Our virtual November NIFE club meeting will consist of three segments covering a broad range of subjects. Our first segment will discuss the Fiero temperature gauge. How often have you wondered why your temperature gauge is not working and sometimes working intermittently? We will do a deep dive into common issues and causes that will hopefully solve your issue and get your temperature gauge functioning correctly.

Our second segment will discuss car covers. Many people have a love and hate relationship with car covers. How much do I spend? When do I use it? Will it hurt my paint? We are going to have an open discussion about car covers that will cover the different varieties and what you can expect when and if you use one.

Our final segment will discuss Fiero dashboard removal. Do you realize how easy it is to remove the dashboard from your Fiero? Why would you want to remove your dashboard? What cautions do you need to be aware of when removing the dashboard? Thinking about adding power window and power door locks? Did you know that dashboard removal is required to accomplish this? We will demonstrate the removal process and answer these questions and more.

 Join us for this NIFE club meeting via Zoom on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 9:00am (CST). This event is scheduled to last 90 minutes and is open to the entire Fiero community (NIFE members and non-members). We’ll provide a link to register for this online meeting under the “Events” tab on FieroFocus.com, on our Facebook page under “Events,” and via an Eblast sent out a few days prior to the meeting. You must first register using this link to receive the actual Zoom meeting invite.

For our 2024-2025 club meeting season, we are pleased to continue offering give-away prizes for those in attendance! At the end of the meeting’s planned presentation and discussion, we will give away a valuable prize using a name randomizer. The prize for this meeting is a 20% discount off of the current pricing for one of Automodello’s ‘88 Pontiac Fiero GT 1:24 scale models; list pricing starts at $159.99 (see your options at Diecasm.com). You have read the development story of this diecast model in the 2021 through 2023 issues of Fiero Focus and now’s your chance to get one at a discount! Choose your color: bright red, white, black, or silver. A certificate will be mailed to you with instructions for ordering. Thank you, Jim Cowen of Diecasm, for your generous donation to our club meeting!

Celebrate the holidays with your fellow NIFE members at the home of NIFE Founder and President Jim Hallman and First Lady Jenni Hallman at 2039 Yellow Daisy Court Naperville, IL 60563 (near the I-88 and Route 59 interchange) on Saturday, December 28, 2024.

The NIFE board members will provide the main dish options (BBQ beef sliders, Swedish meatballs, sides, etc.) and non-alcoholic soft drinks (pop, water, non-alcoholic punch, etc.) for you to enjoy. No need to bring a gift; instead, bring something to share for dessert.

Come and enjoy the holidays with your NIFE friends in the ambiance of a live Christmas tree adorned with antique lead tinsel. This is an open house-style party, so feel free to arrive when you can and leave when you must between 5:00pm and 8:00pm.

Please RSVP to Jim Hallman at jhallman@FieroFocus.com no later than Friday, December 27, 2024, so we can plan for the number of guests that will be celebrating with us. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Holiday Party Location 

Many of us put our Fieros into a deep sleep for the winter. Though your Fiero may be hibernating as you read this, our January NIFE club meeting will cover what to plan for while the car is in hibernation. NIFE Activity Director Matt Meyer will also discuss items to inspect and consider replacing when bringing your Fiero back to life in the spring. This way, you can budget for things that might be needed and start collecting them throughout the winter.

For our second topic, NIFE Activity Director Todd Weikal will be discussing wheel and tire combinations and how they look and fit on your Fiero. He will provide examples of many different combinations and backspacing options to show how they change the fit within the wheel well and how well they meet the outside of the fenders. Todd will also explain how to measure bolt patterns and backspacing.

For our third segment, guest speaker Kevin Wagner from Wags Klassic Electronics (check him out on Facebook) will discuss factory radios and how to improve them. There is a certain amount of complexity in making repairs to the factory radios when parts are no longer available and Kevin will discuss options to add Bluetooth to your unit along with the limits of this era of radios. In an age where everyone wants the stock, factory look with an updated, working radio, there are still options that include specialized amps and factory reproduction speakers with the correct ohm rating. What are your options to replace your Fiero’s factory unit with something that maintains a factory appearance, but is newer?

 Join us for this NIFE club meeting via Zoom on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 9:00am (CST). This event is scheduled to last 90 minutes and is open to the entire Fiero community (NIFE members and non-members). We’ll provide a link to register for this online meeting under the “Events” tab on FieroFocus.com, on our Facebook page under “Events,” and via an Eblast sent out a few days prior to the meeting. You must first register using this link to receive the actual Zoom meeting invite.

At this meeting we will continue our newer tradition of randomly awarding a prize for one lucky winner that attends using a name randomizing software. The prize will have a value of at least $50.00. Watch for prize details as this meeting date approaches!

After celebrating the 1980s at this year’s Fierorama, it is only fitting that we continue to celebrate the 1980s with a trip to the Crazy ‘80s Car Museum in Dwight, IL! Our NIFE Fall Color Tour will visit this museum located at 311 Waupanise St., Dwight, IL 60420 on Saturday October 19, 2024.

There is a Fiero Indy Pace Car prominently featured in the collection along with 70-80 nostalgic 1980s cars. You will also find many cars that I would bet many of you owned during that time period. How about a Citation, Maverick, Sunbird, Topaz, Pacer, Escort, or Nova?

Our tour will start at 9:00am at the Exxon Mobil Gas Station (1300 Normantown Rd, Romeoville, IL 60446) at the intersection of I-55 and Weber Rd. Plan to arrive around 8:30am to prepare for the 9:00am departure. Dwight is a leisurely drive of about 60 miles from our starting point.

 The museum opens at 10:00am. There is no cost to tour the cars, though there is a donation box if you wish to contribute toward the upkeep of this unique collection. After checking out this array of 1980s cars, we will have lunch about two blocks away at the Old RT 66 Family Restaurant, where we will have great family-style meal options and all-day breakfast favorites.

The 1980s were an incredibly unique period in our country's history. There was not a better example of a time when pop culture, music, or entertainment had ever been so unique and thrust us toward what would become the technological era of the 1990s. Because the 1980s were so special, a lot of things from that era are considered very nostalgic and there is a large market for people who collect items from the period. One of the most collected items without a doubt is classic cars. (It is shocking to think that cars from the 1980s are already classic, but here we are.) However, it is not just the flashy vehicles and the super-eccentric cars that people are into; what about the plain, everyday ones?

The Crazy ‘80s Car Museum hosts many “daily driver” cars from the 1980s that hardly anyone saved or cared about. As a sign in their museum states, all cars may not have been created equal, but all of them deserve the same amount of love.

Hope to see you all there! Don’t forget to bring your two-way radios so we can communicate during the drive.

Exxon Mobil Meeting Location            Crazy ‘80s Car Museum

After a few years absence, the car show at the VA hospital is returning for 2024. On Sunday, July 21, 2024 we will join other antique, classic, and exotic cars at the Car Show for Veterans at the James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (3001 Green Bay Road in North Chicago, IL 60064)! This event always showcases an amazing variety of vehicles with over 200 cars expected, and in years past we have had over fifteen Fieros and their owners participate. Come on out to help NIFE support our military veterans as we show off our Fieros.

We will meet at the McDonald's Restuarant (30388 Skokie Hwy, Lake Bluff, IL 60044) at 9:30am for breakfast and be ready to leave for the show as a group at 11:00am. Show registration opens at 11:30am and ends at 3:00pm. The veterans themselves choose the award winners. There is no entry fee to participate and a free lunch is offered as a gesture of thanks for showing your car!

James A. Lovell Health Care Center             Morning Meeting Location

Please join us as we attend one of the longest-running car cruises in the state of Illinois on Sunday, June 23, 2024. We will be attending the “Gears & Ears Cruise and Corn Festival” at the Kendal County Fairgrounds hosted by the Midwest Street Rod Association of Illinois (MSRA). This is the 46th year of the cruise with the association itself dating back to 1969. This cruise has drawn up to 750 vehicles from the Midwest area and is a most-of-the-day event to enjoy time with gearheads, family, and friends. Gates open at 7:00am with registration open from 8:00am-1:00pm.

Pre-registration for $20.00 is encouraged and available by visiting MSRAOFIL.org, downloading the form, and mailing it in (link on far right of the page). Pre-registered participants will be guaranteed a T-shirt and dash plaque. Registration at the gate is $25.00 and dash plaques are available while they last. All participants will receive free soda, roasted corn, and the option to participate in all games. A $5.00 spectator fee will be charged for any attendees beyond the driver and one passenger. In addition to games, there will be a Split-the-Pot Raffle benefiting the Shriners Hospital as well as other raffles and door prizes. This is not a judged or class event, though MSRA will have some hand-crafted trophies given for specialty awards chosen by their sponsors and board members. Some food vendors will be available while supplies last.

In order for all of us to park together at this large event, we will meet at 7:30am at the McDonald’s on the corner of Route 34 and Route 47 in Yorkville, IL (3 West Veterans Pkwy, Yorkville, IL 60560) where you can grab a quick bite to eat or something to drink. From there, we will depart at 8:00am for the three-mile drive to Kendal County Fairgrounds where we will enter off Route 71, half a mile west of Route 47. You are more than welcome to arrive at the show at any time you wish, but parking with the NIFE group is not guaranteed unless you show up with the group.

NIFE will have a couple of canopies at the event for shade as well as a cooler full of ice-cold water to keep us hydrated throughout the day. If you bring additional canopies, they must have stakes and be tied or weighted down for the safety of all vehicles and participants. This will be a grass parking event, so please be cautious with any low front spoilers/bumpers/side skirts. This is a rain or shine event with no rain date.

Show flyer and Registration form

Kendall County Fair Grounds             Morning Meeting Location

Haven’t been to the Dells Run event in a while? Or ever? You are missing out on our annual Fiero community pilgrimage to the Wisconsin Dells to join Fiero owners from across the Midwest as the Wisconsin Fiero Fanatics host the 31st edition of the “2K24 Dells Run” event, starting Thursday, May 30, 2024, and running through Sunday, June 2, 2024. That’s right; four days of Fiero fun with countless opportunities to meet new Fiero friends, see others that you may have not seen in person since 2023, and experience everything Fiero – from mild to wild!

The host hotel and show site will again be Chula Vista Resort, located off the beaten path in a wooded area north of downtown Wisconsin Dells. Call 888-601-7053 to make your reservations and be sure to call early to guarantee a room. The group discount number is K12145. Consider pre-registering for this event by downloading a registration form on FieroFocus.com, or visit Wisconsin Fiero Fanatics on Facebook for the latest information.

On Sunday, June 4, 2023, we will caravan back to Illinois after the awards ceremony and traditional NIFE club photo. We plan to be on the road headed back home by 10:30-11:00am. Join us for great times and good fun in the scenic Wisconsin Dells!

Chula Vista Resort             Registration form for the show

It’s nearly the time of year to think about getting our Fieros ready to enjoy on the road again! What better way to shake off the cobwebs than a nice countryside drive and lunch with other Fiero enthusiasts?

On Saturday, May 4, 2024, we will travel west from Pottawatomie Park at 8 North Ave, St. Charles, IL 60174 (the Fierorama location) to White Pines Forest State Park in Mt. Morris, IL. White Pines Forest State Park is in the heart of the Rock River Valley and is the southern boundary of the historic Chicago-Iowa Trail. The park is perfect for family getaways to enjoy hiking, fishing, camping, and picnicking. With serene, picturesque beauty and modern lodge facilities amidst a beautiful forest and open space, it's a destination worth seeing.

 If you are worried about this being the first drive of the year and mechanical issues arising, there is no better place to be than surrounded by others who work on and enjoy Fieros; we are there to troubleshoot and help you out! Some participants even carry basic tools in their vehicles and are willing to assist with any issues that occur. This is what being part of the Fiero family is all about!

 We ask that everyone begin meeting at Pottawatomie Park at 9:00am for a 9:30am departure. It’s about a two-hour drive to White Pines, which will include a drive along the scenic banks of the Rock River. We will then enjoy a nice lunch at the White Pines Lodge. After lunch, we will head a little farther south along the Rock River, then turn east to head back to Pottawatomie Park, where we will conclude our day around 4:00pm.

Typically, we have 10-15 vehicles on this type of cruise with about 20-30 people attending and would love to see those numbers increase. If you cannot make the whole day event, you are welcome to meet us at the White Pines Lodge and Restaurant for lunch to enjoy the second half of the day, or enjoy the event with us for as long as you are able and break off from the group when needed.

Meeting locaiton             White Pines Lodge

Meeting start time - 9am CST

We all love driving our cars, and typically enjoy them more when our cars are performing well – but sometimes “performing well” on a stock car doesn’t satisfy the hunger for more performance!

There are a lot of engine options available, but if you desire an LS4 for your Fiero, you will generally hear the name Pickardt Performance (2P’s). They are a small, family-owned business in Maryland that began by building and making parts to support their own LS4 swapped Fieros. If you’re like me, once you see one of their builds, you want one for yourself! I vividly remember talking to Gary’s son Jestin at Fieroama in 2021 while admiring his gray GT; it is a work of art. They have performed many swaps and are now offering packages and limited runs of high-performance parts.

When Gary met his wife Jennifer, she owned a red ’88 Fiero GT. This was the first car for which Gary performed an engine swap, installing a naturally aspirated 3800. Years later, their son Brice started driving this car, and not long after that, their other son Jestin got his own Fiero. One day, Gary saw an article on Pennock’s Fiero Forum (Fiero.nl) regarding the LS4 engine swap, and everything took off from there. We are honored to have the Pickardt family share their time with us and give us an insight into the LS4 engine swap process.

The giveaway prize for this meeting will be an AutoBio Tag! What is an AutoBio Tag? Think of it as a website for you Fiero. Anyone who stops to look at your Fiero can learn your Fiero’s story by scanning the QR code tag you place on your windshield. Once you receive your tag, simply register on their website, upload your Fiero’s information and pictures, and you are good to go! The QR code tells your Fiero’s story for you! This meeting’s prize is valued at $49.00. The winner must be present at the time of the drawing or a new winner will be selected.

Meeting start time - 9am CST

We can all agree that the Fiero is incredibly fun to drive, but did GM make them fast enough to drive in this day and age? Do you have a Fiero that you wish had a little more punch when that Ferrari pulls up next to you at the stop light? Ever thought about doing an engine swap, but not sure where to start? Please join us for our March NIFE Zoom club meeting where James Brown of P-Body Motorsports (on Facebook) will discuss the most popular V6 engine swap for the Fiero, the supercharged 3800.

James is probably best known for his beautiful work on his wiring harnesses, but he also spends his days modifying cars and building street rods. If you have talked with James about his wiring harnesses or about doing your own engine swap, you already know how generous he is with his time and knowledge. James started back in the 1990s wiring old muscle cars while also running his car audio shop. Although James has built several show quality muscle cars, his first engine swap was actually an ‘87 Fiero GT with a supercharged 3800. James still has a few Fieros, including a 512tr replica, and my personal favorite, a Diablo replica. During this meeting we will spend some time talking about the 3800 V6 engine swap, some of the parts needed, and processes involved in doing this swap.

The giveaway prize for this meeting will be the very last 2023 NIFE Illinois special events license plate celebrating the 40th Anniversary Celebration – a value of “Priceless”! Winner must be present at the time of the drawing or a new winner will be selected.

Our new giveaway feature will continue at this meeting, where we will award the lucky winner a 40th Anniversary Special Edition Plate #39! Winner must be present at the time of the drawing or a new winner will be selected.

Meeting start time - 9am CST

Is your Fiero overheating or having cooling issues? Are you wondering what aftermarket options are available for your Fiero while maintaining a factory appearance? Well, do we have a treat for you! Please join us for our February NIFE Zoom club meeting where Fiero Austin (Austin Thomas) will walk through how to diagnose, repair, and even upgrade parts of this system to get your Fiero back on the road and running in top form.

Fiero Austin is well known for his 3800 engine swap parts lists on Pennock’s Fiero Forum (Fiero.nl), and his “how-to” videos on his YouTube channel, FieroAustin. Austin owns a white ‘88 Fiero GT that began life with a stock 2.8L V6. This car now sports a supercharged 3800 and Lambo doors. Fiero Austin is highly recognized in the Fiero community for his wide range of knowledge in aftermarket parts, including Lambo door hinges, factory-looking radios, Fiero electronics, brakes, suspension upgrades, Sunbird tachometers, body mods, and 3800 engine builds. Watching Austin’s YouTube videos is where I personally learned about rebuilding my 3800. It is my pleasure to have Austin share his knowledge on the Fiero cooling system with us for this meeting.

Our new giveaway feature will continue at this meeting, where we will award the lucky winner one $50.00 gift certificate to the Fiero Store (FieroStore.com)! Winner must be present at the time of the drawing or a new winner will be selected.