Back in Black

Looking good! *thumbs up*

DUDE...that paint really cleaned up! Did you use an orbital buffer???

Hey, I like the boost gauge...is there a writeup on that? Was the time to install so long because of the engine part, or putting it in the interior...very nice mod!

Andrew is it bad that I'm in love with your car? It's looking great and has come a long way! Have you considered tinting the rear lights? Would look so sick on your car.

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Hey, I like the boost gauge...is there a writeup on that? Was the time to install so long because of the engine part, or putting it in the interior...very nice mod!

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t189p75-write-up-installing-boost-gauge#36295

I followed that Write-up almost exactly. The most trouble I had, and why it took so long, was finding out where the heck the tubing and wiring was going to end up once it was through the door jamb and into the interior. The parking brake assembly was in the way and everything was hard to find lol.

Thanks for the compliments everyone! I used a small 3M 3" buffing pad on an electric drill. Tedious? Yes. Accurate? Extremely. Takes some time to use that little buggar, but it makes doing small sections easy.

Tinting the tail lights would really light my fire, but unfortunately, I can't even use damn tinted license plate covers in my area. The police are insane about that kind of thing around here. I want to, but I really don't want to deal with the crappy laws around here .

The has been good for the most part the last week or so. Looks like the little trans leak I had is fixed for sure - no leaks from that fitting anymore. But, the other day the car decided that it was going to drop a few drops of coolant on the ground. Alright, fine, what is it now?

As far as I can tell, the old 'spring' clamp is just too rust to be very springy anymore and hold any tension. The hose is in great shape but I may replace it anyway. I replaced the clamp with a 'real' stainless steel screw clamp and driving to work tomorrow will be the test. If it leaks still, I'll replace the hose. No biggie.

So far, my theory about the Problem Gods is holding true. Lots of little problems along the way and the Problem Gods will be appeased. Smooth sailing and youre asking for punishment from the Problem Gods.

Looking awesome Andrew!

I guess i have been lucky so far with little to no leaks...though I shouldn't say that....

Dang...I should have added that when I changed the radiator, I put on regular hose clamps..the kind you tighten with a wrench or flathead...those OEM weird clasps are a pain!!

Could be leaking from radiator around the clamps... Also (and this happened to me)...check the hoses around the engine...make sure the clamp is on the right spot on that tube (they should be above that raised part on the tube the hose fits over...I didn't do that and had some leaks)... but the biggest fix was the new hose clamps...for you that'd mean undoing it again...another pain

Oh, and I saw this somewhere and sometimes do it myself. For that extra bling on the tires..to make them shine even more, spray that shine, or Armor All UNDER the fenders on those inner liners. That'll darken them up and make the wheels stand out more...

Thanks Matt! You're right...never say never haha...I learned to shut up when my trans line started leaking last week .

Thanks Nate...I replaced the clamps on the lower hose/radiator coupler, but not for the lower hose itself. I don't know why I didn't. Either way, I did some driving around doing errands and such after work and so far, no more leak.

Though, when I went to leave Advance Auto's parking lot, my driver's side window no longer wanted to go down. The relay was clicking, so I suspected a seized motor at first. I got home, stuck it in the garage, pulled the door panel off, and poked around. I removed the motor and tested it, it was just fine, and when I did remove the motor, the window regulator/window moved up and down quite nicely just using my hands. No idea what the deal was. I put it all back together and it's fine...

No clue what i could have gotten hung up on, or whatever happened. It definitely wasn't an electrical problem. Oh well. If something happens I have a spare regulator and 3 spare motors.


On a semi-related topic, I've driven the new Riv about 300 miles since it's been road worthy. Every trip the car seems to be loosening up and getting more peppy and responsive . The handing is on par with my old SSEi, so I'm very happy. Like I keep saying, I hope I keep rooting out all the little problems until there are none!

Until there is none? Sorry, that just doesn't happen on older cars. LOL. I learned that the hard way with 30 year old Fieros...

Haha I guess I meant 'until the car behaves for a while' . Fieros? Yeah I bet they're a handful when you have as many as you do!

It's something a 'car guy' deals with though. We love our cars and a few problems here and there don't mean nothin'!

Yep, that's exactly right. if there is a problem, yea we complain sometimes, but we get it fixed, and get it fixed right. Even if it boils down to having someone else at a shop do it if needed.

A Riviera is one thing, but I will never ever take any Fiero to a regular shop. They don't know how to work on them, or even how to properly jack them up without crushing coolant tubes. Obviously it's 10x worse when our Fiero's all have engine swaps...

Once you make enough changes to a Riv, it's almost as bad. The mechanics are often no help at all at diagnosis, and even need to be briefed before doing any work. There are some good ones out there, though. Those are the ones who look at what you've done to the car and smile, because they understand all the work that's been done, and they can actually appreciate it.

I agree Aaron. Any modded car with enough of the owners own time, money, and effort, I wouldn't want to take to a place like Conrads (personal experiences...not that great). The good ones are out there though, and thankfully I found one near me, A place called White Wheel, it's a bit more of a drive and more expensive, but 100% worth it. They aligned all three of our Fieros without any issue, and they will be getting my business from now on. A family owned and run place since the 50's I think.

Good info, Matt. Feel free to promote your guys in this thread:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t1828-faq-good-mechanics?

I agree, guys. After so long, the car is so 'yours' that no one else is really qualified to work on it. I usually only take my cars to my cousin's shop or my former roomate's dad's shop, and only when I cant fix my car because of lack of equipment.

Got around to the first round of lower molding painting! I'm sooooooooooo much happier with how it is now rather than the gray. Thursday, I'm going to make the exhaust look nice again, and probably do something temporary with the front bumper.





Ok, not a related shot, just a good shot.

Andrew, you always go above and beyond and it shows again.I love the color and what you have done with the finish. A light tint on the glass and I'd be tempted to make an offer I can't afford.

Yep, looks awesome Andrew!!

That looks really nice, Andrew. Like you, I prefer the painted rocker moldings. Did you use rattle cans? Why not do that front bumper, also?

By the way, those GranSport emblems also look great on the rocker moldings right behind the front wheels (that's what I did to mine). Sure would look fine on that black.

15 years later and she still has a nice ass

robotennis61 wrote:

15 years later and she still has a nice ass

You dirty pediophile you.

I know!I.m bad. I just needed something a little firmer than what your girl friend was offering.

I'm extremely jealous! You really made it look like a collector's car!

I like the black bottom. Might be time for me to give that a shot. You just use some gloss black spray paint?

Wow thanks for all the kind words! Now im excited to get the front end done tomorrow.

I did end up using rattle cans, but quality stuff, no cheap junk. Did an adhesion promoter, primer, shot the black and then 3 coats of clear. I've never liked gloss black spray paint. I seem to prefer satin black with a few coats of clear...it's a deep shine (especially when sanded and buffed) and it lasts a heck of a lot longer.

I guess the whole point of it, besides me hating the gray, is i'm trying to make the GS emblem mean something. I'm trying to follow the features of the Regal GS of the era, as well as GS's past, and do what Buick might have done.

Yes, Derek, yours needs to be black, now. I honestly thought it already was! Get on that man . I wish my Riv could look a bit like yours but the cops would be after me so fast the tint paint wouldn't have dried yet.

Dave - I thought about putting those emblems on the side, but i took off the Riviera script because I hated it breaking up the lines. I added the GM Excellence emblems, but I feel like it would be too cluttered with anything else. Not out of the question though!

In other news, I finally had to fill up the car today ( my gas gauge doesnt work so I fill up between 250-300 miles on the tripometer) and my first MPG average. With the miles for this tank being a 75/25 split city/highway, the car averaged 22.5! I know once is not enough to make a good average, but it surprised me.

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In other news, I finally had to fill up the car today ( my gas gauge doesnt work so I fill up between 250-300 miles on the tripometer) and my first MPG average. With the miles for this tank being a 75/25 split city/highway, the car averaged 22.5! I know once is not enough to make a good average, but it surprised me.

Andrew, I have a working fuel sending unit if you are interested. Has some miles on it, and needs a new pump, but otherwise in great shape. 22.5 is not surprising. I've averaged 21 MPG over the last 2 years, and that includes a few track day events, and NO torque converter lock-up. Feel free to post your future MPG averages in our Fuel Economy thread:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t285-fuel-economy-check-your-new-mpg