How about taking the $4k V8 swap car to the Fiero power fest if it ever takes place. This will show that is is possible to build a fast V8 Fiero for the same price, or less than any other engine swap / buildup.
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09:00 PM
Sep 25th, 2001
Archie Member
Posts: 9436 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 1999
Originally posted by jelly2m8: This one is more for Archie,
How about taking the $4k V8 swap car to the Fiero power fest if it ever takes place. This will show that is is possible to build a fast V8 Fiero for the same price, or less than any other engine swap / buildup.
For sure..... I put this engine into an '84 Pace Car. If someone doesn't buy it from me before hand, I'll be bringing it.
how easy is it to put a 350 into a fiero? can it be done in 3 month's? (i just go to school and sometimes work so i got plenty of time , so do you have to know a little about engines or is pretty self explained? i would like to do one but im thinking ill screw up my car
From the sounds of it, you won't want to attempt it on your own. SBC swaps take a lot of knowledge, it's not like changing a tire. I'm getting an LT1 put in my car within the next month or two with Archies Deluxe kit and I like to think I have a really good working knowledge of cars and am pretty mechanically inclined, but I am still leaving this project in the hands of the professionals. I will be stopping by the shop every now and then and helping them out so as I can learn as we go along. I hope that someday I will have the tools and know how to attempt an SBC swap all on my own on another Fiero, but for now, best left to the professionals that know what they're doing. My swap will take about 2 months to complete, but that's just because it'll take 3 weeks for the block to get machined and the rest is the swap itself.
------------------ Dan 1985 Silver GT
LT1 Coming Soon.....
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12:12 AM
artherd Member
Posts: 4159 From: Petaluma, CA. USA Registered: Apr 2001
If you can pull and re-install a Fiero's 2.8, and do the SAME to a corvette, then you'll do fine with Archie's Master Build kit.
He makes rocket science into backyard rocket science
Best! Ben.
quote
Originally posted by fieroburton: how easy is it to put a 350 into a fiero? can it be done in 3 month's? (i just go to school and sometimes work so i got plenty of time , so do you have to know a little about engines or is pretty self explained? i would like to do one but im thinking ill screw up my car
------------------ Ben Cannon 88 Formula, T-top, Metalic Red. "Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives" 88 Formula, Northstar, Silver, In-Progreess. -Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"
This was my first engine swap on any vehicle, I think If I could do it most anyone could that has access to a full toolbox. Just don't try and cut corners or you will regret it.
Jim 87 GT T-TOP V8 87 GT
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01:06 AM
Jan 26th, 2002
dennis_6 Member
Posts: 7196 From: between here and there Registered: Aug 2001
Well as you can guess we've already finished this swap. I've just been late telling you about it. The engine swap has been running and test driven a little bit. As I mentioned before this swap is being done to a 1984 Pace car. At this time we are just finishing up the restoration of the Indy and so the final finished pictures aren't available yet. We actually let this project sit off to the side for several months while we built several customer cars and my LT1 stinger project.
So, if you don't mind I'll take this project up where I had left off several months ago.
You'll recall that to try to stay to a low total cost and to compare a V-8 swap using a used engine to the V-6 swaps that advocate the use of a used engine, we were going to try to purchase as many parts at swap meets as we can. One example is this remote oil filter adapter that has to bolt up to the engine. New, these things cost about $24.00, I got this one for $10 at a swap meet.
When we put it on the engine it looks like this.
WE install the Flywheel that come with the V-8 kit.
Then the adapter plate
The Clutch
And one of the hoses on the remote oil filter adapter and the starter
Yeah, sure I know...... no one else doing 3.4 or 3.8 or OHV Caddie or NStar swaps will show you this kind of detail. And yeah, I know that some people will use pics like these to try to copy my stuff. But, I'm here to tell you that there is a lot more that goes into this than making some parts that a close to what you see here. There is a lot more thinking and planning and making the parts all work together than you might think when you just look at some pictures. I've even had people who have bought my kits try to copy them and fail.
I've always wondered about how to compensate for the extra 1/2" in adapter. Is that a "deep dish" Flywheel? I thought that there would be like a 1/2" adapter plate that goes from the flywheel to flywheel (this making sense?) But from what i can see, this appears to be a much better system. Am i completely off base, or for once did i look at a picture right?
-Karl
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10:43 PM
Feb 11th, 2002
My7Fieros Member
Posts: 3357 From: Germantown, TN Registered: Jun 2000
Originally posted by My7Fieros: Lookin' good. Are you having it painted and stickered like it was originally?
Yes, it's painted the original color and I have all new stripes to put on it. Still have to restore the wheels and I may use Mr. Mike's Indy seats in it.
I'd like to make it look as good as Haze's looks... that would be cool. Then all the purests would have a fit when they saw a SBC in an otherwise perfect Indy.
Archie
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07:57 AM
Philphine Member
Posts: 6136 From: louisville,ky. usa Registered: Feb 2000
(definately go for the Mr. Mikes' Lobster inset seats, they'll be awesome Even consider some similar looking white lace/diamond spoke wheels, but in a more modern 17" size (Triad?
Best! Ben.
quote
Originally posted by Archie: I'd like to make it look as good as Haze's looks... that would be cool. Then all the purests would have a fit when they saw a SBC in an otherwise perfect Indy.
------------------ Ben Cannon 88 Formula, T-top, Metalic Red. "Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives" 88 Formula, Northstar, Silver, In-Progreess. -Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"
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03:16 PM
May 2nd, 2002
KissMySSFiero Member
Posts: 5544 From: Tarpon Springs, FL USA Registered: Nov 2000
I am so jazzed to do my V8 swap! I fired-up the 350 on the engine stand to check out the condition of the donor before putting it in the patient (a blue 86 with cooked v6). Fire shot out of the exaust ports of the heads. That was fun! The rebuilt mini-starter, and the new performance HEI did their job. Need to solve my rusty cradle dilema.
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01:11 AM
GTDude Member
Posts: 9056 From: Keysville, Virginia, USA Registered: Nov 2001
HELL ARCHIE........you even got me thinking of putting a V8 in my 86GT. Been thinking of a 3800sc but I might be leaning toward a v8 swap now. Keep up the GREAT work!
Phil
------------------ GTDude 25 years GM experience
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07:46 AM
PFF
System Bot
May 20th, 2002
1986GTV8 Member
Posts: 1259 From: Orlando,FL,USA Registered: Mar 2002
Originally posted by Archie: We use Mufflers OR Cats. Not room enough for both Mufflers & Cats, Archie
Actually, they make combo units that are both a muffler and a cat all in one. Two of these in an in-line configuration works great. It is a little loud but there is plenty of room for a true dual exhaust with 'H' pipe using this set-up.
Here's hoping Archie has lots of pics of the swap still lying around and can tell us how the rest of the swap went.
------------------ --------------Forever In My Heart---------------- Jack Daniel Miller --- Dec. 29, 1925 - Oct. 14, 2002 Ruby Cantrell Miller - Jan. 20, 1932 - Aug. 31, 2002 It won't rain all the time. The Sky won't fall forever, And tho' the night seems long, Your tears won't fall forever.
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10:08 PM
Oct 22nd, 2002
1986GTV8 Member
Posts: 1259 From: Orlando,FL,USA Registered: Mar 2002
I look forward to the rest of this, I always like to watch you build.
I actually intend to do pretty much what you're doing as I build my N* since there seems to be a lack of pictures on the forum.
Unfortunately, my time span will probably be a lot like yours as some things I'm not going to show until I know they work, but there are some things that I'm working on now, like the engine build. As I get my parts accumulated, I'll start posting those pictures.
John Stricker
quote
Originally posted by Archie:
Yeah, sure I know...... no one else doing 3.4 or 3.8 or OHV Caddie or NStar swaps will show you this kind of detail.
Next installment coming soon.
Archie
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10:54 PM
Jan 11th, 2003
86fieroEarl Member
Posts: 2203 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jun 2002
We I can finally get back to this project. The V-8 swap was complete a long time ago, as you know this was being built on an 84 Indy Pace Car chassis. as part of the restoration of this car, we finally had time to send the car out for an expert paint job. I got the car back from paint yesterday and we will be doing final assy. on the body and then we will turn to the interior restoration.
More reports to follow.....stay tuned.
BTW, with all the other project cars we've been working on this car will not be one of the cars we take to the shows. As such, as soon as we get it put together, I'll be putting it up for sale.
Thank you
Archie
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12:16 PM
Jun 7th, 2003
1986GTV8 Member
Posts: 1259 From: Orlando,FL,USA Registered: Mar 2002
I've wanted to do a SBC swap into my 88 GT for a couple of years now, so I'm following this thread closely. I've got a '69 or '70 4 bolt main LT1 engine with the Corvette w style exhaust manifolds & the starter attached. Anybody know why you need a new $189 starter ? Does the original hit something ? It's pretty close to the block & tucked under the exhaust.
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12:42 PM
FieroGT87 Member
Posts: 3195 From: St. Louis, Mo, USA Registered: Jul 2001
More and more lately I've been thinking about going LT1 in the Fiero. I have to admit the thought of a 2700 lb car with about 350-400 hp is kinda exciting to think about.
I've got a 3.4 with Gen III heads and intake I was rebuilding to get about 280hp out of, but maybe, just maybe I may go V8.
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01:27 PM
Sep 2nd, 2003
1986GTV8 Member
Posts: 1259 From: Orlando,FL,USA Registered: Mar 2002
, so do you have to know a little about engines or is pretty self explained?
Need to solve my rusty cradle dilema.
