Northstar swap, Grin Reaper style (56k warning (Page 1/16)
motoracer838 FEB 13, 11:03 PM
Edit, if your coming to this thread for the first time, the first 3 pages are fubared... (Seems I have bad luck picking hosting sites... ) The text is just soo much Bla, Bla, Bla... At least on Page 4 I finally get back to work... And have new pics, if my luck with hosting sites continues, flikr will be next to "go down"...

Every swap starts with a teardown.


In my case it meant removing the 4.9 that I had previously installed. don't get me wrong the 4.9 made for a fun car, just too much of a daily driver, and to much like most every thing 'Ive owned for the last two decades.
The project starts with modifications to the subframe. I added a spreader bar making it a 1/16th of an inch oversized to put some preload on the cradle to help minimize the distortion that will happen when I add the new crossmember, then I cut out most of the old crossmember leaving a stub for the front trans mount, the engine mount and the exhaust hangers. At this time I also elongated the rear mount holes to move the trans mount as far to the left as was practical.


This left the mount bracket a little close to the subframe,so out comes the grinder for a little reshaping.
That's better.
The front mount, I have to say it again, Shawn your mounts rock!!!
The clearance here is good.
Here, not so good so I'll trim a notch and box it in.

That's all for tonight more pics in a couple of days.

When things go wrong,
don't follow them. Joe

[This message has been edited by motoracer838 (edited 05-22-2018).]

hatchetrider84 FEB 15, 09:12 PM
nice...im waitin on my tax return to buy my n*...

where did you get your mounts? and for how much $$$$?
is the front engine mount a straight bolt in?
will moving the trans mount effect the axles?

do you think welding the new cross member with the cradle installed on the car(working as a type of jig) would be better than preloading it?

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motoracer838 FEB 16, 04:53 PM

quote
Originally posted by hatchetrider84:

nice...im waitin on my tax return to buy my n*...

where did you get your mounts? and for how much $$$$?
is the front engine mount a straight bolt in?
will moving the trans mount effect the axles?

do you think welding the new cross member with the cradle installed on the car(working as a type of jig) would be better than preloading it?




The trans mounts are a part of the set that Shawn ( Purple Reign ) sells for the 3800 conversion, I'll be making my own set of mounts for the front. Pics will be coming as I continue the mock up process.

The trans was only moved about 5/8ths of an inch, the worst case, depending on how deep the tri lobe is in the cv joint will be to shorten the left axle by the same amount, there is enough meat on the axle to cut new groves for the clips and trim the axle a like amount. ( credit for this info goes to Russ 544 )

About the crossmember, I don' think that doing it in the car will help much, and it will just be a PITA to work on. I'll be welding in the crossmember tonight, I'd rather do it on the stands than crawlling under and in the car to get to it.

Joe
dratts FEB 17, 12:10 AM
Are you using the 4t65ehd transaxle?
motoracer838 FEB 17, 07:29 AM

quote
Originally posted by dratts:

Are you using the 4t65ehd transaxle?



I'm running a Getrag 5 speed.
KlingonFiero FEB 17, 09:13 AM
Hey Joe!

Is that a complete running 4.9 ? Quick, bring it too my house, we will install it this afte4rnoon

I am becoming rapidly jealous of your garage

The teardown is always the fun part!

Cradle work looks real nice so far too...
Christine FEB 18, 08:51 PM
Nice. Keep us posted on your progress. Soon we will all be able to go on a nice spring drive in our Fieros.
Will FEB 19, 09:23 AM

quote
Originally posted by motoracer838:

In my case it meant removing the 4.9 that I had previously installed. don't get me wrong the 4.9 made for a fun car, just too much of a daily driver, and to much like most every thing Iv'e owned for the last two decades.



The project starts with modifications to the subframe. I added a spreader bar making it a 1/16th of an inch oversized to put some preload on the cradle to help minimize the distortion that will happen when I add the new crossmember, then I cut out most of the old crossmember leaving a stub for the front trans mount, the engine mount and the exaust hangers. At this time I also elongated the rear mount holes to move the trans mount as far to the left as was practical.



It's good to see someone starting a Northstar swap... good luck to you.
However, whenever I see someone doing this, I always have to wonder why on earth people cut the old crossmember out before they weld the new one in?
I think at this point you should bolt the cradle into the car, weld the crossmember with the cradle in place and then remove it to install the engine.
WAWUZAT FEB 19, 02:52 PM

quote
Originally posted by Will:It's good to see someone starting a Northstar swap... good luck to you. However, whenever I see someone doing this, I always have to wonder why on earth people cut the old crossmember out before they weld the new one in? I think at this point you should bolt the cradle into the car, weld the crossmember with the cradle in place and then remove it to install the engine.



I've finally started dis-assembling my N* engine ... still removing gobs of stuff from the outside of the engine. Regarding how one tackles the cradle, I like the idea of tackwelding a temporary brace across the front while it's still in the car. Then I can do a bunch of cradle mods with it out of the car, and not worry about how it will fit later. I did that once before when I "straightened" the forward ends that used to point upwards ... did that when I raised the entire cradle & drivetrain to lower the car ... along with top-hats for coilovers.

I'll tackweld temp-braces again this time, but I won't start any cutting until I start pre-fitting the N* & 4T80E to the cradle.
Will FEB 19, 08:05 PM

quote
Originally posted by WAWUZAT:

I've finally started dis-assembling my N* engine ...



That's another expensive thing that people like to do.

Seems like you can't open one of these engines up and spend less than $1000.