Would I fit?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Seneca, SC
Would I fit?
ok, I posted this on the only free fiero chat room that I could find, but to be honest I didn't search for too long. I figured domebody may have owned one of these, and could give me an idea. I'm thinking of building a fiero to replace my current beater, and I'm wondering if I would fit in it. I'm 6'3'', so sports cars are in general off limits, but I still gotta ask. Anybody about my size own/have owned one of these, and if so how folded up do I have to be to fit in it? Thanks in advance.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Riverview, MI
Had a cousin that owned one, that was the biggest POS that I have ever seen in my life, next to a yugo, I think I'd trust the yugo. I'm 6'3" and my head was almost in the roof. Also, depends on how wide you are.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Seneca, SC
I'm not that wide, at 185#. I'm gonna do an engine swap to start it off. keeps the price low, as a running fiero fetches much cash. probly swap in the 3.4l DOHC LQ1 engine that you can find in the following:
* 1991-1994 Chevrolet Lumina Z34
* 1991-1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
* 1991-1996 Pontiac Grand Prix
* 1995-1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34
* 1995-1997 Chevrolet Lumina LS
(found on wikipedia)
I'd be looking to go as late in the model years as possible, so that I could get a better electronics package. I haven't heard anything bad about the 4 speed, and I hear the getrag 5 although rare is pretty much bulletproof.
IMO there weren't many good cars from the late 70's to the late 80's. Just hard to meet power, reliability, and the emissions standards of the time. Computers, although a pain in the butt, save us from the vacuum crap that was around b4.
Thanks snake, and by the way, how much leg room did you have? I'm not into the pretzel look.
* 1991-1994 Chevrolet Lumina Z34
* 1991-1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
* 1991-1996 Pontiac Grand Prix
* 1995-1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Z34
* 1995-1997 Chevrolet Lumina LS
(found on wikipedia)
I'd be looking to go as late in the model years as possible, so that I could get a better electronics package. I haven't heard anything bad about the 4 speed, and I hear the getrag 5 although rare is pretty much bulletproof.
IMO there weren't many good cars from the late 70's to the late 80's. Just hard to meet power, reliability, and the emissions standards of the time. Computers, although a pain in the butt, save us from the vacuum crap that was around b4.
Thanks snake, and by the way, how much leg room did you have? I'm not into the pretzel look.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 821
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From: Riverview, MI
My leg room was fine, but I wasn't driving, my cousins a little short guy. And as far as the fiero, I think they are junk, but to each their own, and if its what you want, have at it. Good luck
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Seneca, SC
thanks, and hey, any car can be great with the right running gear. I remember my dad swapping chevy and ford v8's into jaguars, the crappiest cars of all time in relaibility and maintenence costs. once they got the right running gear they were alright cars.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,758
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From: colorado
i am 6-4 and i dated a girl that had one of those. drove it from LA to Laghlin NV and back (few hours each way) and i dont remember it being uncomfortable. i tryed to drive a friend of mines BMW M roadster and i looked like herman munster driving that thing, i was actually looking over the windshield
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Seneca, SC
the gf might have helped with the comfort factor, but then again after a few hours you're bound to notice something else 
thanks for the input though, that gives me more confidence as to the fiero being manageable. The last two seater that I rode in was a crx. In that car I had two choices, either pretzel the legs, or tilt my head to one side to clear the roof. Neither were very comfortable choices, and I rode in this thing from Greenville SC to Daytona and back. That's about 16 hours in the thing.
thanks for the input though, that gives me more confidence as to the fiero being manageable. The last two seater that I rode in was a crx. In that car I had two choices, either pretzel the legs, or tilt my head to one side to clear the roof. Neither were very comfortable choices, and I rode in this thing from Greenville SC to Daytona and back. That's about 16 hours in the thing.
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
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From: So Cal
Just a thought...
There have been several articles over the past few years in Hot Rod magazine where guys swapped in a Cadillac Northstar V8 into the later model Fieros. A real screamer and not too difficult a job although it did take a bit of metal work for the mounts etc.
Can't say whether you fit although I too have been tempted to get a GT6 but never tried one out. I am 6'4" and there aren't a lot of cars that fit well.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
There have been several articles over the past few years in Hot Rod magazine where guys swapped in a Cadillac Northstar V8 into the later model Fieros. A real screamer and not too difficult a job although it did take a bit of metal work for the mounts etc.
Can't say whether you fit although I too have been tempted to get a GT6 but never tried one out. I am 6'4" and there aren't a lot of cars that fit well.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
Watch out dialing in the handling. I've heard they are back end heavy.
On the other hand, weight in the rear for weight transfer purposes was one of the principles in the design.
When you brake, the back swings.
When you nail it, the front bites in.
Yes, I spent a lot of money at a Malibu Grand Prix.....
There was one right next to Miramar.
The problem is that once getting on it will no longer hold, the brakes are just about suicidal.
On the other hand, weight in the rear for weight transfer purposes was one of the principles in the design.
When you brake, the back swings.
When you nail it, the front bites in.
Yes, I spent a lot of money at a Malibu Grand Prix.....
There was one right next to Miramar.
The problem is that once getting on it will no longer hold, the brakes are just about suicidal.
Last edited by Greywolf; Mar 24, 2006 at 05:12 PM.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,148
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From: Seneca, SC
cool ideas guys, I think a northstar is a bit outside my price range. I was kinda hoping it would have better weight transfer than what you're saying grey, but it's gotta be better than the corsica I'm driving.
I'm thinking the LQ1 as it's the same block as the current 2.8lv6 that's in there. It's just bored and stroked and has an overhead cam system with four valves per cylinder. This pushes the little beast to 220hp and about that in touque. I think that's all the power I need. The v8 would be fun though. I can get the v6 for something like 500 bucks in a junker car from the early to mid 90's, and I know the tranny will mate, and maybe even the engine mounts will work. I am worried about it being too tall with those overhead cams.
Anyway that was all moot if I couldn't fit in the car once I was done, but it seems that I can fit, so the plans on.
I'm thinking the LQ1 as it's the same block as the current 2.8lv6 that's in there. It's just bored and stroked and has an overhead cam system with four valves per cylinder. This pushes the little beast to 220hp and about that in touque. I think that's all the power I need. The v8 would be fun though. I can get the v6 for something like 500 bucks in a junker car from the early to mid 90's, and I know the tranny will mate, and maybe even the engine mounts will work. I am worried about it being too tall with those overhead cams.
Anyway that was all moot if I couldn't fit in the car once I was done, but it seems that I can fit, so the plans on.