I have had a project car now for a few years, this was my first project i have ever really got into (sorry guys im a nube). Anyways I swaped the original Duke out with a 2.8 engine from a beretta, only because i was cheap at the time. Well now i have spun a rod berring, rebuilt the engine and now i just cant seem to get it to run right again. So I had a bright idea after reading about the super duty thread and doing some research i have discovered that they are very hard to find and expensive when one does find them. As i was researching this the USAC Midgets were racing on tv and i thought to myself "they run off of a 4 cylinder lets put one of those engines in the car." im just trying to get a hold of this idea and gather information from everyone here. What do you think?

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I don't know much about the midget engines. My first guess is that they are no more than 1.5L. Have you found yet if they're very modifiable? You should be able to find some good midget enthusiast sites out there and some good forums. As far as I know, they're cult cars, just like our Fieros. People love 'em. I've never worked w/ midgets though I did restore a '75 Spitfire w/ my brother. I like those little roadsters

-Michael

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"A guy know's he's in love when he loses interest in his car for a few days." -Tim Allen

He who dies with the most toys... still dies.


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your confusing a MG midget with a USAC midget a USAC is a race car normally raced on dirt tracks. just a smaller version of a sprint car without the wing on top.
this 4 cylinder is cranking about 400HP

Looks like a Chev version of the Pontiac Super Duty 4
http://www.circletrack.com/...et_engine/index.html

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3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner &
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These engines are VERRRRRY expensive .........
Chevy 2.8 V6 are plentiful and cheap
You can build a good duke but you have to have the marine duke crank and adapt it ,use a 90 to 92 chevy S-10 block ,, the 88 s-10 block was superior .
the cheapest duke upgrade is to use a 90 to 92 duke with the ecm and wiring from the truck
there is a lot of info on this forum about 3.1 and 3.4 swaps just use the search feature at the upper right on the main tech page
if you are connected you can get one of the new racing 4 cylinders for $13,000,, makes the ecotech look like a good swap..
it cost about $4000.oo to build a good duke if you want 140horse power or more you have to go with the superduty engines and parts are available from the circle track racers..
If you want to run an engine hard you start with a balanced magnafuxed crankshaft and blueprint the rods, bearings ect..
Most young guys think CAM !! wrong ! only OK if you do not want to really build an engine..
check out ""Big bad duke "" on this page ,, lots of sites to go to for info on hi performance 4 cylinders

[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 03-28-2009).]

I realize that this is going to be an expensive build, but i am kind of looking for something new that hasnt really been done. Thats why everyone has 2 or more lol. one to drive and the other to get just right. I was just curious if anyone has attempted this project or not. and if so how hard was it

Go to Big bad duke just restarted on this page lots of info and sites to go to 6 pages

I don't want to offend, but if you don't have the skill or patience to keep a stock Fiero engine running properly you'll never be able to keep a pure race motor running well. Even if you could, a USAC midget engine would be totally unsuited for street use. I haven't been around one for years, but it used to be that the midget racers didn't even have starters, and their clutches were of the on-off variety.

Pontiac SD midget engines made the midget scene 15 or more years ago. Typically race in a band from 6K rpm to 8K. Because of the rules the cars are push started, have no clutch, run and in & out box (freewheel or direct drive). Probably are a few left around, used mechanical fuel injection (Hilborn), ran on methanol as high as 14:1 CR, 2.7-2.8L.

Dick

I actually used to race a midget back in the 80s and 90s, at the time some lower dollar guys (myself included) ran Chevy II motors or a Merc marine version which was 181 ci the stock motor was 151. The bottom end was alot beefier with a different stroke and the clylinder was a lot better using bigger valves. If someone tried that in a Fiero it MAY work. I do know the port spread is a little different than the Iron Duke head

I have 2 cars and i can keep up on both. I blew the original 2.5 and it was terminal cracked the cylinder wall about 2 inches down it. so i needed a cheap solution at the time and that is why the 2.8 went into it. I just havent been motivated whith the project car because it isnt really unique. Now i am just looking for something different. throught the research i have done a new built SD4 engine is about 12k from KRP, while on the other hand a built USAC Ford engine is running about 8k right now. They also dont run starters ect.. for the weight. And as far as the clutch goes thats all in the transmission and can be fabricated to work with a clutch and manual transmission.

[This message has been edited by FI3RO NUTZ (edited 03-29-2009).]

Actually the Super Duty was a USAC Midget engine.

You want a powerful, unique swap of a 4-cylinder engine? One that'll be easy to maintain once the swap is completed? Get the one Mitsu started installing in the Evo after they killed the 4G63T. It's still new, but has potential. And if you get the trans with it, you'll never break that trans.