Period-appropriate swaps (Page 1/3)
842m4SE OCT 09, 04:05 AM
Looking for some ideas/suggestions about what would be some good Fiero swaps from its approximate time period - so no LS4s. 3.4 DOHC and 3800NA, as well as of course the chevy v8s come to mind. What other possible options are there?
Not bored with the Duke, but it'll probably end up being swapped eventually. Just want to make sure it'll be something fitting the car's personality and time period.
82-T/A [At Work] OCT 09, 09:33 AM

quote
Originally posted by 842m4SE:

Looking for some ideas/suggestions about what would be some good Fiero swaps from its approximate time period - so no LS4s. 3.4 DOHC and 3800NA, as well as of course the chevy v8s come to mind. What other possible options are there?
Not bored with the Duke, but it'll probably end up being swapped eventually. Just want to make sure it'll be something fitting the car's personality and time period.




There was a pretty cool little 2.0 liter engine that had a Turbo on it. I think it was on the Sunbird.

Here's the motor:




So, not the most amazing thing in the world, it only had 165hp / 175ft-lbs in stock form. But because it's a Turbo, you have a lot of room to grow with it.

It used an Opel 2.0 OHC motor with a Garret Turbocharger. They were pretty reliable, and they usually lasted for a LOT of miles.

There is a 2.2 and a 2.4 liter version of the motor (not to be confused with the TwinCam / Quad-4). If I remember correctly, the 2.2 and 2.4 can be swapped into the same engine bay, replacing the 2.2 with pretty much everything bolting back on "as is."

It's super easy to get around 225hp without a lot of effort, and it looks pretty cool. That's not fantastic, but if you have an 84 Fiero, it'll LOOK original-ish, and still be a lot of fun. I can only speculate, but maybe mid / low 14s?


Otherwise, you can do a Twin Cam or Quad-4 swap, which a lot of people do.

3800 is a lot of fun, I've been in several of them and the car performs really well... but it does add weight to the rear, and the handling does become... "different" than what you expect in your Duke right now (where you can carelessly toss it around with wanton abandon).

fieroguru OCT 09, 10:28 AM
2.0 Turbo: it actually was installed in some 88 Fieros post dealer and marketed at a Delta-204T or the Michael Andretti Special.


SD4 4 cyl: it is part of the FIero racing history.


3.4 Twin Dual Cam (LQ1): This engine was going to be a future option for the Fiero. It was made started in 1991, but does have some connection to the Fiero.



The next group doesn't have any link to the Fiero, just from the same period and have already been swapped into a Fiero:
Quad 4 2.3L: was introduced in late 87 and looks good in a fiero engine bay - several swaps have been done.


3.8 (Vin 3): period correct used in many FWD cars of the era, looks similar to the grand national 3.8.


5.7 TPI: GMs performance V8 from the FIero era
Warlordsix OCT 09, 10:50 AM
A Cadillac 4.9 is perfect. Debuted as a 4.1 sometime around '84. Bumped up later to 4.9. Easy swap, and huge fun.

Ernie

------------------
'87 Fiero 4.9 5-speed

IMSA GT OCT 09, 11:29 AM
Hate to mention the negative but since I live in your state, you plan on getting this smogged?
842m4SE OCT 09, 12:08 PM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:

Hate to mention the negative but since I live in your state, you plan on getting this smogged?



She's smogged with the Duke already, I suppose a cat setup will have to be included in the fab exhaust though. I'm assuming this period of engines would have smog equipment?
RWDPLZ OCT 09, 12:48 PM
An engine swap will immediately fail visual inspection in California, even if it pollutes less than the original. Only exception would be a 3.4 93-95 Firebird engine in a Fiero that originally had a 2.8 V6, if it still has a Fiero intake and distributor (although there have been horror stories about V6 Fieros failing because dumbass inspectors thought the Holley throttle body wasn't stock).
842m4SE OCT 09, 01:03 PM

quote
Originally posted by RWDPLZ:

An engine swap will immediately fail visual inspection in California, even if it pollutes less than the original. Only exception would be a 3.4 93-95 Firebird engine in a Fiero that originally had a 2.8 V6, if it still has a Fiero intake and distributor (although there have been horror stories about V6 Fieros failing because dumbass inspectors thought the Holley throttle body wasn't stock).



From my research in CA you just have to make sure the engine is the same year or newer and has all the smog equipment installed, and then getting inspection from the Referree Station.
Source: https://jagsthatrun.com/pag...california-smog-laws
If I'm wrong somebody please correct me.
Gall757 OCT 12, 11:24 AM

quote
Originally posted by 842m4SE:

If I'm wrong somebody please correct me.



If you are right, there are years of mis-information posts on this website that need correcting.
cvxjet OCT 12, 11:53 AM
I swapped a 5.0 FI engine into a 1973 mach 1.......In California; And then I died!

Actually, the rules are; Must be same year or later, must have ALL smog equipment connected and functional, must have no codes, and then you take it to a referee station and get certified (The car, not the owner)

Interestingly (And amazingly) CA did NOT require a CAT on my Mustang because the car was not designed for one and may cause fire.......



Also, I can vouch for the 2.8 to 3.4 long block conversion- only 20 hp more but at lower RPM so it's like having a better gear ratio; My Fiero now gets to 60 in 6.5 seconds and does the quarter in 14.8.....And it has passed smog for the last 7 times (Engine swapped in 1999) (Fails were an old CAT and then a bad ICM)

The 3.4 is actually a LEGAL swap in CA- GM only made the 60* V6 replacement blocks in the 3.4 size and was able to get it certified in CA.

[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 10-12-2021).]