That moment when you knew, you no longer had "just a car"

"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce) 05/27/2019 at 20:55 • Filed to: None

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Went to wrench on the Fiero this weekend. Ran into some issues with the brake calipers but also got the thing running and shifting. It ended up being a bit of a mixed bag as I was planning on selling this in a few years after fixing it up but now.....I might have to keep it....

So a bit of backstory - the Fiero was sold to me as a non-runner due to “needing a clutch”. This was quickly revealed to be a dead slave/master cylinder, and not necessarily a bad clutch. So I got a slave cylinder and tried to bleed it only for it to struggle in keeping air out. Since both master and slave cylinders were 20$ each, I pulled the trigger and got a master cylinder and a bottle of the cheapest DOT3 that autozone had to bleed it last weekend.

I’m still amazed I don’t feel the need to get the repair manual as this car is EASY to figure out. It might be the most logically laid out vehicle I’ve ever worked on, or possibly even seen. Nothing is put at a weird angle, and everything hooks up smoothly and with purpose. I hate to agree with an advertisement for a car, but there is a lot of truth behind it.

So with everything installed, we went to try and bleed the system - only to realize that we had to somehow compress the slave cylinder while doing all of this so the slave didn’t fill with the air we were bleeding and trap it. That seems simple until you understand that the system sends full force through the slave cylinder and will knock aside whatever we were doing to hold it. It ended up being a 3-man job - One guy inside the car to work the pedals. One guy to work the bleeder valve. One guy with a prybar and muscles to hold the slave cylinder back. It was....arduous.

After a solid hour of attempts that left us, at best, with the clutch pedal needing to be almost to the floor to disengage the clutch and, at worst, with an absolutely limp and mushy feeling with no clutch travel, we gave it one more round of me on the bleeder valve/prybar assist and my friends in the driver’s seat and on prybar duties.

The evil slave cylinder is pictured as the only thing with shiny metal and fresh paint

So I finally get a bit frustrated and tired and just say “Look, I’m the only person who hasn’t been on the pedals and since I own the car, maybe I should give it a go”. Both my friends laughed and agreed. We all thought it was a joke. But then I gave the clutch pedal a stomp and the slave cylinder kicked back against the prybar so hard it nearly knocked my friend over. The guy on the bleeder valve shut it almost instantly as only clean fluid came out.

It was perfect.

Or, well, at least as perfect as a 35 year old pontiac can be.

I can hardly describe how amazing it was to have the car suddenly just *work* once you, and you alone, get behind the wheel. This cinched it - It was *my* Fiero.

With the clutch feeling great, we fired it up and rowed through the gears. 5 forward, plus a working reverse. A minute or so of running and the engine stopped smoking and missing. Not bad.

She’s still in rough shape overall, but there is no mistaking this car’s will to drive again. More Fiero content to come as summer goes on...

M.T. Blake > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 21:04

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Ahhh the Fiero - the MR2 from Kentucky made by a man named Hank.

These things get a bad rep but they are actually pretty cool. I bet we can count the American mass produced mid-engine cars on one hand. 

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > M.T. Blake 05/27/2019 at 21:05

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Well, the list is higher than you would think. Even Ram 1500's with a V6 are technically mid-engined, as the engine is behind the front axle.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > M.T. Blake 05/27/2019 at 21:08

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Fiero was actually assembled at Pontiac Assembly in Pontiac, MI. And was most likely assembled by Jesus, Xavier, Delfino, or another hispanic name as Pontiac has a large hispanic population.

But yeah, until the C8 comes out, I think it is the only mass produced American MR style car.

Ike > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 21:08

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I approve of your repairs, I also have a bunch of v6 stuff laying around if you are close to me and need anything (that looks like a84 so iron duke?)

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 21:09

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Ah, I remember the not “just a car” moment on my Golf. It was a week after I bought it, driving to work and the CEL came one. At that point, I realized I did not have a car. In fact, I had a total shitbox deathtrap.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Ike 05/27/2019 at 21:09

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It’s an 85 with an 84 decklid, but yes it is a duke. And I think the only things I need are some headlight motor rebuild kits and an 85 decklid and some minor body repairs to finish it once I do the brakes.

fintail > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 21:10

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And one of the few surviving Cutlass Cruiser woodys to boot.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 05/27/2019 at 21:12

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To be fair, you bought a golf. Buying a used golf is the automotive equivalent of playing russian roulette. Buying a used GM car is like shopping at thrift stores and flea markets. You know you’re probably getting what you pay for, and you accept that, and sometimes you stumble on a gem worth way more than asking price and you hold onto it forever.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > fintail 05/27/2019 at 21:13

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That was owned by one of the residents of the assisted living home I got the Fiero from.

....There’s a chance its for sale? Everyone there was ANCIENT. 

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 21:20

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All in all it hasn’t been that bad really. I’m just frustrated with it for the time being since I made a dumb mistake and made it inoperable.

Now, the Jetta that was off the road for three years that I bought inop out of a guy’s back yard, there I deserved the situation I’m in.

fintail > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 21:23

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I think it would pair well with the Fiero. Looks like a good color, too.  One of those cars that was virtually everywhere 30-35 years ago and is now nearly extinct.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > fintail 05/27/2019 at 21:24

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Yeah, my dad had one when I was a kid. Only his was white. With the red interior. It was.....not my mom’s favorite.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 21:25

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Now imagine if the Fiero was more Italian...

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 05/27/2019 at 21:28

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*goes to bleed clutch*

InFierority Complex > M.T. Blake 05/27/2019 at 21:29

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By a man named Hulki Aldikacti, actually . He was a Turkish immigrant.

fintail > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 21:30

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I recall a grade school friend’s family had one, I think it was some kind of greybeige color, this was a long time ago.

The A-Body wagons aren’t awful looking from an exterior styling standpoint.

jimz > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 21:33

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It might be the most logically laid out vehicle I’ve ever worked on, or possibly even seen. Nothing is put at a weird angle, and everything hooks up smoothly and with purpose. I hate to agree with an advertisement for a car, but there is a lot of truth behind it.

not bad for a parts bin car, eh?

someassemblyrequired > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 21:54

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ENHANCE

Oldsmobile longroof AND a Fiero? I approve of your vehicular choices.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > jimz 05/27/2019 at 22:07

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Yeah, it almost lays out a bit too perfectly. Really doesn’t feel like it was just “Whatever worked” was put in. Th e engine bay seems like it should be tight, but you can access everything with ease. Only problem is the parts-bin nature pops up since you need both metric and standard tools to work on it.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > someassemblyrequired 05/27/2019 at 22:07

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Heh, that’s the car of another housemate of the guy I got it from. But it is proving popular.

someassemblyrequired > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 22:09

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Should have bought them both and locked down the 1985 attainable dream car garage...

M.T. Blake > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 22:09

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A car built by Jesus. Now THATS something to brag about. 

M.T. Blake > InFierority Complex 05/27/2019 at 22:11

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themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > M.T. Blake 05/27/2019 at 22:14

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Th ere is a non-zero chance my grandpa (last name Chavez) was part of the purchasing team that acquired the parts and tooling for the Fiero. I’ll have to ask him sometime. 

JeepJeremy > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 22:27

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Your Fiero is super rad

I’m jealous 

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 22:48

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I feel the amount of rust I am seeing in one of the pictures is not very promising. Usually the upper frame rails are gone before that filler piece in front of the strut tower disintegrates. I might recommend doing a serious inspection bef ore getting to far. My old 85 SE fell in half on a roadtrip. Just saying...

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 22:51

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I’m trying to figure out why you needed to hold the slave cylinder back?  When I’ve bled clutches, you stomp the clutch pedal a few times to build pressure and get the air to the bleed screw, hold the clutch pedal, then open and close the bleeder on the slave.  Rinse and repeat till no more air.  You never open the clutch slave bleeder till you have pressure on the clutch pedal.  But it’s a lot like brake bleeding.  What am I missing?  Nice looking fiero by the way.  

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc 05/27/2019 at 22:57

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I am not surprised if maybe the old fluid was causing the problems before, or perhaps some debris from the old master, but the previous time we tried to bleed the system, we never got anywhere, fast. A friend of ours who owned multiple Fieros said that the system liked to trap air in the slave itself unless you pressed in the arm. Maybe it was a bit unnecessary, but we got it done and it now has the correct amount of travel and feel and all gears shift smoothly.

And thanks! It was a great buy for 800$. 

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > GoodIdeaAtTheTime 05/27/2019 at 22:59

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Eh, it looks worse in that zoom due to it only catching a little bit. Th ere are some areas of rust on the underside but the rails are in good shape and the area by the fuel filler is, while slightly corroded, not nearly at the swiss cheese stage. It’s a Michigan car with over 135k on it so, yeah, there’s some there. But it’s fine for now.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JeepJeremy 05/27/2019 at 23:00

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Keep searching craigslist! This was found as a joke, about 200 miles from my house. Was an adventure and a half but here it is!

Chariotoflove > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/27/2019 at 23:17

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I’m enjoying the Fiero content so far. Keep it coming. 

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/28/2019 at 00:08

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Good to know.  And glad you got it sorted.  So nice when something simple makes such a huge difference in drivability.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Chariotoflove 05/28/2019 at 00:36

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It will take a short break in June, but July - August it will increase dramatically.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc 05/28/2019 at 01:14

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This car is stupidly cheap to fix. And these little things are fun since the car went from a non-running, kinda crusty car that sat for years, to a properly running motor and trans and the brake system is being replaced one corner at a time. 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/28/2019 at 07:37

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This is good Oppo, keep up the good work!

I do wanna know more about that Wagon in the background though....

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 05/28/2019 at 08:24

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I hate this site sometimes...

Me: Check out my classic mid engined car! I’m doing a lot of work on it and it’s coming back to life!

Oppo: Yes, but tell us more about the station wagon in the background of one picture!

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 05/28/2019 at 10:10

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That’s why this site is awesome.

*strolls by 20 “classics” to go check out the clapped out minivan in the corner...... *