87 GT questions |
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88FormulaFiero
Member Joined: 06 February 2008 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 83 |
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Topic: 87 GT questions Posted: 13 July 2008 at 9:29pm |
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Hey everyone, I just purchased a second fiero, a blue 87 GT 5speed. And I have a few questions. First, when turning right at more the 40k the rear right suspension rattles / squeeks? Any suggestions as to what might be the issue? (the car needs new shocks if that is related) Second, now that i've actually driven the car i noticed that the clutch pedal gets quite firm at one point, for about 2 cm of travel. This is quite a bit before the clutch starts grabbing, is this a significant problem or just a quirk of the car? Thanks, Ryan |
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Capt Fiero
Admin Group Founding Member Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 4039 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 13 July 2008 at 9:55pm | |||||||
I would grease all the ball joints and tie rods and see where you are from there. The shocks are shot, and should be replaced before racing, but it is drivable. You have been kinda spoiled driving an 88 as your first Fiero and the 87 is just not going to feel as stable as the 88 until you do some mods to the 87. The quickest way to improve the 87 is to get a bump steer correction kit installed. Not cheap or easy, but it is the one limiting factor of the 84-87 suspension. Much cheaper and faster to do is add a rear sway bar, drop the car 2" with lowering springs, then convert everything to Poly bushings. Rear sway bar can be done cheap, under $100 if you find a spare front sway bar and remount it to the back. Drop springs are about $225 fairly straightforward to install. Poly is about $225 for the kit, but it is not easy or fast to do the work. You have to completely dismantle the entire suspension to install it.
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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
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88FormulaFiero
Member Joined: 06 February 2008 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 83 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 13 July 2008 at 10:04pm | |||||||
I've already been looking into new shocks and lowering springs, but I havent heard of a bump steer correction kit, who sells them? I was also pondering how much to lower it as it will be used as a daily driver for much of the year, I dont want to be too limited in where I can drive it by how low the car is. Thanks, Ryan |
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Capt Fiero
Admin Group Founding Member Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 4039 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 13 July 2008 at 11:34pm | |||||||
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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
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Capt Fiero
Admin Group Founding Member Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 4039 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 13 July 2008 at 11:38pm | |||||||
Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
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88FormulaFiero
Member Joined: 06 February 2008 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 83 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 July 2008 at 9:45pm | |||||||
Hey Dave,Thanks for the quick replys. And i have another question if you dont mind. Any particular brands for the springs, shocks or poly bushings you would reccomend for these parts? In looking around I've seen a few options but dont know enough to know wich is better or more worth the money. Thanks, Ryan |
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Capt Fiero
Admin Group Founding Member Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 4039 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 July 2008 at 10:52pm | |||||||
Before anyone corrects me, yes I know I slaughtered the spelling on a few words in my post below, so bad in fact that even the spell checker could not find them out.
Well for Basics, without going exotic. Suspension Techniques for the springs Prothan for the Bushings and Kyb's for the shocks and Struts.
If anyone else has any suggestions, please feel free to post them up. Suspension Tech springs are pretty much the bottom of the barrel, but the barrel isn't that deep. I think there are at most 3 options for springs, 2 of which I can think of, Eibach and Suspension Techs however I think the Eibachs were in the 350 range, where the ST's were only 225ish. Eibachs real benefit is a smoother ride, ST are a bit harsher. |
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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
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88FormulaFiero
Member Joined: 06 February 2008 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 83 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 July 2008 at 10:12pm | |||||||
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep an eye out too see if i can pick up the parts at a reasonable price. Will still be another three or four weeks untill I have time to do any work on it so im not in a big hurry to find everything. Thanks, Ryan |
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Capt Fiero
Admin Group Founding Member Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 4039 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 July 2008 at 11:22pm | |||||||
THere is no rush to get your car tweaked up. Just work when you can and get better as you drive and mod it.
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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
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Bassman
Senior Post God Sir Brian Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 2501 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 18 July 2008 at 10:27pm | |||||||
Ya, that bumpsteer looks great, think I'll do that 1st next season with the Trueleo...lol
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Brian (Bassman)
86 GT Fastback 3.2L 2013 Mazda3 Sport GS SkyActive [IMG]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u243/Bassman68/BassmanSignature.png"> |
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Capt Fiero
Admin Group Founding Member Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 4039 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 18 July 2008 at 10:42pm | |||||||
Brian when you do get the conversion done, you are going to have to let me take it for a spin and see just how it feels. |
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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
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Bassman
Senior Post God Sir Brian Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 2501 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 18 July 2008 at 10:44pm | |||||||
But of course buddy...you know I'll need your assistance:)
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Brian (Bassman)
86 GT Fastback 3.2L 2013 Mazda3 Sport GS SkyActive [IMG]http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u243/Bassman68/BassmanSignature.png"> |
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88FormulaFiero
Member Joined: 06 February 2008 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 83 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 20 July 2008 at 6:25pm | |||||||
not in a hurry to modify it too much, definitly not the bump steer kit. but would like to get it much better than it is. It kinda floats down the road right now. I've got a friend in the states who's offerd to get some of the parts for me at cost plus 10% so that should make it less expensive, at least. to attempt to solve the squeeking suspension I tried to lube the suspension but found that most of the grease boots? resevoirs? (not sure the right name, and my haynes is a couple of blocks away in my 87 ) have been punctured / ripped (3/4 at the back and 3/6 at the front) what would the parts be called to find replacements? I dont want to drive it too much because it gets quite loud when turning to the right at any kind of speed. On the plus side i've gotten a driving lesson from my Uncle and its much easier to drive an older standard than I was fearing, easier to drive than a mazda 3 or RX8 , despite the warnings i've had "its not like driving a new car you know..." thanks for the answeres and suggestions Ryan
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88FormulaFiero
Member Joined: 06 February 2008 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 83 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 20 July 2008 at 6:28pm | |||||||
oh and one other question, the radio is wired up very weird. to turn it on you must turn on the backlights, turn the dimmer dial all the way down, then all the way up, and then the power button on the radio will work... anyone have any idea how it might have been wired to work like this? thanks ryan |
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Capt Fiero
Admin Group Founding Member Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 4039 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 20 July 2008 at 6:36pm | |||||||
The boots are a pain to replace as you have to remove each ball joint. I would just give each one a few good squirts through the zerk fitting until it starts to squish out the torn boot.
As for the stereo, it sounds like there is a bad ground, or shorted something someplace. Maybe they even wired the power wire wrong so it is feeding power from the dimmer circuit. In any case, remove all of the stereo wiring and start from scratch. Assuming the connectors are still there just buy an proper install kit with harness, if the connectors are gone, I would find someone with a parts car and buy the OEM harness plugs from them and splice in the original stuff and then go out and buy the proper adapter harness. You can wire everything up by hand, but it ends up being a major PITA later on. |
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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
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88FormulaFiero
Member Joined: 06 February 2008 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 83 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 20 July 2008 at 7:04pm | |||||||
yeah, thats what i tried when i greased it, but it didnt solve or even seem to help the squeeking. i guess I'll pull out the radio when i get a chance to take a look, its not a priority compared to the suspension though, (only two more booked weekends then i'll have some time to work on the car!!! Just came back from oregon today, next weekend its seatle and then the weekend after that ontario Thanks, Ryan Edited by 88FormulaFiero |
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88FormulaFiero
Member Joined: 06 February 2008 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 83 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 20 July 2008 at 7:54pm | |||||||
I was just thinking about it and the shop that replaced the clutch also did brake work, so I should probably take a look to see if they forgot any other bolts before driving it much more. Ryan |
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Capt Fiero
Admin Group Founding Member Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 4039 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 20 July 2008 at 8:22pm | |||||||
Probably could not hurt to take a look over EVERYTHING on the car.
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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
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88FormulaFiero
Member Joined: 06 February 2008 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 83 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 20 July 2008 at 8:47pm | |||||||
yeah, lol
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