New Fiero Owner

[GoFast88]

(1" lowering ball joints from Rodney Dickman...not much more for the upgrade??)

IIRC you need a 15" or larger diameter rim with Rodney's lowering ball joints. 

I have 15" stock rims on my 88, and have RD lowering ball joints and have not been able to install them because of clearance problems.

BTW: I use all of my rims - 17 for the 85 and 15 for the 88 and the 14" for the winter storage.   

[MacPhail]

I have 3 brake pads on the way thanks to GoFast88.   

Anybody have a single pad to spare (kind of like the Seinfeld episode..."Help a guy out.  Spare a tissues?")

I think I may also have rims and tires...just waiting to hear back from a forum user who is away on business right now.

Cheers, Derek

[MacPhail]

Tires (I may as well get nice rims while I'm at it)
Horn
2 lower ball joints (1" lowering ball joints from Rodney Dickman...not much more for the upgrade??)
2 front calipers
2 rear calipers
2 front rotors
2 rear rotors
Muffler and pipes (I was thinking about the shop in Kingston that carries FlowMaster's...but I'm open to other suggestions)
Front Pads
Rear Pads

Cheers, Derek

UPDATE

• Rims are bought (thank you Gord aka 87GT)
• Tires:  I'll be buying new rubber, but Gord has graciously lent me his tires so that I can get my car into town   
• Horn - I'll do that in the spring
• STILL NEED:  Lower ball joints
• STILL NEED:  2 front calipers and 2 front rotors
• Rear rotors, pads and calipers - Thank you to 87GT and GoFast88 (aka Brian)
• Muffler - I'll get that done in the spring (FlowMaster possibly) and have the safety and Drive Clean done all by the same mechanic

So things are looking good.  As soon as I get the lower ball joints and front rotors/calipers, I can get it all to the mechanic and hopefully get it back to Kingston ASAP.

Cheers, Derek
[/list]

[GoFast88]

• STILL NEED:  Lower ball joints

[
Cheers, Derek
[/list]

   I would almost be tempted to to buy new ones as used suspension parts are iffy at best and downright dangerous at worst. They really are not that expensive! 
Brian

[MacPhail]

• STILL NEED:  Lower ball joints

[
Cheers, Derek
[/list]

   I would almost be tempted to to buy new ones as used suspension parts are iffy at best and downright dangerous at worst. They really are not that expensive! 
Brian

You're absolutely right.  I've ordered the ball joints, front rotors and front calipers from NAPA.  On Wednesday, I'll bring out the parts I have and hopefully he'll be able to put it all together so thereafter.   

I'll be spitting black smoke and making load and wierd noises I'm sure, but fine tuning and a new exhaust will have to wait until spring. 

Cheers, Derek

[lercs]

just to let you know, you dont have to have drive clean done on your car as it is over 20 years old

[MacPhail]

just to let you know, you dont have to have drive clean done on your car as it is over 20 years old

Are you serious?!  I thought the whole idea of the Ontario Drive Clean program was to target old cars like ours. 

Wait.  What am I saying?!  It was all about the money for businesses operating Drive Clean testing centres.   

Thank you for that info.   

Cheers, Derek

[dguy]

just to let you know, you dont have to have drive clean done on your car as it is over 20 years old

Are you serious?!  I thought the whole idea of the Ontario Drive Clean program was to target old cars like ours

Caveat emptor:

Just because the car is 20 years old does not necessarily make it exempt!

If for example it requried an e-test at its last licence plate renewal, the e-test was never done and it hasn't been plated since, "they" may still require having your tail pipe probed.

...at least that's how it was once explained to me.  Best bet if you want to avoid a surprise, is to have your favorite MTO office run the VIN and tell you whether or not you'll need to pass an e-test before they'll let you put plates on it.

[MacPhail]

"they" may still require having your tail pipe probed.

Why is it I feel as though it is my back pocket/cheque book that is being probed?   

Cheers, Derek

[aaron88]

$30 isn't so bad. MTO will ask for more than that every year.

[Arious,Greg]

You can check on the ontario "driveclean"site, with your vin # you can find out the last past/fail. And assuming it can be trusted, they also have a spot where you can determine the next due date of your test.. 

One major annoyance now however, is that all 20 year old cars when being registered with a new owner.. is that you must have an appraisal of the vehicles value, the mandatory package that says its worth whatever isnt enough..... heck you might have bought elvis's fiero (it would be blue, with suede interior) and be planning on making a fortune. just went through this with both a car i just bought and one a friend bought, fortunatelly the appraiser was a realistic fellow.

  G A

[NoFiero]

Hi Derek,

I am from kingston as well. If you need frontend parts I can tell you from experience order them from Odessa Auto Parts out in Odessa. I got all Moog parts at 1/3 the cost from all the others (Autopak, Napa, CDN Tire)

Also for general auto repairs I have taken mine to Robert's on Duff street they are Fiero friendly (I saw one other when mine was there) and the hourly rate is reasonable and you CAN supply your own parts.

[MacPhail]

You can check on the ontario "driveclean"site, with your vin # you can find out the last past/fail. And assuming it can be trusted, they also have a spot where you can determine the next due date of your test.. 

One major annoyance now however, is that all 20 year old cars when being registered with a new owner.. is that you must have an appraisal of the vehicles value, the mandatory package that says its worth whatever isnt enough..... heck you might have bought elvis's fiero (it would be blue, with suede interior) and be planning on making a fortune. just went through this with both a car i just bought and one a friend bought, fortunatelly the appraiser was a realistic fellow.

  G A

I gave MTO an appraisal (the seller happened to have an appraisers licence) to get an unplated permit.  What a hassle!  The seller said I shouldn't need one, but "just in case".  Thankfully he gave me one!

As for having Elvis's Fiero, don't forget that the horn would have a bullet hole in it.   

Cheers, Derek

[MacPhail]

Hi Derek,

I am from kingston as well. If you need frontend parts I can tell you from experience order them from Odessa Auto Parts out in Odessa. I got all Moog parts at 1/3 the cost from all the others (Autopak, Napa, CDN Tire)

Also for general auto repairs I have taken mine to Robert's on Duff street they are Fiero friendly (I saw one other when mine was there) and the hourly rate is reasonable and you CAN supply your own parts.

Thank you! 

Overall, it was cheaper for the mechanic in Parham to buy the front rotors, ball joints and calipers (though not by much) when compared to Napa (I refuse to shop at CT unless I absolutely need to).  I see that we are getting a new automotive parts store at the RioCan Centre on Gardiners Road (can't remember the name of it).

So you have no Fiero?   

Cheers, Derek

[Kitten]

• Horn - I'll do that in the spring

[

If you were hoping to get it saftied before the winter I don't believe it will pass with a non-functioning horn.


Welcome to the obsession and the forum btw