I see discussion of this engine pop up on here fairly often.

I don't know anything about it. Someone please fill me in on why it is desirable.

Well, I may be going out on a limb here, but the Ecotec is GM's future. It is an all aluminum DOHC 4 cylinder engine that GM is using (or at least making available) almost across their entire line from the entry level compact cars to their newer "sports" cars like the Pontiac Solstice. The block weighs less than 70 lbs., perhaps one of its greatest features.

It has already been utilized in small bore drag racing with amazing results. Turbocharged versions have produced in excess of 1100 horsepower.

I spoke with one of the engineers at Shaver Specialties in Torrance who commented that the engine could easily produce over 300 hp in a naturally aspirated state (didn't specify the rpm, but probably high).

There have been some comments to the effect that this engine is the "new small block Chevy" For more info, see:
http://fuelcells.sae.org/automag/techbriefs/06-2002/

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FierOmar

The ecotec right now is a 2.2 or a 2.0 liter all aluminum motor. It responds very well to boost, and can run 265 horses on stock internals (at 275 horses all 4 conn rods break). There's a good bit of aftermarket parts for it. The 2.4 liter eco should be out very soon.

Fieroturbo is building a turbocharged Ecotec to put in his Fiero. You can find his build thread here.

[This message has been edited by Deabionni (edited 05-13-2005).]

Go test drive a Saturn Ion Redline with the supercharged Ecotec and see what you think. If you like throttle response it approaches a chainsaw.

quote Originally posted by sanderson: Go test drive a Saturn Ion Redline with the supercharged Ecotec and see what you think. If you like throttle response it approaches a chainsaw.

yah, i drove one of those, man, did I have Traction problems.... it pulled very well even from way down low in the rpms (like under 2k). i liked it. great little motor those ecotecs.

Cool, thanks for the info.

Besides the twin cams and super-low weight, what's the secret to how it makes so much power? Variable valve timing? Killer fuel management?

Sounds like a good engine for a fiero.

It set the land speed record in a Saturn Ion @ 212MPH for FWD with the stock block and head I believe, and it pushed 1200HP. Everything else was replaced inside, rods, pistons, crank, cams, etc etc. Its a really good engine for high horsepower and good gas milage. I'm currently in progress of building a turbo version for my Fiero that will push it into the 9's in the 1/4. Piston rods brake around 270HP and the crank brakes around 475HP - give or take a few HP. Its best used with an electronic transaxle, I'm giong to be using the 4t65-e with paddle shifters. The best thing about the engine is its weight, all aluminum so the block weighs 96lbs!!!!!!!!!!! I wouldn't get one at a salvage yard though! They will charge charge you WAY more then they should. The best place is ebay and find one with a seller that has tons of positive feedback!

I think this engine is way overrated for a Fiero. I mean it would be good to replace a Duke. Yeah they can do 300HP NA and 1000 HP turbocharged. Just like any other engine out there if you put the same anount of $$ that you will need to get those numbers out of the Ecotec. Honda people can get those HP too and have been doing it for longer time. Why not doing a Honda swap then? Get the idea? For an engine swap I would stay with the well documented ones we have which can provide very good power. Now, if you want to be different then yeah do an Ecotec

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Palm Beach Fieros
http://pbfieros.tripod.com

Yes... If you've got a *thick *wallet you can get over 1000 horsepower from a 2 liter ecotech engine

Here's a pretty good article on the engine in general...

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=5482

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1988 Fiero Coupe 2.5L
1990 Trans Am GTA 5.7L

[This message has been edited by Poncho Jim (edited 05-13-2005).]

quote Originally posted by Alex4mula: For an engine swap I would stay with the well documented ones we have which can provide very good power. Now, if you want to be different then yeah do an Ecotec

At some point someone had to be "different" and pioneer the not well-documented at the time V8 swap. Where would we be now without anyone pioneering new swaps?
This engine has great potential for the Fiero. Its significantly lighter than existing Fiero powerplants making for a near 50/50 weight balance and a very light car overall.
The only engines we have with a significant aftermarket are the 3800 and the SBC. Everything else is significantly more expensive to get the same power output simply because everything has to be custom built. Since the Ecotec has documented high HP builds it would be relatively inexpensive to get lots of power. We already have a good V6 platform (3800), and a V8 with a large aftermarket (SBC)... It'd be nice to get a 4cyl that is also capable of making a huge amount of power using available parts.
It isn't true that you can put the same amouint of money into any motor to get the 300 hp NA or 1000 HP with forced induction that the ecotec can make. I've never heard of any pushrod 60* making that much power, nor a duke (besides super duty).. no 300 hp NA Quad 4.. no 300 hp NA 3800.

[This message has been edited by Steven Snyder (edited 05-13-2005).]

quote Originally posted by Alex4mula: For an engine swap I would stay with the well documented ones we have which can provide very good power. Now, if you want to be different then yeah do an Ecotec

No doubt. 3800SC for me, all the way (maybe next summer). I just kept hearing about the ecotec and wondered what the appeal was.

I'm all for someone doing something different and interesting with their car, but I don't feel like working on mine for a year to do an engine swap. I'll take all the "been-there-done-that" data I can get.

Check out my swap page and feel free to email me for help. I took allot of picutres and will take more if needed to help you out. My car has been on the road for almost 2 weeks and is the hit of the town with the power I am producing. https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/049118.html We didnt really see any toruble work wise just cold weather wise and a few minor humps to cross. Rick B

Rborecky@mindspring.com

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President of Cleveland Fieros
www.clevelandfieros.com

[This message has been edited by Rborecky (edited 05-13-2005).]

I have an Ecotech engine in my Olds. It is ok and revs nicely to 6000 rpm with the stock hp.

Yes it is better than the Duke. No, it is not better than the 2.8.

Yes, it can be souped up with $$$.

Probably more expensive to get 300 hp than an sbc conversion.

Bad idea? no, it all depends on what you want.

Arn

quote Originally posted by Steven Snyder: It isn't true that you can put the same amouint of money into any motor to get the 300 hp NA or 1000 HP with forced induction that the ecotec can make. I've never heard of any pushrod 60* making that much power, nor a duke (besides super duty).. no 300 hp NA Quad 4.. no 300 hp NA 3800.

Ok. Show me the 300HP NA Ecotec and what was spent to get there. Also show me where the Fiero swap is documented. Don't get me wrong. I think a nice 300HP lightweight 4 cyl engine will rock if installed into a Fiero. And that just like the Honda engines, aftermarket parts are coming out because it is the competition to Honda. But I don't agree it is the next great thing happening to Fieros. Now if you tell me about the new FWD 5.3 V8 then now we are talking

quote Originally posted by Alex4mula: Ok. Show me the 300HP NA Ecotec and what was spent to get there. Also show me where the Fiero swap is documented. Don't get me wrong. I think a nice 300HP lightweight 4 cyl engine will rock if installed into a Fiero. And that just like the Honda engines, aftermarket parts are coming out because it is the competition to Honda. But I don't agree it is the next great thing happening to Fieros. Now if you tell me about the new FWD 5.3 V8 then now we are talking

I didn't say the Fiero swap was documented; but rather that it should be encouraged so it becomes documented, just as the V8 swap was in the past. However, Ecotec performance is getting done by the domestic sport compact guys, so information is available in the tuner mags and elsewhere for the powerlant itself, just not its installation in a fiero. Most of the information for the engine is for turbo/supercharger setups, as its cheaper and more streetable to take that route rather than building NA power (obviously more internal mods required with the later)..
I don't have a buildup for the 300hp Ecotec. I'll post one if I can find it (or if someone else has some info?). All of the articles I have on hand are for turbo/SC setups. I will certainly try to find details.

I wonder how the aftermarket for the new FWD V8 will pick up. From what I've heard it really doesn't share so much with the RWD SBC.. even the crankshaft is different! I guess we'll see what happens. That will be a pretty cool setup since its designed for FWD.

"Someone please fill me in on why it is desirable."

My grocery getter is a '97 Grand Am 2.4/auto. It revs easily and willing to 6,000. Gets 30 plus mpg at 70 mph. It's smooth. I assume the 2.2 Ecotech is an even better engine.

If I was contemplating the swap, my reason would be the Ecotech transmission. A new transmission shifts slick, feels precise, and still has factory parts available. The salvage yards don't have 2.8 Getrags salvaged from new cars anymore and I've heard parts are hard to get. A rebuilt 2.8 Getrag probably costs more than a fairly new 2.2 Ecotech 5-speed. A turbo 'ed 2.2 running 14 pounds boost would be fun.

How hard would it be to swap the 2.2 engine with it's transmission instead of making an adaptor plate and using the 2.8 Getrag?

quote Originally posted by pollock: I don't know anything about it. Someone please fill me in on why it is desirable.

Power Potential in a light compact package

quote Originally posted by westtexas: How hard would it be to swap the 2.2 engine with it's transmission instead of making an adaptor plate and using the 2.8 Getrag?

that's exactly the question I have

Let's face facts, at this stage in the game, you have to be looking at what to do for a transmission. The Fiero transmission options suck. Period. The automatics are dogs, so they are out. The manual options are better, but still use 20 year old tech, and 20 year old parts.

The Ecotec is a one stop swap with the entire drivetrain replaced. Parts are easy to come by and its more easily integrated with the existing electronics as required given its GM design.

It's light.

It revs. Nice in a car thats supposed to be sporty.

What would you need to do to use the transmission. Speaking out of my ass on this, I would assume you need to flip the differential in some way. Otherewise you would have 5 gears of reverse. Correct me if I'm wrong.

You're wrong. The Fiero engine/ trans came from a FWD setup, just put in the back. Same thing with the new stuff, just put it in the back.

GL

quote Originally posted by Alex4mula: I think this engine is way overrated for a Fiero. I mean it would be good to replace a Duke. Yeah they can do 300HP NA and 1000 HP turbocharged. Just like any other engine out there if you put the same anount of $$ that you will need to get those numbers out of the Ecotec. Honda people can get those HP too and have been doing it for longer time. Why not doing a Honda swap then? Get the idea? For an engine swap I would stay with the well documented ones we have which can provide very good power. Now, if you want to be different then yeah do an Ecotec

1984?

Hi there, big brother.

Why? Because we can. Why did people try to put 4.9's in or 3.8 or 3.4 or 350's. If every engine out there can get 300 NA Hp, hot damn, time nitrous the duke.

and further, wtf dude?

quote Originally posted by HellYes: 1984? Hi there, big brother. Why? Because we can. Why did people try to put 4.9's in or 3.8 or 3.4 or 350's. If every engine out there can get 300 NA Hp, hot damn, time nitrous the duke. and further, wtf dude?

He was stating his opinion, dude. He said that given the choice, *he* would do a sbc first. Then he went on to say that the ecotec would be cool if you wanted to do something different.

Relax.

Funk