yarmouthfiero@hotmail.com
  • Updates
  • Synopsis
    • Back in '85
    • The "Big Plan"
  • Chassis
    • 3" Stretch
    • 6" Stretch
    • Rocker Reinforcement
    • Roll Over Hoops
    • Lop Off The Roof
    • Rear Frames
    • Strut Towers
    • Engine Cradle
  • Suspension
    • Front >
      • Cross Member
      • Coil Over Shocks
      • Steering
      • Suspension Analysis
    • Rear >
      • Brakes
      • Struts
      • Spindles
      • Control Arms
      • Sway Bar
      • Suspension Analysis
  • Drivetrain
    • Engine >
      • Water Pump
      • Intake Manifold
      • Engine Mounts
      • Headers - 180* Equal Length
      • LS3 Computer Model
    • Transmission >
      • Transmission Mounts
    • Drive Line
    • Adapter / Flywheel / Clutch
  • Body
    • 355 Body Panels
    • Mirrors
  • Interior
  • Misc
    • Wheels & Tires
    • Windshield
    • Lights >
      • Head Lights
      • Tail Lights
    • Wipers
  • About
  • Contact
YARMOUTH FIERO - NS355 PROJECT

                           Welcome to my Project Site

3/27/2015

11 Comments

 
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to my project build site.  Throughout this website, you will be able to follow my project as I slowly transform my 1985 Pontiac Fiero into a high performance sports car which will closely resemble the beautiful Ferrari 355 Spider.  I say "resemble" because while I will make every effort to duplicate the looks and even the performance of the classic Ferrari, my ultimate goal is to build a car which appeals to my personal taste in automobiles and once complete and ready for the road, will not be a true replica of the Ferrari 355.

Please note that while I feel confident in my ability to design and build the various components necessary as well as integrate off the shelf components whenever possible for my own personal vehicle, I make no claims or guarantees regarding the suitability, quality or effectiveness of the above mentioned designs and components for others to duplicate.  I am merely documenting my project as I progress through the various stages so that I have a cohesive and chronological record of what I have done and in some cases redone. 

I encourage you to read my posts containing relatively coherent text with accompanying semi focused photographs as well as descriptive and sometimes colorful drawings, graphs and 3D images.  If you have questions or comments regarding material I have posted whether it be constructive criticism, requests for clarification or even just a good ol' pat on the shoulder, please feel free to leave a comment on the site or email at
yarmouthfiero@hotmail.com.  I promise to check the site regularly and respond quickly when appropriate to do so.

Again, thank you for taking the time to follow my build project.  I hope you will find it both interesting and entertaining as well as informative and educational.

Finally, a special thanks to my wife Susan and children Katherine, Jordan and Kirk who have always supported my project and even participate in the construction from time to time.  I hope someday that they get as much joy from driving this car as I have had building it. 

Sincerely

Graham


11 Comments
Dave
2/24/2016 09:39:45 pm

The front suspension drawings are looking really good there Graham. Are you using anything other than the CAD program to calculate your geometry changes as you cycle the suspension through its range of travel?

Reply
Graham
2/24/2016 10:33:05 pm

Hi Dave

I am just using my 3D model of the suspension and converting the linkages and pivots to a wire frame diagram. As I cycle the lower control arm through X degrees of jounce and rebound, I make the upper control arm move about its own axis of rotation, using the linkage of the spindle do dictate its motion. From the fixed 3d axis of the drawing I can measure angles, distances and displacement of the various linkages and points of rotation like the upper and lower ball joints. Its a little tedious but its very accurate. My first mistake was moving my linkages in imperial units rather than increments of 10mm like your data is recorded.

Reply
Dave
3/6/2016 10:27:04 pm

The addition of the steering rack makes that front end look like you're ready for fabrication. Kudos for the awesome 3D work.

Just be sure to keep those inner tie rod joints lined up with the upper and lower inner control arm pivot plane, and the outer tie rod ends lined up with the outer ball joint plane as viewed from the front. If you don't, you'll end up with bump steer.

Reply
Graham
3/7/2016 11:49:24 am

Thanks Dave. I never measured where the tie rods actually pivot inside the accordion dust boots but from my front view I can see they are inboard of the upper and lower control arm pivots. Apart from putting the steering rack in the stretching machine, I am not sure what I could do. I can't really move the inner control arm pivots inboard as they would get quite long. I'll do the analysis of the geometry as shown and see how the bump steer looks. I think I have your steering geometry drawing so I will pull the pivot locations off of that.

Reply
Dave
4/3/2016 11:27:36 pm

Looking forward to seeing your new front suspension layout now that you've solved the toe issue. Good to see a breakthrough on this bug-bear.

Reply
Dave
4/3/2017 10:32:53 pm

Nothing for six months and suddenly an engine ordered? And a transmission? I'm not going to say it was worth the wait, but I am glad you're back at it with gusto! Please don't wait another 6 months. :D

Reply
Graham
4/4/2017 09:34:47 am

Thanks Dave. I always appreciate your...um-m-m support? ha-ha-ha I will make every effort to keep a steady trickle of updates flowing. I know most have been thinking " if he doesn't buy an engine and transmission soon, this project will never move on it own". :)

Reply
Dave
4/16/2017 07:11:44 pm

Apparently the chances that the engine would arrive just in time to sit it out at the dealership for the long Easter weekend were pretty good. Hopefully there's more than a ginormous chocolate egg in the box!

Reply
Graham
4/16/2017 08:58:12 pm

I think a ginormous Kinder Surprise Egg with an engine inside for a prize would be ok to find on an Easter weekend ha-ha-ha

Reply
Dave
4/23/2017 11:02:45 pm

Finally! Photos of the engine in the bay! I've been checking every couple hours or so all day long. Looks great. I can just imagine all that extra space on the sides taken up by a bundle o' snakes exhaust system.

For the harmonic damper, I don't know anything about the differences between them other than the obvious physical dimensions. Finding a single sheave V-belt pulley that's an integral part of a damper specifically for the LS3 would probably be best. But if that fails, I might be able to pull some part numbers off the simple damper on my SBC with a bolt-on single sheave V-belt pulley. I'm not sure how much thinner the overall combination will be compared to the serpentine damper you already have though. The centre bore might be significantly different too. Let me know if you want me to look.

Reply
Dave
5/7/2017 10:35:39 am

The reversed intake manifold looks like it was easy enough... good thing otherwise you'd suck the all air out of the cabin in a jiffy!

The water pump mod doesn't look from the photos to save you much space, especially after you attach a couple 90 degree elbows to those AN fittings. Perhaps it's just the angle of the photos.

Reply

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