THE SPECS
BROKE NOT BROKEN // CONFIGURATION DATA
01 // THE MANIFESTO
Built not bought. Fixed not finished. Broke Not Broken is born from the garage floor, where tools slip, parts break, and logic fails—but the build never stops. We document the unedited reality of custom fabrication, powertrain swaps, and late-night mechanical problem-solving. Every piece of gear in the shop directly funds the tools and machinery keeping these projects alive.
02 // CURRENT ACTIVE BATTLES
PROJECT: RESURRECTED HEART
• Chassis: 1988 Pontiac Fiero (Factory Mid-Engine)
• Powerplant: Stock 2.8L V6 L44
• Swap Status: Supercharged LSJ Ecotec (Staged // Funding in Progress via Shop)
CURRENT MISSION 1: INTERIOR ERGONOMICS & COGNITIVE NAVIGATION OVERHAUL
The factory 1988 radio placement sits at the absolute bottom of the center console—completely useless for modern interactive navigation. We are entirely gutting the radio surround and center stack to modernize the cockpit layout.
OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS:
• Head Unit Relocation: Moving an upgraded single-DIN touchscreen unit with Android Auto up to the factory upper auxiliary gauge pod location to keep navigation directly in the driver's line of sight.
• Auxiliary Gauge Drop: Relocating the factory aux gauges down to the lower slot where the stock radio used to sit.
• Digital Fabrication: Re-learning CAD to completely redesign and enlarge the upper housing (which is factory-restricted and too shallow for a standard single-DIN chassis depth) and engineering a custom lower faceplate with secure mounting points for the redirected gauges.
CURRENT MISSION 2: POWERTRAIN BLUEPRINT & RECOVERY ROADMAP
While the interior fabrication takes place on the floor, the supercharged LSJ powerplant is undergoing staging. Before the engine drops into the mid-engine chassis, it is being torn down on the stand for zero-hour reliability and performance upgrades.
ENGINE PREP BLUEPRINT:
• Zero-Hour Refresh: Complete top-to-bottom gasket overhaul to seal the block and handle increased boost pressure seamlessly.
• Thermal Management: Upgraded cooling system routing engineered specifically to manage mid-engine packaging and mitigate supercharger heat soak.
• Fuel & Octane Upgrade: Upgrading fuel injectors to handle a complete transition to high-octane E85 fuel. This requires dropping the central, factory chassis fuel tank to overhaul the internal fuel lines and mount a high-flow, ethanol-compatible fuel pump.
• Drivetrain Fabrication: Installation of a new lightweight flywheel for instant, rapid throttle response, paired with a high-friction performance clutch built to hold the supercharged power.
03 // CURRENT OPERATIONAL STATUS & DEPLOYMENT
THE SHAKEDOWN RUNS
Broke Not Broken means we fix it, we build it, and we drive it. This Fiero is not a garage queen. While the heavy fabrication parts are being staged on the workbench, the car is actively driven to local meets, shows, and events.
CRITICAL OPERATIONS CONSTRAINTS:
• Climate Control: Non-functional factory A/C.
• Deployment Windows: High-temperature mid-summer heatwaves keep the car parked in the bay to avoid driver meltdown. Cooler mornings, crisp track days, and event weather belong entirely to the road.