Please tell me the good, the bad, the ugly, the pitfalls. Or to just run away.
Please tell me the good, the bad, the ugly, the pitfalls. Or to just run away.
For that $, I like it.
Nostalgic. I still remember the first time I ever saw one. I was finishing up at college in 1984, and there it went--a bright red Fiero 2M4. It was an exciting time.
Typically GM in its evolution. There were numerous quality issues with early units. Internal GM politics kept it from being a real competitor to the Corvette. As they fixed problems, the hit to the car's reputation caused sales numbers to drop. By the time they more or less perfected it, they gave it the ax because it was losing money.
I would look for the best '88 I could find. Last and best of breed.
That looks good for the money. Check for rust under the trunk carpet. The passenger dash corner isn't cracked.
There is nothing particularly complicated or unique on them. Basic 80s GM suspension and drivetrain. I find the handling of the pre 88 cars to be to my liking more then the 88s. The 88 suspension has less bump steer but I felt like it made a car that felt less mid engined and more prone to understeer. So it was more Stable and from a design perspective superior but I personally wouldn't avoid a pre88 and would not seek out the 88.
The brakes are hilariously weak compared to modern breaks but you can swap mid 90s grand am stuff on all 4 corners and get really good breaks for cheap.
I'd buy it. Best Ferrari I'm likely to ever afford.
Wish it was closer. I want an iron duke in my life.
Learned on GRM...
The '88 is considered by many to be the best because of the revised suspension which includes an entirely different engine cradle. The earlier years of Fiero suspension was all GM parts bin stuff used on other models too like Chevette front suspension. As such, as the years have passed, the one-year-only and Fiero-only '88 suspension replacement parts are near impossible to find. The earlier model year stuff is all available since it too was used across many models.
This one shown is a '86 so that means it's a year with good parts availability.
I have owned 3 Fiero's; 1984 2M4 (lost in court); 1986 SE, V6 4speed, 190k miles (gave to son to trade for '79 Firebird; and a 1986 GT V6 5speed, that acquired 300K miles before the cooling lines froze and split.
I am looking for a 1985 GT (without rear wing) hoping to find one converted to V8. I think I would try to put the best engine Pontiac made in V8, the 400 ci. into a Gray with Orange trim GT.
I own one. Someday I'd like to drive it.
87 GT (with wing) that was an abandoned motor swap several years ago and I bought CHEAP.
"How do I feel about fiero's?"
Mixed. very very mixed.
How hard is LS swaps in these? Or other decently powered v8? Audi v8?
Cadillac 4.9L Aluminum V8 bolts right in, but 215 hp @ 4500rpm, though that engine weighs less then the stock engines, and has a rev range that matches the stock 4-cyl. I've always thought it would be fun as a challenge car into a 4cyl car.
Northstar bolts up as well but.. it's a northstar with all it's challenges.
All GM FWD V6's will bolt up, which give lots of good options if your looking for 200-300 hp.
SBC uses the V8 archie kit. I believe Archie offers an LS kit now as well. The Chevy V8's require an adapter plate.
Lexus/Audi or other V8's would be a roll your own sort of affair.
All Stock 4 speed trans are a Muncie M10 derivative that is pretty strong. Many say that the V6 4-speeds are the strongest trans available. V-6 5-speed are a Getrag that also has a good history in 300-350 hp applications.
In reply to yupididit :
Mine has a built 3800 SC V6. It should be sprightly enough with 350ish ponies.
V8s can be stuffed in them reasonably easily but the 3800 swap is apparently the easiest was to skin this cat.
That's not bad. $800 would be a steal. They really are fairly easy to work on and mechanical parts are cheap. Fun cars, I've had several. This one may need a fuel pump, you'll have to drop the tank to do it. Some tall Jack stands or a lift will make it about an hour job. The EGR pipe likes to split and cause a huge vacuum leak so watch for that if it runs bad. That on has the good 15x7 wheels, 225/50/15 fit nicely.
Fieros? I like them. Are there any left?
Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) said:They really are fairly easy to work on and mechanical parts are cheap.
Been laying on the rear deck of a 914 wrenching with one hand, how hard can this one be?
I'm not far from Lime Rock and once the world opens back up, I was thinking track days. Auto-X bites, stand around a parking lot all day for a few 30 second runs? Pass. Got Superchips for these? Got tips, forums, advice? Wanna buy a GoldWing?
Snowdoggie (Forum Supporter) said:Fieros? I like them. Are there any left?
Someone in my neighborhood is trying to get rid of a dozen or so of them right now. I might have been willing to take one or two off his hands, but he's trying to get rid of all of them at once. I'd like to have one as a fun cruise-in car, and maybe for an engine swap, but I have a lot of higher automotive priorities first.
I tracked my 86 v6 SE a few times. Mine was stock engine with Grand Am brakes and track approriate pads.
They are not fast down the straights. 135 HP ~2700lbs will do that. I didn't have any issues with cooling with a stock radiator but the system was in good shape. Cornering and transition is their strong suit.
One thing to be aware of is controls are heavy. Like seriously. No power assist on the steering, the clutch is stiff, as is the throttle. Brake boost is low. It's great for feedback but the car does wear you out and it can be hard to keep up with sometimes. The shifter on the 4 speeds is not precise (though I could no clutch downshift so it isn't that bad).
Mine had stock WS6 (IIRC whatever the Fiero uprate Suspension was) Suspension with non adjustable upgraded shocks. Alignment was basically max rear camber and front was -2.5/3* achieved by flipping the stock upper ball joint around backwards. Handling was very nuetral with strong turn in. The car would respond really well to weight transfer and I never had issues with it snap oversteering. That said they are mid engined and lively.
I can't speak to there long term track durability for the engine but the chassis won't let you down. People make parts to improve the stock front suspension and they will swallow quite a lot of tire. They are 5*100 and run FWD offsets so aftermarket rims thanks to Subaru BRZ type cars.
I think one would do what you want and be a unique car for that use.
1988RedT2 said:Nostalgic. I still remember the first time I ever saw one. I was finishing up at college in 1984, and there it went--a bright red Fiero 2M4. It was an exciting time.
Typically GM in its evolution. There were numerous quality issues with early units. Internal GM politics kept it from being a real competitor to the Corvette. As they fixed problems, the hit to the car's reputation caused sales numbers to drop. By the time they more or less perfected it, they gave it the ax because it was losing money.
I would look for the best '88 I could find. Last and best of breed.
Eh, not exactly.
https://ateupwithmotor.com/model-histories/pontiac-fiero/
A sales goal was set, they didn't meet them and were axed.
If you were going to get a Fiero, that one is probably the one to get!
Of course there's lots of upgrades and improvements available in the aftermarket thanks to its parts bin nature and its use under so many fiberglass knockoffs of Ferrari/Lamborghini bodies.
So yeah, a FWD LS swap is doable as are a number of other GM FWD engines (Quad4? 3800? yes and yes).
In reply to Stefan (Forum Supporter) :
After reading the article you reference in its entirety, I still feel that my five sentence summation parallels the article quite closely.
I like them. I'd like one someday, just to have.
All of them through 87 basically use Chevy Citation suspension and brake bits. Not inspiring, but available.
88s did a complete suspension re-do that is much better, but parts are mostly NLA.
SBC, 3800, LS, all will fit without too much headache. Saw one once with a 400 small block that could lift one wheel on the street.
Just for inspiration, here is a one that I almost bought a few years ago. Supercharged 3800 with a nice cam. Hard to believe a V6 can sound this good.
Thanks NoCones, no hopes of being an Andretti just resurrecting an old hobby. Drilling holes in the sky with a motorless airplane just isn't getting it.
I liked them so much in college I created a replacement using our Amiga 500 computers to design a new one, then built a clay model of it as an assignment. Pics are somewhere. Still want one.
You'll need to log in to post.
