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Prepping for tomorrow’s meet and...

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Graeme View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Graeme Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Prepping for tomorrow’s meet and...
    Posted: 09 March 2007 at 9:41pm
So I'm trying to get the Formula ready for tomorrow to take to the club meet and decided to first up change the oil and give it a quick tune up.

One of the places I took a quick look was the air filter, and this is what I found:









So, as you can see, this car has been sitting for a little while. It actually doesn't look so bad all around, this air filter is definitely one of the worst places, and by far the worst air filter I've seen.

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marcelvdgn View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote marcelvdgn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 March 2007 at 10:22pm
crap....... was thing actually running with that filter ???????
Marcel 86SE V6 Auto
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Graeme Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 March 2007 at 10:22am
yes, it ran. We'll see what kind of difference it will make later on when I'm finished changing the spark plugs and wires. Probably need to clean the contacts in the rotor too.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Bassman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 March 2007 at 10:51am
Ouch
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Graeme View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Graeme Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 March 2007 at 1:03pm
I managed to replace the spark plug wires and clean up the rotor and dist cap (need to replace them really..) the distributor itself is a mass of rust. I've actually never seen one that isn't, so if I actually drive this thing that is another item that will have to get replaced.

I also got the 3 front spark plugs out but the back ones just weren't possible. I think there is a pile of junk in the sockets which stops the socket wrench from getting down and around the spark plug. How would I go about cleaning that out so I can get those spark plugs out?

All in all it runs much better now. Starts on the first crank and idles fine. I can hear it miss every once in a while and I'm sure it's either the dist or the back 3 spark plugs.

I should have no problems getting it to the meet tonight, I just hope the rain holds off because the wipers aren't the greatest.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Capt Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 March 2007 at 1:22pm
The main issue with the filter in that bad of condition is the engine would have been sucking in the metal bits from the casing that will play hell with cylinder walls, piston rings and if it makes it around the engine enough will quickly eat away valves and other such parts.   If the oil was changed recently, and you check the oil for any particulate matter you might be able to avoid disaster.  As for the miss, get those back 3 plugs changed, swap out the ignition pick up coil.  (white round thing under the dist rotor) Clean everything up as best as possible and drive it.  If something is going to go wrong, its not going to go wrong in the driveway.    When you need to change the air filter again, pick up a decent K&N filter.  They casing is made from a much better material as well as being an oil bath filter there is little to no chance of rust.
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Graeme View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Graeme Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 March 2007 at 1:28pm
Yeah, I thought of that too. The oil wasn't so bad though (black of course..) and I didn't see any particles will cleaning up. I'm sure there were some though.

It doesn't seem to burn oil, I can't smell it at least, and the car itself runs nice.

But like I said, I don't know how I'm going to get those back spark plugs out. The socket wrench just won't make it down over the spark plugs properly. Hopefully I'll get it worked out when I get a bit more time to tinker.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Graeme Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 March 2007 at 1:29pm
and yes, the ignition coil needs to be replaced rather badly. There isn't anything white under that dist cap.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Capt Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 March 2007 at 3:17pm
Under the dist rotor there is a yellowish round donut with 2 wires going to a connector, it is plugged into the black ignition module.  It is a cheap part (15 bucks) however is a pain to replace as you have to remove and dismantle the entire dist shaft to change it.  They should be changed every 3-4 years depending on the amount you drive the car.  It can cause a weak ignition and intermittent miss.
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Dr.Fiero View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Dr.Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2007 at 8:37am
Or you can pick up a complete re-man distributor if you don't feel up to the challenge.  The new ones some with a MUCH better design relucter as well (doesn't use those 6 flimsy little arms).

If you've got a compressor, stick your blow gun nozzle down in there to blow the crud out around the spark plug holes (as you've noticed, they fill up with leaves and debris!).  Make sure you use a bit of never-seize on the plug threads!  2 of my plugs were getting rusty - and they were out only a year ago.

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Capt Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 March 2007 at 1:32pm
Dr. Fiero, you got any pics of the new style dist shaft, I had no idea there was a redesigned dist shaft for the Fiero.  That sound like it would make it worth while to change rather than rebuild.
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88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Dr.Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 March 2007 at 6:16pm
Sorry, I dont - I *think* Parker replaced his with a reman when he still had the black car - who ended up with his engine?  Isn't that the one that Ryan ended up buying?

If so - run out to the alley!!   :D


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Post Options Post Options   Quote Capt Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 March 2007 at 9:10pm
I just got done working on the 85, and still have lots to do on the 88.  If I am not working tomorrow I will go and pop the cap off and see if it is diffrent.  If it is, I will take a bunch of pics.   I know you and Ryan rebuilt the motor in the car, do you think you would have used the same dist shaft?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Dr.Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 March 2007 at 11:00pm
Sorry - waaaay too long ago.  I barely even remember doing some form of swap on it!

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Capt Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 March 2007 at 12:13pm
Graeme and I went and checked it out, it appears to be the same as any other Fiero dist I have ever looked at.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Graeme Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 March 2007 at 5:25pm

Finally did the back three spark plugs on my formula. What a total pain that was. Very nasty stuff trying to get back there and file out the rust enough to get a socket on the spark plug itself. Took about 2 hours in total, here are the three plugs with a new one next to them for comparison:

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Dr.Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 March 2007 at 5:37pm
At least you didn't hit any rounded off ones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(been there - done that - NASTY!!)

I used a slightly smaller 12pt impact socket.  Pounded it on, and got it out of there.  What a PITA though!

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Capt Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 March 2007 at 10:42pm
Damn those are nasty.  I should post up pics of the ones Lisa just pulled from her car.  She failed Air-Care so she is doing a tune up on the car to get it ready to try again.  (I got stuck working 12hr shifts Friday Saturday Sunday)  Hers were nice platnium
Capt Fiero
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