1988 Pontiac
Fiero Formula
3.4L V6, five-speed, fully sorted. Every mechanical and electrical system brought to as-new or better. Starts every time, needs nothing.
~10,000 engine & trans
Highlights
- Rebuilt 3.4L Camaro V6
- Rebuilt Getrag 282 5-speed with 9.75″ HD clutch
- Sinister Performance ECM tune
- Enkei 17” EDR9 wheels w/ BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 tires
- Completely rebuilt front and rear suspension
- 12-inch Corvette rotor and S10 brake booster conversion
- Custom stainless exhaust and headers
- Completely rebuilt R-134a A/C system
- New fuel tank, sender and stainless fuel lines
- Major cooling-system overhaul with 3-core aluminum radiator
- Upgraded AC Delco radio with integrated Bluetooth controller
- Bluetooth wideband AFR monitoring
- Smartphone live ECM data
- Extensive LED lighting conversion
- Complete build receipts included ($19,000+ documented)
Photos
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Videos
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Specifications
- Year / Make / Model
- 1988 Pontiac Fiero Formula
- VIN
- 1G2PE1196JP211476
- Mileage
- 101,148 chassis / ~10,000 engine & trans
- Engine
- Rebuilt 3.4L V6, custom tune
- Transmission
- Rebuilt Getrag 282 5-speed manual
- Drivetrain
- Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
- Brakes
- 12″ Corvette rotors, all four
- Exterior Color
- Black, original factory paint
- Interior
- Grey/Black
- Wheels
- Enkei EDR9, 17×7 F / 17×8 R
- Tires
- BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 A/S Plus
- Suspension
- Fully rebuilt, rear coil-overs, ~2″ lowered
- Title
- Clean, in hand, in my name
- Location
- Atlanta, GA
Complete Updates & Upgrades
Tap a category to see the full list.
Engine18 items
- Rebuilt 3.4L V6 from a 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
- Custom ECM tune by Sinister Performance
- 19 lb/hr Southbay fuel injectors
- New distributor and Ignition Control Module
- Upgraded MSD ignition coil
- New ignition wires
- New Autolite XP25 iridium spark plugs
- New AC Delco starter motor
- New engine and transmission mounts
- New K&N air filter
- EGR system removed
- Cruise-control system removed
- Unnecessary vacuum plumbing removed, remaining vacuum plumbing upgraded to stainless-steel vacuum lines
- Throttle-body coolant lines removed, simplifying the engine bay and making upper-intake-manifold service easier
- Numerous engine-management sensors replaced/upgraded, including:
- Throttle-position sensor
- Idle-Air-Control Valve
- Manifold Air Pressure sensor
- Air-temperature sensor
- Engine-coolant sensor
- Fan temperature sensor
- New factory-style O₂ sensor for ECM fuel control
- Bluetooth wideband O₂ sensor
- Allows live air/fuel-ratio monitoring from a smartphone while driving
- Wired OBD-I/ECM smartphone interface
- Allows live ECM operating data to be viewed on a phone while driving
Transmission & Shifter5 items
- Rebuilt 5-speed Getrag 282 manual transmission
- Higher final-drive ratio for more aggressive gearing and acceleration
- 9.75″ heavy-duty V6 5-speed clutch kit
- 9¾″ disc versus the original 9⅛″, for about 25% more gripping surface
- Pressure plate with increased holding capacity
- Heavy-duty sprung organic disc, built for street and strip use
- New master and slave clutch cylinders
- Short-throw shifter arm
- Custom walnut shift knob
Cooling System7 items
- New 3-core aluminum radiator
- Custom aluminum radiator fan shroud
- New low-profile, high-flow radiator fan
- New radiator fan relay switch
- 200°F fan switch
- 180°F thermostat
- Custom overflow tank
Suspension & Steering10 items
- Entire front and rear suspension completely rebuilt
- Rear suspension uses all polyurethane bushings
- Front suspension uses mostly polyurethane bushings
- Rubber bushings used on the front upper and lower control arms for improved ride comfort
- Rear coil-over suspension
- Approximately 2-inch lowered ride height
- West Coast Fiero 300 lb/in lowering springs
- New steering-rack tie rods
- All front suspension ball joints replaced
- All wheel bearings replaced
Brakes5 items
- Upgraded larger Chevrolet S10 brake booster
- 12-inch Corvette brake rotors front and rear
- All four brake calipers rebuilt
- New sintered brake pads
- Braided stainless-steel brake hoses at all four wheels
Wheels & Tires2 items
- Enkei EDR9 wheels
- 17x7” Front, 17x8” Rear
- BFGoodrich g-Force Comp-2 A/S Plus tires
- 215/45R17 Front, 235/45R17 Rear
Exhaust7 items
- Fully custom stainless-steel exhaust system
- Full exhaust headers
- Headers wrapped with heat-resistant header wrap
- SpinTech muffler, modified/hollowed
- Ocelot stainless exhaust tips
- Upgraded heavy-duty stainless-steel exhaust hangers
- Additional exhaust bung for shop tuning
Fuel System5 items
- Brand-new fuel tank
- New fuel sending unit / fuel-level sender
- New stainless-steel fuel lines
- New fuel filter
- Adjustable fuel-pressure regulator
Belt Drive3 items
- Dodgerunner’s spring-loaded belt tensioner
- New serpentine belt
- New A/C compressor belt
Heating & Air Conditioning11 items
- Entire A/C system rebuilt
- A/C system completely disassembled and flushed
- Converted to R-134a
- New A/C compressor
- New evaporator core
- New condenser
- New accumulator
- Custom rebuildable A/C hoses
- New O-rings throughout
- New/replaced A/C sensors
- New heater core
Electrical and Lighting9 items
- Newer 100-amp alternator
- New headlight motors
- New headlight relay
- LED headlights designed to retain the original Fiero headlight appearance
- LED taillights
- LED running lights
- LED instrument-panel/dash lighting
- LED interior/cabin lighting
- Battery relocated to the front compartment (frunk) in the former spare-tire location
Interior & Audio10 items
- New headliner
- Dashboard refreshed/revamped
- Mr. Mike's center-console cup holder
- Upgraded ACDelco 1.5-DIN factory-style radio
- Bluetooth receiver integrated with the radio
- Dedicated physical Bluetooth control buttons mounted on the center console
- All new speakers
- MOMO Prototipo steering wheel w/ custom Pontiac logo horn button
- Upgraded modern seat belts that allow proper installation of a child car seat
- High-point child-seat tether anchor
- Installed into the firewall according to the Fiero manual's specified mounting arrangement
Body & Exterior Modifications8 items
- Custom front hood vent
- Front bumper mounting points reinforced with aluminum plates around the bolt holes
- Modern j-hook windshield wiper arms
- Fiero-branded air-intake scoop
- Short radio antenna
- Custom rear spray guards
- All rusty screws replaced with stainless steel where possible
- Window dew wipes replaced
Factory Build Codes
Every Fiero left the factory with a Service Parts Identification sticker in the front compartment listing its Regular Production Option (RPO) codes. This car's sticker is still there and still readable. Here's what it says, with a note wherever the car is different today.
What the Sticker Confirms
- A genuine factory Formula (W66) with the WS6 performance package
- Original black paint (41U, WA-8555)
- Factory 5-speed manual (MG2) and air conditioning (C60)
- Medium Dark Gray interior with Dark Gray cloth seats (82I, 82B)
Tap a category to see the codes. Anything marked CHANGED is different on the car today. Descriptions are from published Pontiac Fiero option-code references.
Model & Identity10 codes · 3 changed
2PE37W66WS61SBWV9AAAPONNA5V73VK3Engine & Drivetrain5 codes · 4 changed
L44MG2MM5FX8K60Chassis, Wheels & Tires15 codes · 8 changed
PH019PYLMXEMPB4N33N366RD7RD8UC9UCD7VE9ZE5ZE9YComfort & Convenience12 codes · 6 changed
C60K34CD4UM6U66AR9B34D34D35TR9U25U29Paint, Glass & Interior7 codes · 2 changed
41UBC/CCD80A0182I82B829About This Car
The Story
I bought this Formula three years ago. The previous owner had already done the 3.4L V6 conversion and most of the cosmetic updates. It ran, but not well.
Over the past three years I have gone through the entire car, making sure every mechanical and electrical system performs as new or better. My passion is mechanical performance and reliability rather than looks. I'm a function-over-form kind of guy, and the upgrade list above shows where the time and money went.
I've now run out of things to fix or improve on it from a performance standpoint. It starts every time and runs better than new.
About the Mileage
The odometer reads 101,148 miles. That’s the chassis: the body, frame and interior that left the factory in 1988. The parts that do the work are far newer. The rebuilt 3.4L V6 and the rebuilt Getrag five-speed have only about 10,000 miles on them, and the suspension, brakes, cooling, fuel and A/C systems have all been rebuilt or replaced along the way (see the full upgrade list above).
How It Drives
This car is truly a joy to drive. It handles like it's on rails, and the high-revving V6 makes it feel like a sport bike on four wheels. Shifting is butter smooth, and the custom tune paired with the higher final-drive gearing naturally keeps you running above 3,000 rpm, right where the V6 comes alive. Check out the short drive video with quality headphones to hear how the car sounds!
And yes, you can drive it home.
Receipts & the Price
The previous owner kept meticulous receipts for the build, and I still have every one of them. They total more than $15,000, and they go with the car. I’ve put another $4,000 into upgrades and repairs of my own.
At $18,500, the car is priced below the documented cost of parts alone, and that’s before counting a single hour of labor. I understand it sits at the upper end of Fiero prices, but this is what it costs to build a Fiero of this caliber.
Why I'm Selling
Short of cosmetic work, there's nothing left for me to tinker with on this car, so I'm moving on to my next Fiero project: an '88 GT with a supercharged 3800 and F23 transmission. I don't want or need to sell the Formula, but the better half allows only one Fiero at a time.
I'm not selling under any pressure, so I won't be taking the first offer that shows up. This car is truly special. Low-ballers and tire kickers will be mocked accordingly.
What It Needs
Nothing.
Documented Investment
$19,000+
More than $15,000 in the previous owner’s build receipts, plus $4,000 of my own upgrades and repairs. Labor not included. All receipts go with the car.
Included With the Car
- Complete build receipts ($19,000+ documented)
- Two complete doors with glass from an ’87 Fiero GT, with power windows, power mirrors and power locks, plus the wiring harnesses for both doors. Everything needed to upgrade the car to power windows, mirrors and locks, if you want it.
To Make It a Show Car
Paint and small detail work.
- The car wears its original factory black paint, in good condition considering its age. It shows some wear, nothing extreme, but black shows every little thing, so it's the one item I'd flag as needing attention.
- A few small scuffs and minor detail items. Honestly, this is splitting hairs.
Quirks, in the Spirit of Honesty
- The tachometer reads high: about 10% above the engine’s actual rpm at low revs, rising to about 25% high at the upper end. You can see the difference in the short drive video. I actually enjoy it.
- The fuel gauge reads full and empty correctly but sometimes sticks around the middle for a while, then drops to a quarter tank.
Neither has any effect on how the car runs or drives.
Contact the Seller
Questions, extra photos, or to schedule a viewing, reach out directly. Serious buyers are welcome to arrange an inspection.
Sale Terms
- Sold as-is, where-is
- Complete build receipts go with the car
- Payment by bank transfer or cashier’s check
- Local pickup in Atlanta, GA, or shipping arranged and paid by the buyer
- No trades, and please skip the low-ball offers