My '88 Fiero - The Never-Ending Saga

[Raydar]

Ah.  Those all sound like good things.  Does it require more battery to operate?  Amperage, that is.

Probably a bit less amperage, since the motor doesn't have to work as hard. (It just spins faster.)

[Fierofool]

From what I've read, most say to go with the drop spindles.  All other methods of lowering changes the suspension geometry.  Maybe not when setting alignment but as the car reacts to the road and load put on the individual wheel. 

[Raydar]

The only drop spindles available for the 88 are what used to be Held/Ryane or whoever the heck they are this year.
There were some serious questions regarding the quality of the most recent pieces. (One person had one to come apart.)
Jeremy from TFF/Fiero Factory was/is supposed to be in the process of acquiring the product line. If he does, I have every expectation that the quality will be top shelf.
I have no idea where that stands, however.

In spite of all the "nay-sayers" I cut the springs on both of my cars. (A spring has no idea how long it is, or how long it used to be, as long as it's done correctly.)
One coil is usually plenty, to drop the front level with the rear.
My gray car is running 86 GT springs on the front, cut by 1.25(?) coils. Theoretically, it results in a bit higher spring rate than the 88 springs. It rides fine, even with poly bushings.

[GTRS Fiero]

From what I've read, most say to go with the drop spindles.  All other methods of lowering changes the suspension geometry.  Maybe not when setting alignment but as the car reacts to the road and load put on the individual wheel.

The lower ball joints do change the geometry.  The springs just control ride height.

Yes, the load on the front wheels will increase...giving me the balance of the pre-'88 models, and reducing both drag and aero-lift.

Yes, geting into the car will feel as if the limbo bar was dropped by an inch, and I'll be more likely to hit angled driveways, trailer ramps, etc.

[GTRS Fiero]

All the poly bushings are coming out to be greased with a spdcial grease, so that the bushings won't squeak, later on.

I found 2 broken rivets under the rocker panels, so those will be replaced.

Under the nose, there is a black piece of....something.  There are staples(?) Holding this in place, and two rusty-looking metal pieces.  I'm trying to figure out how to get these apart, so that I can rectify this rust.

[GTRS Fiero]

While pulling the radiator, we checked the upper radiator support.  The support looked great.  There is nothing wrong with the radiator, except it's old, and probably getting clogged.  So, a new radiator will be installed.

Anyway, we pulled the AC condenser, with a plan to replace it.  Prior to pulling the condenser, it looked so good, we were ready to just clean it and put it back in.  Then we saw this:


And this:


So, the new condenser went in, after all.  It was a very good fit.

[GTRS Fiero]

Next came the radiator.  Well, it would not set in place.  After some time with a look-see, we discovered that the lower radiator support is bent.  Rrgh!

Back out came the radiator, then the support.  I'm sorry to say that this bent support was my fault.  Remember back in 2016, when the brake booster went out, and I drove my Fiero onto the trailer?  Well, as I stated then, I hit the bumper cover on the trailer ramp.  That transferred some paint, but also bent a few things.  Most of that was fixed, but this was not noticed, until now.

Here are some pics:

[GTRS Fiero]

The brace was bent about 1.5".  The radiator seated, but almost touched the sway bar on the passenger side.

We straightened the brace, stripped and painted it, and it will go in tomorrow.

[GTRS Fiero]

I got my rack rebuilt, sortof.  Rodney's bushing, new tie rod inners and outers, new bellows.  Trying to install the bushings, but not sure how.

[GTRS Fiero]

Here is the new condensor installed:


Nice fit.  Forgive all that rust on top.  That'll be addressed today.

[GTRS Fiero]

Test fit for the lower radiator support:


Notice the even gap to the sway bar.

[GTRS Fiero]

Here is the new radiator and fan installed:




I think it looks good, and fits well.

[GTRS Fiero]

Oh.  The fan does pull air rearward through the radiator.  Made sure it does not blow forward, out of the radiator.

I read somewhere that someone wired theirs backward.

[Fierofool]

Dang!  That looks nice.

[GTRS Fiero]

Thanks.  I hope you were referring to the new stuff, and not the rust.

This fan moves a lot more air, but draws less current.  Sadly, I have a brand new, unused motor for the old fan.  Once I saw this fan, I had to have it, and now I do have it.