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Author Topic: 88GT at Pull-A-Part  (Read 20420 times)

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Drewbdo

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #15 on: September 30, 2016, 08:32:00 am »
Some of arrive around 12:30-1:00 and go ahead and order our food.  Meeting is supposed to start at 1:30, and might last a half hour to an hour.  Tire kicking afterwards.  Lie-telling follows tire-kicking. 

Always allow for traffic, when traveling either direction.

OK. I put it on my calendar. I'll see if my wife wants to come with me. Her dad worked for GM for many years, so they used to go to a lot of car shows.
 
The first time I visit, I'll have to listen in to the pros, so I can learn the methodology for proper automotive "lie-telling". I've never had a car nice enough to tell lies about before. :D

That's a nice looking car!
I've seen quite a few rebodies, but most don't go to the trouble of doing a stretch. That opens up a lot of possibilities (like yours) and really makes the proportions nice.

Thank you, Raydar. This car was built in 1994 by Mike Vetter. In the 80's and 90's, Mike built a ton of replica cars. Now, he builds a ton of completely custom cars for customers with pockets much deeper than mine. My car was definitely the cheapest, shabbiest car at his shop!  :) lol

He doesn't build Ferrari replicas anymore. Ferrari beat him with a stick several years ago.  :o

Thankfully, this car had already been delivered to the owner. The same person owned it until I bought it. He brought it back to Mike as a partial down payment on a new custom car that Mike is building for him. Since Mike had originally built the car, and knew the owner took care of it, he agreed and handled the sale. Someone listed Mike's Craigslist ad on Mad Mechanics forum, where I saw it. I contacted Mike, I googled him to make sure he wasn't a scammer, and decided to take an eight hour drive to see the car.

I'm not into racing, but if I was, it has some real possibilities. Someone upgraded the engine to a 3.1, but due to the stretch, there's all kinds of space inside the engine bay. There's probably enough room for a Northstar or other large V8, maybe even a BMW V12. It has an auto tranny... an Italian look-alike deserves a 5-speed manual, IMO.

I didn't want a red car or a white car; was actually looking for a charcoal, navy blue, or black, as that would be a little bit less ... noticeable. "Pikachu Yellow" works too, I guess.  ;D

The side fins and the rear hatch need finishing, the entire car needs a good detailing, the lights are wonky (no brake lights, or reverse lights... fuse?), Freon leaks, and the power windows aren't much faster than my grandmother... and she's been dead ten years.  ???

It needs some TLC, but it's not embarrassing. The work should help keep me off the streets... instead, you can find me in junkyards, in the driveway, and in the garage. :)
« Last Edit: September 30, 2016, 08:34:37 am by Drewbdo »

Raydar

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #16 on: September 30, 2016, 09:22:37 am »
I remember hearing the name Mike Vetter, but it's been a while. You have a piece of history, there.

Quote from: Drewbdo

I didn't want a red car or a white car; was actually looking for a charcoal, navy blue, or black, as that would be a little bit less ... noticeable. "Pikachu Yellow" works too, I guess.  ;D
...

I also prefer "low key". My Fiero is painted "stealth gray", if that tells you anything.
My project is white, but I would have been happy with anything except black (too hard to keep clean) or bright (arrest me) red.
...

Drewbdo

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #17 on: September 30, 2016, 03:25:30 pm »
I remember hearing the name Mike Vetter, but it's been a while. You have a piece of history, there.

Mike's "kit car" website shows some of his work, current and past. He took us on a tour of his shop when we drove down. WOW!! They are doing some amazing stuff in there. I promised him I would not reveal his treasures, but he and his team are artisans.

Like I say, my car was the cheapest, junkiest looking car at his place. It's like after you have been working in your profession for a decade or two, and your mom pulls your 7th grade project out of the "memory box" in her closet... "Oh look honey, remember this?" :) lol

I also prefer "low key". My Fiero is painted "stealth gray", if that tells you anything.
My project is white, but I would have been happy with anything except black (too hard to keep clean) or bright (arrest me) red.

Yeah, keeping it clean is a major downer for a black car. Since I don't yet have a garage I can park in, that would have probably gotten old very fast. The red would have been ok, aside from the fact that it is so... predictable, I guess. Sports car = red, Ferrari = red, meh... I have driven the same little white Ford Escort for 18 years, and my DJ van is also white, so I didn't really want white again.

Since I saw the white one on Miami Vice back when I was about 15, the Testarossa has been my "go to" dream car. The purchase was for me to look at and my eyeballs to enjoy the lines and curves of.

I know a guy who is a multi-millionaire. He had a factory/real Diablo, and it was a greyish color. So, it wasn't until you heard the car that you really looked. Otherwise, it just of blended into the background. That was initially the plan for my car color as well. Of course, with a used car, and a limited budget, you kind of take what you can find. I have thought about painting it, but there are other things I'd rather spend money on first... like the side fins, a 5-speed manual conversion, AC repair, etc.

Although, now that I have the car, I will admit, the YELLOOOOOOW color has grown on me.  ;D lol

Anyway, I would like to attend the October GFC meeting. I have to work my day job that morning, but I get off at noon, and could drive down before my DJ gig that night.

I need to see if I can figure out the brake lights, and go to the courthouse and get tags this coming week though. The tires were shot, so I haven't been driving the car much. Just installed the new tires yesterday afternoon in my driveway... Baby has new shoes! :)

Drewbdo

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #18 on: October 02, 2016, 05:51:12 pm »
Not sure if I will make it.

Took my bride out for dinner last night. One mile from home, the engine dies... no sputter, just dead. Won't restart. Thankfully, we coasted to a stop in a church parking lot, and close to home. Kenny, the next-door neighbor, and the crazy guy who went on the eight-hour road trip to look at the car, is home. He tows us back up the driveway, backwards, into the church parking lot, with his little minivan, then gives us a ride home.

Kenny said, "I never thought I'd be towing a Ferrari with my minivan.8)

I said, "I never thought I'd have a Ferrari for you to tow.:o

Kenny and I took my 3/4 ton Chevy 3500 van back. It will start if I spray starter fluid. The fuses are good, I think it is the fuel pump relay I hear click in the rear of the car, but no fuel pump sound. Mike stated that he replaced the fuel pump, as the car sat four years. So, either he got a bad fuel pump, or maybe a wire come loose, or something.

God is good. We were in a safe place, on a dry, cool evening, close to home. Kenny and I managed to get the two straps onto the frame without damaging the body, then I towed with the van, while Kenny steered PYT.

I need to get under it, but I can't drive it up on the wood planks like I did before, and the jack can't get under it to lift the front. I may try to lift the rear, but not sure if I can get the fuel tank out with just the rear up.

Took a while to find info on which fuse to check etc. So, I just ordered a Pontiac Fiero factory manual on CD-ROM, as I know nothing about the car, other than what I have found here, Mad Mechanics, Pennocks, etc.




Roger

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #19 on: October 02, 2016, 06:38:24 pm »
Ignition module.
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TopNotch

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #20 on: October 02, 2016, 08:33:02 pm »
Ignition module.

If the tach doesn't move while you're cranking it, then yes, it's most likely the ignition module. A common Fiero problem. I had one die on me right in the middle of the Dubln GA St. Patrick's day parade (the club participated). I had one in my trunk, and managed to change it before the entire parade passed me by. I had to finish the parade separate from the other Fieros, though.
ps. They're kind of hard to change when the engine is hot. Easy when it's cold.
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Fierofool

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #21 on: October 03, 2016, 12:00:47 am »
Since you have spark, I would initially rule out the ignition control module, yet it may still be related to it.  Pull the 4-wire harness connector from the module and check the contacts inside it.  They can be pushed outward when installing the harness to the module and with time can lose contact.  If all 4 pins inside the harness end aren't all the way nearly flush with the end of the rubber plug, then push all the wires in until they are.  I believe the fuel pump signal is the 2nd pin from the right, as the harness is plugged in. 

You can check fuel pump by trying to start the engine.  Then with the ignition off, remove the cap on the fuel rail schrader valve.  Inset a small screwdriver and depress the valve stem.  You should get a spurt of fuel high enough to almost reach the surface of the decklid.  If there's no spurt, the fuel pump isn't working.   Should you need to eventually replace the fuel pump again, get a Delphi or AC Delco pump and separately purchase a piece of "Ethanol Submersible" fuel line to connect the pump to the sending unit.   

Even if you can't drive the car, come on out to the meeting. 
There are three kinds of men:

1.    The ones that learn by reading.
2.    The few who learn by observation.
3.    The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.    Will Rogers

Drewbdo

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #22 on: October 03, 2016, 01:05:27 pm »
Ignition module.

If the tach doesn't move while you're cranking it, then yes, it's most likely the ignition module.

It's up on jack stands now, but I may try... carefully and gingerly   :o :o :o ... to open the door, and turn over the engine. I don't remember either way if the tach moved when I was trying to crank.

A common Fiero problem. I had one die on me right in the middle of the Dubln GA St. Patrick's day parade (the club participated). I had one in my trunk, and managed to change it before the entire parade passed me by.

You're either really fast, or really good... even though Dublin, GA is a bustling metropolis, I can't imagine that the parade was all THAT long.  ;) lol

Fierofool

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #23 on: October 03, 2016, 01:33:28 pm »
Over a mile long.  Maybe 2.  Plan to be there in March. 
There are three kinds of men:

1.    The ones that learn by reading.
2.    The few who learn by observation.
3.    The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.    Will Rogers

Drewbdo

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #24 on: October 03, 2016, 02:26:09 pm »
Since you have spark, I would initially rule out the ignition control module, yet it may still be related to it.  Pull the 4-wire harness connector from the module and check the contacts inside it.  They can be pushed outward when installing the harness to the module and with time can lose contact.  If all 4 pins inside the harness end aren't all the way nearly flush with the end of the rubber plug, then push all the wires in until they are.  I believe the fuel pump signal is the 2nd pin from the right, as the harness is plugged in. 
I ordered the Pontiac factory manual yesterday, but it won't be here for a few days.

Where is the "4-wire harness connector" for the "ignition control module"? I would have guessed it is connected to the ignition module, inside the steering column or under the dash... near the ignition? However, Google has photos of something near the distributor on top of the engine. ?

Maybe I'm searching Google for the wrong thing.   ???

You can check fuel pump by trying to start the engine.  Then with the ignition off, remove the cap on the fuel rail schrader valve.  Inset a small screwdriver and depress the valve stem.  You should get a spurt of fuel high enough to almost reach the surface of the decklid.  If there's no spurt, the fuel pump isn't working.   Should you need to eventually replace the fuel pump again, get a Delphi or AC Delco pump and separately purchase a piece of "Ethanol Submersible" fuel line to connect the pump to the sending unit.   

Even if you can't drive the car, come on out to the meeting.

I tried to start the engine many times Saturday night, but I'll try again tonight, in case the pressure has bled off since then. I have a face shield; I've read on PFF that depressing the valve stem can spray gas in your eyes.   :o

Thank you for the invite. I probably will come out, hopefully driving PYT.  :)

Drewbdo

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #25 on: October 03, 2016, 02:27:27 pm »
Over a mile long.  Maybe 2.  Plan to be there in March.

Sounds like fun! :)

f85gtron

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #26 on: October 03, 2016, 03:27:31 pm »
Ignition module is in the distributor.
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Drewbdo

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #27 on: October 03, 2016, 04:52:42 pm »
Just tried to crank. Tach moved off the zero to about 2500-3000 mark. Based on previous comments, I'm guessing the ICM is ok.

Found the shredder valve on the engine from images on Google. Pressing it did not release any fuel, but I did hear a woosh of air,like when pressing on a tire valve stem. So, I'm guessing at one time, there was gas. :)

Guess I'll put the iPad away, and crawl under the car to get started on the fuel pump removal. :/

If you hear a loud explosion... I may have messed something up.  :o. Lol

TopNotch

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #28 on: October 03, 2016, 05:12:24 pm »
Pressing it did not release any fuel, but I did hear a woosh of air,like when pressing on a tire valve stem.

Any gas in the tank?
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Raydar

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Re: 88GT at Pull-A-Part
« Reply #29 on: October 03, 2016, 05:44:02 pm »
...
Any gas in the tank?

A valid question. My car pretty much sucks wind at 1/4 tank indicated.
...