Rarely Do I Advocate Buying Someone Else's Engine-Swap Project on CL, but...

"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass) 05/10/2017 at 06:10 • Filed to: FOUND ON CL, PONTIAC FIERO, ENGINE SWAPS, SMALL BLOCK CHEVY

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...this 6.6L V8 in a 1988 Fiero for $6500 actually seems like it might be worth the risk for the sheer insanity of it. I love the nonchalantness of “When the car reached 100,000 miles I decided to do a V8 conversion” like it is the perfectly natural thing to do when your tiny car hits 100k. Also this nugget: “My first set of headers created too much heat. Consequently I pulled the engine and then the project got put on the back burner.”

Anyway, despite not being finished, it doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as far away as your typical CL project. I know there are a lot of you in central TX. I don’t have room for it, but if someone picks it up I’ll help come turn a wrench!

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Sweet Trav > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/10/2017 at 07:02

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I cannot advise anyone to buy someone’s else’s FIERO engine swap, ever. A C10 with an LS1? Sure! A Grand Prix with a big block Chevy? No problem! A Chevelle with a Duramax? You’re pushing it guy, but OK. A fiero with an engine with a propensity to overheat stock, in an engine configuration that it was never intended to be in? Hell no.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/10/2017 at 07:47

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“I bought the car new in 1988. When it reached 100k I decided to ruin it.” - The seller

CalzoneGolem > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/10/2017 at 07:47

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That stripe makes this CP all day.

kanadanmajava1 > Sweet Trav 05/10/2017 at 07:55

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If you really need a V8 in a Fiero, you could probably just pick a suitable package from some fairly modern FWD application. 9th gen Impalas and its sisters used a transverse mounted LS4. I would be annoyed about the automatic transmission, but I guess not this guy.

boredalways > kanadanmajava1 05/10/2017 at 08:05

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^^^^

THIS

+1

Dave the car guy , still here > Sweet Trav 05/10/2017 at 08:07

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I’m just glad somebody else here said what I was thinking. Why start off with a project that was poorly thought out and already badly executed?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 05/10/2017 at 08:08

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Both engines for this car sucked.

boredalways > kanadanmajava1 05/10/2017 at 08:12

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Side note: would a Northstar V8 or a Yamaha built Volvo V8 been better candidates?

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Sweet Trav 05/10/2017 at 08:19

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It’s a perfect candidate for a Ferrari/Lamborghini clone body kit, because it’ll catch fire just like the real thing!

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > CalzoneGolem 05/10/2017 at 08:20

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The black side stripe? That’s stock...

kanadanmajava1 > boredalways 05/10/2017 at 08:26

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Northstars have quite bad reputation (head gaskets issues etc), but you could of course rebuild it before the swap. Yamaha engines have narrow cylinder angle, so they would probably be easier to fit inside a Fiero.

But you cannot get much performance parts for these. In stock form they would probably be very good choices. Yamaha engines might have anti-theft systems that could be a bit tricky to get rid of. With GMs engines, this should be solvable.

Sweet Trav > kanadanmajava1 05/10/2017 at 08:26

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Not if you’re this god of fabrication... This is one of the most impressive build threads I have ever read.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1588653-88-fiero-formula-ls4-f40-6-speed-swap.html

facw > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 05/10/2017 at 08:27

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The LLV is not happy about that claim:

Doesn’t make it false though.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > facw 05/10/2017 at 08:55

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The Iron Puke is the most spiteful engine ever built. It’s terrible, gets worse with age, and just won’t die. It just keeps going because it hates you and so does GM.

kanadanmajava1 > Sweet Trav 05/10/2017 at 08:57

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Very interesting. I didn’t know that the bellhousing bolt pattern is compatible with these. My browser didn’t like the build thread very much, but I have to read this one later.

That LS4's exhaust manifold is quite nutty. They have just left the runners open inside the heat insulation box.

MonkeePuzzle > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/10/2017 at 09:30

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looks really good in white and black. but big v8 is wrong, a turbo 4 would be the right fit for this project.

Hammerdown > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/10/2017 at 09:32

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This picture makes me ask so many questions. Most importantly of which, where are the accessories? Alternator, water pump, etc. Maybe it’s a remote mounted electric water pump, but that still doesn’t explain the alternator.

There’s a reason people but 3800s in these and not V8s.

Hammerdown > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/10/2017 at 09:32

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This picture makes me ask so many questions. Most importantly of which, where are the accessories? Alternator, water pump, etc. Maybe it’s a remote mounted electric water pump, but that still doesn’t explain the alternator.

There’s a reason people but 3800s in these and not V8s.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > facw 05/10/2017 at 09:53

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Just because it’ll go forever doesn’t mean it’s a great choice for a car that is ostensibly sporty.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 05/10/2017 at 10:11

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I disagree, the 2.8 was adequate and appropriate. Quad 4 would have been more fun though.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 05/10/2017 at 10:21

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Eww, no. Thing’s a slow-revving cam-in-block economy car boat anchor. Quad 4 would have been perfect, though having to replace the water pump or timing chain (and you would have to) would be even more of a nightmare than it usually is for the Quad 4.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Sweet Trav 05/10/2017 at 10:25

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For me it would depend on how far along they got. This is a hard no from me, but if it was a basically complete build, I;d be okay with that. The overheating issue would be easily rectified by a better and larger radiator, hood ducting, and an oil cooler.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > boredalways 05/10/2017 at 10:25

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N* Fiero swaps are actually surprisingly common.

Mach-inator > boredalways 05/10/2017 at 10:36

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Northstar V8's are probably the most common V8 to be swapped in a Fiero, so considering the amount of experience available to help, yeah it would have been a better choice.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > MonkeePuzzle 05/10/2017 at 10:37

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It’s totally totally wrong, but just like a V8 in a Miata is also not the right fit I love it in the big, loud, stupid just for the hell of it way.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 05/10/2017 at 10:38

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I drove an ‘88 GT with the 2.8, it didn’t offend me. Great sounding engine too, sounds like you’re going 140 and you’re going 35.

Quad 4 though, you’re right that it would have been a pain in the ass but it would have made it a special car, what with needing to cane the shit out of it to get any power from it.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Hammerdown 05/10/2017 at 10:39

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The transmission looks hilariously small on there too.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 05/10/2017 at 10:46

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I drove one once and wasn’t impressed, but it also wasn’t a good one or an ‘88. If I did the Fiero thing, I’d just drop a 3800 in and call it a day.

CalzoneGolem > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/10/2017 at 12:45

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Gross.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 05/10/2017 at 14:04

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That’s probably the best choice. A newer Ecotec turbo might be cool too.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/11/2017 at 00:08

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Apparently a lot of people here don’t know how common a V8 swap is in a Fiero. SBC have been going into them for decades.

Top of my mind, here’s a list of engines that have been in Fieros...
2.5 Iron Duke.
2.8 60° V6, along with 3.1, 3.4, 3.4 DOHC, 3100, 3400, 3500, and 3900 of that same family.
3800 of all generations supercharged and not.
Cadillac 4.1, 4.5, 4.9 V8 and 4.6 Northstar as well as 4.0 Aurora V8 and 3.5 V6.
Ecotec 4 cylinders.
Old school 2.0 turbo.
Oldsmobile Quad4.
Small block Chevy from Gen I, II (LT1), and III (LS, both longitudinal (even LS7), and LS4), and 4.3 V6. And Big Block Chevy.
VW TDI and VR6.
Audi 4.2 V8.
Chrysler 3.5 V6.
Oldsmobile Toronado (fwd big block, think late 60's).
GM HF V6, I only know of the 2.8T but there may be more.
4G63.

I’m sure I’m missing some.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 05/11/2017 at 09:19

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Fair enough - you can swap and SBC into just about anything. Two things about this made it seem totally nuts to me. First, its and SBC in a tansverse layout. Yes, I know they did that tansverse LS4 in the Grand Prix and Impala in the mid 2000's, but IIRC those had a custom block so they fit better. Second, this appears to be a custom-built stroker motor that has an absurd displacement for a car this size. I don’t think I would’ve paid much attention to a 4.6L Northstar, but a 6.6L SBC in a Fiero caught my eye. I imagine that besides heat issues, getting a transmission to hold up will also be quite the challenge.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 05/11/2017 at 23:36

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I have yet to drive one with a V8, so I can’t comment on how much overkill it is. But I can say that the original V6 is not maxing out the chassis at all.

They’ve been turning the SBC sideways for probably a quarter century now in Fieros. It’s a bit weird looking to take in the first time, that’s for sure. The LS4 wasn’t changed a lot, afaik it was switching to the GM Metric bellhousing bolt pattern (to use fwd transmissions), and a more compact water pump. I’ve heard that it saves a lot less hassle than you would expect.

As far as the transmissions... they apparently hold up more abuse than you’d expect. At least the manuals that came with the V6. It helps that the Fiero weighs less than most cars, it saves some stress.

And the cooling really isn’t that bad. I haven’t run across reading about anyone having issues with a sorted setup. The car itself it finicky to bleed properly with the factory system.

Ok, /nerdmode