footboarder
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- Nov 11, 2013
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Happy New Year to all of you. Especially Sal Collaziano who just sent me my first email regarding Pontiacs. Mine is a '86 Fiero 4 cyl, 5 speed manual.
I am a big person so once I get into the Fiero all seems to be going well. After much experimenting I found keeping both feet on the pavement and putting my butt into the car first, is very easy. More like 'putting on the Fiero' though, instead of 'getting in'. Too bad Pontiac copied the VW footpedals. All 3 are way too close.
. . . I have put slightly over $100 into updating/upgrading minor things (it did lose its waterpump ($33) the first week). At 160k miles, that was no supprise.
Still doing dash cluster bulbs and can't figure out how to illuminate the Temp/Fuel cluster. Got a new cluster for it to yet install. And a new fuelpump/sender as my fuel pressure is 7.5 psi and it should be 9.5 psi. Also I am awaiting a new head gasket and head bolts as I have a slight leak there. My car 'steams' (exhaust) more than others while city driving...usually below freezing. A school trained GMC mechanic (friend) told me the head bolts are not like the old Fork '59A block bolts.. He said the torque may be specified and the pattern. But after torqued to specs then do a pattern again and go 45 or 60 degrees more.. whatever the 'book' says. After being torqued once those bolts are spent as they have been stretched to their limit. Re-torqued again will just stretch them more and the proper torque may not ever be reached now
. . . Next major thing is to set up the radiator cooling fan to be both auto and manual. Right now it is manual and that can be dangerous if one 'forgets'. Love the rack/pinion steering.
. . . Plan on a 105 mile trip Wed to get a good check of fuel mileage. Roughly got 29.44 mpg on a 59 mile jaunt with 56 highway miles at 80 mph.
Happy New Year again to all. . .chas
I am a big person so once I get into the Fiero all seems to be going well. After much experimenting I found keeping both feet on the pavement and putting my butt into the car first, is very easy. More like 'putting on the Fiero' though, instead of 'getting in'. Too bad Pontiac copied the VW footpedals. All 3 are way too close.
. . . I have put slightly over $100 into updating/upgrading minor things (it did lose its waterpump ($33) the first week). At 160k miles, that was no supprise.
Still doing dash cluster bulbs and can't figure out how to illuminate the Temp/Fuel cluster. Got a new cluster for it to yet install. And a new fuelpump/sender as my fuel pressure is 7.5 psi and it should be 9.5 psi. Also I am awaiting a new head gasket and head bolts as I have a slight leak there. My car 'steams' (exhaust) more than others while city driving...usually below freezing. A school trained GMC mechanic (friend) told me the head bolts are not like the old Fork '59A block bolts.. He said the torque may be specified and the pattern. But after torqued to specs then do a pattern again and go 45 or 60 degrees more.. whatever the 'book' says. After being torqued once those bolts are spent as they have been stretched to their limit. Re-torqued again will just stretch them more and the proper torque may not ever be reached now
. . . Next major thing is to set up the radiator cooling fan to be both auto and manual. Right now it is manual and that can be dangerous if one 'forgets'. Love the rack/pinion steering.
. . . Plan on a 105 mile trip Wed to get a good check of fuel mileage. Roughly got 29.44 mpg on a 59 mile jaunt with 56 highway miles at 80 mph.
Happy New Year again to all. . .chas
