Pontiac Fiero Rear Clip / Panel Removal

[@cart-wheels]

Wow! I've got an '84 and never seen a video this descriptive on tools, cautions, and step-by-step. Thank you! Will be looking at other videos from you.

[@itsastevething.]

See a need, fill a need 😉 Thank you!

[@ElectroDFW]

Wow, is that process ever-loving complicated! 😳 Thank you so much for going step by step, that will be very helpful coming up. I'm needing access to the rear frame and subframe to accurately gauge how bad my rust issue is, so I'll also be removing the quater panels and bumper.

[@itsastevething.]

Thank you so much! I'm glad my experiences can help people. In all my years of servicing Fieros, no one ever posted a step by step rear panel removal. I wanted to make an in-depth how-to with every detail needed.

[@sladeb6036]

Nice

[@itsastevething.]

Thanks

[@Ed_Cairns]

I have two 1987 Fieros, one a GT, and the other a notchback coupe. I decided to install a factory sunroof in the GT as the interior headliner needed replacement in any case. I visited a wrecker and found a red painted sunroof. I took the sunroof skin to a body shop and had them paint the roof skin to match my blue GT. The problem with using a spray can is it always seems impossible to obtain a nice glossy finish. It's hard to tell in your video, but the rear clip paint now doesn't appear as glossy as the original factory paint. So one notices the difference in the paint almost immediately. I think that for the money and the work required that I would have had a body shop paint the rear clip.

[@itsastevething.]

As winter was fast approaching and I have to regulate how much I exert myself I didn't do any wet sanding. The Front bumper and side scoops are painted with single stage spray cans. I don't use clearcoat unless I'm doing a matte or semi-gloss finish. Also, the paint color is darker as well. As the roof, hood, decklid, and spoiler all need paint work; I chose to start a color change and use a newer paint code. Went with Victory Red from a 2003 Grand Prix (I had an 03 GTP and liked the darker color)

[@brandonmichaelis2752]

Thank you for posting! This is the next panel to be removed from my Formula.

[@itsastevething.]

Thank you very much for watching! Good luck with your project! 😀

[@williambush2924]

Hey dude.. you didn't tell me you had a KZbin channel! Anyway.. water pump went out on my fiero, and in the midst of changing it, I found some rust up in the upper part of the inner structure.. only way to fix it correctly is to remove the rear panel.. and I came across your vid! Although I'm thinking mine might be a bit different around the sail panels with it being a GT.. I'll message you when I decide I want to tackle that project.. it may end up being a winter project so maybe when I bring the car to you to remove my alarm you can show me how to remove the rear section on my car.. subscribed BTW!

[@drummerdude476]

Doing this right now, discovered how bad my sunroof rails are lol

[@itsastevething.]

If it is only surface rust, you can use a steel wire brush and vacuum to clean the surface, then apply Rust Neutralizer or Inhibitor to the surface. Do not just paint it, you need to stop the rust from growing. Using only paint will accelerate the corrosion.

[@drummerdude476]

@@itsastevething. nah they're pretty bad lol. Already looking at new rails, weather strip, and the hardware kit in the fiero store, least it's not too crazy expensive I guess lol

[@TKommando]

Been looking for a video like this.. I need to do this to get at my rear rails, as they are somewhat rotted and would prefer to replace them sooner rather than later.

[@itsastevething.]

Replacing the rear upper frame rails can be tricky as there is a slight flex to the chassis if it isn't lifted a little. Not enough to lift the tires off the ground but enough to relax the lower rails from flexing. About 1.5-2 inches from driving height is fine. Be sure to only lift on the factory lift points, and use to correct jack guide to protect your coolant tubes. Goodluck with your project!!!

[@MakerTools]

Wow. Thanks. But... WHY? Why did you change it?

[@itsastevething.]

The old one was from a 1984-1986 model that had damage/separation in fiberglass. As for the Paint color, I will actually be changing back it to Bright Red.

[@MakerTools]

@@itsastevething. ok we didn't see that in the video. Having seen it now, I'll be patching the little bad corners instead of removal, thanks! 😆

[@reversesaxay5869]

Would i be possible to swap notchback panels with fast back panels? specifically this one for I want the tail lights

[@itsastevething.]

Yes, the rear clips are interchangeable as long as you have the correct hardware/parts for each. Going from fastbck to notchback is less expensive as parts are much more common. Notchback to fastback can be costly now. You would need to have the taillight harness to match the rear clip. Are you wanting a notchback or fastback?

[@reversesaxay5869]

@@itsastevething. I want the fast back rear but want to do some custom front work

[@reversesaxay5869]

@@itsastevething. specifically fast back rear bumper and tail lights but for the tail lights you need the whole rear

[@itsastevething.]

@@reversesaxay5869 for GT/Aero bumpers, you will need the rear upper steel support , lower plastic valance support, rear wheel well liners, and crash pad (the plastic collision part under the bumper). For the front GT/Aero bumper, you will need the crash pad, wheel well liners, lower valance and plastic air baffle tray/plate with steel brackets. For the fastback rear clip/panel, you will need the trunk d-plates, engine vents with strut tower brackets, the inner sail trim panels, inner filler trim pieces, taillight harness, taillights, decklid/trunklid, GT trunk seal, sail/quarter windows (rarely reusable as they break easily), the aluminium rain channel that starts at the base of the windshield A-Pillar and goes the the back edge of the sail/quarter windows. And of course the missing hardware.

[@reversesaxay5869]

@@itsastevething. sounds quite lengthy but those are all oem and can be taken off a parts car right?