1986 Fiero GT 6cyl [Work Log]

JohnWPB · 05-20-2009, 05:07 PM

Ok, I have always wanted to purchase an old car, and give it new life. I decided on the Fiero, as I have always loved that car for some reason. There is a huge following for the car. This makes it easier to get parts, and a fantastic forum to ask questions, get help ect.

The intent is to completely re-design the dash, interior, & console. This will be the first part of the project, then I will move on to the exterior, prepping it for painting, as well as any mechanical work that needs done.

It is white now, but I am going to paint it red, and change the interior from the factory gray, to all rea and black leather (Dash, seats, console, doors, pillars ect ect)

At the moment, I am trying to figure out where to mount the 10.2" touchscreen before I start ripping it apart. The touchscreen is sunlight readable, so there is no concern about having to have it in a "shaded area". I will probably put a "hood" over the top of the center console, to help protect glare somewhat, kind of the way the existing dash cluster is now.

Here is what I have to work with: (Pic is not the greatest, taken quickly with my iPhone)

What I have come up with so far, is to relocate the A/C vents in the center, and mount the screen above the HVAC controls. The console will then extend up to the same height as the dash gauge cluster.

If anyone else has any ideas or suggestions, please let me know! I could only find one other Fiero install here on the forums, and he simply used a single din motorized display in place of the radio.

JohnWPB · 05-20-2009, 11:34 PM

Things are on hold... already

I just bought a different Fiero hahah! An 86 GT. Either way, this will be the beginning of the worklog, no matter which one it actually turns out to be that is worked on hahah! The dash's are pretty much the same, and present the same problem installing a touch screen.

JohnWPB · 05-21-2009, 02:46 AM

Even with a different car pending, the dash is the same, and can still try to figure this monitor placement out!

Ok, I just took some measurements, and have the console face plate here in the house. Holding up the monitor to it, it is almost exactly the same width as the monitor itself.

This means I will have to make the whole center console just a little bit wider, to have some room to put trim around it. Yuck.....

The yellow border in the pic is the size of the monitor, and where I would like to fit it in:

This also means that the center console is going to be about 1/2" taller than the gauge cluster surrounding. I don't think that will be a problem though....

Injector · 05-21-2009, 03:20 AM

what happened to the right of the dash? it looks like someone couldn't wait until they got to the toilet

JohnWPB · 05-21-2009, 04:09 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Injector

what happened to the right of the dash? it looks like someone couldn't wait until they got to the toilet

LOL!!!! Hahah!

Actually that is common on the Fiero dash for some reason... They used a dye on the dash vinyl, and over time with fading the color behind shows through. Does not matter, as the entire dash is being re-upholstered.

You can see it starting on the far side of this dash (Google images) as well:

sargeants · 05-21-2009, 07:52 AM

Looking forward to see what you come up with... as I'll be adding it to my ideas of modding mine. (86SE)

Since you're going to be redoing the console, why not trim up the radio area and not have it a 1.5DIN, therefore moving the hvac controls down a bit and then your screen wouldn't be up higher than the gauge cluster. Or do you really need the radio?
I'm assuming you're going to be redoing/re-gluing the console aswell... cause to those who don't know.... that is NOT how it's supposed to look... but given some time sitting in the sun, it plays wonders with the glue/materials.

Where would you put the vents? vertical maybe? thus making the console kinda blend into the cluster and the passenger area?
Is the 86GT also red?

*Mister's car is a really nice one, even if he's only using a motorized screen... the rest of it is sweet

JohnWPB · 05-21-2009, 11:11 AM

I still want a Head Unit in there, as there are problem's with PC's as you know, and its always good to have a backup. I also use it as the line in to power the speakers for the pc, as well as having a true volume knob.

Oh yea, I will be recovering the console, so I will not have that bubbling out from the heat / sun ect when it is done.

The new one is white, but will be changed painted red. Changing the color of a Fiero is far easier than just about any other car, as inside the trunk / hood / door jams ect is black on all models, making unnecessary to have to paint those areas

HiJackZX1 · 05-21-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by JohnWPB

Ok, I have always wanted to purchase an old car, and give it new life. I decided on the Fiero, as there is a huge following for that car. This makes it easier to get parts, and a fantastic forum to ask questions, get help ect.

I have always been drawn to this little car for some strange reason as well.

The intent is to completely re-design the dash, interior, & console. This will be the first part of the project, then I will move on to the exterior replacing the front bumper, rear bumper trim ect ect.

I will keep the car red, and change the interior from the factory gray, to all read and black leather (Dash, seats, console, doors, pillars ect ect)

At the moment, I am trying to figure out where to mount the 10.2" touchscreen before I start ripping it apart. The touchscreen is sunlight readable, so there is no concern about having to have it in a "shaded area". I will probably put a "hood" over the top of the center console, to help protect glare somewhat, kind of the way the existing dash cluster is now.

Here is what I have to work with: (Pic is not the greatest, taken quickly with my iPhone)

What I have come up with so far, is to relocate the A/C vents in the center, and mount the screen above the HVAC controls. The console will then extend up to the same height as the dash gauge cluster.

If anyone else has any ideas or suggestions, please let me know! I could only find one other Fiero install here on the forums, and he simply used a single din motorized display in place of the radio.

OMFG, I see so much potential for a dual screen setup. The interior is so simplistic. You could easily move those AC controls, HU, someplace else, but the 10 inch in, then use that little pocket thing in the driver side dash and put screen number 2!

Relocate the vents on the side, like my truck.....

I think you should just have the screen in that whole area, dont raise it up like you have pictured. With it lower you will be able to reach it easily and not really have to reach at all.

Injector · 05-21-2009, 03:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

OMFG, I see so much potential for a dual screen setup. The interior is so simplistic. You could easily move those AC controls, HU, someplace else, but the 10 inch in, then use that little pocket thing in the driver side dash and put screen number 2!

Relocate the vents on the side, like my truck.....

I think you should just have the screen in that whole area, dont raise it up like you have pictured. With it lower you will be able to reach it easily and not really have to reach at all.

as john and i know from experience (because we had the same car) when the screen is too low the shifter gets in the way making it impossible to watch any movies on it, that might be the reason why he wants to go higher

HiJackZX1 · 05-21-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Injector

as john and i know from experience (because we had the same car) when the screen is too low the shifter gets in the way making it impossible to watch any movies on it, that might be the reason why he wants to go higher

I saw that big shifter.... I wasnt sure if the camera was close to it, or if it was really that big. I also started to think about the AC controls, I know new cars use electronics, but older cars (especially AMERICAN) used that weird air tubing system to change contols and stuff. Also that pull line stuff. So relocating those will be almost impossible.

JohnWPB · 05-21-2009, 06:51 PM

Good suggestion, I will just have to toy with it and see how it looks, as I would like to have the screen lower.... as mentioned just a case of not too low to be blocked by the shifter.

Quote: Originally Posted by HiJackZX1

I saw that big shifter.... I wasnt sure if the camera was close to it, or if it was really that big. I also started to think about the AC controls, I know new cars use electronics, but older cars (especially AMERICAN) used that weird air tubing system to change contols and stuff. Also that pull line stuff. So relocating those will be almost impossible.

Actually I got lucky on this one

The controls are all electronic. The only thing that is not, is the cable to move the vent door from hot to cold. Surprisingly, they can also be seperated very easily from what I read. Here was another project where someone was re-designing the center console:

HiJackZX1 · 05-21-2009, 07:20 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by JohnWPB

Good suggestion, I will just have to toy with it and see how it looks, as I would like to have the screen lower.... as mentioned just a case of not too low to be blocked by the shifter.

Actually I got lucky on this one

The controls are all electronic. The only thing that is not, is the cable to move the vent door from hot to cold. Surprisingly, they can also be seperated very easily from what I read. Here was another project where someone was re-designing the center console:

Oh WOW, I bet Nexson could do something like that for you!

JakeDragon · 05-24-2009, 01:11 PM

Good luck on your build.

I want to also replace my center console with something that looks better. The stock center console liked to separate from the plastic skeleton and would need re-glued and will never hold up to the Florida heat.

I like the back part of the dash but the gage pod and the center console are dated bad. I don't really want something out of a new car but would like to use the Fiero dash as a building block.

It will be interesting to see how your build progresses.

JohnWPB · 05-24-2009, 10:43 PM

Welcome to the MP3Car forums! I have a good idea of how I am going to do the center console. It will be something based on the idea of the above wooden one. Separating the A/C controls give some extra space, as well as reducing the radio to a single DIN from the present 1.5 DIN. I just am going to rearrange things in it, as well as probably add some newer / more modern looking A/C vents.

EDIT:

Something like this for instance:

Injector · 05-25-2009, 12:38 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by JohnWPB

Welcome to the MP3Car forums! I have a good idea of how I am going to do the center console. It will be something based on the idea of the above wooden one. Separating the A/C controls give some extra space, as well as reducing the radio to a single DIN from the present 1.5 DIN. I just am going to rearrange things in it, as well as probably add some newer / more modern looking A/C vents.

EDIT:

Something like this for instance:

are you going to upgrade the other vents as well? because 2 round vents and 2 squared vents might look a little off

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