OK, here's the deal.

We've had a Northstar in our racecar for the last two years. For the time and money I've put in it, I have been disappointed in how finicky it's been and it simply hasn't performed like I thought it should. Don't get me wrong, it was a legitimate 145 mph car, but we were tweaking and working on it constantly. I'm debating on getting rid of the Northstar parts and re-powering with a small block Chevy.

The final straw was at the Sand Hills Open Road Race this year. The car was running the best it's ran. It seemed we had the cooling issues addressed. It ran very well at the track day and ran over 125 mph in the half mile shootout with Chris taking it very, very easy. On the second pass, as he came by me, it sounded like we had blown a CV joint. Such was not the case, it had a knock in the engine. We loaded it up and didn't even run the Open Road Race. Last year we had to shut it down half way up the course due to cooling issues.

Now I've been racing a long time, but missing the same event two years in a row because of a tempermental engine is just not acceptable to me and to be honest, takes a lot of the fun out of the whole deal.

So, here's what I've got, if someone's interested in it we can talk about it.

The engine is set up with a 7730 ECM with a programming that started from Ryan Hess here on the forum. We tweaked the tuning a lot with about 7 hours of dyno time but the limiting factor was it would go pig rich and start to lose power above about 6100 rpm. We never did get that issue solved but since we were putting out about 270 rwhp at 6,000 rpm, it was still pretty darn sporty. It was aggravating, though, because we had a set of CHR Fab cams in it and they just started to come in at about 5,500 rpm, so there was a lot of power still hiding in there we never got out.

If someone's interested in the harness and computer, along with TWO chips, one with Ryan's stock bin and the other with our modified bin, let's talk about it. It would be complete and I would also include the intake with new injectors simply becasue it uses the early intake and that takes a different connector that I had to wire in. The early intake has an adapter on it to use the later throttle body that uses and IAC instead of a ISC Motor so it is plug and play now with the harness.

I'd also be willing to sell the modified cradle for the Northstar. This was modified and designed to race with so there are good things and bad things about it. Only a couple of bad things. First, you'll have to run a remote filter. I would include the remote filter adapter for the Northstar so all you'd need is the filter housing/mount and some hose. You should do this anyway to run an oil cooler. Second, the way my mounts are made, there would be no way to have an air conditioner in the car without a whole lot of creativity. It's set up for an alternator and that's it. It does use the factory alternator in the stock location.



Now, for the good. The exhaust is already done with race mufflers. They're loud, you might want to change the tips to some resonators if you're using it on the street. That said, the exhaust is complete and made to fit so that all you'll have to do is add two hangers (one each side) on your Fiero. The pipes are mandrel bent and welded 2 1/2" from front to back. It uses two of the same exhaust manifolds (I don't remember now if they're front or rear) and they'd go along with it.

The cradle has also been modified to eliminate about 80% of the early model bumpsteer with relocated inboard pickup points. It could not be put back to stock because the stock pickup point location is where the motor mounts on the rear side go. Since the modification requires different tie rod ends, I'd include them with the cradle (they're not hard to make and I can make more) but you would not get lower control arms, uprights, axles, or rear sway bar. I'm keeping them.



The engine is mounted on poly mounts and so is the transmission and I honestly could never see it move. Ever. No dogbone was ever required or even considered.

If I do this, I'd also have a Spec aluminum flywheel for the Northstar Fiero conversion. It's in perfect shape and with a stage 4 clutch never, ever slipped. If I can reuse the stage 4 clutch with an Archie kit, I'll keep the PP and disk, but the flywheel obviously is Northstar specific.

I did pull the valve covers off hoping it was something in the top end but I can't see anything there. All the valve springs are intact, lifters look OK, cams look like new, timing chains are tight. Apparently it's a bottom end knock. These heads have been mildly ported and cleaned up in the passages and they have the CHR Fab cams installed along with CHR's springs and retainers. They would make excellent street heads for someone, assuming I find where the knock is actually coming from when I pull the bottom end apart.



Now, I hate it when people post stuff and don't list any prices, but I honestly don't know what this stuff is worth, but we have to start somewhere.

For the flywheel, I was thinking maybe $150 or so. It's been used very little.
For the cradle, mounts, and exhausts, I was thinking something in the neighborhood of $500. Remember, you could bolt a Northstar in here and go and never have to touch a welder or grinder.
For the ECM, Chips, and wiring harness with intake with new injectors, something around $600. BTW, many of the sensors are new as well.
Heads, I don't know. Just the cams, springs, and retainers cost me close to $800. The heads were surfaced, 5 angle valve job, and mildly ported. Maybe $500 for the set.

There could be more parts I'm not thinking of right now, and the heads we can talk about but I will not sell them until I finish tearing the motor down and find out for certain where the knock was coming from. To be honest, I was fairly sure it was the top end because we did drop the oil and I saw NO metal in it whatsoever.

So, now you Northstar swap afficonados have something to think about. I'm just trying to offset the cost of going a different direction in the race car. If you're interested in buying the whole thing (cradle, engine, exhaust, electronics, the works) shoot me an offer.

This will NOT come with a transmission and it's set up to use the Fiero manual. I had a NEW Isuzu behind it with no problems at all with the transmission, but the mount points should be the same with the Getrag if you prefer to use that.

If there's any interest, LMK.

John Stricker

PS: I do have access to some VERY reasonable truck freight. I shipped a Toyota Supra inline 5 from KS to CA for $150 about a year ago, and naturally buyer pays the shipping, but don't let truck freight scare you away because it won't be as bad as you think. If you're within something like 300 miles of me, for gas money and buy me a meal I'd probably deliver as well. I've never walked away from a road trip.

I've tried to be brutally honest here with the condition of everything. All of the pieces were set up for RACING. You might have to change some things to use this on the street, but not a lot. The trunk would have to be cut to use the exhaust as is, but I do that on my 4.9 swaps anyway and it's not that big a deal. The cradle, exhaust, pickup points for tie rods, all of that is excellent quality, workmanship, and strength. I'm simply tired of fighting the Northstar and missing races.

If I can't sell any of it I may go with a bone stock junkyard northstar, with a bone stock ecm that's been flashed, and just run that, but I'm pretty much talking myself into going a different direction now.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this.

[This message has been edited by jstricker (edited 08-16-2009).]

PM sent

Bump for the evening crowd, if no interest here this week sometime, some of this stuff will probably go on Ebay.

John Stricker

P M sent

Interested in the flywheel and clutch. I am planning a carbed 4.9 swap and this would help alot. Thanks

------------------
Hmmmmmmmmm.......now if I can just talk the Army out of an engine, I bet I can get it to fit hehehehehehe >

John I don't want to lead you along, but if I can get my 3800 car wrapped up and funds are still available I would consider the heads and computer set up, but I am hoping more to go with a obd2 system, that might not be something that ever happens though....

I might just take the heads off of your hands and hand on to them if they don't turn out to be the problem.

Chris

Sorry to hear about your problems. I'm interested in the flywheel and possibly just the craddle if you intend to go ahead with parting it out. Let me know.

[This message has been edited by R.O.C. 1 (edited 08-20-2009).]

Just an update for everybody so they know what's available and what's gone.

The cams and heads are sold to a forum member and have been paid for.

One of the two flywheels I have is spoken for. I'm not sure at this point which one they want, but it's spoken for. I have a Spec Flywheel for the Northstar Fiero swap and a CHR Fab steel flywheel that would have to be machined thinner to use in the Fiero with the stock manual transmissions. The Spec is used and the CHR Fab is new, never run, but has been mounted.
The cradle and exhaust system are spoken for pending payment.

The ECM and wiring harness are still available. I would suggest that it go with the early intake because that's the connector that's on the harness. If you want to use it on the later, plastic manifolds, you'll have to change the connector. For the $600 if you take the ECM and wiring along with the intake, I'll throw in the cam covers since they're all powder coated the same color. The powder coating is not perfect (this was a race car) but they do look very nice as you can see in the pictures. Edited to add: What the heck, since I have it off already, I'll also throw in the powder coated front cover that matches if someone takes the intake and ECM I would also sell the the ECM and wiring harness alone for $450. I do have all the paperwork that Ryan sent me with the harness.

I also have a known good ignition module, set of coils, and spark plug wires that I'd let go for $75.

It appears I won't need the Spec 4 clutch with the direction I'm going. It's in good condition and will work on any Fiero manual transmission flywheel, I believe, and manual transmission. This is a solid hub clutch and held nicely behind the Northstar. I'd take $100 for the clutch and pressure plate assembly.

If I think of anything else, I'll post it here.

John Stricker

PS: this flywheel will NOT work on the 4.9 Cadillac engine, only the Northstar.

ALL PRICES ARE WITHOUT SHIPPING AND SHIPPING WILL BE AT ACTUAL COSTS

[This message has been edited by jstricker (edited 08-21-2009).]

PM sent.

Chris

OK Recap The Spec Flywheel is spoken for? Is it a lighten one? Sorry for all the Q's. I'll be doing a N* swap so one stop shopping would be great. How much for just the 4 covers?

[This message has been edited by R.O.C. 1 (edited 08-21-2009).]

Hadn't considered selling just the covers, but nobody else has expressed any interest in the intake so why not?

Just so you understand the cover will ONLY fit the very early magnesium intake manifold with the internal, plastic runners, not the later all plastic intakes.

For all four, maybe $100?? It also has a very nifty hand turned and polished aluminum disc where the caddy emblem used to go with a Fiero nose badge attached to the center of it. That alone should be worth $20 or so.



John Stricker

quote Originally posted by R.O.C. 1: OK Recap The Spec Flywheel is spoken for? Is it a lighten one? Sorry for all the Q's. I'll be doing a N* swap so one stop shopping would be great. How much for just the 4 covers?

Payment/PM sent

[This message has been edited by BMTFIERO (edited 08-21-2009).]

PM sent

PM Answered and thanks.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by BMTFIERO: Payment/PM sent

Thought I'd just update what was gone and what's still here.

Heads and 300 degree CHR Fab cams, springs, etc., SOLD
CHR Fab Turbo Cams SOLD
Spec Stage 4 Clutch and PP SOLD
Spec Aluminum flywheel SOLD
CHR Fab Remote Oil Filter Adapter and Water Outlets SOLD

Cradle and Exhaust, SOLD
Cam Covers, Front Cover, Intake Cover Still Available
ECM and wiring harness Still Available
CHR Fab Steel Flywheel Still Available

Thanks to everyone that's shown interest and bought parts and if there's anything here that can help you let me know, if not I'm probably going to throw what's left up on Ebay pretty quick just to get rid of it.

John Stricker

[This message has been edited by jstricker (edited 08-23-2009).]

Everybody that bought some parts and has paid, check your PM's. Status of your stuff is all in there. Thanks to all of you.

I still have the ECM, burned chip, and engine wiring harness along with the intake available for someone doing the swap. All of the paperwork that Ryan sent me (with instructions, etc.) is included as well.

I also still have the steel CHRFab flywheel. For Fiero use it will have to be milled thinner to bet the proper clutch height/spacing.

I don't think I'm going to rebuild the shortblock so there are 8 good pistons with pins (no rings). Early pistons with the thicker lands. Ceramic tops, moly skirts, standard size fi someone's interested in them. They'd also work in a 4.9L if you're doing a performance build.

Cam covers, front cover, and intake cover are all still available as well, unless someone buys the intake and ecm stuff, then they go with that.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by jstricker: Thought I'd just update what was gone and what's still here. Heads and 300 degree CHR Fab cams, springs, etc., SOLD CHR Fab Turbo Cams SOLD Spec Stage 4 Clutch and PP SOLD Spec Aluminum flywheel SOLD CHR Fab Remote Oil Filter Adapter and Water Outlets SOLD Cradle and Exhaust, SOLD Cam Covers, Front Cover, Intake Cover Still Available ECM and wiring harness Still Available CHR Fab Steel Flywheel Still Available Thanks to everyone that's shown interest and bought parts and if there's anything here that can help you let me know, if not I'm probably going to throw what's left up on Ebay pretty quick just to get rid of it. John Stricker

Package came in the mail today. Feedback left

Thanks,
Tim

It wouldn't let me leave feedback because I wasn't a participant in the thread.

POST! There, now I am, haha.

Thanks to both of you!

John Stricker

Got my Schtuff !! Thanks!

Glad it got there safe and sound.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by Erik: Got my Schtuff !! Thanks!

John,

Did you ever find out the cause of the knock?

Ryan

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Indy Northstar-Stretch ~ LT1-NOS Roadster

Just a bump to thank everyone. Pretty much everything is sold now except for the CHRFab steel flywheel. I still have it and it's on sale right now for $75 + shipping. Even after you machine it thinner to work in the Fiero, that's still a deal.

Also, Fiero2m8, you have a PM.

Thanks again everyone.

John Stricker

Any idea what the weight of that flywheel is, John?

No, but I can weigh it tomorrow. Remember it will get significantly lighter as it has to be machined quite a bit thinner.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by 1986 Fiero GT: Any idea what the weight of that flywheel is, John?

I never really bothered to ask before, but exactly how much thicker is the RWD flywheel versus the FWD required?

I honestly don't remember. I know at the time, I measured it based on the distance from the back of the block mating surface to the flywheel face on a 2.8 and a stock fiero flywheel. I then put on the norhtstar flywheel on the northstar and measured the same way, from the block mating surface to the face of the flywheel. At the time, I thought it might be close enough to work but when I bolted the flywheel and clutch up, then put the trans on, it was too close and the throwout bearing was disengaging the clutch just a little bit.

I think if you do a search in tech for it, you'll find how much needs to be removed, but personally I'd do the measurements myself and go from there. I'm thining something like 1/8" to 3/16" but I really don't remember. If I'd had more time before the race at that time, I'd have had it cut and used it, but I had to have it right now and just had Spec next day air me one that they guaranteed me would work with their clutch in the Fiero.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by 1986 Fiero GT: I never really bothered to ask before, but exactly how much thicker is the RWD flywheel versus the FWD required?

Alright...you twisted my arm. I'll take the flywheel. Total shipped? You know the address by now, haha.

[This message has been edited by 1986 Fiero GT (edited 09-12-2009).]

I'll consider it sold. I'll run a total with shipping and shoot you a PM tomorrow.

Yeah, I think I can find your address!

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by 1986 Fiero GT: Alright...you twisted my arm. I'll take the flywheel. Total shipped? You know the address by now, haha.

Trevor,

You have a PM with a total price. It did fit in a USPS Flat Rate Box just fine so shipping's not as bad as with UPS. $10.35 for USPS vs. $20.75 UPS Ground for shipping.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by 1986 Fiero GT: Alright...you twisted my arm. I'll take the flywheel. Total shipped? You know the address by now, haha.

gee john your supporting the socialists [USPS]
rather then free enterprise {UPS}

btw did you sell the harness and chips

Actually, like any good capitalist, I'm trying to keep my customers happy by keeping their prices as low as possible. I wouldn't expect you to understand that, though. Oh, and BTW, the USPS is not actually socialist since they charge a fee for everything they do. They don't practice fair trade practices and it's reflected in their price when compared to FedEx or UPS.

Yes, the harness, chips, and ECM are gone.

John Stricker

quote Originally posted by ray b: gee john your supporting the socialists [USPS] rather then free enterprise {UPS} btw did you sell the harness and chips

Everyone that purchased parts from me should have them by now, or tomorrow at the latest. The last few sales shipped out on Monday. If ANYONE hasn't received what they purchased, please let me know and we'll see if we can get it tracked down.

Thanks again everyone.

John Stricker

I got the flywheel. Thanks a third time, John!