The "Big Plan" ..................
Ok, so maybe the term "Big Plan" is a little dramatic. But for those who know me, everything I tend to do always starts with a plan. And because I am an engineer with a splash of OCD, my plans tend to include extensive drawings, a few critical calculations...... and then more drawings....... lots of drawings, 2D, 3D, black and white, color and from every conceivable angle. You'll see this throughout my build site.
So, as you know by now, the goal of my build project is to take a mint '85 Fiero and transform it into something that closely resembles a Ferrari 355 spider. I have always loved the look of this particular Ferrari and it has often been said that the Ferrari 355 is the most beautiful of all the modern Ferrari models. There isn't a straight line on this car. Just look at a 355 from any low vantage point. The body curves literally scream beauty as they sweep up over the hood and back over the roof, over the front quarters, along the gentle low sweep of the doors and back over the rear quarters. This is a family blog so I'll leave it at that ! However, I am sure that when god himself goes for a Sunday drive, he takes his 355.
And I think the Spider model is even more attractive as it gives the car a low, wide, sleek profile. I do feel however that the look of the spider is diminished slightly with the soft top up. It just doesn't seem to carry the smooth sensual lines of the coupe body through the fabric covered metal skeleton. But in reality, this is true for most convertibles with soft tops. It is for this reason that I have no plans to fabricate a top for my project car. In fact, I am doubtful that I will even show any pictures of real a Ferrari 355 spider with the top up. The top does not add to the beauty of the overall car and is clearly fitted for practical reasons. And lets be honest, this project has very little to do with being practical. There..... I said it. :)
Here is a black Ferrari 355 spider for those that are not familiar with the model. Regardless of the angle, this is truly an attractive automobile.
So, as you know by now, the goal of my build project is to take a mint '85 Fiero and transform it into something that closely resembles a Ferrari 355 spider. I have always loved the look of this particular Ferrari and it has often been said that the Ferrari 355 is the most beautiful of all the modern Ferrari models. There isn't a straight line on this car. Just look at a 355 from any low vantage point. The body curves literally scream beauty as they sweep up over the hood and back over the roof, over the front quarters, along the gentle low sweep of the doors and back over the rear quarters. This is a family blog so I'll leave it at that ! However, I am sure that when god himself goes for a Sunday drive, he takes his 355.
And I think the Spider model is even more attractive as it gives the car a low, wide, sleek profile. I do feel however that the look of the spider is diminished slightly with the soft top up. It just doesn't seem to carry the smooth sensual lines of the coupe body through the fabric covered metal skeleton. But in reality, this is true for most convertibles with soft tops. It is for this reason that I have no plans to fabricate a top for my project car. In fact, I am doubtful that I will even show any pictures of real a Ferrari 355 spider with the top up. The top does not add to the beauty of the overall car and is clearly fitted for practical reasons. And lets be honest, this project has very little to do with being practical. There..... I said it. :)
Here is a black Ferrari 355 spider for those that are not familiar with the model. Regardless of the angle, this is truly an attractive automobile.
OK.............. one picture of the car with the roof up. I guess a Ferrari always looks good at the beach, even with the roof up. :)
Now......back to this "Big Plan" of mine.
Luckily for me, the Pontiac Fiero and the Ferrari 355 share very similar proportions where it counts the most. Primarily, the Fiero is a mid engine sports car, just like the 355 so with the engine behind the driver yet still forward of the rear wheels, the front hood can be made low and wide with the cabin situated slightly forward on the chassis. As well, the windshield structure is similar enough to add to the desired low swept body styling. So as you can see, the Fiero makes an ideal starting point for building a Ferrari 355 style car.
As you can see from the home page of my website, there are topics across the top of the page that cover such topics as Chassis, Suspension, Engine & Transmission, Body, Interior and finally Miscellaneous (ie: everything else). I will leave the details of each topic to their respective sections as the details will likely be long and involved. Suffice to say, my Big Plan will include the following:
Chassis: the stock Fiero chassis will be stretched to match the wheelbase of the 355 and reinforced to retain the structural integrity of the chassis as a convertible. As well, suitable structure will be added to provide the occupants with some protection should the car ever end up with the wheels looking skyward.
Suspension: the stock front and rear suspension of the Fiero will be completely replaced with a combination of aftermarket components and parts I have designed and built to suit my arrangement. The goals of the new suspension will be two fold:
1. lower the chassis and widen the stance of the car to achieve the look of a high performance Ferrari
2. improve the suspension performance by using new components and improved geometry.
Engine & Transmission: replace the stock 98 hp Iron Duke 4 cylinder with a 400 hp GM V8 and couple it to a 5 or 6 speed manual transmission capable of handling the increased power.
Body: As I have already stated, the new look of my project car will closely resemble the Ferrari 355 Spider. The new composite body will not be an exact replica and I will allow myself some leeway for artistic flair.
Interior: While the original interior of my 85 Fiero is still in exceptional condition considering its age, I do have a desire to bring the styling forward to the 21st century and make it not only look like it matches the rest of the car but also make it functional and ergonomically pleasing. Plus, it's just got to be leather, black Italian leather with hand stitched seams and ascents unique to this project. In the end, budget will probably dictate what I end up with. :(
Miscellaneous: This covers just about everything else associated with building a unique project car. It will include lights and electrical items, details both exterior and interior, paint and finish....... the list will likely seem endless by the time I am driving down the streets of Yarmouth.
So, I have laid out in very general terms, my plans for this project. I will populate this website with descriptions and details of each and everything I do. I will try to include not only a detailed explanation of what I am doing but try to give you insight about why I am doing it. I will add as much supporting documentation as I can along the way so that you have very few unanswered questions as you read though the posts.
Thank you for reading this far into my build. I hope you will continue though each post and enjoy reading the material as I update the progress of my project.
Luckily for me, the Pontiac Fiero and the Ferrari 355 share very similar proportions where it counts the most. Primarily, the Fiero is a mid engine sports car, just like the 355 so with the engine behind the driver yet still forward of the rear wheels, the front hood can be made low and wide with the cabin situated slightly forward on the chassis. As well, the windshield structure is similar enough to add to the desired low swept body styling. So as you can see, the Fiero makes an ideal starting point for building a Ferrari 355 style car.
As you can see from the home page of my website, there are topics across the top of the page that cover such topics as Chassis, Suspension, Engine & Transmission, Body, Interior and finally Miscellaneous (ie: everything else). I will leave the details of each topic to their respective sections as the details will likely be long and involved. Suffice to say, my Big Plan will include the following:
Chassis: the stock Fiero chassis will be stretched to match the wheelbase of the 355 and reinforced to retain the structural integrity of the chassis as a convertible. As well, suitable structure will be added to provide the occupants with some protection should the car ever end up with the wheels looking skyward.
Suspension: the stock front and rear suspension of the Fiero will be completely replaced with a combination of aftermarket components and parts I have designed and built to suit my arrangement. The goals of the new suspension will be two fold:
1. lower the chassis and widen the stance of the car to achieve the look of a high performance Ferrari
2. improve the suspension performance by using new components and improved geometry.
Engine & Transmission: replace the stock 98 hp Iron Duke 4 cylinder with a 400 hp GM V8 and couple it to a 5 or 6 speed manual transmission capable of handling the increased power.
Body: As I have already stated, the new look of my project car will closely resemble the Ferrari 355 Spider. The new composite body will not be an exact replica and I will allow myself some leeway for artistic flair.
Interior: While the original interior of my 85 Fiero is still in exceptional condition considering its age, I do have a desire to bring the styling forward to the 21st century and make it not only look like it matches the rest of the car but also make it functional and ergonomically pleasing. Plus, it's just got to be leather, black Italian leather with hand stitched seams and ascents unique to this project. In the end, budget will probably dictate what I end up with. :(
Miscellaneous: This covers just about everything else associated with building a unique project car. It will include lights and electrical items, details both exterior and interior, paint and finish....... the list will likely seem endless by the time I am driving down the streets of Yarmouth.
So, I have laid out in very general terms, my plans for this project. I will populate this website with descriptions and details of each and everything I do. I will try to include not only a detailed explanation of what I am doing but try to give you insight about why I am doing it. I will add as much supporting documentation as I can along the way so that you have very few unanswered questions as you read though the posts.
Thank you for reading this far into my build. I hope you will continue though each post and enjoy reading the material as I update the progress of my project.
