G.T. Fieros

Hi Guys,

My mechanic tells me I need between $4000 & $5000 worth of work on my 86 SE, including, but not limited to, taking out the engine to fix an oil leak, fix a hole in the exhaust manifold, new rear struts, and sending the engine off to a specialist for a 'renew' and 'refresh' job. Not a rebuild. I'm not quite sure what that entails but I trust my mechanic almost more than anyone else. He said he'd do it if it were his car. I know he's not just trying to get rich off me. So the question is: to do it or not to do it. I love the car, it still runs pretty well, its a blast to drive (as y'all well know), I could see driving it for many more years (if it doesn't need that kind of money every year), its cheaper than a new car (usually about $2000 a year in repairs), I'd buy another sports car of some kind (miata?), so I don't need anymore space. I know my description falls short, but anyone think its worth it? What's the going value these days for Fieros? Would this kind of work increase the value a comparable amount? Now or in how many years?
Any thoughts are welcome,
Thx, Martha

I've seen Fieros that are absolutely cherry inside and out going for around that kind of money, so imho I wouldn't think it was worth that kind of money. If you're going to spend a lot on a motor, you may as well do a 3800 swap.

Yes! You are not the only one.
I have a customer that has an 85 pasted down from his father and wants to keep it running.
I have it every winter to do work to. This year is a major.
Engine has to come out. Repairing upper frame rails and more.
He plans to keep running it and maybe pass it down to his son some year.
I'm going to charge him a similar amount with probably a little more work than what you are getting done.
I own a few myself and have a soft spot in my heart/head for the little jewels.
Good luck with yours!
Keep the "Pontiac Excitement" alive!!!!!!!

Mike C.

I don't know, a tough one for those of us who work on our own cars.

I just re-read your intro so I know you and the car have history. I couldn't pickup any "winter" issues but I would have a good hard look at the condition of the frame if it has seen any, and go from there. Certainly the cash being charged for an engine pull among other stuff does not sound out-of-line. Will you see a return on your investment - probably not. It will be worth more than it is now - depending upon what seems to be wrong with the engine and why it needs to be pulled.

My favourite car happened to be my black 85GT which looks and acts a whole lot like yours. They are also not very common.

Looking at it another way, if you've been dropping 2k per year anyway, this is just another 2k beyond your "normal" expenditure. Again though, it's a tough call for we "wrenchers" as most of us could pull our cars apart for pennies on the dollar when our labour is free.

Finally I'd add that replacing your car with something else ... you could get lucky, or grab someone's "should I spend the money or not" - at which point you get to ask the question again, only this time it's for your "new" car.

_________________
Brian
88 GT - 'Ol Blu

That is a fair chunk of change to be spending on the car... but as others said, you wouldn't be the first to do it.
This summer is going to cost me just under 1/2 that to do some maintenance and upgrades... but I'll be doing most of the work myself. If I was getting a shop to do all the things I have planned, it'd be pricey. But that's the way business works.

For the engine leak, it'd be helpful to know if it's really needed to be pulled to fix the leak. Where is the leak?
I did a top end refresh a few years ago because I had an oil leak from the top. Turns out it wasn't any of the main gaskets, but the small distributor ring gasket. So all my work in tearing down and cleaning was wasted because I didn't change one small o-ring... made a mess right after.

If the frame and body is in good condition still, then doing the mechanical work seems worth it in my eyes. After the engine refresh(tear-down and gasket/seals replaced with fresh fluids?), it will purr like a kitten. Doing an engine swap is another option, but then you're into a whole other bag of tricks.

Hi Martha,
$4000-$5000 is a lot to spend on any car, let alone our little Fieros. Before you make any decision what to do with the car, I'd ask for a more detailed list of what your mechanic will be replacing, fixing & how much of that quote is labour charges. Depending on where the oil leak is, the motor might not have to be removed. Also, ask him what is a "renew" & "refresh" job? Is that just replacing all the gaskets or doing a "re-ring" job to the motor? (re-ring is different then a rebuild) I do my own work on my Fieros & a did a re-ring job to one of my 2.8L for under $800 (modified too) . You've been with this mechanic for awhile so you trust him, but I'm not trusting the quote. Before I did my 2.8L, I was quoted $1300 for a complete rebuild, take in shop time for remove & reinstall, top fluids & a once over, i'd say $2500 job. That's still $1500-$2500 to do little things? For the same price I could do a motor swap & suspension to the car.

Is your car auto or manual & how many km's do you have on the car?
Is there any sign of blue smoke out the tail pipe on start up or idling?

My questions for your mechanic would be:
What is involved with "refreshing" the motor? what is replaced on the motor? how much for just the refresh?
Exactly what other parts will be replaced or fixed on the car?

You say you spend $2000/ year on the car for repairs? what is he replacing annually?

I find 90% of the time I can get my parts from Rock Auto shipped from the states cheaper then ordering them from napa/ crappy tire/ or any other parts dealer.


example would be my grand prix, stock AcDelco coils & ignition module from the dealer $900+ I bought them from Rock Auto for $400 shipped to my door.

_________________
Forum Admin
87 GT 3400 Green
88T-top: WIP

I'd pick & choose what he'd do.
maybe get him to do the big major stuff.
what can wait?


maybe someone here can help u out with some of the less minor repairs that your car needs...any volunteers? (wish i could but can't right now).
some of us have done engine work, or replaced struts, maintenance etc etc.

maybe we should have some tech sessions or help each other out on our cars sometimes...just a thought

Before you do anything have a Fiero guy check your car out for rust. Many of our northern cars are beyond economical repair.