Real Fiero Tech

After four days of soaking in the electrolysis tank the block is looking ready for the machine shop:

Nice job!
Electrolysis is certainly cheaper for large volumes than EvapoRust or similar catalysts.

What's on tap for machining?

You find your pistons? What overbore you going?

Electrolysis Tank:
55 gal plastic garbage pail from Menards for $10
3x 4ft 1/2" dia rebar $9 for all
1 box 55oz Arm & Hammer Washing Soda $4
Power supply was off-my-shelf $0, any auto battery charger will do.
10 ft of 16ga copper wire, few $ from just about any hardware store.



Positive voltage goes to rebar. Negative voltage goes to part to de-rust. I used about 1 cup of washing soda per 5 gal of tap water.
I used an engine crane to suspend the block and crank in the electrolysis tank.

Great resource here for the science behind electrolysis and other preservation schemes:
https://nautarch.tamu.edu/CRL/conservat ... Manual.pdf

Haven't picked pistons yet. Will clean up the bores and see where it's at for bore diameter with the minimum amount of material removed. Machining will mainly be for getting everything in better than factory specs. I'm building for reliability vs large performance gains. The rusEFI configuration will likely be of most interest to many. It will be easily adapted to much hotter camshafts and supercharging on the LZ4 and LZ9.

The tune info will be here https://rusefi.com/online/?sorts[upload ... dedLog]=-1
I haven't registered it yet. Will update later, but will be obvious as the only GM 3.5/9 6 cylinder.

A little OT here for just a second: I'm a scientist that build lots of custom machines as well as retrofits CNC's and additive manufacturing equipment.



For example this used VMC was only $2k delivered. Just needed some TLC.

I mainly use LinuxCNC for machine controllers since it is open source just like rusEFI.
http://linuxcnc.org/
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl
https://forum.linuxcnc.org/

Check out the links if you've ever been interested in building or retrofitting your own CNC machines.

that's a monster of a machine, we have a couple of big mills and lathes at my work, I plan to pick a mill and lathe up soon, but I have a bunch of other stuff to handle first.

CaptainHindsight wrote: ↑Thu Jul 22, 2021 10:22 pm A little OT here for just a second: I'm a scientist that build lots of custom machines as well as retrofits CNC's and additive manufacturing equipment.



For example this used VMC was only $2k delivered. Just needed some TLC.

I mainly use LinuxCNC for machine controllers since it is open source just like rusEFI.
http://linuxcnc.org/
http://wiki.linuxcnc.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl
https://forum.linuxcnc.org/

Check out the links if you've ever been interested in building or retrofitting your own CNC machines.

What makes a VMC different than a CNC mill?
I was thinking VTL for a sec, but obviously this isn't that.

Often just different terms for the same types of machines:

VMC = Vertical Machining Centers = CNC Mill
https://www.cnclathing.com/guide/what-i ... ing-center

https://www.southernfabsales.com/blog/t ... center-vmc

HMC = Horizontal Machining Centers = CNC Horizontal Mill

VTL = Vertical Turning Lathe, also called vertical boring mills (VBMs)
https://www.okuma.com/blog/blog-advanta ... ing-lathes

Done battling with Covid-19 and now back to the body work.



Just have to replace some sheet metal all around the engine bay. This is where she sat in mud for 25+ years. The mold and mildew was >1/8 in. thick in spots.



All the metal underneath from the middle of the seats forward is in really good shape.

Any progress?

Covid struck again. Getting older really stinks. Try to avoid it if possible.

Starting back up on it soon. Will post updates.

CaptainHindsight wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 2:36 am Covid struck again. Getting older really stinks. Try to avoid it if possible.

Starting back up on it soon. Will post updates.

bummer man, I look forward to hearing more when you're well!

Still alive? No more covid I hope

Still alive yes, but due to an illness in the family the Fiero will have to wait for its turn at getting some TLC. It's in storage for now. I'll post updates when I'm back on it again.

This project is officially dead.

Thanks to all for the info and tips along the way.

It sucks when you have to admit that to yourself, but frees up headspace for more important things.