I sent you a PM on another subject ...

However, I took a bunch of pictures as we worked out the details of mounting the starter. I'll put together some instructions for people getting ready to do 4.9 swaps to show them how to avoid hacking up a good transmission.

I mean, it's bad enough to waste a good Fiero putting a 4.9 in it......... but it's even worse, when you hack up a perfectly good Fiero transmission too.

It's just hard for me to believe that 4.9 stick shift swaps have been around for several years & no one ever addressed this starter deal. No one ever thought "hey there has to be a better way".

Archie

Using a ministarter to avoid trimming the tranny bellhousing is part of BubbaJoe's instructions on his website. See item # 10 on the parts page:http://members.fortunecity.com/bubbajoexx/id14.htm.
"10 after market mini starter for gm front drive 2.8 V6 (CSI OLDS 142 tooth high torque starter)"

However, if you want to save some $$, you can just reuse the starter that came with the 4.X engine and trim the bell housing.
http://members.fortunecity.com/bubbajoexx/id17.htm.
Here is the second to last comment on the page:
"For those who do not want to spend the high dollar on the 119m mini starter you can clearance the bell housing to clear the stock Caddy starter without any adverse effects as to its strength I have done so on many without breakage."

This has been a choice to make on the 4.X series swaps for several years. It was around when I did my 4.5 conversion close to 4 years ago.

Now cutting on a brand new 6 speed is entirely different than cutting on a tranny that can be replaced for about the cost of the starter needed to avoid cutting.

Not that I am a 4.9 cadi fan...... but 4.9 swaps don't require "hacking" into the wheel well on the Fiero.

quote Originally posted by Archie: I mean, it's bad enough to waste a good Fiero putting a 4.9 in it......... but it's even worse, when you hack up a perfectly good Fiero transmission too.

LOL.....

Funny....somebody at work the other day asked me "Why are you wasting a good Cadillac 4.9 putting it into a Fiero?"

Keep up the good work Archie....thanks for taking the time to keep us updated.

[This message has been edited by Frizlefrak (edited 03-06-2006).]

Wow, that's good to hear, I'd hate to think that I'm the only one who just didn't like that hole in the transmission case.

The Fiero transmission is cast aluminium & cutting a hole in it with a saws-all can't help but to leave stress risers which will turn into cracks sooner or later.

Archie

[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 03-06-2006).]

-Rick

[This message has been edited by GT (edited 03-06-2006).]

Well that does look a lot better than the one I saw. The smoothing of the edges should keep the stress risers to a minimum.

I wonder, does the clutch slip when driving in heavy rain or snow?

Archie

Yuck, I would never allow that!

Have the rotors and bearings arrived?

Thanks,
Lou

Don't know yet, the engine's going in on Saturday. I want to build a little sheild to try to keep the elements out.

I wanted to say something here. I've always been one of those guys that said that I would never buy an Archie kit because you have to cut the hole for the water pump. My first swap back in '98 was a five speed 3800SC. I wanted a V8 but I didn't want to cut the chassis. So I built the 3800SC. It ran great but still sounded like a six cylinder. Now over the last year I've built a Caddy V8 for the same reason... didn't want to cut the chassis. I've spent over six grand trying to eeek out 300hp in my 4.9 and I'm not even sure it's going to do it. Had I bought an Archie kit I could have had a small block Chevy with aluminum heads and a cam with GOBS of aftermarket parts available for about the same price. I found out in the process of my current swap that there are folks who have thought of creative ways around the chassis cutting like remote water pumps and modifying four cylinder and 3.4TDC water pumps to make it all fit. The only REAL advantage to the 4.x is that it weighs the same as the 2.8.

So what I'm saying is even though I'm proud and happy with what I've built, it sure would have been a LOT easier and I'd have a LOT more power with the Archie kit... There are ways around the water pump frame cutting.

Thanks for all you do Archie and staff.

------------------
-Rick Stewart
85GT 5.0CaddyV8/Getrag 5-spd in progress...
www.V8Fiero.com

[This message has been edited by GT (edited 03-07-2006).]

Not to mention, you're not actually cutting the frame, but only the sheet metal inner fender liner.
My biggest concern with the remote water pump would be noise. I'd love to see someone mass produce an adapter to use an offset belt driven pump so no cutting of any kind is involved.

I'd also like to see a comparison of the LS1 and LS4 swap. How much room do you actually save with the LS4? No adapter plate required, and the engine is designed to be shorter than an LS1, plus is uses an offset water pump from the factory. Hmm, which also asks the question: will the LS4 accessory belt setup fit on an LS1.

One of these days I will do an Archie Kit. No doubt an SBC can make more power more easily than the most elaborate 4.9 build-up. I put my junkyard 4.9 in because I wanted cheap V8 power. If I were building up a V8 engine from scratch I would choose the SBC any day.

Right, exactly. I typed the wrong word. My problem was not so much the cutting, but having part of the engine sticking out so close to the wheel. I'm sure it's not an issue mechanically but it just bugs me. Just like having to cut the tranny bell housing, or having to cut the sheet metal to get my rear cradle bolt out (the bolt head broke off so I couldn't even turn the bolt). But, sometimes ya just gotta cut.

-Rick

The LS1 powered 6 speed PFF Roadster fired up for the 1st time today.

1st drive = Tomorrow ? !

Pictures in the late news tonight.

Archie

------------------

I like the way that sounds!

I don't know how to do audio clips................ how about this.........

VaaaaaaaRooooooommmm, VaaaaaaaRooooooommmm, VaaaaaaaRooooooommmm, Blub, Blub

A

You can use the PC recorder and make a wav file. Then upload it to http://www.putfile.com
Cant wait to see it in Daytona.

------------------
Well growing up in the 70s and 80s I love the sound of a nice running V8.
Click here to hear Jakes-V8-audio

ROTFLMAO !!!!!!!!!

Jack

Well...... ok.

These pictures were taken yesterday.

The guys built a beautiful exhaust system for the car today.

Everything is looking good.

We will make the 1st drive with a 6-SPEED transmission tomorrow. Then by Monday it will be on the test drive routine as weather permits. We've got to get some miles on it before heading to Daytona 2 weeks from today.

Archie

P.S. What's the interior look like ?

[This message has been edited by PaulJK (edited 03-09-2006).]

------------------
Patrick W. Heinske -- LZeitgeist@aol.com
1988 Red Fiero Formula Convertible
*Desktop Photo Here*

"test drive routine"

'Yeah, the pay at this job stinks, but the fringe benefits are AWESOME!'

Still have a little work to do to it but we did turn the 1st wheel on it today. It seems to run thru the gears pretty good & IT'S A SIX SPEED. (yeah I'm happy)

Didn't get time to take any pics of the Roadster today because we immediately went to work finishing up 6 speed swap #2. It will be test driven early tomorrow with the idea that it may be going home Saturday.

It's a burden but someone has to test drive these things.

Archie

------------------
HARDCORE SBC CRONIE AND PROUD OF IT ! GOT TQ ?

This is a Roadster, I live near Chicago, today's temp was about 42*, it was rainy & wet most of the day, the Wind-Chill in a Roadster on a cold rainy day at 60mph is about -197. or more

The data acquisition part of the test driving will have to hold off for a few days.

Archie

Do please have someone take pics while you're "rolling." We all would love to see that.

If you're really anxious for some cold (bad pun) data, I think you could convince me to come up there and do a little testing, regardless of the weather...

I made up a spreadsheet to see what the MPH would come out to compared to the 4 speed I was running. I am only runing the stock tires (24.2 inch dia) and I think Archie's tires are a little taller. But at 2100 RPM = 68.4 MPH, 3000 RPM = 97.7, and 4000 MPH = 130.3. I hope to get my MPG up around 30 to 32 if I can keep my foot out of it.

Jack

[This message has been edited by engine man (edited 03-10-2006).]

I thought I'd post a picture of the 1st person to actually drive a 6 speed Fiero, this would be Rob.

He's posing with the 2nd 6 speed Fiero, the 1st 6 speed Fiero is in the background.

Archie

I haven't been a huge fan of the looks of this car overall, but i do have to say you did an awesome job on this car Archie.

Very, very nice looking. I'm sure you are going to be getting looks all the way to Daytona and back.

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