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Car Forum / Pontiac / Pontiac Fiero / April 2006

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A couple of Fiero questions

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Hank - 06 Apr 2006 14:01 GMT
My 85 2m4 got totaled last spring I am getting a 86 2m6 Black in the
next couple of weeks "free" but it will need lots of work my plan is
to used parts from both cars to make one. As it has sat for 9 years
question being since the engine has not been cranked I think in all
that time its a 6 cyl what precautions do I need to take ?

Also it has a 4 speed can i use my 5 speed on the 6 cyl ?

Link to my Fiero before and after it got totaled
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeecixb/page1.htm

Thanks
Hank
John Craker - 07 Apr 2006 06:29 GMT
Pull the plugs - fill the cylinders with ATF and let it sit for a week or
so.
Leaving the plugs out, slowly turn it over with a socket (19mm) at the
balancer a few times.
If all seems happy, crank it over with the starter until no more oil comes
out.

Fire in the old plugs, hook it all up.

Change the oil and filter.

Check for anything nesting/growing in the intake tract!

Try firing it up.

In theory you could use the Isuzu from your 4cyl car.  You need to change
over all the parts from it.  Mounts, cables, shifter, etc.  There would be a
minor rewire for the reverse lights (5spd does it at the tranny, 4spd at the
shifter).

> My 85 2m4 got totaled last spring I am getting a 86 2m6 Black in the
> next couple of weeks "free" but it will need lots of work my plan is
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Thanks
> Hank
JStricker - 11 Apr 2006 01:30 GMT
Everything John said but don't forget the fuel if there's anything in the
tank yet.  You can use the in tank electric pump to pump it out by putting
power to the aldl pin or jumpering the relay.  Catch it in a bucket and
properly dispose of it and then refill with fresh.  I'd also replace the
fuel filter as well AFTER pumping the old fuel out of the tank.

After 9 years if there's anything left that's going to be some nasty
smelling gas.

Beyond the engine, pull the console and check in there for mouse nests, they
love that insulation back there.  If it's clean, then there's probably not
much more in there anywhere but I'd also pull out the blower motor and
vacuum the heater out.

Take a look at the coolant.  Unless it looks really bad, I'd do the initial
start with the coolant that's in there and also add just water.  Once you
get it running, I'd do a good flush and fill.  Watch the brakes, calipers
have a nasty habit of sticking after sitting for that long a time.

John Stricker

> Pull the plugs - fill the cylinders with ATF and let it sit for a week or
> so.
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>> Thanks
>> Hank
hc@hcccc.com - 11 Apr 2006 17:02 GMT
> Everything John said but don't forget the fuel if there's anything in the
> tank yet.  You can use the in tank electric pump to pump it out by putting
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> John Stricker

In 1999 I had my bought-new-in-1985 Fiero GT rebuilt after being in
driveway storage, out in the open, for 6 years.

It was found that the gas tank liner was in barely acceptable shape but
within a year the tank needed to be replaced along with the fuel pump.
So you may want to do these things sooner rather than later.

I retired my GT initially after it developed a condition where it would
not run when warm, but that appears to have been leaking forward exhaust
manifold.

On my GT through its 21 or so years its main "problem" has been exhaust
manifold leaks and cracks, which tend to affect driveability when the
car is heated up. In each of three episodes where the car wouldn't run
well or at all when at operating temperature, a forward exhaust manifold
problem was in evidence.

During rebuild several areas proved needing attention:

1. Forward exhaust manifold;
2. Fuel tank and fuel pump;
3. Hangers and fasteners for underside cooling pipes, brake lines,
transmission oil cooler lines;
4. Alternator;
5. Brakes.

The brakes on my GT don't lend themselves to simple brake pad changes.
Typically reconditioned calipers have almost always been needed. Rotors
here in Canada are very cheap so one can also put new ones on for low
cost, although mine needed only turning at the last brake repair two
years ago.

Note that Fieros were recalled (automatics only however) for a problem
with the parking brake/piston actuator assembly on the rear brakes
causing the rear break self-adjustment to fail. All Fieros had the
problem but GM ducked the recall to manual transmission cars by casting
the brake issue as a "parking" problem. Automatics have transmission
locking pins, and the reasoning was they therefore did not need the fix.

As an owner, one has to allow for this issue on one's own.

I was advised many years ago by Transport Canada (I filed the only
complaint on the matter in Canada), that rear brake adjustment,
especially the proper adjustment of the parking brake cable, are very
important with these cars. The rear calipers do not adjust for wear on
these cars except when parking brake is applied. It was also my
impression that the parking brake design tended to seize up the
calipers, interfering with the rear brake adjustment in that way to.

Incidentally, there is a way to check if the parking brake is applying:
With a reliable engine running, park on a hill nose down. While holding
the brakes on, apply the parking brake. Then shift into neutral and
slowly release the brake pedal. If the car starts to move a problem
exists. Be careful, allow LOTS of space ahead and no cars or people in
the way.

This test does not verify whether the adjustment on the brakes is
necessarily working when the parking brake is applied, it seems to me.
My impression was that the adjustment may not happen possibly because it
is corrosion that can set in within the caliper mechanism.
Hank - 12 Apr 2006 02:43 GMT
>> Everything John said but don't forget the fuel if there's anything in the
>> tank yet.  You can use the in tank electric pump to pump it out by putting
[quoted text clipped - 77 lines]
>My impression was that the adjustment may not happen possibly because it
>is corrosion that can set in within the caliper mechanism.

Thanks for all the great advise I got the car Sunday what a pain that
was used a small trailer and the rear wheels are locked. I was told
car was started a couple of years ago. It turns over good but will not
start. I squirted some gas into it at the throttle body it started and
stopped. I cannot hear the fuel pump like on my totaled car which by
the way still runs. Any way to check the pump wiring or anything the
fuse is good ?
My 85 before I got it sat for 7 years I drove it for 5 years no pump
or tank problems.
Not sure which direction I am going to go my 85 the front end damage
is not that bad looks fixable the rear end the trunk is caved in and
everything around it as well. can that section be removed and replaced
easy ?
Will the 6 cyl come out the top like the 4 cyl ?
will need to evaluate both over the next few days or weeks.
Main damage to my 85 is just about all body panels are broke and like
I said the rear middle trunk section.
The 86 will need a full paint job and the interior is for crap water
damage and previous owner interior disassembly. Link of the 86 and my
web site to include my 85
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeecixb/86fiero.htm
Thanks again.
Hank
Mr Potatohead - 12 Apr 2006 11:29 GMT
I don't see why you're thinking of swapping to the "new" car instead of
fixing up the damaged one. I picked up a GT that had slid into a tree at
30MPH. We had to cut off everything in front of the front bulkhead and
weld on chassis parts from a junker. Your car looks like bolt-on stuff
in front and a bit of chassis (trunk) reshaping in the back. It looks
like you did a nice job fixing it up originally. You ought to be able to
do it again. Then, once that one is back on the road, the other one is
just sitting there looking for a restore. :-)

>>>Everything John said but don't forget the fuel if there's anything in the
>>>tank yet.  You can use the in tank electric pump to pump it out by putting
[quoted text clipped - 101 lines]
> Thanks again.
> Hank
 
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