Didn't the Fiero have problems with motors blowing up and catching on fire?

 

Yes... hence the not so great reputation... and probably a reason why they did not develop a second generation in the first place.

Sad, too, because the short-run 88 model is now looked at as the one that all the bugs were finally worked out of...

 

The problem with them catching fire was due to weak connecting rods. And this was only an 84 problem on the 2.8 V6. The connecting rods would break and push the piston either through the head or the bottom end and oil would get onto the exhaust manifolds and then the fire would spread. Also the ignition module may have caught fire on some. If you notice the 2.8 that the fiero used was in MANY different car plus the s10 and blazer's too so those motors could have had the defective connecting rods also.

 

Too bad they didnt stay around long enough for the rock'in 3.4L like in our Camaros. I swear my motor just wont die.

 

Typical GM of the early 80s. The oil pan in the 4 cylinder was designed to hold less oil than it was supposed to, and in today's Ford-like fashion, it wasn't quite baked when it was introduced. It also wasn't mod-friendly, as some people found out. Also in typical Ford fashion, GM waited till 1990 (2 years after production ended) to recall them to correct the fuel system.

During the early 80s: GM had problems with gen3 Camaro's rear ends & imploding all glass rear hatch; numerious problems with their X-cars; the infamous Cadillac V8/6/4 engine; all passenger car diesel engines; seriously underpowered J-cars; and a whole lot of other problems with a whole lot of cars, so Fiero wasn't unique by any standard.

Incase anyone is intrested:
Fiero sales (calgary Fiero club figures):
1984: 136,840
1985: 76,371
1986: 83,974
1987: 46,581
1988: 26,401 (production halted mid-year)

*In 1985, GM raised production from it's initial 50,000 units to 100,000 annually. Big mistake!
*In 1988 Roger Smith cancelled Fiero in favor of financing Saturn (his baby).
* Anything under the hood of a J-car (Cavalier) will bolt in, or a W-car (Monte Carlo, supercharged Buick V6) can easily be made to fit.

More:
http://www.calgaryfieros.com/FIEROintro.htm

http://www.michiganfieroclub.org/spinout.htm

 

On the second link, scroll down to the 2nd story to partially understand the impact Fiero had within GM.

 

With the buildup of last years NAIAS and word of a roadster, I was hoping like many others that it would be the return of the Fiero. The Solstice is a nice car (I really like the coupe), and there is a niche for a car like the Solstice/Fiero especially if GM keeps the price down (below Miata/MR2 which are mid-20s).

As mentioned, there are a lot of misunderstandings with the problems on the early model Fieros. GM also botched things by producing them as commuter cars, and not the all-out sports cars that they should have been. This could have easily been a car with Corvette performance and status if GM had so chosen. Owning an '88 Formula with 2.8 V6 and 5spd, I can attest that this a very fun and unique car.

I also don't think there are many in the youth who are aware of the Fiero, good or bad. I'm sure many don't know what it is when they see one today. I hardly believe its early poor reputation would harm it if it returns. I get more compliments on my Fiero than I ever did with my Firebird. The "oh my god, those things catch on fire!" histeria is very overblown. I think a lot of the younger readers on this board assume they suck because they know nothing about them. Be careful, there are just as many misconceptions about your beloved Camaros. Their reputation isn't exactly golden.

There is a huge following for these cars. I don't think GM would have any problem finding buyers if the Fiero were to return, myself included. However, I don't think the name should be attached to the Solstice. The Fiero needs to be mid-engined.

BTW, the 3.4L is a popular swap for the Fiero, along with the Northstar, LT1, and other V8 conversions!

 

Maybe I live in Bizzaro world here, but among people I know, Fiero mentions are always answered with a comment about fire/explosions.

It's pretty consistent.

The Fiero name has about the rep that the Pinto has for being an unsafe timebomb of a car. Why would you bring that back?

Edit: As for not getting as many compliments on the F-Body...

I tell someone I have a Z28, and the response is always like "Oh, cool!" or "Oh yeah, those are fast!" or something about how expensive my insurance must be (and it is!).

The only non-firebomb replies to a Fiero are "What's a Fiero?" among these parts.

I think a big part of the reason they have a big following is they're dirt cheap these days and a good platform for a V8 swap/bodykits. I don't think people love them because they're a Fiero, but because they're an inexpensive MR car that has a lot of modification potential.

Keep that name in the grave, thx. Solstice sounds much cooler.

 

OK if it's true that the fire problem is only relating to the 84 V6 only, which I believe it is, then logic would dictate that the 84 L4 and the entire 85-88 line had no fire related issues, yet the ENTIRE fiero production still gets categorized as fire hazards from a first year problem? that is just ignorant.. no matter how you cut it.

My take on a next-gen Fiero is that the best candidate by far is the Vauxhall VX220 / Opel Speedster (curb weight under 1900 lbs.). I've read about that car and it sounds like a readymade Fiero to me. Up the interior room a bit and do a full cosmetic overhaul, and you have a winner.

 

For the record there was no v6 in the 84 fiero's only 2.5 iron duke 4 cyl. As mentioned earlier the fires were caused by faulty connecting rods supplied by GM and an oil capacity that was 1/2 qt too low. It was known at the time the rods had quality problems but production wasnt stopped!!

The Solstice is all smoke and mirrors, no way will it be built at the targeted price on some cobbled platform. Bob Lutz may like it, but i wonder if they have surveyed any fiero owners on their thoughts about it. I agree with brandon, the front end is awful. Pontiac should follow its heritage and go mid-engine once again. I dont think the solstice will match the '88 fiero gt's 64mph slalom ( this is equal to a new base corvette). Why go after the lowly miata when you have a car that could be offered for under 30k and take on Boxster S and S2000? All the car needs is the in- line 6 to do this, give us an optional v8 and look out viper.

GM doesnt need to reinvent the inexpensive sports car, just bring back the successful one it had. In fiero, GM had the P.t. Cruiser of sports cars, but didnt support it-no convertible, power steering or larger engine. In 1984 it accounted for 25% of all Pontiac's sales. The 134,000 units sold that year holds the record for most 2 seaters sold in us in one year. Dont forget the 5* crash rating.

GM's marketing people havent done their homework on solstice. There are already plenty of front engine 2 seaters, but a lack of mid-engine 2 seaters. Fiero averaged 74,000 units annually over 5 years. This is more units than chevy sells in monte carlo's presently.

A fiero-like car could be built today in a saturn plant since they use the same type of spaceframe.

GM may be changing but they continue to alienate many of their former customers (including me). With all this talk of performance- i hear NO mention of bringing back sucessful profitable nameplates that still have large followings like: fiero gt, grand national, chevelle, stingray,caprice and el camino. (Is Ron Zarella still in charge of marketing?)

A car like fiero would fill some of the huge gap in the current GM lineup in the lower price range (and make it to market faster than Solstice).

 

As a side note, Fiero at the time was the safest car on the road. It's fuel tank was in the dead center of the car. You'd be smashed to soup before anything got to it in an accident. Also, the most amazing accident I've ever seen in my life involved a Fiero that rearended a Toronado. It actually caved in the Toro almost up to the back window.

I haven't heard any owners who hated that car, and far more who actually loved them. On a final note, when they were in production, they were know as one of the best assembled cars GM made.

Hope that explains the Fiero guy's enthusiasm a little bit.

 

guionM, You know the fiero very well, the gas tank is indeed in the middle of the car between the 2 seats.

 

Speaking for the youth that does not know much about this car, but is willing to learn and not insult just because im uninformed on the subject......
Anyone have some clean pics of these cars in their prime. I think I know what they look like. But Im not 100% sure.
thanks.

 

Look at www.fiero.nl its a fiero forum similar to this one with over 6000 members.

 

I have been bitten by the Iero bug the past few months and have decided to buy a built one. (I cant afford another project from scratch)With an Iron block and head chevy 350 they cane still come in at 2700-2800 lbs. I saw a LS1 converted GT that came in at 2650 ish. You can make them handle real good 2. Every bodey panel can be taken off with bolts. There are 5 completely different interiors that bolt right in. there are IMSA and wide body kits ect..... The really popular motor swap is the 3800 Supercharged sries II motors. They pretty much bolt right in and up to the stock trans. Run 1320s and get 35 plus mpg. I saw one run in the 11s with a built 3800 sc from thrasher. Any transverse motor gm can be easily swapped in. There is a company near chicago (V8 archie) that has done 2000 chevy 350/LT1/TPI since 1986.

GM also was tinkering with turbo V6's for the car. It was axed because of the Corvette rule. It supposedly out ran out handled the vette at the time by a decent amount.