88 4cyl as suspension donor
Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: General Fiero Chat
Forum Name: General Talk about Fieros
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URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2151
Printed Date: 23 November 2024 at 3:33pm
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Topic: 88 4cyl as suspension donor
Posted By: cam2510
Subject: 88 4cyl as suspension donor
Date Posted: 28 October 2010 at 11:05am
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I have a 86 fiero se recently purchased and soon after purchase replaced nearly all bushings in hopes to eliminate most twitchy behavior and now found the block was cracked and needing to be replaced rather then "rebuilt" like quoted. So after doing a fair bit of reading I see my only solution is vast amounts of money in after market suspension for front and back going with fully adjustable everything or having a 88 donor suspension/body. As I wish to stay with the notch back i am looking at the 88 formula or coupe or as said transfer to my vehicle. now ive run into a 88 4 cyl though the interior is trashed and extior bush bombed but still running the price cannot be beat. I never thought to look when i stopped to ask if it was for sale and now i find out when calling back the owner of the car is not so fluent in English so asking questions is out of the question. everything felt tight so hoping only minor replacements would be necessary. my questions #1 does the 88 4cyl have the suspension improvments im looking for and can i make them usable for my 86? since I will be having to do an engine swao(my block cracked) for a new v6 the engine cradle modifications are not avoidable with the 4cyl. front is also swappable? #2 is there a rear swaybar stock in the 88 4cyl? #3 will the front and rear bumpers bolt onto my 86 from the 88? pushing towards a formula look thanks so much, I have a week before i can meet with him again and any advise is appreciated. |
Replies:
Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 28 October 2010 at 11:37am
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The 88 has the best REAR suspension of all the years yes. All you have to do is swap the engine cradle to get the 88 suspension to fit. The cradle should be a direct swap no problem. I would leave the front suspension alone. The 88's front suspension isn't much different handling wise and the front bearings are getting very hard to find. I wouldn't go there if I was you. Most people just mount a font sway bar on the back with the non 88 cradles. With the 88's I'm not sure if there ever was a standard rear sway bar or not. Easy to modify either way. Yes, all the outer body panels are basically interchangeable. You might need to transfer over some bits and pieces from the donor car. The Dawg
------------- You dream it up....I'll make it |
cam2510 wrote:Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 28 October 2010 at 1:40pm
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Slight correction to the above.... The 88 cradle will not fit an early body directly. The struts sit at a different angle, thus needing a kit to install them. This also gives you adjustable coil overs in the process, since with the change of angle, the full size spring doesn't fit in the tower anymore. Screw the front suspension! Sell it to someone with an 88 in need of parts. ;) Rear sway bars were standard on formulas and GT's - not the base coupe. (but as above - a bolt in if you can find one) |
Posted By: cam2510
Date Posted: 28 October 2010 at 5:34pm
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awesome that answered my questions perfectly! glad to hear that i dont have to swap the front as I have replaced all the bushings, full steering rack, bearings, and all that is left would be calipers & rotors, struts. Dr.Fiero is there a kit available for the struts or is it a self build? is there anything else I should do while im at it to make this car as tight as it possibly can be? Lastly does anyone have more information about mounting the front sway bar in the rear with the 88 cradle? |
Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 28 October 2010 at 5:51pm
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Take a look at this: http://www.westshorefabricators.com/Fiero/CoilOverKit.htm - http://www.westshorefabricators.com/Fiero/CoilOverKit.htm Part #F001A Coil-over conversion kit for rear struts (88 cradle conversion)  Don't put a front into the rear if you've gone to the trouble of doing an 88 swap. Just find an OE one, even if it takes a bit. Why reinvent the wheel? |
Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 28 October 2010 at 6:58pm
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Sounds like you're going all out here so don't forget to upgrade your brakes too. Those non vented rotors can bite you if you're pushing the car. The Dawg. ------------- You dream it up....I'll make it |
Posted By: cam2510
Date Posted: 29 October 2010 at 3:15am
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well not quite all out, just have a belief of doing things right! I have been considering the Beretta upgrade but the equipment on the car is functioning well so it will be after the fact of the cradle swap. |
Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 29 October 2010 at 6:45am
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At least doing the 88 swap, you get 'free' (stock) vented rotors in the back! Remember to add an adjustable proportioning valve, especially when you do the GA mod to the front. That combo (88 rear, early front with GA's) give you unreal stopping power (what I have in one of my cars BTW) - but it ends up being imbalanced without the valve. |
Posted By: CFoss
Date Posted: 29 October 2010 at 9:46am
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I have the 88 rear in my '84/86. I used a held motorsports coil over kit/relocation kit and am happy with it.
The difference in handling is night and day.
I didn't do anything about a propotioning valve and the braking is ok on the street at least. I haven't run it in a course...I may soon.
I went with 300# springs in the rear, which is one step stiffer than stock and feels good to me. For increased performance, increase the spring rate, as this reduces roll, which is a high performance problem for even the 88 suspension according to racers. A coolant line or two may need to be rerouted due to the link arms which go where the originals were (For my v6 application anyway).
Chay ------------- 86 SE 3.4 |
Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 29 October 2010 at 10:46am
Oh - I failed to mention that "Held motorsports" which used to be Ryan motorsports, which turned into something else.... is now.... Westshore fabricators (above link).  Also forgot to mention that you'll need to relocate your hydraulic brake lines (easy), and switch over to the '88 style e-brake cables including the one that goes to the handle (the handle IS the same though!). Make sure you get/keep the cradle bolts as well. Most importantly the rear ones, as they're much shorter. I went with the 400#'s in the rear.... ummm... yeah.... too much. Go 300, 350 tops. |
Posted By: cam2510
Date Posted: 30 October 2010 at 1:45pm
| your all awsome, you really dont miss a thing huh? |
Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 30 October 2010 at 11:04pm
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We love our little cars....<hugs all around> The Dawg ------------- You dream it up....I'll make it |