Finally after many years of waiting, saving money, collecting parts and the sale of my last kit, I am about to start my AD355 spider coupe build up.  I am using an Air Dynamics stretched kit and extended windshield that uses OEM style rear quarters and lower door vents and of course all of the high quality panels that everyone already knows about.  The donor is a non running but fully loaded 1986 Fiero SE with a V6 & 4-speed.  I also have a lot of real Ferrari parts which will be incorporated into the build.   My plan is to use many of the things that I have learned from my previous build of an IFG cloned 355 spider and help from everyone on this site.

Cutting off the roof section makes for a very weak Fiero therefore stiffening the chassis is a must and will be my first concern.  I will be using many of the tried and true techniques and adding in a few of my own.  I want to have little to no bend or twist in the chassis under driving loads.  I have two engines that I can use; a 3800 super charged V6 or a 4.9 Cadillac alum. V8.  The 4-speed manual transmission will be tossed for either a 5 or possibly even a 6 speed.  I may even install the engine longitudinally if I get ambitious enough and can make it fit.  For the front suspension, I am planning on using the stock control arms, coil overs and stretching the front cross-member to match the width needed.  The rear suspension will either use the stock control arm or possibly a bump steer kit.  The frame rails will also be moved out to widen the car.  Stopping the car will be done with corvette 12” rotors and calipers.  The rims are original 18” 355 rims with BFGoodrich directional tires.  The top will operate similar to the original and will be weather tight.  The interior will look as close to the original 355 as possible and the paint will be black so extra time will be spent to get each and every panel just perfect. 

The first step… dismantling of the donor car….

Awesome!! Keep us up to date!! I followed your last build closely. My AD355 should be back home soon.

I suggest you do your engine/transaxle swap before you install the body. Everything is harder to access once the body is on.

Wow, you are pulling apart a perfectly good fiero with the aero package on it?  Those can fetch pretty good money still, even though it is a notchback.  I bought a 85 GT a year ago, fixed it up and got $5k for it.  Seems like there ought to be some crappers out there for cheap.  Good luck on your build, we will all be following your posts.  I have hardcopy of your first build on the internet some 8 years ago now, but this one ought to be a beauty.  Eric

It is amazing what a weekend to do for a project!!!  The question has been answered... it is possible to remove the engine and tranny from the top!!

Now the car as it sits....

Hey Spider, congrads on the start up of your AD build. I think the problem with the alignment of your door is with the small piece of metal on the front door edge a few inches below the top bolt, that has to be removed. The AD door skin has a little dimple in it where that metal piece hits it.  I had the same problem aliging my doors and a call to John was the fix for me.
Best of luck, David

Every once in a while, I will get this "John does not know what he is talking about, I am doing to do <project> my own way." and it gets me every time. I just gave up and did what ever John recommended.