I have never driven a 4 cylinder Fiero, although I just sold a V-6 one. How does the 4 cylinder compare in performance to the 2.8 liter V-6? I know its got to be less, but is it "doggie" or just a little less? Thanks.

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. . she is not to dream about, my friend, she IS the dream.

Well.. they dont call it the Iron Duke for nothing.. Its really pitiful. If you have the 4.10 gears its a tad bit more fun, but still not that comparable. Its similar to the performance of a 2.3 L Mustang lol..

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Custom Fiero 2M4 - 3800 Swap Coming Soon?....

"WOOF.... WOOF"

Ohh there shouldnt even be a comparison. My first car was a V6. Then the engine went in that so as I was saving up money for an engine swap I bought a fiero with a duke from my friend for cheap. But as soon as I got behind the wheel I started to miss that V6 punch that it gives you when you launch. As far as power it cant even come close in any way shape or form to the V6. But that is just my opinion.

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86' SE packing the 3.4L

Long Live BUCKEYE LIFE

I've owned 2 v-6 MT Fieros and one 4-cyl AT Fiero.

The 4-cyl really didn't feel underpowered. Certainly. it wasn't as fast as my v-6 cars, but the low end grunt the Duke puts out really made it a great daily driver. I can honestly say it was really fun to drive that car. Only car I've sold that I've regretted getting rid of afterwards.

I've never driven a 6, but my Duke-powered 86 zipped around nicely. I added a Borla 2" exhaust system and 0-60 took me 9 seconds.

i have never driven a 6 either. Just fours. I know the 4 cyl doesn't have the punch or power of a 6, but it's not shabby either. It's not like it crawls or is slow off the start. It's has some toruqe and some zip.

Doesn't deter me from the Fiero, thats for sure.

I would love a V8, in mine, but for now, the 4 will do just nicely.

My car does 0-30 in 3 seconds, and 30-60 in 9 seconds, if that gives you any idea

I've only driven my car, and I'd love to see how much faster the V6 car is, as well as how well the 88's suspension was improved.

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1984 Fiero SE

i have both... i find the duke isnt too bad... yes the v6 has more power but the duke really isnt that far behind... my 2.5 5spd fiero ran a 17.4 at St Thomas Drag way last summer.... many were impressed with my times... i was honestly expecting closer to the 19 sec mark all the reading i had done stated that would be my area

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Chris 85 Fiero SE 2.5L of fury
second one in the garage undergoing surgery
See the progress

http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=347941&page

[This message has been edited by 4BanGinFun (edited 01-28-2005).]

I drove my 2m4 off the showroom floor in Dec., '85, after the dealer told me that Pontiac didn't make '86 stick shift V6s. I really wanted more power, but couldn't part with my love of 4 or 5 speeds. All of these loooooong years, the only one thing that I haven't loved about my little girl is her lack of getty-up-and-go, especially up hills. But.....she's still a lot of fun!

It's all relative. I've never driven the six, but I'm sure you'll notice the difference. The car is not fast, won't break your tires loose and you won't outrun anyone other than some older minivans. After all, it only had 92 ponies when it was new. My wife's car has lots of power but I'd never trade her my duke for it. To me, it's the look, the feel, the legacy and peppiness at low speed. Recommed you look for a fiero with a six, or better, if you also want some power. And so not to end on a down note for the dukes out there. These are low maintainance reliable engines with city milage pushing 30 and easy (relative to the six) to work on.

quote Originally posted by Goldilox: I drove my 2m4 off the showroom floor in Dec., '85, after the dealer told me that Pontiac didn't make '86 stick shift V6s. I really wanted more power, but couldn't part with my love of 4 or 5 speeds. All of these loooooong years, the only one thing that I haven't loved about my little girl is her lack of getty-up-and-go, especially up hills. But.....she's still a lot of fun!

That dealer was apparently misinformed. The V6 always had a manual transmission option. The '85s and '86s had a 4spd manual option, the late 86's and the 87's and 88's had a 5spd manual options.

you know, some people on the forum are under the impression that a 4cyl is just as fast as a v6 model.. but, i wont say names..

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I was just wondering, how high can the 4 banger rev up to?

I believe redline is 5000 RPM. But I may be wrong

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Michigan Road Action

I drive both, 87 2.5 and an 87 2.8 as well as a 3.4.
Of course the V6 is stronger but I think the Duke is just as much fun to drive, just different. Mine runs strong if kept in the correct power band for the gear. You have to be careful not to lug the engine.
Gas mileage wise it,s killer.

I have a stock 4 with a centerforce clutch, and I can squawk the tires from first to second... but I am planning to upgrade to a six (3800) soon...

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crash... The Fierowrecker

Redline is 5000rpm, but it is pointless in revving it past 4500rpm. The duke is very slow even with a manual, my car takes 15 or so seconds to hit 60mph.

I've never driven a 4 cylinder but i can say that the difference between an auto and stick is suprising. i have an 85 GT auto and an 86 GT 5 speed. The most noticable thing is the take off. With the crappy high gear of the automatic anything can beat you off the line as i have found with just about every car on the road, by the time your power kicks in your too far behind. My manual however seemed almost like a whole different engine when i finally drove it. Obviously it could launch and light em up whenever i want but it just seem faster overall. I couldn't buy another automatic Fiero to tell you the truth. But it still handles better than anything else i've ever owned.

quote Originally posted by MiZer: you know, some people on the forum are under the impression that a 4cyl is just as fast as a v6 model.. but, i wont say names..

Then why say anything at all (again), especially if you are going to get it all wrong (again).

In many cases you will find that a well maintained 4 cyl in a comparable model to a 6 cyl (ie both 5 speed for example) you can get the 4 cyl to give you "similar" performance to a point. Read NOT exact. Yes you may have to push the 4 a bit harder, but again you are dealing with two less cylinders (though the 4 bangers cyl are much larger than the smaller 6 cylinders) the V6 having the two extra cylinders and so going from a 2.5 to a 2.8 will give you some extra take off and oomph and the tone from the output of a V6 is pretty darn sweet even stock. Add some nice exhaust tips on your 4 banger and you can also get a similar tone. Of course all of these suggestions about the 4 banger are to "add" something to the 4 or to push it a bit harder to get it to be similar to a 6 but I think you get the idea anyway. If you only have a 4 for now thats fine. There are many many 4 bangers out there, many that are owned by forum members that are even in this thread and you have seen them say they are happy with what it does. There are quite a few 4 bangers out there that win trophies too, and many are not just low mileage trailer queens either. If however you want what a V6 will give you then you will obviously have to get a V6. But if you have a 4 you can enjoy it just as much It is still Fiero afterall.
I think the best thing about the V6 engines other than they look more modern and current for many (no air cleaner etc.) is that there is a bit more available for them perfomance wise. However even for the Fiero owners who want true performance don't do it with the stock Fiero V6 but at least rebuild it to a 3.4 or even swap to a 3800 or V8. Obviously for many the V6 isn't much to brag about either. I have both V6 and 4 cyl models and I don't see a huge difference in performance but I do see a big difference in gas mileage. So I suppose to get that little extra performance from a V6 you have to sacrifice some gas mileage which isn't that big of deal either.
The bottom line is that the Fiero is a great car no matter what engine is in it. You can enjoy it on many levels, be it with a 4, 6, or what have you

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[This message has been edited by Fiero5 (edited 01-30-2005).]

How do you push it harder?

If both cars are racing, both are going to be at WOT, shifting either at redline or at the most optimal place. Also the shifts are going to be hard and fast, for both cars. This is racing. You can't just "go harder," you are already at the max. You can't just keep pressing the gas pedal, it does stop.

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1992 Lumina Z34 5-speed For Sale, modified(high 13s), or stock
14.78 @ 92.68
1992 Lumina Z34 5-speed
Stock, new crate engine and trannsmission
3.4L TDC V6, getting built to about 430hp at 8000rpm for a 88GT

I was always happy with the old Duke although it did take some spirited driving to get the best out of it, maybe that's why the clutch died. It was never going to be as fast as my other (modern) cars but it sure was a hell of a lot more fun. Now if I can just get the DOHC working

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Dave E

www.ltlfrari.com
Visit the NC Fieros website at TarheelFieros.org

quote Originally posted by AaronZ34: How do you push it harder? If both cars are racing, both are going to be at WOT, shifting either at redline or at the most optimal place. Also the shifts are going to be hard and fast, for both cars. This is racing. You can't just "go harder," you are already at the max. You can't just keep pressing the gas pedal, it does stop.

Was this specifically about racing? I hear what you are saying though and I didn't say the 4 could equal or beat a 6. Not all drivers are the same either. I guess if you are racing and you have a 4 cyl and are going up against a V6 and the V6 driver is more experienced then you are probably toast unless he/she makes a mistake or something.

quote Originally posted by Fastback 86: That dealer was apparently misinformed. The V6 always had a manual transmission option. The '85s and '86s had a 4spd manual option, the late 86's and the 87's and 88's had a 5spd manual options.

You're kiddding......I bought Goldilox from a dealership in Anaheim just about as soon as I walked in the door. I fell in love with her, but I DID ask to see manual V6s first. The dude said that there was no such thing that year. Guess I should've looked around, eh? Can't complain, though.....Goldi is still gorgeous.

I've been restoring my 85 Fiero with a 2.5/stick since I bought her early last year. She's only got 106 K kms (65 k Miles) and she seems to get out and go quite well.

I had a 1980 Chev Monza with a 2.5 and I LOVED it. I know it was carbed and didn't have cross flow heads and so on, so it as slightly different, but she was quick.

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Jay Brintnell
Owner / Design Lead - WordMark.ca Communications

quote Originally posted by Fiero5: Then why say anything at all (again), especially if you are going to get it all wrong (again).

why the personal attack steve, take it to PMs, dont try to show off infront of a crowd, you dont do it well.

They say don't go over 5000. I have to be careful when under wot. Mine starts to get into the power band over 4500 and gets real strong at 5000 and wants to keep on going! It is a dog, but fun to drive.

ill stick with my 4 banger any day of the week it gets good gas mileage and is fun with the 5 speed so it makes a good daily driver, plus every v6 fiero ive driven has had motor problems and ran like **** .. My v8 camaro is gonna be my toy foot stomper performance car.

My powerband starts at 4k and goes to 7k

quote Originally posted by Fiero5: However even for the Fiero owners who want true performance don't do it with the stock Fiero V6 but at least rebuild it to a 3.4 or even swap to a 3800 or V8.

...I want true performance! And I'm doing it with a 2.8, too! ...Pricey... lol. Check it out, I think that when I am done, you'll be impressed!

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/048946.html

Steve

My powerband starts at 0 and extends all the way to 0.

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My Web page | The Turbo Super Duty Build.

quote Originally posted by Standard: My powerband starts at 4k and goes to 7k

lol, your 4 banger is special

[This message has been edited by justa6 (edited 01-31-2005).]

I started out with the 4 cylinder with a 2.84 FD automatic in my 88 coupe. It didn't have enough power to pull Roseanne Barr out of a donut shop, and the gas mileage wasn't really any better than the 3.4 w/ 3.33 FD automatic that finally replaced it. I'm guessing that was because I had to drive it with my right foot flat on the floor just to keep up with Atlanta traffic.
Before I bought my coupe, I drove another 88 Duke with a 5 speed. It was way better than the automatic, but still wasn't going to give anyone whiplash.

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Raydar
88 3.4 coupe...........

Coming soon...
88 Formula, presently under the knife.
Read Nealz Nuze!

quote Originally posted by Fiero5: I guess if you are racing and you have a 4 cyl and are going up against a V6 and the V6 driver is more experienced then you are probably toast unless he/she makes a mistake or something.

even if the v6 driver isnt as experianced, he has to really screw up to lose to a duke

It's like night and day the difference.

I have both, and the 4 cylinder while fun from about 1 to 20 the fun runs out quickly. The 6 cylinder makes the Fiero into a whole different car. Remember the V6 has 40% more horespower and just a little bit extra weight, so almost all of that translates into thrust.

quote Originally posted by MiZer: why the personal attack steve, take it to PMs, dont try to show off infront of a crowd, you dont do it well.

So he's the one starting stuff with you?

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1988 Aero 88 coupe.. 2.8l v6.. more mods to come.
FieroNews.com - Photo Gallery - Fiero Links
I am the signature virus, please put me in your signature so I can spread

quote Originally posted by DotTC: So he's the one starting stuff with you?

so it would seem. but out schlomo.

I'd put the 4cyl (with a 4spd) as "snappy" but not terribly quick.

The high final drive gives it a big hand off the line, but it runs out of steam depressingly fast.

As a daily-driver, it's got plenty of passing power and around-town boot... But when you get right down to it, that pretty much describes the stock 2.8, too.

The 2.8 is similar behaved; good off the line, runs out of steam.

I'd personally rather ditch both of them, and put in something a little better suited to the car's looks...

quote Originally posted by MiZer: you know, some people on the forum are under the impression that a 4cyl is just as fast as a v6 model.. but, i wont say names..

Maybe you are referring to this thread?:
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum8/HTML/000034.html

scroll down to the post made by 88Fiero2M4 concerning the 4cyl Iron Duke:

quote Originally posted by 88Fiero2M4: Cut the Cat off, K&N filter, Remove the A/C belt, Comp Cam, and Roller Hydrolic Lifters. That will put you over the 140 hp mark and you will out run the stock V6 Fieros. Want to go faster yet. Put on the Holly Throttle body, Get the new Intake Manifold, and header, and Port and Polish. with all that you should find a little over 200 HP, After that it starts to get real expencive

people don't get more clueless than this

[This message has been edited by ditch (edited 01-31-2005).]

quote Originally posted by justa6: even if the v6 driver isnt as experianced, he has to really screw up to lose to a duke

I think I just said that