I have a chance to pick up this engine relatively cheap. The guy who owns it seems to think it would be an easy swap. I have seen many posts to the contrary here but I have never been known to be smart. Is it as easy as the owner says? It is a sweet sounding engine.
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08:12 PM
PFF
System Bot
Raydar Member
Posts: 41113 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
I'm guessing that it will be at least as difficult as a FWD Northstar. (requires relocation of the front cradle crossmember, among other things.) In addition, I'm not sure that the Northstar, as installed in an XLR, even has the correct tranny bolt pattern.
It might be lots of things, but "easy" isn't likely one of them.
Sorry. Don't mean to whiz in your Cheerios.
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08:23 PM
17Car Member
Posts: 482 From: Morrisdale, PA Registered: Jun 2009
Getting the wiring and a computer + program to run it is probably the biggest problem. Not sure on the bell-housing issue. If the engine was from a manual car, theoretically its possible to graft in the whole harness from the donor car and use the stock PCM, but its gonna be very unhappy missing a bunch of things like ABS, ect. Doable, probably, easy or cheap, definitely not. If you do undertake the swap, be sure and make a build thread though
I'm guessing that it will be at least as difficult as a FWD Northstar. (requires relocation of the front cradle crossmember, among other things.) In addition, I'm not sure that the Northstar, as installed in an XLR, even has the correct tranny bolt pattern.
It might be lots of things, but "easy" isn't likely one of them.
Sorry. Don't mean to whiz in your Cheerios.
It's very easy, if you pay someone else to do all the work for you.
Thanks to everyone who posted. I am very happy with my 3800SC but I found an 88 GT with blown engine and went looking for something to swap and found the Northstar. If I do anything V8, it would likely be a Chevy 350 but I am leaning toward the 3800 or a late model 3900. Wife would probably whiz in my Cherrios if I bought the GT, though.
Thanks to everyone who posted. I am very happy with my 3800SC but I found an 88 GT with blown engine and went looking for something to swap and found the Northstar. If I do anything V8, it would likely be a Chevy 350 but I am leaning toward the 3800 or a late model 3900. Wife would probably whiz in my Cherrios if I bought the GT, though.
BTW, if that's actually the 4.4 Northstar, and not the 4.6, it is rated at 443 HP in the XLR-V. If it's not the supercharged LC3 though, then it's not a 4.4, and is just another 4.6.
BTW, if that's actually the 4.4 Northstar, and not the 4.6, it is rated at 443 HP in the XLR-V. If it's not the supercharged LC3 though, then it's not a 4.4, and is just another 4.6.
The engine is still in the XLR and the supercharger cover says "4.4" so I assume it is the higher powered one. I'd probably have to get the VIN # and look for identifiers that tell the tale. The price is very good and I find myself thinking of just buying it. I bought a lot of SBCs over the years and eventually found something to put them in. The Fiero seems a natural for the 4.4 engine.
Diablo, thanks for the link. With a programmed computer and harness all I'd have is "simple" mechanicals to worry about. (Understatement of the year) You guys are tempting me to take this further. If I do this swap, I am certain my Cheerios will taste very bad for the next few years.
[This message has been edited by starlightcoupe (edited 08-26-2011).]
The engine is still in the XLR and the supercharger cover says "4.4" so I assume it is the higher powered one. I'd probably have to get the VIN # and look for identifiers that tell the tale. The price is very good and I find myself thinking of just buying it. I bought a lot of SBCs over the years and eventually found something to put them in. The Fiero seems a natural for the 4.4 engine.
Diablo, thanks for the link. With a programmed computer and harness all I'd have is "simple" mechanicals to worry about. (Understatement of the year) You guys are tempting me to take this further. If I do this swap, I am certain my Cheerios will taste very bad for the next few years.
I hope this works out for you! There is a couple of these 4.4 Supercharged engines/drivetrains on Ebay right now. I would love to put one of these motors in my Diablo but I did about 10 minutes of research and decided Im going to wait and let someone else do this swap first. Good luck and keep us "well" informed should you decide to go with this swap....
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11:54 AM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
I have a chance to pick up this engine relatively cheap. The guy who owns it seems to think it would be an easy swap. I have seen many posts to the contrary here but I have never been known to be smart. Is it as easy as the owner says? It is a sweet sounding engine.
I think you may run into packaging constraints in a stock fiero. The decklid may have to be modified to accomodate the engine. Not only that, but being RWD puts a number of other issues in the works, including the location of the accessories, water manifold, etc.
The electrical could be easy or it could be hard. I would be tempted to contact a place like Tunercats to see if they can make it work stand alone. CHRFAB can, but you'll be spending $2000 on an ECU and then spending hundreds of hours tuning it (or paying $omeone to do it for you)
If you have money to burn, go for it. You will not swap this engine in for less than $3000, and that is a shoe-string budget not including the engine or unexpected surprises.
------------------ Ryan - Northstar GT - 256RWHP / 258TQ - First Paddle shifted N* Fiero
"An election is coming. Universal peace is declared and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry." - T.S. Eliot
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02:36 PM
starlightcoupe Member
Posts: 1767 From: Third World Country, OR Registered: Oct 2009
Seeing that engine in a Fiero and hearing the exhaust roar while playing "Born to Be Wild" on the stereo and getting to 90mph in mere seconds is priceless but the reality is that I don't have money or time to spend on it. I have the dough but life prioritizes my spending My 3800SC/4T65eHD combo is very nice and I like it a lot but....
My Born to be Wild side just ran into my Practical Pig side. OTOH, if I could get a harness, a programmed ECM or even schematics for the swap, I am sure I could do it myself but I think a 3900 is in the newer Fiero's future.
Thanks for the info.
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05:35 PM
buildamonster Member
Posts: 196 From: greenfield,in Registered: Nov 2005
That will be a great engine in a fiero. I don't know for shure but expect there to be several pulley and ther upgrades for the supercharger. Should be a fast car. Do your self a favor and use a modern automatic that can hold the power. Do not use a stock fiero transmission regardless of what anyone tells you. I would suggest a built up fwd northstar tranmission but not an expert.
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05:59 PM
dratts Member
Posts: 8373 From: Coeur d' alene Idaho USA Registered: Apr 2001
