Ayooo I've been awake for over 24 hours editing this video. If there's any mistakes, feel free to ignore them. I am a sleepy boy and am going to take a long sleep. I hope you are all well and also hope that you guys enjoy the video.
It's not just GM. I once made a deal with my mother, let me use her Ford mini van for a road trip and I would replace her bad passenger side window motor. Had to remove 5 or 6 rivets to do it. Fortunately is was actually really easy once I figured it out.
Even though I'm also in TX, I thought the same thing. I've *seen things* from fellow NE auto buds. Things that would make me throw them away and find another one.
@@RonaldFinger trust me i get it, its just most of my project cars are if the floors and frame are good its a good car, so im jealous of you southerners
@@RonaldFinger In Michigan, most cars die either of accidents or rust. But mostly rust. I'm really digging this series by the way. Every bit as entertaining as Project Binky, but with less tea.
great Tavarish..i follow your videos too on youtube. and its great to see that you support and spread your good words to other UA-camr's too.. respect to you man..
About 5-6 months ago I was actually looking to see if someone restored or is restoring an old mid / late 80's Toyota MR2.... No one was, but I found this... Close enough...and I'm hooked. He's doing a great job. I'm currently in the midst of restoring some portions of my '92 Jeep Wrangler YJ. I feel his pain, even more so, cuz I don't have a sand blaster 😪...
I didn't think anyone would love any 80s cars that came from GM besides myself until I came across this Fiero. Totally puts my restoration to shame! However its also my daily and whatever I replace/restore I must have it drivable by Monday morning. Well...not now because of the COVID-19 shutdown. I've had my S10 Blazer for over two years now and its just now ready for paint.
@@dragonbrownies517 My first car was an 88 Beretta GT. I'd love to see someone do a rebuild on one of those. I love these shitty little 80s GM cars. Pure nostalgia.
Ronnie Finger: Yeah, I don't want to call this a full restoration because it's not going to be perfect or anything. Also Ronnie Finger: Ugh, these brackets on the inside of the door that hold another bracket that comes into contact with the window regulator that no one will ever see ever is too rusty. *Slaps roof of sandblaster* Whelp! Time to do an intensive 15 hour hand restoration on these bad boys.
A-aron I dig what your doing. I’ve seen people pass off worse as a full resto. It’s been fun to watch your progress since you dragged it out of that hole.
Everytime I finish an episode, I'm hit with the sadness of nothing to watch on this build. If you have found this series and you are just binge watching it all, you are very lucky. I'm jealous.
@@BeencheelingSometimes in a restoration it depends more on how far you want to take it rather than what is "correct" with something like that, it's up to him to decide
“You could very easily hurt yourself, and I don’t want that, I care about you, I love yo- but mine is completely empty so I’m safe to work on it” hahahahaha 😂😂
my heart swelled right at that moment... but that edit just hurt a little. maybe next time we'll get a long gaze into the camera after such a declaration
You know, once this series is regrettably over, please consider restoring another car just like this one. I know the amount of work that you put into this project and editing these videos but you’re seriously good at what you do and an absolute joy to watch. You prove you don’t need expensive tools and a marble-floor garage to restore a car, just passion. As a content creator, you’re one of the best. I know you’ve got other projects to do after this car is finished but I’d hate this to be your last car you restore. This series is just too darn good.
Ron I'm a 58 year old Millwright from Canada and I have watched all your videos .I look forward each one . I don't know what your plans are in life ,but I think you have found your calling. Best no BS restoring on UA-cam Cheers from Canada
Thank you for showing all this..I have really enjoyed this.. I had a 85 Fiero.. I was 20 years old.. mine was black..with grey interior..dark tinted windows..I was in College at Ohio University..I loved that car..had speakers in the seats.. my wheels were a bit different.. I'm 55 now...Yikes!!
Mine are faster... * turns manual window cranks rapidly on my '84 Fiero SE * One thing I have learned though, even though the car is relatively tiny, I can not reach the passenger window crank from the drivers' seat. that center console being so high, I can't lean over it. I have to get out and walk around the car to put the passenger window up or down. Then... Seatbelts: "Let me sing the wind-song of my people.. flpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflp....." I need to fix my AC too.. I actually need to recreate the events of this entire video series. (except my interior was not a science experiment in mold cultures)
Born and raised in South Florida so I know the heat and humidity combo... then I went to Texas... in August 1992 for basic training... Lackland AFB, San Antonio. He's no baby... let the boy have his A/C!
"The theme is good enough" Proceeds to repaint one of the cleaner Fiero chassis I've seen in years and sandblast the wiper linkage. In all seriousness, solid job. The realm of "good enough" typically involves Bondo and Plastidip. This is solid work
Michael T ; I believe it was mentioned in episode 7. He also has other content on the channel but the fiero content is by far the most popular. So...it was implied that he had something else (car related) coming up! Yaaaay!!!
I now have a 1985 Pontiac Fireo Gt that I have high hopes of "restoring", thank you Ron for the inspiration. I am still discovering things about these little cars that I find as crazy cool, the sunroof storage under the bonnet which I thought really made sense to me.
It’s great to see a project series like this where Harbor Freight tools are being used. Just goes to prove that the right tool for the job is the tool that works!
This series has given me a real appreciation for automotive engineering: all those weird, custom parts, someone had to think about how they'd be designed, manufactured and integrated, at a cost point. My gut check is that the Fiero looks like a huge bag-on-a-side hack once peeked under the skin - any automotive engineers out there? Is the Fiero par for Detroit 80s, a particularly nasty job, or is this just how you do it in the industry? It seems like the Fiero in particular had gigantic packaging problems to consider. If there's anyone from the Fiero design or development team watching this, would love to hear their comments.
sloth jr not part of the development team but gm only gave the fiero $400m to develop the car in 2 years which is considered as a insanely low budget and insanely short r and d time, remember most cars around this time had budget of $1b. The fact the fiero created a lot of new manufacturing techniques and had a masses produced space frame which was and still unheard of. Lot of good reading on the development of the fiero it’s really interesting.
A couple of things: 1) you wouldn't see any of that and for that matter, there wouldn't BE any of what you're seeing is because this was the first and only vehicle produced in north america with a space frame/body system. Most had unibody where the body is the frame. Or body on frame. 2) The fiero is a parts bin special. It was cobbled together using a lot of existing parts from existing vehicles. The whole engine and drive train is the front wheel drive system from the citation (I think that's what it was from). 3) For eg, the window regulators. That's what they were like. Stamped steel parts. They did the job for decades so why over engineer them? The newer systems are a cable drive system which doesn't last hardly as long. A Bentley uses an over engineered complex chain and gear system and they break as well. 4) I'm not sure why you say this is "particularly nasty", have you SEEN new cars? Everything is plastic. GM sierra and chev pickups are notorious for breaking door handles why? because they are all plastic NOT steel like this one is. Could you maybe point out what you feel is a particularly nasty piece? I've been working on cars since the late 60's and I can tell you: cars are NOT any better built today. I don't care if it's an Aston Martin or a Corolla. The problem with newer cars is they've been designed and engineered by millennials who want to show off their skills instead of building a quality product. I'll refer you to the F150 IWE system where the 4wd front hubs are engaged all the time, and are only DISengaged when the vehicle is started and the vacuum disengages them. They fail constantly. They area also controlled by a switch at the top of the engine bay that filled up with water, failed, and that water ran through the system down to the IWE and froze them. Not to mention the seals around the actuators would fail so they wouldn't fully disengage and grind and cause vacuum leaks in the engine. Another example is with F150's. Ford thought it was a brilliant idea to put foam in the rear inner and outer fenders. The issue is this foam absorbed and trapped dirt and moisture and caused them all to rust out prematurely. Or the holes they put into the rocker panels to allow paint etc to get in and how did they plug these holes? with gaffer tape. Which falls off in the first month causing the rockers to rust out. It would have been far better to NOT apply paint/rust protection in there and seal it up. They would have lasted 10x longer because nothing could get in in the first place. I could go on but trust me on this: newer cars are NOT any better built or engineered.
@@muskokamike127 All those rivets! I only know the inside of my newer 94 Mazda MX-5 NA made in Japan and man am I glad I didn't have to deal with drilling out and re-riveting components. I even could refurbish the window motor unit. Everything screwed and bolted though making and replacing cables WAS a major pain in the ass.
Every manufacturer has a different way of doing things. No company doesnt cut corners. And for years GM has used similar designs and they do well for them. Even luxury companies like ramge rover or BMW. I'm a body technician and I'm always working on all sorts of cars so dont argue.
If all these engineers thought about making typical maintenance stuff easily accessible then I would be happy. Every year they make it harder and harder to get to.
Here in the Midwest, we change the quote “a little bit of rust in lots of places” to “a lot of rust in lots of places” As Kevin from junkyard digs said in the f250 revival “for Iowa (or any other Midwest state) there should be no truck”
Hey Ronald, I am absolutely in awe of what you have done to that car. Your attention to detail is outstanding even to the point of fixing and painting things that will never been seen unless it's a show car, which as you've said it isn't. As far as it eating you about the alignment of the body panels in the front being off by five millimeters or so I wouldn't let it bother you or for that matter even fix it. It's what makes the car unique, just like you. Bravo on your project, enjoy it you've earned it.
@@Nickscassera Well...watching all 9 episodes, 10PM -till 5AM today!!! I have to go 'adjust' my first post about Ronald, in his Q&A video. What episodes addressed the tires? Price, type, purchase etc....did HE even mount them and balance himself ?? It is 5am and I am punch drunk now.....
When you shown the holes, the first thing that came to my mind was to just use JB Weld and call it good, and that's exactly what happened. That's the level of good enough I can appreciate.
@@r0b3rt_959 they will be. It will be a hundred of years before electric will fully phase out gas vehicles, in a NYC to LA road trip, the gas car will arrive hours before, its fast to refuel, and you can drive for longer.
Yeah, JB Weld in that application is just fine. It's not structural. Was very happy to see that as opposed to body filler (which would just make the rust worse, usually...) I've got a welder, but until I got one, JB Weld (and other epoxies) were invaluable.
This series proves that joy is not in the destination but in the journey. With $25K worth of parts, labor, fluids, paint, & TIME (pay yourself standard mechanic rate) you invested, you are left with a well sorted period correct 80’s basic Fiero (not even the cooler GT version) eventually worth about $5K. I wouldn’t make that trip... Still, great to watch someone ELSE do it XD
Started watching ths because my 5 year old is obsessed with the hotwheels version of this car... Kept watching because it's freaking amazing!!!! Thank you.
For those that care: I've personally retro-fitted dozens of cars from R12 to R134 and flushed the system in this very same way, only I used - (1) a quart or so of Turpentine poured thru the entire system (Except the dryer and compressor which were replaced with NEW) (2) a half Gallon or so of Lacquer Thinner, to remove the Turpentine- (3) a few bottles of cheap Dollar store Medical Alcohol to remove traces of Thinner and help dry everything out (after each liquid, blow lots of compressed air with a rubber tipped blower on one end and a catch bottle on the other end, at first you will notice lots of metal particles, old rubber hose, bits of worn out compressor and other trash coming into your catch bottle, but after each step, it gets cleaner and clearer) Next step is to blow compressed air thru everything you flushed to dry the entire system - and then use the recommended New refrigerant oil (R134 type) in each component, where you add a few oz's to the evap, a few to the dryer, a few inside the condenser - each car is different, so check your specs! Back in the day this was an all day thing, but if you want to remove every trace of R12 Oils, and flush everything really good, this is what you did- After the new Compressor and Dryer are bolted up and everything is sealed again, attach system to evacuation pump and allow to pump down to negative 25-30lbs of vacuum at least an hour or more, and check to see if the system HOLDS a vacuum and you're ready to charge with R134- I have seen many people skip this type of thorough flushing, and their system failed within the first year due to the old R12 oil turning the new R134 oil to like a cottage cheese consistency looking goo As I've said, I have done MANY and never had one come back
"In actuality, I'm a teeny tiny baby". This series is so good! I've been watching for a while, finally subscribed. Can't wait to see this project finished!
Ronald, I can imagine the day when you turn 50 years old and still own the only and mean only fully restored factory original Pontiac Fiero in the world! And it will roll across the auction block with a starting price of $1,000,000! hun..?
I am extremely way over my head rebuilding my fiero engine right now (most mechanically thing I've ever done was swamp out a tire for a spare) and am very afraid of what I am going to come across when I first start my engine but I am hoping that I run into all the exact issues you do so I know exactly how to fix them haha. Anyways, thanks again for your hard work. I will be following every second of each of your videos (after multiple rewatches already) to guide me along to a fully restored 86 Fiero! Can't wait for the next video!
I love this build series, there is something to remember project cars are never done there is always something to upgrade or benefit from, from improving,with that said I hope that this series never ends.
Man, I think that thing is just as good as the day it rolled off the assembly line. (minus the body of course!) I have enjoyed watching you restore the Fiero. Hope you and your family are well!
“As SomEOnE wHo LivEs In TeXaS” Yeah as someone who lives in Texas I don’t have ac in my car and it’s not bad at all. And he’s totally making up the summer bs we have winters, Texas isn’t California, it gets cold in winter.
@@jamesguckenberger5692 where the hell do you live in Texas? He lives in Houston. What he said is very true for that area. It very rarely gets cold there. The humidity also makes the heat absolutely hell. I live in the dfw area, and it stays 100+ for about 3-4 months. Yes here we have actual cold weather, but AC is much more important than heat. There are only about 3-5 below freezing days here out of the entire year.
I finished watching all your episodes of the fiero last night and was like, “man I wonder when will he post another video. Part 8 came out a month ago..🤔” lol than this comes out today!! Awesome!!
I don't care about Fieros. I don't even really care about cars in general. I've been watching so long I can't even remember how I found this video series or why I watched the first episode. But i love them. There's something so satisfying about watching this young man apply his skill and knowledge to bringing this car back to life. Can't wait for the next episode.
Ayooo I've been awake for over 24 hours editing this video. If there's any mistakes, feel free to ignore them. I am a sleepy boy and am going to take a long sleep. I hope you are all well and also hope that you guys enjoy the video.
sleep cycle cancelled soz 🗿
You well deserve it Ronnie! Thanks for the video!
Ronald Finger sweet dreams 😘
Ronald Finger damn I’m early son 😂
Sleep br0ther
*This series is sponsored by:*
-Blue Thread-locker
-Automotive enamel paint
-Leftover Metallic paint
And Eastwood Pre Paint Prep,
And PB Blaster
- mineral spirits
- jb weld
Harbor freight
ACME Rivet Gun.
Most other companies: Bolts and nuts.
GM: RIVETS! RIVETS EVERYWHERE!
Rivets are the most reliable way of saying "don't move". That's why they use rivets, bolts and nuts can vibrate free and rivets can't.
Clayton S Which makes perfect sense, they just suck when you have to take them off
@@johntheurer2265 yes they do.
It's not just GM. I once made a deal with my mother, let me use her Ford mini van for a road trip and I would replace her bad passenger side window motor. Had to remove 5 or 6 rivets to do it. Fortunately is was actually really easy once I figured it out.
Yes, and that segment gave me flashbacks of replacing window motors on a 4th gen Camaro.
Ronald: “the fiero has a lot of rust” Me: laughs in Northeastern
Even though I'm also in TX, I thought the same thing. I've *seen things* from fellow NE auto buds. Things that would make me throw them away and find another one.
As a Minnesotan, that gave me a good chuckle.
As an ex-Texan, I totally get it.
The quote was actually “a little bit of rust in a lot of places” which was true! Haha but yeah I’ve seen how bad northern cars can be
@@RonaldFinger trust me i get it, its just most of my project cars are if the floors and frame are good its a good car, so im jealous of you southerners
@@RonaldFinger In Michigan, most cars die either of accidents or rust. But mostly rust.
I'm really digging this series by the way. Every bit as entertaining as Project Binky, but with less tea.
What an amazing build and a monumental effort editing this and putting it all together! Keep up the great work, and don't forget to take a rest!
hello Tav!
q lo q hemanito!
I’m sure this guy has been wrenching every day Tav! You’re right though... rest is very important indeed.
You better start a project out of no where and end it out of no where
great Tavarish..i follow your videos too on youtube. and its great to see that you support and spread your good words to other UA-camr's too.. respect to you man..
Me: Pssh, restoring an old Fiero? Why would I want to wa-
*9 episodes later*
Also me: That...window regulator...is so beautiful... *wipes tear*
About 5-6 months ago I was actually looking to see if someone restored or is restoring an old mid / late 80's Toyota MR2.... No one was, but I found this... Close enough...and I'm hooked. He's doing a great job. I'm currently in the midst of restoring some portions of my '92 Jeep Wrangler YJ. I feel his pain, even more so, cuz I don't have a sand blaster 😪...
I didn't think anyone would love any 80s cars that came from GM besides myself until I came across this Fiero. Totally puts my restoration to shame! However its also my daily and whatever I replace/restore I must have it drivable by Monday morning. Well...not now because of the COVID-19 shutdown. I've had my S10 Blazer for over two years now and its just now ready for paint.
I look forward to these uploads like people used to get jacked for new seasons of GoT. Winter is coming mofos!
@@dragonbrownies517 My first car was an 88 Beretta GT. I'd love to see someone do a rebuild on one of those. I love these shitty little 80s GM cars. Pure nostalgia.
The Fiero was always a fascinating car to me, and really a bizarre experiment from GM. So glad it exists.
But the rivets. WHY IS EVERYTHING RIVETED
Ronnie Finger: Yeah, I don't want to call this a full restoration because it's not going to be perfect or anything.
Also Ronnie Finger: Ugh, these brackets on the inside of the door that hold another bracket that comes into contact with the window regulator that no one will ever see ever is too rusty. *Slaps roof of sandblaster* Whelp! Time to do an intensive 15 hour hand restoration on these bad boys.
Also also Ronald Finger: JBWelds holes in roof
@@FiremanJR02 Hey man it's practically bondo or something. I'm sure it's all fine!
A-aron I dig what your doing. I’ve seen people pass off worse as a full resto. It’s been fun to watch your progress since you dragged it out of that hole.
Well it's what you are happy with and what makes the car safe to drive
"This Motor is poopoo"
-Ronald Finger 2020
and that slow-mo window opening progress :D
The whole car moves so everything is a moving component
Everytime I finish an episode, I'm hit with the sadness of nothing to watch on this build. If you have found this series and you are just binge watching it all, you are very lucky. I'm jealous.
2 years later, I'm feeling a sense of appreciation for being able to do just that!
@@dustybizzle1 still watch these when they come out, great channel
i watched them when they were being released for the first time and now i just binge them randomly
i think im on my 4th or 5th rewatch
Lol i was one of those poor souls who found the channel early. It was a nailbiter thats for sure😅
Imo its not the same. When bingeing you dont get the anticipation of a new episode.
I have been restoring cars for most of my 54 years of life. You are doing everything right. Keep up the great work.
I have never done any serious vehicle restoration in my entire life and I agree with this guy
If you have watched part 8, do you agree with the part where he has left the front bumper as it is or he had to do the full thing
@@BeencheelingSometimes in a restoration it depends more on how far you want to take it rather than what is "correct" with something like that, it's up to him to decide
“You could very easily hurt yourself, and I don’t want that, I care about you, I love yo- but mine is completely empty so I’m safe to work on it” hahahahaha 😂😂
my heart swelled right at that moment... but that edit just hurt a little. maybe next time we'll get a long gaze into the camera after such a declaration
That was great. Every episode he works in subtle humor with one lol moment.
I love you too King!
Imagine being able to feel your hands while working on cars in the Winter
Yea that would be a weird feeling. I only work on my cars with 2 pair of gloves, pants and shirts, and one jacket.
You're not a man until you replaced rusty seized brakes at 11 PM at -15 Celsius.
Please don't ever be a man.
-30 brake job in my garage in January with every heater I could find. Fun times that was.
I moved from Michigan to Arizona about 4 years ago. You are speaking the absolute truth!!
Laughs in Texan...
22:30
Ron's Mom: "Honey, have you seen the good beach towels?"
Ron: "Ummmmmmmm... Nope, haven't seen them!"
I wuz gonna say ..! hah hah!
Thought the same 😅
"Where does the black spots coming from, honey?" 🤣
I thought the same thing!! LOL
You know, once this series is regrettably over, please consider restoring another car just like this one. I know the amount of work that you put into this project and editing these videos but you’re seriously good at what you do and an absolute joy to watch. You prove you don’t need expensive tools and a marble-floor garage to restore a car, just passion. As a content creator, you’re one of the best. I know you’ve got other projects to do after this car is finished but I’d hate this to be your last car you restore. This series is just too darn good.
Ron I'm a 58 year old Millwright from Canada and I have watched all your videos .I look forward each one . I don't know what your plans are in life ,but I think you have found your calling. Best no BS restoring on UA-cam
Cheers from Canada
Agreed ! This young man has talents and great work ethics. Bright future.
Ronald finger: Mentions thread locker
ChrisFix: *Intensifies*
Soapy wooder
His dry sense of humor just makes me so happy.
I absolutely love his humor
I guess the window humor is over now...
Of all the builds I’ve seen, this is the one I really want to see one day at a cars and coffee in person.
Thank you for showing all this..I have really enjoyed this.. I had a 85 Fiero.. I was 20 years old.. mine was black..with grey interior..dark tinted windows..I was in College at Ohio University..I loved that car..had speakers in the seats.. my wheels were a bit different.. I'm 55 now...Yikes!!
To be clear. No, we do not ever want this finished. 100 episodes, forever and ever please!
Jesus it’s been a year and we finally take our relationship to the next step. I love you too
Those HAVE to be the fastest Fiero windows in existence.
Just the driver's side one. The other wasn't mentioned, so we can assume it is not even greased. LOL
@@andytaylor1588 Au contraire! It was mentioned! Watch again!
Mine are faster...
* turns manual window cranks rapidly on my '84 Fiero SE *
One thing I have learned though, even though the car is relatively tiny, I can not reach the passenger window crank from the drivers' seat. that center console being so high, I can't lean over it. I have to get out and walk around the car to put the passenger window up or down.
Then...
Seatbelts: "Let me sing the wind-song of my people.. flpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflpflp....."
I need to fix my AC too..
I actually need to recreate the events of this entire video series.
(except my interior was not a science experiment in mold cultures)
@@Cammi_Rosalie Imagine trying to get laid in a Fiero. I can assure you it is damn near impossible.
"good enough"
tears down the whole front end for a 2 inch surface rust spot
"I may look like a 6'3 24 year old, but in reality im a teeny tiny baby. I NEED THAT COOL AIR."
Born and raised in South Florida so I know the heat and humidity combo... then I went to Texas... in August 1992 for basic training... Lackland AFB, San Antonio. He's no baby... let the boy have his A/C!
what came out was "a nice shade of not drinking enough water"
yep, I know that color
"The theme is good enough"
Proceeds to repaint one of the cleaner Fiero chassis I've seen in years and sandblast the wiper linkage.
In all seriousness, solid job.
The realm of "good enough" typically involves Bondo and Plastidip. This is solid work
Right? Makes you wonder what his "as close to pristine" and "Wowza" factors settings are! LOL
He uploads
Everyone: happy doggo face
GAF
this is a lot more satisfying to binge re-watch after you slowly watched them trickle out the first time :)
I’m gonna be bummed when this project is over :( It’s been so much fun to watch the progress!
he says he's already bought the next project car, so still some content to come
Michael T ; I believe it was mentioned in episode 7. He also has other content on the channel but the fiero content is by far the most popular. So...it was implied that he had something else (car related) coming up! Yaaaay!!!
I was sitting here excited going, "The windshield is next YES YES YES!"
But I've learned a new appreciation of patience with this series haha
Oh just wait until you watch Project Binky
Are you kidding me?! 43 min a pure Fiero content? I'm going to enjoy this!
Yes, I sure did :D
Cant get this material anywhere else on any media source.
I'm more excited about this than any movie release in the last two years
When you see that 43 minute length :)))))
THATS WHAT SHE SAID - Michael Scott voice
Ronald: it’s summer for all four seasons!
February 2021: Ronald we have to talk.
I now have a 1985 Pontiac Fireo Gt that I have high hopes of "restoring", thank you Ron for the inspiration.
I am still discovering things about these little cars that I find as crazy cool, the sunroof storage under the bonnet which I thought really made sense to me.
"...that will be really soon. So until next time, I will see you guys later."
"Hey Google, set an alarm for 5 months from now."
Me : it’s time to go now
Slow window gag : was I a good boy?
Me : no.... I heard you were the best
Love these series man , I’ve been here since the start , can’t wait to see it finished !
Man you have guts! Tearing apart a window regulator! Love the series!
The amount of love you're showing this Pontiac is amazing... Great job
It’s great to see a project series like this where Harbor Freight tools are being used. Just goes to prove that the right tool for the job is the tool that works!
This series has given me a real appreciation for automotive engineering: all those weird, custom parts, someone had to think about how they'd be designed, manufactured and integrated, at a cost point. My gut check is that the Fiero looks like a huge bag-on-a-side hack once peeked under the skin - any automotive engineers out there? Is the Fiero par for Detroit 80s, a particularly nasty job, or is this just how you do it in the industry? It seems like the Fiero in particular had gigantic packaging problems to consider. If there's anyone from the Fiero design or development team watching this, would love to hear their comments.
sloth jr not part of the development team but gm only gave the fiero $400m to develop the car in 2 years which is considered as a insanely low budget and insanely short r and d time, remember most cars around this time had budget of $1b. The fact the fiero created a lot of new manufacturing techniques and had a masses produced space frame which was and still unheard of. Lot of good reading on the development of the fiero it’s really interesting.
A couple of things:
1) you wouldn't see any of that and for that matter, there wouldn't BE any of what you're seeing is because this was the first and only vehicle produced in north america with a space frame/body system. Most had unibody where the body is the frame. Or body on frame.
2) The fiero is a parts bin special. It was cobbled together using a lot of existing parts from existing vehicles. The whole engine and drive train is the front wheel drive system from the citation (I think that's what it was from).
3) For eg, the window regulators. That's what they were like. Stamped steel parts. They did the job for decades so why over engineer them? The newer systems are a cable drive system which doesn't last hardly as long. A Bentley uses an over engineered complex chain and gear system and they break as well.
4) I'm not sure why you say this is "particularly nasty", have you SEEN new cars? Everything is plastic. GM sierra and chev pickups are notorious for breaking door handles why? because they are all plastic NOT steel like this one is.
Could you maybe point out what you feel is a particularly nasty piece?
I've been working on cars since the late 60's and I can tell you: cars are NOT any better built today. I don't care if it's an Aston Martin or a Corolla. The problem with newer cars is they've been designed and engineered by millennials who want to show off their skills instead of building a quality product. I'll refer you to the F150 IWE system where the 4wd front hubs are engaged all the time, and are only DISengaged when the vehicle is started and the vacuum disengages them. They fail constantly. They area also controlled by a switch at the top of the engine bay that filled up with water, failed, and that water ran through the system down to the IWE and froze them. Not to mention the seals around the actuators would fail so they wouldn't fully disengage and grind and cause vacuum leaks in the engine.
Another example is with F150's. Ford thought it was a brilliant idea to put foam in the rear inner and outer fenders. The issue is this foam absorbed and trapped dirt and moisture and caused them all to rust out prematurely. Or the holes they put into the rocker panels to allow paint etc to get in and how did they plug these holes? with gaffer tape. Which falls off in the first month causing the rockers to rust out. It would have been far better to NOT apply paint/rust protection in there and seal it up. They would have lasted 10x longer because nothing could get in in the first place.
I could go on but trust me on this: newer cars are NOT any better built or engineered.
@@muskokamike127 All those rivets! I only know the inside of my newer 94 Mazda MX-5 NA made in Japan and man am I glad I didn't have to deal with drilling out and re-riveting components. I even could refurbish the window motor unit. Everything screwed and bolted though making and replacing cables WAS a major pain in the ass.
Every manufacturer has a different way of doing things. No company doesnt cut corners. And for years GM has used similar designs and they do well for them. Even luxury companies like ramge rover or BMW. I'm a body technician and I'm always working on all sorts of cars so dont argue.
If all these engineers thought about making typical maintenance stuff easily accessible then I would be happy. Every year they make it harder and harder to get to.
*Ronald Finger:* I want to wrap this project up
*also Ronald Finger:* (sees small dent in back) Time to rebuild the entire bumper
buys a whole new car
I feel so emotionally attached to this series that I don't want it to end
Any good story has a satisfying end and i have no doubt this one will be too
Here in the Midwest, we change the quote “a little bit of rust in lots of places” to “a lot of rust in lots of places”
As Kevin from junkyard digs said in the f250 revival “for Iowa (or any other Midwest state) there should be no truck”
Hey Ronald, I am absolutely in awe of what you have done to that car. Your attention to detail is outstanding even to the
point of fixing and painting things that will never been seen unless it's a show car, which as you've said it isn't.
As far as it eating you about the alignment of the body panels in the front being off by five millimeters or so I wouldn't
let it bother you or for that matter even fix it. It's what makes the car unique, just like you. Bravo on your project, enjoy it
you've earned it.
honestly if this series had a few hundred more episodes id be down for that
The concours fiero😂
If you want endless restoration there's Project Binky. It's been in the works for more than 5 years. And the end I nowhere near.
Someone remind me again how the young people of today have no dedication, no staying power & no patience...
You're a star Ronald.
GARGLER42 .... he is an anomaly, be it, a very good one.
He’s an anomaly in any generation.
He's like 1 of 5 known in existence
@@Nickscassera Well...watching all 9 episodes, 10PM -till 5AM today!!! I have to go 'adjust' my first post about Ronald, in his Q&A video. What episodes addressed the tires? Price, type, purchase etc....did HE even mount them and balance himself ?? It is 5am and I am punch drunk now.....
Well, this got me out of bed.
Same!
This is much better than those typical car restoration programs on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.
JB weld is the way, i just recently JB welded my thermostat housing on my fiero. works like a charm
Nobody talking about the little donkey at 20:10 smh
I saw it. So so cute
Did a couple of double takes. Wasn't quite sure I'd seen it at first. :|
“What do you want?”
What I want to know is does it talk like Eddie Murphy
I literally woke up, sat in my family room, coffee in my cup and watched at 6am this morning.
nice william :D
The only thing missing in these videos is you slowly growing an 80s style mullet.
Pretty awesome to see this thing come to life
How did I end up getting so invested in a car that I previously didnt even know existed 😆 fantastic work as always, I cant wait to see this finished.
"a nice shade of not drinking enough water" 😂
that's how my pee looks when I think I am drinking enough water...hahaha
I'm going to be sad when this series is over. I really like your videos. I hope you have a new project lined up!!
The description is what playing 4D chess looks like.
If this is one of those Fieros that has the economy-ratio transmission option, you can get 50 mpg on the highway. Eat your heart out Prius
Omg, this is my favorite serie at YT. Shout out from Brazil ✌️
That shower curtain idea is real clever. Learn something every day.
Hopefully you will be doing a cost breakdown at the end...really curious about cost and man hours. Great job, can't wait for the next installment!
ya...that a/c pressure setup probably isnt cheap
The theme “good enough” automotive language for over kill for a daily without killing myself.
G04C41 -Fact of life just gotta live with polishing a turd lol
G04C41 his “good enough” is other peoples “doing a great job”! And by other peoples,
I mean me!
When you shown the holes, the first thing that came to my mind was to just use JB Weld and call it good, and that's exactly what happened. That's the level of good enough I can appreciate.
Good job on staggering those solder connections. Most people don't do it but should. Keep up the great work!
One of my favourite things to watch. This car should be presented to your great grandchild on their 16th birthday
That if gasoline powered vehicles are even legal by then…
@@r0b3rt_959 they will be. It will be a hundred of years before electric will fully phase out gas vehicles, in a NYC to LA road trip, the gas car will arrive hours before, its fast to refuel, and you can drive for longer.
They will be in Texas.
Oh no he's going to bondo the holes
OH NO IT'S JB WELD
Yeah, JB Weld in that application is just fine. It's not structural. Was very happy to see that as opposed to body filler (which would just make the rust worse, usually...) I've got a welder, but until I got one, JB Weld (and other epoxies) were invaluable.
The Fiero sans panels looks straight out of Mad Max. Can't wait to see it all painted and shiny!
I know, right? Now I want a Fiero-Kart.
This series proves that joy is not in the destination but in the journey. With $25K worth of parts, labor, fluids, paint, & TIME (pay yourself standard mechanic rate) you invested, you are left with a well sorted period correct 80’s basic Fiero (not even the cooler GT version) eventually worth about $5K. I wouldn’t make that trip... Still, great to watch someone ELSE do it XD
i love all the time travel gags, i've watched the series all the way through 3 times now. thank you for making this
I really hope you continue projects like this in the future. Your attention to detail along with your sense of humour are really enjoyable.
"What was clear is now a nice shade of "not drinking enough water" " :P
"Especially in Texas, where it's summer for all four seasons, except maybe a few weeks."
Me: *Laughs in Floridian*
51 yrs, born and raised in the Tampa FL area - I've been to Texas................ - FL is much hotter and muggier -
Agree 100%, born and raised in S. Fl...now in St. Pete...
Florida where it's summer all four seasons, except MAYBE a few DAYS!!!🤣😎
* laughs In Australian *
@@kaleta9483 Just was about to post this!
@@TommyMacsWorkshop*sighs in Mojave Desert person*
This series keeps me sane. Not even a car guy, just a maker. Thank you so much!
Started watching ths because my 5 year old is obsessed with the hotwheels version of this car... Kept watching because it's freaking amazing!!!! Thank you.
After wire-wheeling for a while, you suddenly start to think "that sandblasting equipment isn't really THAT expensive.."
For those that care:
I've personally retro-fitted dozens of cars from R12 to R134 and flushed the system in this very same way, only I used -
(1) a quart or so of Turpentine poured thru the entire system (Except the dryer and compressor which were replaced with NEW)
(2) a half Gallon or so of Lacquer Thinner, to remove the Turpentine-
(3) a few bottles of cheap Dollar store Medical Alcohol to remove traces of Thinner and help dry everything out
(after each liquid, blow lots of compressed air with a rubber tipped blower on one end and a catch bottle on the other end, at first you will notice lots of metal particles, old rubber hose, bits of worn out compressor and other trash coming into your catch bottle, but after each step, it gets cleaner and clearer)
Next step is to blow compressed air thru everything you flushed to dry the entire system - and then use the recommended New refrigerant oil (R134 type) in each component, where you add a few oz's to the evap, a few to the dryer, a few inside the condenser - each car is different, so check your specs!
Back in the day this was an all day thing, but if you want to remove every trace of R12 Oils, and flush everything really good, this is what you did-
After the new Compressor and Dryer are bolted up and everything is sealed again, attach system to evacuation pump and allow to pump down to negative 25-30lbs of vacuum at least an hour or more, and check to see if the system HOLDS a vacuum and you're ready to charge with R134-
I have seen many people skip this type of thorough flushing, and their system failed within the first year due to the old R12 oil turning the new R134 oil to like a cottage cheese consistency looking goo
As I've said, I have done MANY and never had one come back
Mad-Duk Machine Works you mean my ac system does not like cottage cheese? Just kidding, thanks for the extensive write up!
"In actuality, I'm a teeny tiny baby". This series is so good! I've been watching for a while, finally subscribed. Can't wait to see this project finished!
timestamp?
Get the AC working..put in windshield and body panels
i liked just for the intro XD, "lets put the paint on the car" *literally puts tins of paint on car*
This has been one phenomenally great project series.
Ronald, I can imagine the day when you turn 50 years old and still own the only and mean only fully restored factory original Pontiac Fiero in the world! And it will roll across the auction block with a starting price of $1,000,000! hun..?
With the smoothest rolling windows and wipers anyone has ever seen.
idk if it's rolling across any auction blocks after the work he put in lol. too precious.
@@TheJoecb Oh buddy I got a good laugh outta that one. LOL
The last time I was this early he'd just started the project.
Looking goooood!
Rageborne I like 🚘
I am extremely way over my head rebuilding my fiero engine right now (most mechanically thing I've ever done was swamp out a tire for a spare) and am very afraid of what I am going to come across when I first start my engine but I am hoping that I run into all the exact issues you do so I know exactly how to fix them haha. Anyways, thanks again for your hard work. I will be following every second of each of your videos (after multiple rewatches already) to guide me along to a fully restored 86 Fiero! Can't wait for the next video!
The heat shrink on the door cables. The shower curtain moisture barrier. So many amazing ideas. I have you to thank
Aww I remember when you first pulled it out of someones backyard 🥺she came a long way
43 minutes? Thanks for putting in all that effort
I love this build series, there is something to remember project cars are never done there is always something to upgrade or benefit from, from improving,with that said I hope that this series never ends.
Ronald just proves it's not the tool brand that gets the job done it's the person and their skillset. Amazing results with harbour Freight Tools!
This is by far the best car renovating series on UA-cam.
Attention to detail and research is impressive.
Man, I think that thing is just as good as the day it rolled off the assembly line. (minus the body of course!) I have enjoyed watching you restore the Fiero. Hope you and your family are well!
This 43 minutes and 18 seconds was exactly what I needed during all this isolation. Awesome job!!!
I just binged this series today. I can’t get enough. Dude, you’re crazy talented!
this is by far the series i most look forward to seeing new episodes from in my sub box
As someone that lives in Texas, I can attest that cold blowing ac is a must.
Gf
“As SomEOnE wHo LivEs In TeXaS”
Yeah as someone who lives in Texas I don’t have ac in my car and it’s not bad at all. And he’s totally making up the summer bs we have winters, Texas isn’t California, it gets cold in winter.
@@jamesguckenberger5692 where the hell do you live in Texas? He lives in Houston. What he said is very true for that area. It very rarely gets cold there. The humidity also makes the heat absolutely hell. I live in the dfw area, and it stays 100+ for about 3-4 months. Yes here we have actual cold weather, but AC is much more important than heat. There are only about 3-5 below freezing days here out of the entire year.
I had an E30 for a year while living in Houston. I had 2/60 A/C during the summer. Two windows down and 60 mph. It was HOT . . .
I finished watching all your episodes of the fiero last night and was like, “man I wonder when will he post another video. Part 8 came out a month ago..🤔” lol than this comes out today!! Awesome!!
Same. Was so surprised when this popped up this morning.
I don't care about Fieros. I don't even really care about cars in general. I've been watching so long I can't even remember how I found this video series or why I watched the first episode. But i love them. There's something so satisfying about watching this young man apply his skill and knowledge to bringing this car back to life. Can't wait for the next episode.
Been here since day 1 , your perseverance and sheer doggedness is spectacular, enjoy every moment with that car you earned it 👍
43 minutes long? Damn, I’m in luck today.
I was thinking “hmm... didn’t see him install the spring. Must have done it off camera”