The YouTube channel Out of Spec Renew just lately met up with the Traditional EV Conversion group close to Denver, CO to take a look at their 1980’s Pontiac Fiero GT conversion. The auto store makes a speciality of preserving the character of traditional automobiles whereas electrifying them for the trendy age. This well-executed Fiero GT conversion is the one which put them on the map.
The Pontiac Fiero is powered by the 85 kWh pack and twin motor drive unit from a wrecked 2014 Tesla Mannequin S. The battery was cut up into two segments, with a smaller pack positioned underneath the hood and the bigger one taking on a number of the trunk and former engine area. The low-voltage parts and high-voltage wiring run via the middle of the automotive the place a transmission tunnel would sometimes be positioned. Though on the mid-engine Fiero, that is the place the gasoline tank was initially housed.
Whereas they haven’t had the chance to check the Tesla-powered Fiero on a dynamometer but, they estimate it outputs between 350 and 400 hp and about 400 lb-ft of torque. This can be a large enhance from the highest-powered Fiero GT of the day, which output 140 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque.
After its launch in 1984, the Fiero was a surprisingly large hit and acquired a number of updates over the following few years. However by 1987, the unique 1984 items have been starting to catch hearth at an astonishing price on account of not one however a number of faults together with the engine, oil pan, and wiring. Tons of of Fieros caught hearth in just some years, one of many highest failure charges ever seen for a mass-production automotive as much as that time. Nobody was killed or severely injured as a result of fires, however the car’s unlucky title and status led to Pontiac retiring the mannequin by 1988 and finally recalling each Fiero ever delivered.
So contemplating the unique car’s status, why would they select to do a Fiero conversion? “I had this actual automotive.” Explains Tim Bradley. “It was at the moment in my life the very best automotive I ever had. It had a candy spot in my coronary heart.” As time went on and Tim began a household, he needed to promote the tiny two-seater. However he all the time needed to be again behind the wheel of a Fiero once more.
When he discovered a used, well-maintained instance with solely 14,000 miles on the odometer, he instantly jumped on it as a interest automotive. After driving it round for just a few years, he determined it might be the right candidate for an EV conversion.
The conversion store started its construct in March of 2020 however was incessantly halted as a result of pandemic. In line with Nick, though the group solely spent about 180 days actively engaged on the challenge, these days have been unfold throughout two years. It took them a number of months simply to discover a donor automotive for the EV parts. The electrical Fiero GT was lastly accomplished in 2022.
Contemplating all the additional energy and weight of the car, the brakes have been going to wish a significant improve as nicely. “This can be a hydraulic brake booster that produces about 2,000 psi of hydraulic stress. It’s truly from Speedway and is utilized in race automobiles.” Nick explains. The unique manufacturing unit brakes have been apparently “terrifying” to make use of after the improve. The regen braking additionally had points kicking in on the inventory brakes. “It’s a great different that produces sufficient stress for racing brakes.”
The construct is kind of clear and nicely executed together with customized gauges to match the unique look, a Tesla badge on the entrance, and “Electrical” spelled out on the rear gentle bar. So it’s a bit odd that they selected to retain the quad exhaust from the unique Fiero GT bundle.
Seems they did this purely for aesthetic causes. “The GT is so recognized for the gorgeous quad-tips on the again of the automotive. And we took it off however there was this gaping gap. It didn’t look proper, it didn’t match.”
What do you concentrate on this EV conversion? Is there a particular automotive out of your youth that you just dream of changing to an electrical powertrain? Tell us your ideas within the feedback beneath.
