roadcourses, looking back I think it would a have made for a good track car, much better suited to that environment than a short autocross course which requires quick transitions.

It's like any mid engine car, turn-in isn't so great, mid-corner patience is required because a little rotation quickly turns into ALOT of rotation, but it makes up for it on corner exit with excellent drive. But without lots of tire and lots of power all that requisite finesse won't really show in terms of sheer performance. Satisfaction, and fun for sure but I wouldn't look for more.

I think an 88 with a supercharged 2.x Ecotec (with Torsen equipped transaxle) could be a quick, not too difficult to drive (and interesting!) track car.

I am really surprised how well some of the nicer Fieros out there have held their value. While I still see beaters for sale all the time for under $1000, I have seen several well kept GTs and Formulas listed for $5,000-6,000+ Not that I know for sure the cars are ever going to get sold but still shocking to me. For that kind of money I would get an MR2 Turbo if I wanted a mid-engine sports car...

A buddy of mine used to have a formula(not sure which year) with a 350 swap and that thing was crazy fast. My friend was only 17 when his dad built that car for him, I would NEVER stick my kid in a car like that! hahaha Needless to say it ended up totaled.