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| 84 Fiero engine swap help me with my research (Page 1/1) |
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Saggy
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JUN 02, 06:27 PM
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I'm looking at a nissan xterra, with the vg33. I need help finding a transaxle that will work with this engine. I don't really know much about transmissions, let alone how to shop for them. If you have some transaxle shopping information, or any info on what I will struggle with would be greatly appreciated. My Fiero currently has the iron duke with the muncie 4 speed.
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82-T/A [At Work]
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JUN 02, 10:19 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Saggy:
I'm looking at a nissan xterra, with the vg33. I need help finding a transaxle that will work with this engine. I don't really know much about transmissions, let alone how to shop for them. If you have some transaxle shopping information, or any info on what I will struggle with would be greatly appreciated. My Fiero currently has the iron duke with the muncie 4 speed.
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Hi Saggy, are you saying you want to find a transmission that will fit with the Xterra motor so that you can put it in a Fiero?
I'm, not really sure in this case what you'd be looking for... the engine is totally different and really, nothing will match up. Usually, most of the engine swaps are GM because many different things will still work. For example, you can do the 3.4 swap, literally just buy a 3.4 motor and drill one hold and that's pretty much it. Or you can do a 3800 series swap, or any number of other swaps. I've not seen anyone that's done a Nissan swap.
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Patrick
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JUN 02, 10:35 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Saggy:
I'm looking at a nissan xterra, with the vg33. I need help finding a transaxle that will work with this engine.
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This sounds like quite a challenging swap into a Fiero. Do you have much experience doing engine swaps?
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Saggy
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JUN 04, 05:15 PM
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I did some research and found the donar car for the transmission. I need one from an altima or maxima with the vg30 engine. All I need to know is if the ecu will get confused if I install a fwd trans on an engine from a 4wd car. Do I need to reprogram it? Can I? Would I need to buy a standalone? How do I get that programed? Pretty sure tuning is a professional's job, so I would need to pay someone to do this, who can help me? I'm getting the whole xterra, I will be swapping more than just the engine. I'm looking for a challenge, not an easy plug & play job. I'm excited to spend exorbitant amounts of time frustrated, confused, and making mistakes I will have to spend twice as much time fixing. [This message has been edited by Saggy (edited 06-04-2023).]
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Dukesterpro
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JUN 05, 08:50 AM
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That would be a question for Nissan guys, you sir have official left Fiero territory.
Good Luck and keep us posted!
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olejoedad
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JUN 05, 02:41 PM
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A modern powertrain only needs three things from the Fiero electrical system to work.
Battery power.
Ignition ON power.
Ground.
Everything else will come from the powertrain.
The mechanical side needs more work.
Engine
Transmission.
Mounts - custom made.
Axles - It's a good bet they will need to be custom made.
Fuel system.
Exhaust system.
Intake air filtration system.
To control it all, a custom tuned PCM.
To try to answer your transmission/PCM compatibility question......
Most PCMs are only needing a VSS (speedo) signal from a manual transmission.
Other control inputs (or just hardwired into the harness as a switch) could be a clutch safety switch to enable the starter solenoid signal, and some way to turn on the backup lights.
Good luck with your quest.
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sanderson231
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JUN 05, 05:56 PM
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Once you get into the OBD-II world (1996+) dealing with the PCM in a swap can get very complicated. For example you likely have to deal with an anti-theft system. In some cases this cannot be disabled in the PCM and you need to salvage the ignition switch from the donor vehicle and make it part of the swap. On modern cars the PCM is frequently net worked with other modules. For example ABS brakes, climate control systems, ride control systems etc. If these systems are not there it can be a big deal.
If you are going to change to a Nissan FWD transmission that came with a similar Nissan engine, you are likely better off getting the PCM from the car that the transmission came from rather than fooling with your AWD PCM. You are going to need the VIN number from that vehicle because without it nobody can access the PCM to reflash it.
If you are going the Nissan route then you need to find someone who knows Nissan PCMs and what can and cannot be done with them in an engine swap. Don't assume that this support is currently available in the marketplace.
An aftermarket engine control system like Megasquirt can run the engine. But if you are going to use an automatic transmission then you will need an aftermarket transmission controller if the transmission is electronically shifted. These are common place for GM transmissions but for a Nissan?
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formerly known as sanderson
1984 Quad 4
1886 SE 2.8L
1988 4.9L Cadillac
1988 3800 Supercharged
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Saggy
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JUN 05, 10:17 PM
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Thanks for the info, I'll talk to my buddy & see if we can find a Nissan tuner. I had been partially undecided on whether to use an auto or manual, and it sounds like manual is my best bet. I was leaning that way anyways, but was a little spooked of the prospect of a money shift, or smoking the clutch trying to spin the tires. The xterra is a 2002, I'll talk to my buddy & see what all we would have to worry about in terms of additional 4wd systems that may cause issues in using the xterra pcm. I do not believe I will be able to use the transaxle donor car pcm as the Altima's & Maxima's in question use the vg30, not the vg33. From my research people have swapped the vg33 into maximas, so I believe it is possible. I have also heard of people upgrading their vg30s to the vg33, however it appears there are a few critical things in the way of the upgraded vg30 actually being called a vg33.
Oh, and I found this link while surfing for information to help alleviate my mother's stress of the car being "unsafe." It's a great read; https://www.fierofocus.com/...0Crash%20Results.htm
Apparently the Fiero was the safest car ever tested without airbags.[This message has been edited by Saggy (edited 06-05-2023).]
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Patrick
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JUN 05, 10:55 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Saggy:
I had been partially undecided on whether to use an auto or manual, and it sounds like manual is my best bet. I was leaning that way anyways, but was a little spooked of the prospect of a money shift, or smoking the clutch trying to spin the tires.
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... 
If a person drives like an idiot, an automatic transmission is not going to save their bacon. 
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Saggy
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JUN 06, 09:23 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by Patrick:
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If a person drives like an idiot, an automatic transmission is not going to save their bacon.
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That's true, however, there's a higher range of acceptable stupidity/neglect for an automatic. You don't have to stress about much, they're pretty hands off. Stick can be a bit of a nuisance, especially on longer drives, or city driving.[This message has been edited by Saggy (edited 06-06-2023).]
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