I've been planning an engine swap since I bought the car in 1990, but I don't have pockets deep enough to warrant replacing an engine before it's worn out. Although, my 2.8L still ran strong at 160,000km (100,000 miles) it need some work, and I decided to swap in a hi-po 3.4L roller cam engine.

The engine went to the machine shop in late June. July/Aug been spent getting my parts together. My cars been on blocks 4 weeks now - allowing time to clean up and prepare all parts being reused. (cradle, manifolds, brackets, elec parts, harness etc) Pictures will follow.

Here's the goods going in:

Engine
96/97? FWD (van) 3.4L V6 bored .020" over
3.4L DOHC pistons Federal Mogul H684CP
- similar to Silvolite PN# 3409 http://www.kb-silvolite.com/slvpg79.htm
Stock rods - polished, resized & shot-peened
Ported heads w/new guides & seals
Si SS valves (Fiero Store) http://www.fierostore.com/pegasus/index.html
Stock GM roller cam w/roller lifters – no aftermarket available
New GM timing chain and gear set – no aftermarket available
Comp Cams 1.6 ratio roller tip rockers PN# 1414-12 http://www.compcams.com/catalog/283.html
Custom length pushrods
Engine assembly balanced
Stock 2.8L flywheel refaced and zero balanced
Stock 2.8L harmonic balancer zero balanced
New under-drive pulley (Fiero Store)
Fel-Pro 3.4L engine gasket kit
New EGR valve - GM PN# 17110831
Hypertech Stage II performance chip http://www.hypertech-inc.com/
- looking at getting custom FASTchip http://www.fastchip.com
160 thermostat - Motorad PN# 211-160
Engine "long block" painted (BLACK) - Mar-Hyde Universal Black 8560 http://www.marhyde.com/
New water pump - TRW/Carter PN# FP1843 http://www.trw.com/products/automotive/automotive_main.asp

Intake/Fuel System
K&N air filter - PN# E-0890 http://www.knfilters.com/airfiltr.htm
Bored throttle body (55mm) - RS Motorsports http://webhome.idirect.com/~rsm1/
Ported intake manifolds – matched to O/S throttle body and gaskets
Fel-Pro Fiero intake gasket set PN# MS 93020
AC Delco V8 fuel pump - EP381 PN# 25163473 http://www.acdelco.com/parts/1600_set.htm
AC Delco fuel pump strainer - TS-1 PN# 25055455
AC Delco 3.4L DOHC injectors - PN# 17090849
Holley adjustable fuel pressure regulator - PN# 512-501 http://www.weiand.com/HiOctn/ProdLine/Products/FMS/FMSFP/512-501.html

Ignition
Stock distributor w/new pickup coil installed
New dist/coil harness (Fiero Store)
Wells Professional cap & rotor (RED) PN# DR-2012G
Taylor Spiro-Pro spark plug wires (RED) PN# 74224 http://www.taylorvertex.com/spark.html#spiro
Holley ignition coil (RED) PN# 820-214 http://www.weiand.com/HiOctn/ProdLine/Products/IS/ISLSC/820-214.html
Torque Master spark plugs http://www.torquemaster.com/

Engine Electrical
New starter
Rebuild kit installed for alternator (110amp)
Some sensors and connectors replaced
Engine harness cleaned up & re-loomed

Exhaust System
FOCOA headers - Jet-Hot coated http://www.fieroowners.com/
Fel-Pro exhaust header gaskets - PN# 1449
Stainless Steel Super-Flow catalytic convertor - CarLine Muffler
BORLA Stainless Steel exhaust system w/tips http://www.fieroparts.com/

Transmission - Stock Getrag 5-speed
New axle seals - GM
Center-Force Dual-Friction clutch w/pressure plate http://cyber.virtualrep.com/centerforce/centerforceyear.tpl
New clutch release bearing - GM
Red Line MTL Synthetic transmission fluid http://www.redlineoil.com/prod_frameset.htm

Miscellaneous
Engine cradle cleaned and repainted (BLACK) - Mar-Hyde Universal Black 8560
Plenum and valve covers repainted (RED) - Dupli-Color Chrysler Industrial Red DE-1632
Intake manifolds clear-coated - Dupli-Color Clear DE-1636 http://www.duplicolor.com/engine.htm
All engine brackets repainted (BLACK) - Mar-Hyde Universal Black 8560
New Prothane Poly cradle bushings PN# 7-502 http://www.prothanesuspension.com/
All new radiator and heater hoses
New strut bolts w/nuts - GM
New cradle bolts - GM

Sites where I found useful information on building up a 3.4L engine.

3.4L Fiero engine buildup (Freddy Clark) http://www.angelfire.com/on/freddysplace/
3.4L S-15 engine buildup http://www.s-series.org/htm/windstorm/project-windstorm.htm
What's involved using Camaro 3.4L http://www.angelfire.com/on/fierofactory/start.html#34
Fiero 60 degree V6 mods http://www.users.uswest.net/~racing2win/mild2wld.htm
Intelligent mods - what to do, what to avoid http://www.sdsefi.com/techmods.htm
Rebuilding a 60 degree V6 - bores/displacements http://hometown.aol.com/gpxss/rebuild/rebuild.html
Norris Racing 60 degree V6 performance products http://www.norrisracingtech.com/home.html
WhiteHorse perfomance engines http://www.kitcar.com/whitehorse/

fierosound www.geocities.com/fierosound

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 10-01-2000).]

Mah Gawd! Sounds like it's gonna be a killer!
Best of luck. Please keep us posted.

------------------
Raydar
88 Formula T-Top
88 Coupe (ISO big V-6)

Out of my mind.
Back in five minutes.

Sweet

Thanks for some of the part numbers and stuff. Looks like you did your home work. My engine should be arriving in a few days.

Still trying to find some one who knows a bit about the miller woods turbo setup. Cant find ant info as to what settings the turbines are set at.

Let us know how things are going.

------------------
86 SE V6 Auto Turbo
86 2M4 5sp (Beater)

IRM originally was a supplier of the Miller-Woods turbo seup. If you go to the website below you will see it. You may have to phone or email IRM for the information you need.
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Lane/1588/quick16.JPG

IRM Inc.
(International Research Motorsports Inc.)
18100 Cashell Road
Rockville, MD 20853
Ph. (800) 367-8423

Whooo Hoooo Thats the pig...(um Turbo).
Thanks for the tip. I'll give em a call in the morning.
Thanks

------------------
86 SE V6 Auto Turbo
86 2M4 5sp (Beater)

Good! That looks exactly like my 3.4 recipie except that I used Ed's reman Camaro 3.4 & 2.8 injectors. Currently looking if I need bigger. I did all the cleaning and painting too. Time consuming but worth it. Did you replaced the mounts?? I recomend you to do it at this time. Lot easier and not that expensive. Good luck on reinstall

I bet it took forever to get those FOCOA headers. I e-mailed FOCOA and got no response from them. I asked a fiero owner who had FOCOA headers how long it took him to get his and he said it took six months; he had trouble getting responses from them too. I wish they were easier to get because those are some of the best headers I have seen for the fiero.

I am building a 93 Camaro 3.4 motor with almost all of the same parts as you are using and would like you to answer some questions for me if you could.
1, what is the compression ratio of those Federal Mogul H684CP pistons? I want something around 9.5-10 compression. Do you know the cc volume of the cast iron fiero head/3.4Camaro head? If so I can figure out the compression ratio.

2, What fuel injectors are you using and how do you have it set up?

Thanks in advance.

88

I bought the FOCOA headers (jet-hot coated) from a Fiero store in Canada and had them in about 5 weeks.

The Federal Mogul H684CP pistons are supposed to give you around 9.7 C.R.
The Fiero head's combustion chamber volume is 51cc.

I have a bored throttle body (55mm), ported manifolds and heads. To match the increased airflow capacity, I'm using 3.4L DOHC injectors because they can flow 20% more fuel than injectors for the regular 3.4L.

With the V8 fuel pump and adjustable fuel pressure regulator, I won't have any of the problems resulting from an inadaquate fuel supply.

Not sure what you mean by "setup"...

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 09-03-2000).]

Fierosound, Can you give me the contact information for that fiero store in Canada? I would like to get those headers but I won't deal with FOCOA directly.

Did you use the 88 IROC 5.7-liter engine fuel pump?

By setup I meant fuel injectors + fuel pump + prom.

Thanks for the information.

88formula--If waiting time is your only complain with FOCOA, give them a chance. The owner had a stroke last fall and things have been slow since then. I spoke with his wife the other day. She said that she's still there but is very behind. If your problem started before then or you have other problems, please post them. I'd like to know before I become a member.

88

An IROC pump is very $$$. The one the I got is in most GM cars and trucks with the new hi-power V8s with fuel injection and vortech heads. It should have more than adaquate capacity. You may need more fuel if you're running NOS. The AC Delco guy checked it againt a new Fiero pump to make sure they were physically interchangeable, and they were!

I got the headers from Fiero Conversions. The Fiero Shop also has them, usually in stock, but their price was abit higher. Both stores are in Ontario. See the listing at this website:
http://www.geocities.com/calgaryfieros/stores.htm

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 09-04-2000).]

Labor day weekend is almost over, Is it done? What dyno numbers are coming out? Whats your time in the quarter mile? What about top end? What other inane questions can I ask?

Old Lar,

Keep thinking - you'll come up with more questions - I'm sure...

I guess I should have said "STARTING 3.4L install..."

The engine is sitting there complete - minus pushrods (and hence upper intakes) as the custom made rods will arrive Tuesday/Wednesday.

The engine IS NOT on the cradle connected to the transmission yet either. Thanks to a Loomis Courier strike in Canada, my CenterForce Dual-Friction clutch/pressure plate package never arrived at my retailer by Friday as expected.

So, it'll be this week when I finish...

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 09-04-2000).]

I admire anyone to take on a big project of the sort your doing. I farmed my swap out and its been about a year and its nearing completion. I know that I've just spent $ doing the swap, and once its done I won't be out there on the track seeing how much smoke I can get from the tires. You are spending the $ and the time. Will you be going out trying to break the Fiero land speed records?

Keep us all informed on your progress.

Old Lar, what kind of swap are you having done that is taking a whole year? This last year I yanked my 2.8 for a total rebuild and it only took nine weeks from the time I put it up on jackstands to the time I was backing it out of the garage. That nine weeks includes my full time job, boy scout meetings, little league practices and machine shop time. I just can't fathom forking out big bucks for a swap and then having it take a whole year unless it is a V8 or Northstar.

Fierosound, thanks for listing all of your parts. I am going to start building my 3.4L engine in the spring and that shopping list is a great start. I am shopping for a block, crank and flywheel now. I will build it on a stand and hopefully have it into my project kit car by summer.

I was in no hurry for the car since I have another Fiero to play with. Neither of my cars are a daily driver. Its a 3.4 crate engine (replacing a 3.1 with only 15K miles) plus a new t440 automatic, brake upgrades, bushings and anything else that is needed including some painting, GT window replacement. I don't drive the cars in the winter, so at best if I get it back in September I may drive it for only a month or so. When finished it will be a new 88GT. The suspension was replaced last year.

I have a saying at work: cost, quality, turn around time, pick any two. I want a highly reliable car, so I'll wait until Bob says its ready.

If you want a good deal on a 3.1, call fierobob.

Old Lar, sounds good. So it is obviously more than just an engine swap. Should be one fine car once done. I am doing the complete suspension thing on my project car now. Then the rebody, engine swap, and interior in that order. I may do the interior before the engine swap if I decide to put a super/turbo charger on the engine. I can see this taking me at least a year to finish. I too have another 86SE that I drive and play with.

old lar and/or fierobob,

how much money does a good deal on a 3.1 cost?

Im interested in it(I dont know if its your 3.1 your talking about or not).

if you have a lot of info on it then you can email me.

Still waiting on receipt of pushrods. Engine wiring harness is also on cradle now. Just need the pushrods to install the top portion of the engine (loosely installed for photo purposes here) - then get it back into the car. The wait is frustrating to say the least!!!

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 09-09-2000).]

WOW! I can't wait to hear how well it runs. I hope you are planning on taking the car to a Dyno shop and sharing with all of us future 3.4 owners your success.

Looks great,
Roy

WOW! That looks awesome!

------------------
1988 Fiero 3400DOHC

It's great looking but I don't think it'll run... it's way to clean, you're gonna need to throw some old oil and road dirt arround on it, get it nice and messy looking j/k that is a great sight man, excuse me while I drool on the monitor...

I didn't know you could get away with a swap to the newer design oil pan. Did you run into any problems with it?

the pics just dont do it justice.

Fierosound has done everything and everything right. the headers just look like monsters in real life.

Did the pushrods come today?

Murphy's Law strikes again!! The pushrods were shipped last Friday by "Priority Post" which means most customers receive their shipment in 2-3 days (if sent to a customer in the US). Crossing the border delays everything. It should have been Fed-Ex'd.

The engine cradle is now in the car - no use wasting a weekend. I will get everything else back in order ready to go. Once the pushrods arrive (probably Monday along with great AFTER-weekend weather), it'll only be a few hours to get up and running.

Thanks for the nice comments. I've been double and triple checking everything. I hope I don't have any problems once it's time to fire it up. Keep you all posted...

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 09-09-2000).]

Fierosound,

Just wanted to see where things were a with your 3.4 conversions?

------------------
86 SE V6 Auto Turbo Going 3.4 OHV
86 2M4 5sp (Beater)

Hi everyone...

Detail and photos at website below...
http://www.geocities.com/calgaryfieros/3400engine.htm

Still haven't fired it up yet...

Received pushrods on Tuesday (Sept 12). The pushrods are 3/8" diameter and didn't fit guideplates. Took guideplates in to have machined. Got them back on Saturday noon(Sept 17).

Finished installing top end and reconnecting everything on Sunday. I was filling engine with water, and have a massive leak. Looks to be between timing cover and block. Water is not going into oil pan. Not sure if timing cover has cracked or what. Will have to remove everything to check it out Monday evening.

It's getting close - hopeully not a serious problem. Will keep you posted...

Damn, that just makes me jelous!

Makes me want to hurry up and order my 3.4 so I can get my project on the way.....just need a couple more weeks yet...

------------------
'86 Special Edition,
High-Output V-6 Yellow Fiero
Special Rally Heavy Duty Suspention

Hi guys... water leak is solved. I had to block off a hole on the back of the timing cover that doesn't have a corresponding passage on the 3.4L block.

AC DELCO guys screwed up!!! The CORRECT PN for the fuel pump is EP381 #25163473. This is rated at 51PSI and is for V8 Vortech engined vehicles with fuel injection. I have also made this change in my parts listings above. The previous PN# is a LOW PRESSURE pump (20PSI) and will not work with the MFI fuel injection.

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 09-20-2000).]

Any chance you could post pics of where this dreaded hole is, and how one would go about blocking it off???

quote Originally posted by fierosound: Hi guys... water leak is solved. I had to block off a hole on the back of the timing cover that doesn't have a corresponding passage on the 3.4L block. AC DELCO guys screwed up!!! The CORRECT PN for the fuel pump is EP381 #25163473. This is rated at 51PSI and is for V8 Vortech engined vehicles with fuel injection. I have also made this change in my parts listings above. The previous PN# is a LOW PRESSURE pump (20PSI) and will not work with the MFI fuel injection. [This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 09-20-2000).]

DAM DAM DAM DAM DAM

TWO WEEKS AGO I INSTALLED THAT PUMP (THE WRONG ONE) NOW I EAT 55.00 BUCKS TELL YOUR
GUYS THANKS!

LATER

Fieroparts...

Sorry... If I had known I would have posted sooner. It's only when I tried firing up the car for the first time last night that I found out. Only had 20psi showing on the fuel pressure gauge, which I ALSO bought to check things out. Many apologies.

That other pump should work fine for a 4-cylinder Fiero, especially one that has a modded engine. TBI injection only requires a low pressure pump according to the Haynes Fiero manual.

PS - The BORLA exhaust system sounds MIGHTY SWEET - I love it!!! Just have to get a clutch problem solved before I can drive it.

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 09-21-2000).]

That engine looks really good! I've got a question about the headers though... it looks like the front header (nearest the rear window) will be really close to the base of the rear window and to the air cleaner cannister. Are you concerned about heating the intake air? Also, I've seen a few Fieros with heat damaged paint on the decklid... will the headers (and extra exhaust flow from the 3.4) create too much heat for the decklid? Again, I'm just looking at the pictures, so I could be way off...

The view in the picture is deceiving. Remember, these are still lower than the valve covers, and the intake are mounted higher yet. Now that it's in the car, the front side header is not even visible as it is barely higher than the stock manifold. It is also Jet-Hot ceramic coated inside/out, and this reportedly lowrs the amount of heat that radiated from the headers.

The 3.4L is in, the car is running well, performance right now is very good

The engine doesn't feel like it's labouring at all - runs easy - breathes easy. Torque is very good in all gears. I expect driveability and performance to improve as the engine gets broken in.

Had to buy a new MAP sensor to clear Codes 34 & 44 coming from ECM. Have no codes at all now. May still have to re-adjust timing (maybe valve rockers again). While car drives fine, engine idles rough and dies instantly on occasion while at red light So I still have some detective work to do.

BORLA exhaust sounds great to me - not too loud or harsh I had to get some "adjustments" done to the system at a muffler shop. The pipes were hitting in a couple spots, and tips didn't sit quite right. It's all fixed now

Things ARE starting to get exciting now!! With a little more fine tuning, this engine combo will KICK A$$...

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 09-25-2000).]

Kool...

Sounds like you have finally achieved your goal of improving engine performance. You sound excited...enjoy!

I'm interested in beefing my '87 GT possibly early next year due to a brief financial tough spot; How much total outlay do you have into this upgrade?

I'm told this 3.4l swap one of the easier swaps for the Fiero.(?) I know you have not had a lot of time to get 'intamate' with your new engine but...would you do it again now having done it?

Ozzy

What is the speed like? Could I keep up with a 5.0?

Ozzy - big $$$ because I bought alot of parts you don't "really need" (and I'm in Canada which makes most parts more expensive). You could "get by" without Borlas, headers, bored TB, V8 fuel pump, new starter etc. Get an estimate on a 3.4L rebuild with 3.4L DOHC pistons and new cam to get your estimate started.

JohnnyK - GET REAL!! The engine has less than 100 miles on it!! I hadn't planned to go drag racing the first day out!! Spend YOUR money and you can let me know how long your engine lasts...

I'll let you know in a couple months...

Fierosound, Congrats! Been following this thread for a while. Glad it's all together and running. Hope to do something similar, one day.

------------------
Raydar
88 Formula T-Top
88 Coupe (soon to receive transplant.)
88 "pretzeled" Formula

Out of my mind.
Back in five minutes.

CONGRATS MAN!!!! It's so cool to see someone complete a long term project!
Drive FAST, drive SAFE! You'll get that little bit of aggravation sorted out.