Fiero Tranny won't shift out

[NunyaBusiness]

So, I bought the 87 Fiero on Ebay that had a "bad clutch"
It's not the clutch - the 5-speed Isuzi had NO fluid in it. None. So I put
fluid in it, and then it would shift (tranny fluid is cool that way). It
squealed at first, but it got better. Then I drove it for about 1 mile. It
started squealing bad whenever I put the clutch down.
So, I looked in the book, and it's not NEARLY as easy as my 66 Mustang or my
74 VW Ghia.
Just how hard is it? Is it bad enough that I should just pay someone?
My son wants to change it with me, and since this is the very first time he
has EVER shown an interest in cars (and it had to be a Pontiac; as a
die-hard Ford guy, I almost wept) I want to give him the opportunity.
Anyway, feedback would be gratefully accepted!
Thanks,
Toph
87 Pontiac Fiero
still "Nameless"

[Boomtastic Racing]

On Tue, 22 Aug 2006 19:49:52 -0600, "NunyaBusiness"

Post by NunyaBusiness
So, I bought the 87 Fiero on Ebay that had a "bad clutch"
It's not the clutch - the 5-speed Isuzi had NO fluid in it. None. So I put
fluid in it, and then it would shift (tranny fluid is cool that way). It
squealed at first, but it got better. Then I drove it for about 1 mile. It
started squealing bad whenever I put the clutch down.
So, I looked in the book, and it's not NEARLY as easy as my 66 Mustang or my
74 VW Ghia.
Just how hard is it? Is it bad enough that I should just pay someone?
My son wants to change it with me, and since this is the very first time he
has EVER shown an interest in cars (and it had to be a Pontiac; as a
die-hard Ford guy, I almost wept) I want to give him the opportunity.
Anyway, feedback would be gratefully accepted!
Thanks,
Toph
87 Pontiac Fiero
still "Nameless"

Replacing the clutch isn't THAT bad, but it IS a labor intensive job.
Since you own cars that require a wrenching now and then anyways, this
shouldn't be too difficult. :) The transaxle and engine are mounted
using a 3 point system, so you will need to support the engine before
you unbolt the transaxle (or else the engine will fall out!). You can
build a brace to go across the strut towers and hook onto the engine
lift points (look on the head and you'll see metal "loops") or use a
chain on an engine hoist. Then (and this is highly simplified) you pop
out the axle shafts, remove the starter, remove the shifter cables,
remove the slave cylinder, remove the transaxle mounts, and remove or
unbolt the rear of the engine cradle and let it swing out of the way.
You may run into cradle nuts spinning and not releasing in the rear.
If so, just ask again and we'll outline how to resolve that. Then it's
a clutch job like any other vehicle. If you can get a clutch alignment
tool it will make things line up easier. ;)

Time should be about 10~12 hours roughly, and in the end you'll either
hate or love the car. LOL

Hope that helps!