StingerFan

Hey Division1, I scanned over your thread, wow!! What a project, and what a boat, I love the Top Gun!
I think I might be able to post photos, here’s my girl! I’ll get pictures of the progress posted as I go. But this is what I’m starting with.
There’s just something about the lines of an old school flat-deck.

StingerFan

Got the rearmost floor cut out and the engine bracket is mostly peeled off the hull. I wanted to get the bracket all the way off today, but the new tires for my Fiero were ready for pick up. Once the bracket is off I’m gonna cut out these knee braces and start on the transom.

StingerFan

Bracket is peeling away nicely. I made these wedges out of 1/2” stainless at work to help separate the bracket from hull. I should have made the wedge a little less gradual. Just set some “backing plates” between the bracket and transom, and pound the wedge between them.

I still had to use a prybar when the wedge wouldn’t go any farther. But it was close. I also used some 20-ish gauge (0.035” -ish) stainless as “backing” behind this wedge, as to not damage the fiberglass hull or the bracket.
I used four, six with slightly modified geometry might have been a little better.
A previous repair to the bracket is clear to see now!! Lol

If anyone could use something like this, just hit me up. I may be able to make you a few.

StingerFan

Measuring the height of the knees before I forget!!
lol!!!

StingerFan

Done for today, I just have to cap off the fuel lines and start cutting away!

scarabman

Did you say Fiero???? I cant remember the last time I saw one.

StingerFan

Yep!! Lol!!

When gas got real crazy expensive a couple years ago, I wanted to find a cheap reliable-ish fuel miser to take to work and some local customers. I had a couple GT models back a loooong time ago, and now kinda had a 4-banger Fiero on my mind. This one cut my fuel bill to nearly A Third of what my truck gets me, the car paid for itself in a year. They’re hard to find cheap in good enough shape to consider being “reliable”. They seem to either be ready for the junkyard or someone’s garage queen.
found this one between Indy and Dayton, and it was perfect. Cheap, reliable, and a good enough 10 footer….. maybe 15 footer.
I had a wing around from one of my old cars, someday I’ll get around to painting the whole car a nice new yellow.

I couldn’t help myself when I ordered my license plate…

Knot 4 Me

^^^^^ Lol! Love the plate! My wife had a silver '84 with the 4-banger (was that the 2.5L Iron Duke?). Pontiac replaced the engine for free on some kinda recall but I cannot recall (ha!) what it was for. Cool little cars.

StingerFan

I Just got the center knee out, theres no going back now!!
And on boy…. The wood is totally rotten inside both the transom, knee and the next bulkhead up. It smells like I was working in the garden, a lot of it has rotted to dirt! The inner transom skin is really floppy towards the bottom.
This knee was fairly heavily tabbed and weighs a TON!

My next day off I’ll get the outer two out, and start on the transom. Seems with all the rot, it won’t be too terribly terrible!!

StingerFan

Another knee brace is out!
It’s Definitely time!! A lot of this just crumbles apart.