I have a ? for you people you have done an engine swap.

What is the general cost for a no holding back job?

I was interested in the 3.8 series II SC engine with an ignition upgrade (MSD?) a new pulley for more boost, maybe a cam and head porting with full exhaust?

I was curious what things like that run cost wise and what it might run in the 1/4?

If my GT turns out to be a 5spd and the clutcch can hold it I will leave it be, if its an auto I would also like a big tranny cooler, and torque convertor with a heavy duty build to hold the power.

I would also like to get new springs, struts, sway bars and poly bushings put in to tighten the suspension.

Any thoughts on this?

The way I feel right now I am going to try and get two. One to make in MINT shape if its not already to drive for fun, and one to make in MINT shape with serious power to drive for more fun.

You have dangerously worded your question.

No holds barred you could spend $40 000 plus. But for a decent job considering that you’ll be doing the work yourself you could do a very nice job with suspension and some other miscellaneous upgrades for just over 10 000 (depending on luck and skill).

Do a search here for the type of swap you were thinking of, there is a lot of info, just don’t expect the info to come to you (you must search and research).

Aaron

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I live in an apt right now so the work will not be done by me, or not much of it.

10k, maybe I should consider a 2.8l with head work, cam, and a nice turbo?

well am planning on starting my own 3800sc swap, and i dont plan on it costing me near 10grand. I am doing the work myself and getting a salvaged engine, so maybe by "no holds barred" you mean crate engine, ect. I hope to be able to do it in under 4 grand. If im not mistaken, i believe west coast fiero's will do the entire swap for something like 7 grand, so if you do the work yourself, you should be well under 10 grand, even with the suspension.

[This message has been edited by Kswiss (edited 10-27-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Kswiss (edited 10-27-2003).]

Insufficient data to answer your question.

1) what are your expectations? A smooth running daily driver or a "Drag Strip Dragon" ??

2) Are you going to do the work? or have others do it? (you answered this in a reply. The difference can be as much as 50% of cost!!)

3) New engine? Used engine? If used then will it be rebuilt? Intake? Fuel? Exhaust? Cam? "stock" or "built" ??

These all play into it. Some have done swaps with some real luck and charity and completed them in < $2000 to 'running, but not perfect' condition with 'spruce up' later.

Some have done engine swaps and conversions for maybe more $, maybe less $ -- but some conversions I've seen I wouldn't even RIDE in - the workmanship that ... "sloppy".

Depending on Engine, place to work, other factors, 3800SC may not be the best swap for what you want, a SBC might be ... depending on the cost of parts and motor. Then there are the Caddy V-8's ... IF you get a cheap wrecked caddy these can be VERY inexpensive!

What are YOUR expectations??

Call up www.twinlakesfiero.com and ask Bob. Bob does many 3800 swaps, but depending on engine cost, you are looking at $$$$. I can't estimate Bob's cost.

You'll need to upgrade brakes, a wise move.

Don Krause with his 3800SC Aldino was running a consistant 110 mph and 11 sec quarters at Milan Dragway.

[This message has been edited by Old Lar (edited 10-27-2003).]

Cost of the engine + $1000 for misc parts + cost of labor to install ($5000-10000) + cost of engine mods + cost to install engine mods.

Pretty close.

I have about $8000 in my swap now. This is with all the broken parts, and redos and rebuilds. My car is the fastest 3800 fiero to date ( I think), and i have done all the work myself.
www.fieroX.com

For your daily driver and the ocassional weekend autocross or 1/4 mile strip I would recommend you do a hipo rebuild of the 2.8L motor or go for the 3.4L conversion. You can get by modifying the 2.8L motor to about +160hp range for around $1,000 to $1,500. Any more horsepower would $2,000, depending how much you do it yourself.

On the other hand a 3.4L conversion will get you in the 180hp to 190hp range for about $2,000 to $3,000 depending how much you do yourself.

Here is my list of a very hipo 2.8L / 3.4L motor rebuild in progress. Hope that this helps you make your decision.
3.4L Conversion - 2003 / 2004
Item Description Part # Cost Vendor Comments
1. Powermax 2030 Camshaft and lifter kit 254122 $169.95 Summit Racing CRN-254122
2. Valve Springs 99848-12 $64.99 Summit Racing CRN-99848-12
3. Retainers 99915-12 $50.39 Summit Racing CRN-99915-12
4. Valve Stems Locks 99041-1 $9.50 Summit Racing CRN-99041-1
5. Pushrods 25621-12 $98.69 Summit Racing CRN-25621-12
6. Gold Race Rockers - 1.6 ratio 25759-12 $318.95 Summit Racing CRN-25759-12
7. Adj. Fuel Pressure Regulator - Holley 512-501 $83.95 Summit Racing HLY-512-501
8. 17 lb. Fuel Injectors - Accel 150617 $173.69 Summit Racing ACC-150617
9. Head Stud Bolt Kit 233-4003 $75.39 Summit Racing ARP-233-4003
10. Exhaust Insulating 11002 $56.70 Summit Racing THE-11002
11. Trans Cooler Frame Mount Kit 1003 $34.95 Summit Racing PRM-1003
12. Air / Fuel Ratio Meter 3375 $51.95 Summit Racing ATM-3375
13. Super Cam Lube 99003-1 $8.50 Summit Racing CRN-99003-1
14. Water Pump 130-1040 $34.89 NAPA
15. V6 Control Module 51052 $34.95 The Fiero Store
16. Fiero GT 3rd Brake Light Insert 50850 $12.95 The Fiero Store
17. Port Middle and Lower Plenum N/A $325.00 Darrell Morse
18. True Roller Double - Cloyes 220-9-3137 $94.99 Jegs 02209-3137 Chevy V6, 2.8L, 1980-91
19. Dist. Remanufacturer 30-1633 $112.99 Auto Zone Lifetime Warr.
20. Cap & Rotor DR2012G $13.95 Auto Zone
21. Fel-Pro Gasket Set E1S1100PT $67.27 City Motor Supply
22. V6 Racing Stainless Steel Valve Set Ext/Int 52875 $169.95 The Fiero Store
23. Silver/Gray "Fiero GT" Mats 50210A $79.95 The Fiero Store
24. 88 3.4L A/C Bracket N/A $28.00 Rodney Dickman
25. Oil Pressure Fitting N/A $3.00 Rodney Dickman
26. 3.4L Starter Jig Kit N/A $59.00 Rodney Dickman
27. Vac Lines N/A $79.00 Rodney Dickman
28. O-Ring Dist. N/A $3.00 Rodney Dickman
29. '88 V6 Poly Engine Mount $65.00 West Coast Fiero
30. Trans. Mount Poly Left $65.00 West Coast Fiero
31. Trans. Mount Poly Right $65.00 West Coast Fiero
32. Port Heads ? Est. $120
33. Heads - 3 angle job est. $120
34. 3.4L Short Block Assembly est. $772 City Motor Supply Remanufactured Short Block
35.






Parts already purchased and on the 2.8L motor 2001 - 2002
Item Description Part # Cost Vendor Comments
1. Oil Pump - High Volume M95HV $57.86 City Motor Supply Melling High Volume Oil Pump
2. Oil Pump Screen 95S3 $7.46 City Motor Supply
3. Fel-Pro Gasket Set E1S1100PT $66.24 City Motor Supply
4. Magnecore 8.5mm Spark Plug Wires 6538 $91.00 VSV Performance KV85 8.5 mm
5. TV Cable 10042208 $52.63 Buz Post Pontiac
6. 84-'88 Power Stat - 160 deg 52372 $16.95 The Fiero Store
7. 85-'88 176 deg Fan Switch 51408 $44.95 The Fiero Store
8. 85-'88 V6 Control Module 51052 $34.95 The Fiero Store
9. Ignition Coil - GM Baster 8226 $38.95 Summit Racing MSD-8226
10. EGR Valve Gasket 72554 $1.99 Auto Zone
11. EGR Valve Gasket 72554 $1.99 Auto Zone
12. Oxygen Sensor DEL-AFS20 $38.99 Dick's Auto Supply
13. Temp Sender STI TS168 $26.53 Dick's Auto Supply
14. Air Temp Sensor - Air Filter Canster STI-AX1 $32.99 Dick's Auto Supply
15. V6 Power Pulley Kit 52304 $79.95 The Fiero Store
16. V6 Adj. Fuel Pressure Regulator 52602 $79.95 The Fiero Store
17. '88 Front Upper Outlet Hose 52321 $9.39 The Fiero Store
18. '88 Front Lower Outlet Hose 52333 $9.39 The Fiero Store
19. '88 Rear Upper Outlet Hose 52350 $7.89 The Fiero Store
20. '88 Rear Lower Inlet Hose 52337 $12.95 The Fiero Store
21. '88 Inlet Intermediate Hose 52351 $10.95 The Fiero Store
22. V6/60 deg. Windage Tray N/A $15.99 e-bay
23. Bore V6 Throttle Body & Plenum - 57mm N/A $120.00 Darrell Morse TB Bored to 57mm

I have my swap planned for a Caddy 4.9. Right now I have the engine,ECU, Harness, and clutch parts lined up for around $800. (Yes I stole the engine, ecu, and Harness !) Plus looking at around $3k for install since Im just dropping it of and gonna write a check for the labor. so my total cost should be under 4k plus $500 for the car

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Just a side note on how inexpensive it CAN be if you have time, skill, place to work and patience:

quote Currently I have invested: 87 Fiero 400.00 Caddy Donor Car 400.00 Mounts, hoses, shifter cable ~100.00 Passkey module, shrink wrap solder etc, ~25.00 Axle 25.00 Grand Am brakes, Bonneville 2600 rpm stall converter, oil and trans cooler, auto shifter, 40' 00 gauge welding cable to relocate battery, fuel pump - Donated by friends or boss. I currently have less than 1000.00 invested and by the time I get the exhaust and alignment done and am rolling down the road, I hope to be under 1400.00.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/040323.html

I think he is overly optimistic and his total cost is still going to be over $2000, but Gene is definately "finding the options".

Tryxalon
That is very impressive. The topic is how much is it going to cost for a motor with 0 miles on it. Basicly, a total rebuild or a long block that has been remanufactured.

I'm doing a new Quad 4 (last of the crate engines from Mantapart) and will have about $3500 into it. Engine was $2000 plus shipping. Add another ~$400 if you don't build your own shift mechanism. I've done all the labor myself except final welding of stainless steel exhaust - $70.

Here's what it looks like:

quote Originally posted by Solo2: Tryxalon That is very impressive. The topic is how much is it going to cost for a motor with 0 miles on it. Basicly, a total rebuild or a long block that has been remanufactured.

quote What is the general cost for a no holding back job?

Not neccesarily semantically equal, but I understand where you got your impression.

For a '0 mile' conversion I agree that $8000 to $10000 is a reasonable expectation.

But at the other end -- I posted the example of the "low end" to illustrate that some do try to do it for "low or zero dollars".

Reality is, of course, somewhere between the two extremes!!