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Breaking stuff to look tough.

Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: General Fiero Chat
Forum Name: General Talk about Fieros
Forum Description: Just want to chat about fieros? here's the place to make that happen.
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1049
Printed Date: 23 November 2024 at 6:25am
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Topic: Breaking stuff to look tough.
Posted By: Romeo
Subject: Breaking stuff to look tough.
Date Posted: 09 December 2008 at 7:07pm
I was picking up supplies today in my Fiero, and the weather wasn't all too co-operative. On the way back, I turned left, perhaps a little fast for the road conditions, and the car lost traction, then hit a curb and went right up and over it (into a parking area). Although the body is undamaged, the rear tires both blew, the front rim is damaged and the alignment and steering are both horribly mangled. Although I have my backup rims and tires on, they rub now that the alignment is gone, and the car is nearly impossible to steer as well. As such, I may miss out on the Santa Fox food drive, and my very first meet as well...

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Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.



Replies:
Posted By: kawana
Date Posted: 09 December 2008 at 10:09pm
sorry to hear that.. you really gotta be careful with these midengined cars in the rain.. ive spun out twice in a year and a half lol :P  Just be glad you didn't spin out into traffic, now THAT would suck.


Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 10 December 2008 at 12:12am

OUCH !!!

 



Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 10 December 2008 at 9:05am
If your alignment changed, chances are you are going to need more than alignment to fix it.   When you get it tore down and find out what is bent, post up a list.  I am sure the club has enough stuff to get you back driving straight again.   When Grace spun lisa's car around and over a curb it bend the control arm, CV shaft, tweaked the wheel bearing, and tweaked the strut enough that it had a sticky spot when compressing it.   Granted the wheel was folded 1/2 way under the car. 

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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.


Posted By: Romeo
Date Posted: 10 December 2008 at 3:10pm
Mine's not quite that damaged, however the front-right is bent in enough that it's rubbing the wheel well. At the moment, I'm also using my slightly larger 18" tires, and while I was looking at the damage, I happened to notice that they're about half an inch away from the bottom of the suspension springs on the back. Is there a spring kit for the Fiero that has thinner springs on it? Might as well correct everything at once I suppose...

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Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.


Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 10 December 2008 at 3:23pm

If you are referring to the tire to bottom of spring perch on the strut in the back.  1/2 inch is more than enough clearance.  My larger 16" tires, had less than an 1/8 inch between the strut tower and the tire.  Your wheel is bolted solid to the hub, the hub is bolted solid to the strut.  The distance between the strut and the tire is static and does not change.   The distance between the tire and the body does change, however in my life of Fiero's I have never heard of anyone being able to bottom a rear tire out into the frame. Even running 20" wheels.  

        Now to actually answer your question, Yes you can get a "coil over kit"  Which changes the spring perch diameter and spring to about 1/2 of the current size.   Its usually install for people that A. want to go racing and have the adjust ability of a coil over, or B. Someone that wants to put really frigging wide tires on the back, or C. Someone doing a Chevy V8 with steel heads and wants to keep the rear suspension a bit firmer. 

John Carlo I believe has coilovers on his car, as well as John Craker because he did an 88 Cradle Swap, and Lisa has them on her V8 Fiero. Hugh has them on his car for the tune-ability of them as well.

      Plan on spending at least $300 to do it right, or $150 if you just want to get the cheap sleeve kit and install it on your existing struts but cutting off the current spring perch.     I can fit a 245/50/16 on the back of my car without rubbing, which is more than enough tire for the back of a Fiero for performance purposes. 



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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.


Posted By: Romeo
Date Posted: 10 December 2008 at 4:01pm
Yeah, I only have 225's on the back, so width isn't a large factor. Thanks a tonne though! Now to check the broken front end...

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Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.



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