I really do love my Fiero but I think I'm ready for something different. Came across a 96 Camaro RS automatic that has a few miles on it but looks good on the online ad. Thinking of driving the Fiero down there next week to see if the guy will deal with me, I'm thinking straight up trade if not something better (like some new tires or something).
This all started a couple weeks ago, I have automotive ADD and I'm constantly looking on Craigslist, just to see what's out there. Well I stumbled upon an LT1 Trans Am that looked really nice but the price was just a touch higher that I would have liked and the guy didn't want to consider trades + $$. I quickly found out that to find a 4th generation F-body with 8 cylinders at the price I wanted was pretty tricky. That's when I started looking at the "sixers". I figured I know a group of guys that are pretty darned knowledgeable on 3800's and putting a turbo on one of those just sounds fun. Well, it turns out there are quite a few differences (but still quite similar) between an F-body 3800 and a FWD 3800. But hey, a turbo is a turbo right?
Just started researching this little project and I imagine I would drive the car stock for quite a while until I decided to start modding it but that's ok. I imagine a stock 3800 V6 Camaro is quicker than a stock Fiero GT so it will still be a fun car, plus it has T-tops.
I'm in love with the 98-02 Firebirds. My friend really wanted one and found one made in 1999 with 30K miles, it was practically showroom condition and he paid only $5,500 for it. Just be patient and wait it out for something worth keeping. Good luck
I have heard they are a bit of a pain to work on. I first did some research on an LS1 swap but there was quite a bit of work and $$ involved with that. An LS1 engine bay would obviously be more cramped than the 3800 and you can get to stock LS1 hp numbers with a turbo 3800 (which I think we all know and have seen around here). I'm not dead set on this thing, I think I'll go take a look and see what it does for me this Monday.
If I went through with it, I'd probably ask all my questions over in tech here. There isn't another forum out there on the internet with guys as smart as the folks we have here.
I had one for a while (97 convertable firebird)....wouldnt do it again. The 6 has just enough power to get youin trouble, but not enough to to get you out. MAN, do I have some wild stories to tell about that thing and what happens...my 84 and 89 NEVER got that sketchy on me, LOL the 84 I could put in 4th, EAASSEEE off the clutch and toe the throttle and go uphill on ice....6-cyl never did THAT.
No
F-body equals an 8 under the hood, or nothing (to me at least)
Originally posted by fastblack: An LS1 engine bay would obviously be more cramped than the 3800
Go back and re-watch your videos. The "extra space" you have in a 3800 F-body is all between the front of the engine and radiator. Well over half the engine is under the windshield cowl. I haven't worked on a V6 F-body, but having an LS1, I can tell you reaching anything up near the firewall isn't fun.
Notice where the "3800" logo on the intake is in relation to the cowl.
For a simple cruiser or DD, go for it. If you plan to mod it, skip the V6. 4th gens are dropping hard in value, even the LS1s are commonly $3-5k. Cant buy a V6 and turbo it for that money
4th gens are no more difficult to work on than Fieros
I'll be the one to say there not bad cars. my second car was a 1998 firebird with the 3800... they are sporty fun to drive reliable and not to bad on gas BUT, they are slow as piss. don't plan on beating anything except for 3800 buicks and things like that, they are a heavy car with something like 210 at the crank, you're always going to get the why didn't you get a V8 A-holes hounding you left and right but if you can put up with the down sides they are great cars... And yes, working on them is a pain, just like the fiero EVERYTHING on the engine is pretty much inaccessible.
After my firebird I was kinda hesitant to do anything with a V6 pony car anymore but ended up with a 2012 V6 mustang now a few years later..... What a whallop the new V6's have. not something to take lightly anymore.
[This message has been edited by pontiackid86 (edited 06-22-2014).]
Well, the decision was made for me today. Got bored and drove down there to look at the car without a dealer hounding me...turns our the car is a rust bucket. Dealership was asking $2950 for it, I wouldn't give more than $800. Body wasn't terrrrrrrible but the rest of the car had cancer. I guess my "search" will continue, or maybe I'll hold on to the Fiero for a few more years...maybe even get that 3800 swap done someday. Thanks everybody for the comments.
All vehicles ALWAYS look a lot better on internet ads. I looked at a van advertised to be just like new and the pics looked great. In person the seats all had cigarette burns and both rocker panels and rear fender lips crumbled with bare hands.
Seriously, you like that sound? You must be a young guy who didn't grow up with V8s.
This turbo Camaro sounds a little better IMO... especially when he puts his foot into it.
31 years young this year. Don't get me wrong, I love the sound of a big block with a lumpy cam just as much as the next guy, but there's something about a turbo'd motor that sounds good to me. You'd be right in saying the above car sounds a bit ricey but it's still better than most kids' Civics running around today.
BTW, your video sounds better than mine
[This message has been edited by fastblack (edited 06-23-2014).]
My mine gripe was the lousy build quality. I mean, really lousy. Stuff you wouldn't even think of until you experience it. For example, the seat backs had a good inch or so of play in them, was both sides so it wasn't wear. The dashboard always cracks - the local chevy dealer actually had a new dash top in stock, if that gives you an indication how common it is.
The door panels would flex when the window was rolled all the way down before the motor cut off, you could see the whole door bulge out. Not to mention that the center console hinge always breaks and a new one is big $$$ for no reason at all. Not to mention the clutch would chatter really bad no matter what I did, even after replacing the clutch, flywheel, and rebuilding the transmission.
The Fiero doesn't have the best build quality in the world but its miles ahead of the Camaro and the whole thing just feels way more solid. The 3800 engine is good but its not really that fast in a heavy vehicle like the Camaro.
Funny you should say that, I remember riding in a friend's mid 90's T/A once and the interior was just junk, I always thought either him or a previous owner just trashed it. And yes, the center console hinge was busted.
My mine gripe was the lousy build quality. I mean, really lousy. Stuff you wouldn't even think of until you experience it. For example, the seat backs had a good inch or so of play in them, was both sides so it wasn't wear. The dashboard always cracks - the local chevy dealer actually had a new dash top in stock, if that gives you an indication how common it is.
The door panels would flex when the window was rolled all the way down before the motor cut off, you could see the whole door bulge out. Not to mention that the center console hinge always breaks and a new one is big $$$ for no reason at all. Not to mention the clutch would chatter really bad no matter what I did, even after replacing the clutch, flywheel, and rebuilding the transmission.
The Fiero doesn't have the best build quality in the world but its miles ahead of the Camaro and the whole thing just feels way more solid. The 3800 engine is good but its not really that fast in a heavy vehicle like the Camaro.
This.. The Fiero is MILES in front of the 4-th gens in terms of build quality IMO. I just sold my 95 T56 T/A, I used it as a daily for 2 years. It was definitely fun as hell when it ran, but things break much more easily than you think and the interior is complete sh!t. As mentioned, the seatbacks/ headrests had 1-2" of play and would make tons of noise. Plastic panels would rattle, dash cracked in the sun, the door panels flex and crack. The window motors oval out the holes they are mounted in the doors to and the window travels lower/ higher than it should. The center console door hinge will break if you look at it hard enough, the dash corners will chip away nicely. Seriously, everything that can possibly go wrong with the interior probably does. Then theres the weak axle on the V8s, I'm not even going to talk about the optispark since you're looking at a 3800.
I'll say this, I bought my car with a fully built rear suspension and a few goodies on it. I thought the bugs were taken care for me- WRONG. Compared to the Fiero, repairs ad up fast. It sounds like you may not be in the right financial situation to handle one, and IMO its V8 or nothing. The V6s come with even crappier equipment, and trust me I'd never say no to a turbo 3800 bird. This was my POS getting hauled off this past weekend:
For now I'll keep going along my way and if something pops up, I'll consider it. In the middle of putting a bunch of $$ into the front end of the Fiero right now so I'm in the mood for keeping it...for now. As I said before, if I ever finally got a 3800 swap done as I've been planning for a while now, I'm sure the Fiero would become a keeper.
You must be a young guy who didn't grow up with V8s. 
