“We Drive Excitement”

April 2018 April www.gafiero.org

SPECIAL EDITION SPECIAL

Mike Swayne’s red 1986 Fiero SE, newly purchased from his brother. From this picture, it looks as if Mike is overjoyed with his new purchase. He looks a little bit possessive of it. That is one nice—albeit imperfect—Fiero! Obviously, Mike plans to enjoy his Fiero, and with a car that looks like this, who could blame him? You can read about Mike and his Fiero in the Member

Spotlight section of this newsletter. This image epitomizes Fiero ownership. Official Monthly Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 4 Issue 3, Volume Newsletter Monthly Official

Tech Session Early on the 10th, club members Sarge, DeShoe, OldOne, MikeMac, GTXVette and Fierofool—along

April Meeting Our April club meeting will be held at the Galaxy Diner on the 14th. Please do not lay an egg during the meeting! We will be dis- cussing the upcoming cruise. with 2 guests—gathered at Northlake Automotive See the web site for de- to work on the club’s fastback Formula. Everyone tails.

Shakedown Coming! Not only are we holding tech sessions on the club cars, we’re getting ready for a shakedown run for Run For The Hills on May 19th. If you would like to join us for the shakedown run for fun, to help, or just learn how such events are put togeth- er, now is your chance. had their hands full working on the Fastback, and their efforts yielded the desired result: the fast- As always, see the web site for details.

Upcoming Events: Monthly Club Meeting April 14th @ 1:30pm: Galaxy Diner 3320 Henderson Mill Rd Atlanta, GA 30341

Spring Break Run “The Don Hulse Memorial Cruise” Date TBD back is running! The fuel pump, sending unit, and filter were all replaced. Fiero visitors Todd and Derek from Charleston, South Carolina really RFTH Shakedown Run pitched in with the fuel pump to help make the May 19th (Continued on page 3)

(Continued from page 2) Spring Series, Part 1 club’s efforts a success. Ah, Spring! Everything is fresh and blooming, and wet and..and..a-CHOO! Darn allergies! Yep, everything is out. The sun, the rain, the cars, and the people are all ready to dust off the Winter Blues and move on to the Spring Blues.

While some of us are ready to spend time working on our cars and taking them to shows, others may not be as excited with these ventures as we are. Your significant other, for example.

Although you may not realize it, both your spouse and your Fiero suffer from neglect. As you read this newsletter, be sure to thank your spouse for their forbearance.

In this newsletter, we’ll cover some tips for you and your spouse to help you share your enthusiasm, as well as some things you can do to get your Fiero in tip-top shape. This newsletter is the first in the Spring series.

Over the next few months, we’ll share details from those who know to help you get the most enjoyment from your Fiero. This includes tips for preventive maintenance, as well as general maintenance, small improvements, and show prep.

Todd and Derek, thanks for your help. It’s al- Our product reviews will help you choose the right ways good to be able to put names to faces. product for your Fiero, by providing you with product specifics and comparisons. Spring Maintenance Our technical articles will break things down for It’s that time of year again. The pollen and pests the do-it-yourself-er. Where possible, we will list are coming for your Fiero, to join the rust and rot. parts and any special tools needed, as well as any

insights you’ll need to get the job done. To help keep your Fiero its best, you should per-

form some basic maintenance: Whether you drive your Fiero throughout the 1. Clean the blower resistor and air box year, or just occasionally, we’ve compiled the tips 2. Change the oil you’ll need to keep your Fiero on the road. 3. Check ball joints 4. Check the tires 5. Check plugs/wires From the Secretary... 6. Charge/replace the battery During the March meeting, upcoming events and 7. Check/replace the fuel/air filters goals were discussed. 8. Lube the door hinges, headlight hinges, • The RFTH shakedown run was scheduled for decklid hinges, and locks 9. Check/replace the coolant Saturday, May 19th 10. Check brakes for smooth operation • The Don Hulse Memorial Cruise 11. Check the coil, distributor cap, rotor, and ICM Well, minutes were kept for the March meeting, 12. Check engine and transmission mounts but mostly, it was the tech session that hap- (Continued on page 4) pened.

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13. Check alternator/charging system 14. Check steering rack and tie rods 15. Check AC (if equipped) 16. Check wheel bearings 17. Check/replace belts 18. Check all lights 19. Check the suspension 20. Check vacuum hoses 21. Check fire extinguisher 22. Do a good cleaning in and out 23. Check the schedule of Fiero events 24. Participate in at least one Fiero event Living With A Fiero Enthusiast 2018 Board of Directors By Granny Linda Mike MacDonell (MikeMac), Chair Pat Swayne (TopNotch) Let me start by stating, Fieros are great little cars; Scott Brown (scottb) but be aware, it seems enthusiasts cannot own just Dewey Reeder (oldone) one. You might want to get your own hobby, be- Roger Newton (Roger) cause there will be days when he/she will be working on their cars all day. There will be times when 2018 Officers you will feel like, unless you have 4 tires and a 3800 engine, you don’t exist. Then they will come Dave Tyrrell, President in, get cleaned up, and invite you to an evening Pat Swayne, Vice-President out. Linda Swayne, Secretary/Treasurer When my husband got his first Fiero, we had a talk You can reach our club officers and board about money. We decided anything over $100.00 members through the club email address: would be discussed. So far it has worked. Thank- [email protected] fully, he can do most of the work himself. We also agreed, if a new Fiero comes in, one goes out. My Newsletter Subscription suggestion is to get everything worked out before We appreciate your feedback. Like it? Want the first Fiero arrives. something changed? Not getting it? Don’t want it anymore? Let us know. In closing, keep in mind that there are a lot worse things they could be into. To unsubscribe, use the subject Opt-out. [email protected] You know you’re in trouble... • ...when you discover that your spare ICM is also Georgia Fiero Club Store bad. If you haven’t purchased your 2018 Club • ...when someone compliments you on your Membership yet, please head over to the Fiero, then tells you that Fieros came with a V8. Club Merchandise page on our web site. • ...when the State Trooper pulls you over because your Ferrari (Mera) has Fiero license We are the only steady plates. source of Digital EGR • ...when the oil change tech tells you that your Adapters, made by club 88 Duke didn't have an oil filter. member Scott Brown. • ...when the oil change tech removes your radiator cap to check the coolant level. We accept PayPal, so order- ing today is fast and easy. Hope you enjoyed these.

Appreciating Fieros by Paul Ackerman (pgackerman)

Fiero owners have been known to complain about the lack of appreciation their classic car receives: not the interest generated at car shows, but the type collected in bank accounts. Are Fieros abused in the collector car market? Would you be better off owning anoth- er model? Let’s find out.

According to NADA, the MSRP of a 1984 base Fiero was $7679. This same Fiero, depending on how well it was maintained, is now worth $5674, $3273, or $1445 depending on if it is in High, Average, or Low retail condition. This works out to retaining 74%, 43%, or 19% of the original sale value. The news gets better if, according to Hagerty, this ‘84 is Concours quality. Then the value rises to $7900, or 103% of the original MSRP. What’s the moral? Keep your Fiero in top condition! Results for each year with base 4-cylinder Iron Dukes and GT’s: NADA NADA NADA Year Fiero MSRP High NADA Avg Low % High % Avg. % Poor Hagerty Concours Concours % 1984 4 Cyl $7,679 $5,674 $3,273 $1,445 74% 43% 19% $7,900 103% 1985 4 Cyl $8,495 $6,775 $3,900 $1,725 80% 46% 20% $8,000 94% 1985 GT 6 $11,795 $7,150 $4,150 $1,775 61% 35% 15% $11,900 101% 1986 4 Cyl $8,949 $7,150 $4,025 $1,775 80% 45% 20% $8,300 93% 1986 GT 6 $12,875 $7,450 $4,225 $1,800 58% 33% 14% $12,100 94% 1987 4 Cyl $8,299 $7,350 $4,225 $1,800 89% 51% 22% $8,500 102% 1987 GT 6 $13,489 $7,625 $4,425 $1,925 57% 33% 14% $13,100 97% 1988 4 Cyl $8,999 $7,600 $4,325 $1,925 84% 48% 21% $8,700 97% 1988 GT 6 $13,999 $7,900 $4,550 $2,125 56% 33% 15% $16,500 118% How does this compare to a rival from the same period such as the Corvette or Mustang? The 1984 Corvette was the first new model since 1968, and fans were more than ready to purchase a world- beater capable of close to 1g on a skidpad. But how have these cars held up in monitarily? ‘Vettes came well-equipped and any dollar-to-dollar comparison is skewed, punctuated by a new ‘88 ‘Vette having cost double the MSRP of an ‘88 Fiero GT. Year Model NADA MSRP NADA High NADA Average NADA Low % High % Low % Poor 1984 Corvette $21,800 $13,750 $7,900 $4,825 63% 36% 22% 1985 Corvette $24,403 $13,750 $7,975 $4,850 56% 33% 20% 1986 Corvette $27,027 $13,750 $8,100 $4,900 51% 30% 18% 1987 Corvette $27,999 $13,750 $8,150 $5,000 49% 29% 18% 1988 Corvette $29,480 $13,800 $8,250 $5,025 47% 28% 17% Obviously, we need to look at more than current retail prices. Instead, we should look at the percentage of the original value each car has retained. Year Model % High % Avg. % Low Model % High % Avg. % Low 1984 Fiero 74% 43% 19% Corvette 63% 36% 22% 1985 Fiero GT 61% 35% 15% Corvette 56% 33% 20% 1986 Fiero GT 58% 33% 14% Corvette 51% 30% 18% 1987 Fiero GT 57% 33% 14% Corvette 49% 29% 18% 1988 Fiero GT 56% 33% 15% Corvette 47% 28% 17%

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Percentage-wise, Fieros have retained more value than Corvettes 10 times out of 15. Fieros win 66% of the time, which is statistically good! I’m feeling a bit appreciated.

But what about those Pesky Ponies? Mustangs are a different animal: in 1984 six engine choices were available, including three 2.3L 4-cylinders (two with turbos—who says history doesn’t repeat?) rang- ing from 88-175HP, one 3.8L V6, and two 5.0L V8s. Eight different engines were available in ‘85, four in ‘86, and two in ‘87 and ‘88 (Regular 2.3L and a V8). Furthermore, cars could be ordered with a V8 that normally came with a six! Now add sedans, hatches, and convertible body styles! All these com- binations will not be covered. Here are “standard” Mustang prices from ‘84 through ‘88. Year Mustang NADA MSRP NADA High NADA Avg NADA Low % High % Avg. % Low 1984 4 Cyl $7,098 $3,103 $2,019 $1,233 44% 28% 17% 1985 4 Cyl $7,885 $4,025 $2,700 $1,600 51% 34% 20% 1985 8 Cyl $9,885 $4,825 $2,875 $1,800 49% 29% 18% 1986 4 Cyl $7,189 $4,100 $2,800 $1,750 57% 39% 24% 1986 8 Cyl $10,691 $4,625 $3,175 $2,550 43% 30% 24% 1987 4 Cyl $8,043 $5,450 $3,775 $2,125 68% 47% 26% 1987 8 Cyl $11,835 $8,550 $5,500 $2,950 72% 46% 25% 1988 4 Cyl $10,611 $5,550 $3,875 $2,175 52% 37% 20% 1988 8 Cyl $12,745 $8,550 $5,650 $3,050 67% 44% 24% Comparing an Iron Duke Fiero to a four-banger Mustang is straightforward. Fiero GT vs Mustang GT is not. We’ll let the results fall where they may. Below lists the value percentage each vehicle has retained, with Fieros taking 16 out of 27 spots, with one tie in ‘85. Year Engine % High Fiero % High Mustang % Avg. Fiero % Avg. Mustang % Low Fiero % Low Mustang 1984 4 Cyl 74% 44% 43% 28% 19% 17% 1985 4 Cyl 80% 51% 46% 34% 20% 20% 1985 GT vs GT 61% 49% 35% 29% 15% 18% 1986 4 Cyl 80% 57% 45% 39% 20% 24% 1986 GT vs GT 58% 43% 33% 30% 14% 24% 1987 4 Cyl 89% 68% 51% 47% 22% 26% 1987 GT vs GT 57% 72% 33% 46% 14% 25% 1988 4 Cyl 84% 52% 48% 37% 21% 20% 1988 GT vs GT 56% 67% 33% 44% 15% 24%

Surprisingly—and personally embarrassingly—the ‘88 Fiero GT Flagship has not matched up well. Alt- hough this is not quite the level of victory enjoyed over Corvettes, this is still a Fiero victory. But is this the full story?

A monetary comparison makes appreciating Fieros a bit clearer. In ‘84, Fieros cost an extra $581 more than the I4 Mustang, but are now worth $2571 more than the Ford in “High” condition, $1254 in “Average”, but only $212 in “Low”. Fieros still win two out of three categories even if the initial $581 MSRP difference is subtracted. Point to Pontiac! Once again the moral is to keep your Fiero in the best possible condition.

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Results are similar in ‘85 and ‘86, even with the initial MSRP difference increasing to $610 and $1760 respectively. 1985 Fieros win in High and Average conditions by $2140 and $590, but lose in Low by -$485 if the initial $610 cost difference is included. What’s the moral? There’s always someone who will buy a crappy Mustang. In ‘86 Fieros win in High condition and take Average if the offset is ignored. See the previous moral regarding Low retail.

But what about ‘87-’88? In 1987 Mustangs were redesigned to be more aerodynamic looking. Also, Ford was considering replacing the entire model with a rebadged and redesigned Mazda MX6 called the Probe (remember that?). These factors and a general interest in Fox-bodies have increased de- mand for these years. Even Mustangs can be appreciated.

The various offerings from each company are listed below. Differences are Fiero value minus Mustang value. The reader may include the MSRP offset as an exercise, but seriously, how many of us are original owners? Year NADA MSRP Difference NADA High Difference NADA Average Difference NADA Low Difference 1984 $581 $2,571 $1,254 $212 1985 $610 $2,750 $1,200 $125 1985 - GT $1,910 $2,325 $1,275 -$25 1986 $1,760 $3,050 $1,225 $25 1986 - GT $2,184 $2,825 $1,050 -$750 1987 $256 $1,900 $450 -$325 1987 - GT $1,654 -$925 -$1,075 -$1,025 1988 -$1,612 $2,050 $450 -$250 1988 - GT $1,254 -$650 -$1,100 -$925 From these comparisons we see Fieros take 17 out of 27 spots, and, although they might not be Show Shine the clear winner in vehicle appreciation, they are By Jack Cooke (Spirit) definitely not abused in the Classic Car market. Our plastic two-seaters have retained a greater It’s that time of year, again: SHOW SEASON. percentage of their value than ‘84-’88 Corvettes What better way to start the year, than with a and are giving Mustangs a good race. Until this good cleaning of your Fiero? Regular cleaning race is decided, appreciate your Fieros. will help appreciate your Fiero’s value. Follow the steps below to give your Fiero the shine it deserves. Sources: https://www.hagerty.com/apps/valuationtools/ 1. Basic Interior Cleaning: A 5.5HP shop search/auto/Pontiac/Fiero vacuum works well for this. Use a soft brush http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars and vacuum the entire interior-headliner, http://mustangattitude.com/mustang/ seats, floor, and dash. Be sure to get on top engine_allyear.shtml of the sun visors and around the sun roof. Then vacuum the rear All the values in this article represent baseline, trunk and under the front hood. daily driver(ish) examples. No NADA options 2. Detail Dash and Trim: Use a were selected except the engine used in a Mus- damp cloth to wipe all plastic trim, tang. Special models, SVOs, etc, and low mileage dash, door trim, console, and examples are not included. Toss in modifications, leather or vinyl seats. 303 Pro- 3800SC, convertibles, turbos, V8s, and Mr. Mike’s tectant is an excellent product for leather seats and we have the ingredients for an- this purpose. Using 303, wipe other article. Anyone wanna write one? everything plastic or rubber. Wipe

wipe off any excess with a fi- ber-free towel. You can use a toothbrush to remove LIQUID GLASS from the cracks. HINT: Apply the LIQ- around doors UID GLASS in a small circular a n d d o o r motion and then back jams with a damp cloth. Then use 303 on and forth horizontal- weather strip and vinyl. Note, I have used ly; this gets the poly- 303 on my car since 1986 and all plastic and mer into the paint rubber look and feel like new. Be sure to and gives a little extra shine. Be sure coat the weather strip under the hood and to wax around the doors and door the cowl and the trunk seal. jams. Do 2 coats 24 hours apart. 3. Pressure Wash: Pressure wash the car 6. Shine the Glass: Clean the inside with the pressure washer at a DIY car glass with oil-free rubbing alcohol and wash. Open the hood a n d the outside glass with Rain-X glass decklid to save cleaner. time. Cover the distrib- u t o r with foil, being sure of a secure It Just Keeps Getting Better fit over the coil and ICM. Wash around the head lights and wash Doing some unrelated searching, I’ve been pleas- out the radiator. Wash the antly surprised by the variety of items that make wheels and wheel wells. If the up GFC: engine is dirty, I spray SIMPLE In-person support  GREEN on the engine and throughout the engine compart- Monthly Meetings  ment. Let it soak for a few minutes and Online Club store  rinse the whole compartment. 4. Wash Outside of Car: Avoid using soap, Phone support  u n l e s s  there is Tech sessions mud and Car Shows  grease on car. If so, Web Forum  use a car Day Trips  soap, as dishwash- Parts Bin  er soap takes the wax off. If you have a fender Newsletter  brush, use it or a fuzzy car wash mitt--either Discounts  will clean dirt out of cracks and crevic- es. Use plenty of water to prevent scratch- Parades  es. Wash the wheels, tires, and brake cali-  pers with SIMPLE GREEN and a wheel-and- Cruises tire brush. Don’t forget the inside of the Dedicated membership  wheels. Rinse the entire car again, making sure all soap is off. A long and rich history  5. Polishing: For a real shine, go over the entire car with a clay In my search, I was only able to find 3 other Fiero bar. This may seem like a newsletters. Many Fiero clubs have monthly waste of time, but it gets meetings; most do car shows, annual events, and out dirt and grit that wash- tech sessions; some do car shows; some have ing leaves. Next, I coat some form of support; some have discounts; the car with LIQUID many do cruises; but few have all this and their GLASS. It is not a wax but a polymer coating own active message boards. that fingernails will not scratch. Go over the entire car, including lights and plastic. Get This is recognition for the people who have built the polymer in all the cracks. After drying, GFC into what we are.

cle it off. Don’t cut them off because they are 84-88 Heater Core just long enough to attach to the inlet and outlet Replacement and De- tubes. bris Removal Back inside, from underneath the dash, discon- AC-Equipped Vehicle nect the convenience center chime box and wiring by Charles Sewell (Fierofool) harness and remove the convenience center.

Replacing a leaky heater core is relatively easy on Now, begin to remove the screws around the pe- the Fiero. Generally, the only tools needed are a rimeter of the heater box cover. There is one 7mm socket; a ¼-inch drive ratchet and exten- screw at the top center that you will probably sion and/or a 7mm nut driver; a screwdriver; and have to locate just by feel. Once all screws are a hose-removal tool, such as Part #OTC4521 sold removed, you can separate the cover from the by Advance Auto Parts. It looks something like heater box. Note that there is a spring metal an ice pick with the end curled back toward the piece attached to the inside of the cover. This is handle. The ratchet, extension and socket are important when reassembling. used inside the vehicle to remove the heater core cover. The screwdriver is for the heater hoses in On the left end of the heater core, away from the the front compartment, and the hose removal tool inlet and outlet tubes, there is a metal band strap is to separate the hoses from the heater core that has a screw holding it at each end. Slightly metal tubes. loosen the top screw and totally remove the bottom screw. This band fits around the manifold Before purchasing your replacement heater core, tank on the end of the heater core and is used to I suggest that you remove the old one first and hold the core in place. Once the band is loos- take it with you so you can compare it to your ened, you should be able to remove the heater new unit. You may not have a problem with most core. brands, but the Ready-Aire or Spectra brands are the wrong size. I haven’t done a Non-AC car, so I Thoroughly clean any debris and wipe out don’t know how it compares. The process is simi- any leaked coolant that may be inside the heat- lar, though. er box. This will help prevent development of a hazy film on the inside of the windshield the next To eliminate spills and wasted coolant, remove time you use your defroster. This is also a good the thermostat cap at the engine. Using a suita- time to clean the rest of the heating system of ble catch pan of at least 3-gallon capacity, open any debris accumulation and is also relatively the drain petcock on the lower passenger end of easy. We’ll get to that in a moment. the radiator and drain the coolant. Slip the heater core out of the retainer band and To start the process, remove the passenger side take it to the parts store to compare. You will front speaker grill. Don’t use a screwdriver to likely not find a replacement that is the same leverage it out unless you place your finger or length as the OEM core. I have found that The something like a paint stirrer between the screw- OEM core is 6.25 inches wide from seam to seam. driver and dash, else you risk cracking the dash. R e p l a c e - Once the speaker grill has been removed, remove ment cores and disconnect the speaker and place both out of are the cor- the way. This is necessary to reach one of the rect height top screws of the heater box cover. and depth, but the Move to the front compartment and remove the width is sunroof glass storage shelf, if so equipped. Loos- about .375 en and slide the hose clamps down on the hoses. i n c h e s Retighten just enough to keep them from sliding short. For down to the bottom of the hose. Using the hose this reason, removal tool, hook it inside the hose between the you might heater core metal tube and hose and slide it want to check with a radiator shop to see if your around the inside of the hose to separate the hose from the metal core tubes. The hose tends (Continued on page 10) to stick over a period of time, so don’t try to mus-

(Continued from page 9) move the glass storage shelf attached to the front bulkhead, if you haven’t done so already. Remov- core can be repaired. ing the jack can give some extra working room, too. Locate the fan motor, which is just to the Original Harrison heater cores have end manifold right of the silver canister. Unplug the electric tanks that are capped over the core. Aftermarket connections. Remove the screws around the pe- heater cores all seem to have manifold tanks that rimeter and remove the fan motor. are flat around the perimeter. When my radiator shop pressurized one to locate the leak, the mani- To the left side of fold tank blew off one end. That’s the core shown the silver canis- in the final picture of this article. You wouldn’t ter is the heater want that to happen while driving. ballast resistor. This is where What should you do if you can’t repair your heater fires are started. core and have to purchase an undersized core? It has a 4-wire You will need to slide the core as far left as possi- harness plugged ble. into it. Unplug the harness, and When reinstalling, the left manifold tank must be remove the underneath the retainer strap. Be sure the strap is screws that hold it in place. Then remove the bal- tightly secured and in place on the manifold tank. last resistor.

Remember the spring steel bracket I mentioned at With the fan motor and the beginning of this article? Well, that’s supposed resistor removed, you to fit against the inlet and outlet manifold tank. should be able to see Because the bracket is firmly attached to the heat- most of the debris that er box cover, there’s nothing you can do about it. may have accumulated It does help to prevent the core from moving away inside. Wipe and vacu- from you when you push the hoses onto the inlet um everything you can and outlet tubes, so be sure to hold them securely. find. The leaves in this A little WD-40 or synthetic grease on the inside of resistor had already the heater hose will make it a little easier. It started to char and could have easily started a fire. would be beneficial if you have a helper who can This area is almost totally inaccessible, so press on the core from inside to keep it from mov- once a fire starts, it’s virtually impossible to ing away from you as you install the hoses. You avoid major damage. can now install the heater box cover, speaker and grill and convenience center if you like. The top This is debris that I was able to remove by hand. center screw (the one hardest to access) can be eliminated if you want. The other screws are placed sufficiently to keep the cover sealed.

Now, for the debris removal. Go back to the front compartment and locate the fan motor. If you

Some was in the fan’s squirrel cage blower and some was in the ductwork. Feel around through the opening for the fan for anything you can remove. Don’t think that because your car is a daily have a sunroof-equipped car, you will need to re- (Continued on page 11)

(Continued from page 10) We want YOU! Now is your opportunity to be featured in our driver that debris doesn’t accu- newsletter with your Fiero. We are accepting sub- mulate. For a very thorough job, missions in survey format. Selected surveys will remove the cowl cover and clean and vacuum be randomly chosen to be included in a Member every opening you can find. The push-in um- Spotlight section, as space permits. brella fasteners can usually be found at your au-

to parts store. Fastenal and many auto paint See the web site for details. and body supply stores have a good selection. Be sure to take one along to compare sizes.

Don’t forget to re-fill and burp the coolant, using proper refill procedures.

Editor’s note: For comparison, here are the measurements for the TFS heater core:

GFC is seeking Fiero owners and enthusiasts in the great state of Georgia to participate with our

The outside measurement is just over 5.75 inches club in activities and meetings. If you know of or are such an individual, please consider joining us.

Reward: support and comradery The inside measurement is 5.5 inches

Using Fierofool’s method, I was able to install the TFS heater core in my Fiero.

the brackets and motors for left and right side prior to removal. Let Your Lights Shine Clean that entire It’s Spring, and time to wipe away the gloom of area while the Winter. This includes the gloom that may be ob- buckets are out. scuring your Fiero’s lights. Check the headlight door rub GT Tail lights can be restored by Napoleon Taner- strips. The strips ite. He will get rid of the cloudiness and yellowish should be pre- cast and repair the delamination and tabs, as well sent and in good condition. as restore the glossy shine that your lights origi- nally exhibited. For an additional fee, he will Although a later article will address headlight mo- clean the back sides of the housings, restoring tor rebuilds, the motors themselves have plastic them to like new condition. When removing your components that tend to disintegrate, rendering tail lights, be sure to be very careful with the 6 the motors inoperative. TFS and Rodney Dickman tail light screws and the six tail light screw covers. sell headlight motor rebuild kits. Our very own They break easily and can be difficult to replace. Charles Sewell (Fierofool) offers a rebuild service. Of course, fastback tail lights are very rare, so handle with care. Finally, we move on to the front parking lights. There are two variants: clear (offered by BlackTop While the tail lights are out, be sure to clean all the accumulated gunk off the body panels behind (in front of?) the tail lights. For the threaded metal clips on the tail lights, carefully remove these from the tail light housings. Remove any rust, then paint the clips. Racing), and stock amber (offered by The Fiero Store). BTR used to buy its clear lens housings The stock side markers tend to age poorly, be- from TFS for its offerings, but TFS ceased selling coming discolored and brittle. TFS does sell new the clear lens housings, so BTR now sources its sets (without the DOT markings). Should you own, from the same vendor. The vendor has im- choose to replace your side markers, you may proved its product to resolve the issue that some want to consider people experienced with the lens coming unglued also replacing the and falling off. bulbs. Danyel offers LED strips in Over the years, the stock housings lose their lus- amber and red for ter. You can the side markers. leave them, polish them, or If you’re still running the original headlights, you replace them. can replace them with either similar sealed-beam E v e n n e w headlights, or with more modern housing/bulb lenses will fade combos. While you have the headlights apart, be and become cloudy, like this one that was re- sure to replace any rusty screws. You may also placed less than 3 years ago. need to replace the adjusters. Make sure to clean the headlight buckets and the entire headlight If you choose to replace your front parking light mounting brackets. The headlight shells should housings, you should replace the bulbs (if origi- also be restored, as this is a prime area for rust to nal) at the same time. If using the clear hous- thrive. I recommend sandblasting and powder- ings, you’ll need an amber bulb for each side; if coating to help prevent high-speed damage. using the amber housings, a white bulb for each side. Either incandescent or LED bulbs can be Not exactly lights, but the headlight motors used, just so the bulbs match from side to side, should also be given due attention. Check the but beware: some vendors sell bulbs that are not wiring, the relays and module, but most im- legal for this application. If your screws are portantly, the motors themselves. I recommend rusty, now is a good time to either treat the rust removing the headlight buckets. Be sure to mark or replace the screws.

Two Torx-head screws secure do not. The old lens with the alignment pins is in each housing to the mount for that housing. Removing the screws is the easy part. Working space in those areas is limited, so small hands with long fingers are a benefit for this task. The housings are not interchangeable; be sure to put the housings on the correct side. To aid in this endeavor, the housings are conveniently marked LH for driver’s side, and RH for passenger side. Not that it is also important to orient the housings properly, so that the top of the housing is up. the back. Note that this doesn’t seem to be an issue—just a difference I noticed. Since the same vendor manufac- turers the housings, the similari- Doing a side-by-side comparison, you can see ties should come as no surprise. Note that the part number mold- ed into both the LH and RH clear and amber housings is 51500.

There isn't really much differ- how much cleaner and brighter the new lens is. ence, other than the lens col- ors. The backs of the hous- Either housing should be great for your needs, but ings are identical chrome. be sure to use the appropriate bulb with your chosen housing. Clear housings should use an amber They are the same height, bulb, which is part # 2057A. Amber housings the same width, and the should use the clear bulb, which is part # 2057. This is for incandescent bulbs only; LEDs will be a bit different.

For additional bulb information and part numbers, please see the Light Bulb Guide, coming in a future newsletter.

For those wishing that extra bit of flair on their Fiero, seajai offers clear and smoked lens covers. I highly recommend his products, if you choose to same thickness. go that route.

These are both LH housings, in case you're won- dering, but you can vaguely see the markings in the image of the backs of the housings.

Since I have other lenses, I gave these a fairly Used clear lens, amber and white LED, note cloudiness good test to see if the lenses came loose. My original TFS clear lenses seemed fragile, right out Stock lens, with a clear of the box. Both the TFS amber lenses and the incandescent bulb, appears BTR clear lenses seem to be quality products, so to be fairly bright thanks to the vendor for addressing this issue. In the event that you do have the original lenses, you can gently pry the lenses loose with an Exacto -type blade, then remove the existing glue and re- glue. New amber and clear lenses, clear incandescent bulb

The original parking lights had little alignment Surprisingly, the stock lens, with all its age, isn’t a points, or something that sticks up on 3 corners, whole lot worse than the new lenses, as far as but the new parking lights from both TFS and BTR lighting goes.

roads and imagined putting a big motor in it!

In 2016, Mike's dream became reality. The For- Member Spotlight: mula is red on the sides, and black on the front hood and spoiler. It rides on 17" Borbet wheels clad with P225X45R17's all around. The '95 Caddy Mike Swayne Deville donor c a r h a d 37,817 miles on the 4.9/4T60e drive train that now powers this Formula. The Fiero Factory did Our members come from far and wide, in this the install in June of 2009. This car is an abso- case, Carrolton, Texas. Mike’s brother, Pat, had lute joy to drive. It will run all day at 85MPH in such enthusiasm for Fieros that that enthusiasm cool comfort at 28MPG! Mike has been rolling rubbed off on Mike, who joined the club 3 years ago, and is a regular participant in the club’s leg- endary annual RFTH. The first Fiero Mike owned was Pat’s red 1986 SE, but Mike eventually fol- lowed Pat’s lead and sold that Fiero to younger brother Lloyd in 2016, to concentrate on his “new” ’88 Formula.

At 65,000 miles, the Formula’s tan interior is in great condition. Interior modifications include a new Momo steering wheel (that fits his hands a the wheels on this one, accumulating 10K miles since 2016.

With the upgrade to a Chevy S-10 brake booster and C4 rotors, it stops like a modern car! Mike completely rebuilt the front suspension and the steering rack, then replaced the rear struts and repaired the toe arms. Future planned upgrades

lot better than the stock 4-spoke wheel did), and a TXGOOD center console.

Mike used to be a field engineer for Ampex, and thus flew to a city, rented a car, and drove to the work site. Mike never knew what he would be driving. One day in 1984 at the Tulsa airport, Mike became the proud driver of a white Fiero include a decklid scoop, dual exhausts, and dual with no guts (He knew nothing about them back throttle bodies on a modified Allante intake. then). He enjoyed driving the Fiero on twisty Why? Ear and eye candy!

TXGOOD Cup holders, glove boxes, glove box doors

Fiero Vendors Have you ever wanted to know where to find those hard-to-find parts? Perhaps something you saw that someone else had. If you’re looking for a vendor of a particular part or service, Pisa Fiero HQ the list below contains the recommended ven- Body panels, radiators, in- dors. Many of these vendors work from home teriors, lighting, cowl and do not have a dedicated web site, so you www.pisafierohq.com just have to search for them online. Tom’s Digital Electronics Digital gauges, smoked dash trim Fierosails—(closing soon) panels Decals, tech tips

www.fierosails.com www.tomsdigitalelectronics.com Snapperhead Performance mmeyer86gt/gtp Custom LED back-up lights, hidden trailer Keyless entry, recovered shift knobs! hitch, mirror panels, door sill mirrors, corvette brake swap, concentric rings Fiero Fiberglass TLG/Blacktop Racing Scoops, fascias, dashes www.fierofiberglass.com Lighting, performance Fiero Warehouse—business for sale Parts & fiberglass accessories www.oocities.org/fierowarehouse www.blacktop.racing Paul Angel Rodney Dickman’s Auto Acc’s. Custom fiberglass Suspension parts, hoses, tools, bushings, bear- www.angelonearth.net/customfiberglass ings, mounts Amida www.rodneydickman.com F355 front fascia, interiors RW Upholstery The Fiero Store Sunshade bags, sun visors, seat The premier Fiero parts covers, floor mats, sunshades, source trunk covers, seat belt covers, shift boots, e-brake boots, upholstery inside and out www.rwupholstery.com, fierointeriors.com www.fierostore.com Mr. Mike’s Norms Fiberglass Seat covers, upholstery Front tilt clip www.normsfiberglass.com

mrmikes.com IwannaIRM Dodgerunner 3800 mounts Automatic belt tensioner for Danyel V6's LED side markers; 60mm, 90mm & 4 x 6 headlights

http://home.windstream.net/dodgerunner/ Amida F355 front fascia, interiors (Continued on page 16)

GOT2B GM aluminum dogbone

Fiero Tom (Continued from page 15) Monsoon radio upgrade with AUX input

Chief FieroGuru Phantom wiper fix Lateral link relocation kit - for 88 Fieros, 13" Fiero Thomas brake upgrade for 88 Fieros, custom perfor- Spare tire covers, replacement mance hardware decals Seajai Front marker covers, automatic headlights Fiero Concepts Silver85sc Silkscreen spare tire covers Personalized aluminum parts decklid vents, sunroof tracks fieroconcepts.mysite.com Dome Decals

Domed decals Doublec4 Sequential LED tail lights, flush-mount headlights www.domedecals.com www.embraceracing.com Stock Interiors Sardonyx247 Carpet S10 Brake booster upgrade www.stockinteriors.com Fiero TTop

T-Top parts

www.fierottop.com/suppliers Milzy Motor Sports BV Motorsports 3800 EGR delete, F40 6-speed transmission F23 shift levers www.milzymotorsports.com Autovation Parts Performance pedals & plates Support our members &

www.autovationparts.com Supporters: SFX performance Rear window louvers

www.sfxperformance.com Sinister Performance Michael MacDonell Owner/Operator Performance mods, engine swaps

www.gmtuners.com 3924 LaVista Road Tucker, GA 30084 770-939-6007 ~ Fax: 770-939-2387 Napoleon_Tanerite www.northlakeautomotive.com GT tail light restoration service

Irrationable Steering wheel restoration service, shift knob restoration