Topics

196

The Market / 4-cyl manual?

« on: April 18, 2020, 09:07:07 am »

For a while, now, I've been considering buying an underpowered Fiero with a manual transmission.  My son is starting to like doing things with me, but not long rides.  My theory is that he would enjoy being more involved in the driving process.  Years ago, I had a 5-speed Camaro, and my kid sister used to always like riding with me, because I'd let her shift.  My son is old enough to shift, if the shift doesn't require more effort than his body weight.  There are some fun roads around that would require a lot of shifting in an underpowered Fiero.  So, I'm keeping me eye out.

197

General Discussion / Happy Easter!

« on: April 12, 2020, 10:02:14 am »

In observing our socially-distant Easter, may you enjoy good food, good health, and well wishes.

For those of us participating in a virtual Easter, may your virtual experience be smooth; may your A/V quality be good, and may you see and hear family and friends.

198

Tech Tips, Tech Questions / Copper or brass?

« on: April 09, 2020, 08:20:45 pm »

My guess was that the throttle body coolane tube fittings were brass, but are they?

199

General Discussion / Batman gets pulled over

« on: April 08, 2020, 07:39:24 pm »

Apparently, Batman is a bad guy.  He's driving down the road, doing his thing, but the police eventually stop him.  The officer tells him to shut the engine off, it'll take a while.  Tickets issued for the following:
1.  Illegal window tint
2.  Refusal to show ID
3.  No insurance
4.  Reckless driving
5.  Speeding
6.  Evading police
7.  No plates
8.  Illegal vehicular modifications
9.  Missing emissions controls
10.  Failure to follow posted traffic signals

200

General Discussion / Consumer vs commercial

« on: April 06, 2020, 06:47:14 pm »

My wife mentioned that the apparent shortage of paper products could be due to the fact that people are working from home, thus needing those items at home.  Supposedly, consumer and business supply chains are different, and the business supply chain slowed, due to a drop in demand.  Apparently, purchasing is non-essential, or I'd check with them.

This is a theory.

201

General Discussion / Coronavirus humor

« on: April 04, 2020, 03:31:26 pm »

You thought dogs were hard to train?  Look at all the humans that can't sit and stay!

This is the longest something from China has lasted.

My house got TP'd, last night.  It's now appraised at $875,000.

202

General Discussion / More or less travel?

« on: April 02, 2020, 08:12:49 am »

The last few days, traffic on the roads has probably been 4 times what it was, last week.

Yesterday, I spoke with some people who drove from California to Arizona, where they are staying for 2 weeks.

Monday, I spoke with some people who just came back from Spring Break in Florida.

Are people in your area abiding by the restrictions?

203

General Discussion / Happy April Fools' Day

« on: March 31, 2020, 11:56:56 pm »

I suspect there will be fewer pranks.

204

Club Events / MAFOA's Quarantine Car show

« on: March 30, 2020, 06:22:53 pm »

Posted with permission

MAFOA is looking to help the Fiero Community break the boredom during these tough times.

(If you are on Facebook - PLEASE CLICK "GOING" ON THE EVENT PAGE TO GET THE BEST UPDATES!)

We are getting ready to kick off our Quarantine Car Show! The entry period will run for the next two weeks - all entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM on April 11. It is our hope to have voting up and running by Monday AM - April 13.

In order to participate, you must submit the following to jennifer.g (at) fieropride.com . All photos must be of what your car looks like currently and must be for a car you own. (i.e. if your car is currently a V8-swapped vehicle, you can't submit pictures of when it was all stock).

1. A side shot
2. A shot of the engine compartment
3. At least one interior shot
4. Front compartment shot (optional)

You must also provide the year, model and mileage - as well as your name and hometown - as well as any affiliated clubs (if applicable).

Classes are as follows - show mgmt. has final call on classing. If classes exceed 10 cars, splits will be listed alongside. For further classing info, please visit the link below.

Class A: Stock Notchback (3 or less "minor changes)(Can be split into Coupe & GT/Aero SE)

Class B: Stock Fastback (3 or less "minor changes)(Can be split into 86/87 GT & 88GT)

Class C: Custom Notchback (Unlimited minor or medium changes/no major changes i.e. visible engine swaps or major body panel changes)(Can be split into Mild - stock color, 3 or less customizations & Wild - non-stock colors, 4+ customizations)

Class D: Custom Fastback (same as above)

Class E: Modified Notchback (Unlimited Changes/Includes all cars with visible engine swaps or major body mods such as Norm's Front End, Scissor Doors etc.)(Can be split into 3800s, V8s, All Other Swaps)

Class F: Modified Fastback (same as above)

Class G: Kit Car

Class H: Work-in-Progress (Enter your disassembled projects, in-progress projects etc.) Must include a brief write-up of what you're working on.

Prizes are still being finalized but will include gift certificates to Fiero vendors and other Fiero-related perks! We also hope to allow participants to host FB lives to show off their cars if they wish to do so!

Voting guidelines will be announced shortly as well!

205

The Market / Fiero go-kart

« on: March 26, 2020, 05:41:19 pm »

For anyone who didn't see this.  Obviously not mine.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/snw/d/west-chicago-1984-indy-fiero-go-kart/7098401525.html

Now's your chance.  I thought about it, but have no place to put it.  A while back, I had considered building one, but no space.

206

General Discussion / COVID-19

« on: March 20, 2020, 04:25:01 pm »

Last night, I was tasked by a group with which I'm associated to draft a statement on COVID-19.  My instructions were to create something down to earth, understandable, actionable, and reasonable.  What follows is the final version of that draft, as I submitted it to the county executive and several other officials.  This draft is mine.  Any version released after review by the other groups will have been edited by lawyers, health professionals, and every Tom, Dick, and Harry up the chain.


Health officials have declared COVID-19 a pandemic.   Due to the infectious nature of COVID-19, and the lack of an effective treatment, the board has postponed or cancelled scheduled imminent club events and activities.
 
To help curtail the spread of COVID-19, please do the following:
1.  Do not spread COVID-19.  If you have been exposed to, have tested positive for, or are symptomatic of COVID-19, please do not attend club activities or events; rather, contact your local department of health.
2.  Limit discretionary travel.  If you must travel, please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website (cdc.gov) for travel guidelines and the latest updates on areas with confirmed cases of COVID-19.  If you are traveling to an area where the virus is present, or are unsure whether or not it is present at your travel destination, please contact your local county’s department of health for further instruction.
3.  Continue to participate on the forum.
4.  Check on the elderly in the community, who are among the most vulnerable.  Make sure that they have access to food.
5.  Use an alcohol-based (60% or more) sanitizer to disinfect hands and all common surfaces.  Germs can survive on surfaces for 24 or more hours.  Good hygiene is critical in prevention.
6.  Avoid physical contact with other people.  Keep your distance--particularly from people who are coughing.  Be sure to make eye contact with people, and to greet them.
7.  Practice proper cough-and-sneeze etiquette (guidelines are available on the CDC website at cdc.gov).
8.  Keep the personal touch by calling or sending e-cards for anniversaries, birthdays, etc.  It is critical that we continue to maintain emotional contact with others at this time.  This will ensure that we do not lose contact with others.
9.  Do something that makes you laugh.  Look at old pictures, watch a funny movie, or play a game.  This will help your emotional well-being.
10.  Continue to do things that are normal.  Eat at regular times.  Exercise.  Do your chores.  This will help your physical well-being.
11.  Limit your intake of the news.  Once or twice a day is plenty.
12.  Work with your hands.  Work on your cars, work on your house, or do projects.  This is for your mental well-being.
13.  Keep children active.  Have them help plan future activities and events.  Play simple games (board games, card games, etc.).  Discuss trips to other places.  Do some bird watching.  Doing these things will help maintain closeness and give hope for the future.  This is critical for children.  Be open to and available to answer questions.  Children need to feel that they can ask questions.  They must feel safe in the present and confident in a future.  This will help their immune system, as well as inhibit infection by modeling your behavior and hygiene practices.
14.  When possible, look up at the stars.   This puts problems in perspective.
15.  Catch up on your reading.  Choose novels, magazines, or periodicals not related to the current situation.
16.  Replace your home air filters.  Don’t skimp; get the high-quality air filters.  Clean the vents.  This will reduce allergens and other causes of respiratory issues, ensuring that your immune system is as robust as possible.
17.  Do your Spring cleaning.  Be thorough.  Get all the dust bunnies.
18.  Change your entire outfit when coming in from a public setting.  Wash your clothes.  Take a hot shower.  Sanitize your footwear and coat.
19.  Avoid handling cash.  Cash is notoriously a carrier for infection.
20.  Avoid smoking of any type.  COVID-19 is a respiratory virus.  Smoke inhalation inhibits your respiratory system, making you more susceptible to respiratory issues.
 
The latest updates on the coronavirus (COVID-19) as well as all preventative measures can be found on cdc.gov.
 
Thank you for you cooperation in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

207

Club Events / Virtual Car Show

« on: March 16, 2020, 06:09:52 pm »

I propose that we have a virtual car show.

208

General Discussion / Baseball activity

« on: March 15, 2020, 10:37:28 am »

My kids will be playing baseball, supposedly.  We'll see how this goes.  I did baseball, one year (who would want to wear those outfits in public)?  I was a natural--except that I couldn't catch, hit, or throw, and had no knowledge of or interest in the activity.  For anyone else that gets roped into a baseball activity, allow me to share some things I learned that may help.  Also, beware that they keep making up rules as they go.

1.  Beware their ambiguous language.  When they say, "after hitting the ball, let go of the bat", what they actually mean is, "after hitting the ball, gently set the bat down on the ground".
2.  When you're about to get to the first plate, there is a guy there, blocking your way, usually sticking his arm out.  The following are unacceptable ways to deal with this obstruction: grab arm, knee crotch; cross body block; elbow to the jaw; elbow to the chest.
3.  When they say, "don't let the guy tag you with the ball", don't kick his arm, his head, or his chest.  Actually, apparently, the guy with the ball can do some chicken thing, without getting anywhere near you.
4.  The guy at the plate furthest from the batting plate does not like being growled at.  He will complain.  In fact, if you tell him that you'll plow him out of your way, your team will be docked points.
5.  Sometimes, there is a guy in the way between that plate and the next plate.  He does it on purpose.  There is no acceptable way to deal with this guy.  When he regains consciousness, he complains.  Also, he is apparently unable to jump.  If you jump over him, they claim you cheated.  Taking the ball from him does not work, either.  Running around him incurs more made-up rules.
6.  It seems that there are more plates, but mostly, the people stay out of your way, as they should--except the guy wearing all the gear; he determinedly placed his head in the path of my knee.  This caused an additional delay in an activity that seems to be mostly standing around, doing nothing.  One of the guys tried to trip me, which he was apparently allowed to do, but you are not allowed to sweep his legs.  The rules are rather skewed.
7.  For some reason, it's OK for the guy who throws the ball to hit you; however, if the ball makes contact with your bat and hits him, you get into trouble.  It isn't as if I have any control over that.
8.  When they say, "do whatever it takes to catch the ball" (playing in the grass), they actually mean, "catch the ball, if convenient".  There are lists of made-up rules here.
9.  When they say, "throw the ball at [so-and-so]", they actually mean, "gently throw the ball in the general viscinity of [so-and-so]".  As my coach told the other team, "you need to put your glove between your head and that ball!"
10.  They let me throw the ball at the batter.  I told the coach that this was a bad idea, because the ball could go anywhere, but he wouldn't listen.  No one wanted to bat for the other team.
11.  In general, if a player on the other team gets knocked out, they will make up a rule sgainst you.

209

General Fiero Discussion / Parts.com?

« on: March 13, 2020, 11:43:14 pm »

Using this thread, I went to parts.com, which says it isn't taking new orders.  The wording is ambiguous about their future.

210

General Fiero Discussion / Valve cover bolts

« on: March 08, 2020, 11:01:19 pm »

Not bad for 30 years old.