I found a clean Fiero in the dryer part of Oregon for a great price but of course, the engine is bad. I have always liked the 3300 engine we had in our Olds Cutlass Ciera--great mileage and a lot of power for a relatively heavy car. I found this one on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW...D4725197190179560579 and wondered the following:

Must I use an OBD I ECM? What tranny can I use with it? I heard that this engine is a smaller version of the 3800. True? I know the old adage that "You can put anythng into any car" but I'd prefer to do this as easily as possible. Would an L36 3800 be a better choice? A 3900?

I would want a new transmission to go with my new engine. I've had bad experiences with two well known suppliers of used trannys.(Morad and LKQ)

It's a small 3800. Stop over-complicating things.

quote Originally posted by starlightcoupe: Must I use an OBD I ECM? What tranny can I use with it? I heard that this engine is a smaller version of the 3800. True? I know the old adage that "You can put anythng into any car" but I'd prefer to do this as easily as possible. Would an L36 3800 be a better choice? A 3900? I would want a new transmission to go with my new engine. I've had bad experiences with two well known suppliers of used trannys.(Morad and LKQ)

From wikipedia:

"3300 (LG7)A smaller 3.3 L 3300 was introduced in 1989 and produced through 1993. It is effectively a lower-deck version of the 3800, with a smaller 3.7 in (93.98 mm) bore and 3.16 in (80.26 mm) stroke for 3,344 cc (204.1 cu in). Like the 3800, it used a cast iron block and heads, push rods, and hydraulic lifters. Unlike the 3800, however, it used a batch-fire injection system rather than sequential injection, as evidenced by the lack of a cam position sensor. It also did not have a balance shaft. Power output was 160 hp (120 kW) at 5200 rpm and 185 lb·ft (251 N·m) at 2000 rpm with a 5500 rpm redline."

Personally I would go with the L36 because it is more readily available.

The appeal of the engine was that it is new and I liked the combo of fuel economy and power. I know a 3800 would probably be a better engine but I am very tired of buying used engines, transmissions over the years that are not what the people say they are. $1200 for a new engine and even a comparable price for a new transmission seems much better than $700 for a used engine that "..ran when I pulled it..." or a $500 transmission that "...doesn't slip--solid shifts..." and later I discover that the thing slams into gear.

Thanks for the replies.

So buy a new / very low mile late model 3800. The 3300 was superseded for a reason, because the new engine is better in every way, and that includes power and economy.

Car-part.com shows several complete 40k mile engines in your area for $500.

I have to agree with OP, if he has the money to get a practically brand new motor, why go get a 500 dollar junkyard pull that might be more of a hassle than it needs to be. Like you said L67, don't over complicate things.

Ok, if you have the money to get a new motor, then go to ZZP performance and pick up an new 3800 crate motor. You even get to pick your own options such as different compression ratios.

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 12-07-2011).]

Go with the 3500...they r low mileage motors for cheap and swap is pretty straight forward. There r a ton of low mileage 3500s out there for cheap....

Before the naysayers beat you up, I am swapping a 3300 into my SE daily driver this winter behind a 282. Sinister is tuning it for me. I have done a lot of the leg work in forms of what you need so If you need any help, drop me a PM. I just like the engine and wanted something unique.

Edit: for spelling

[This message has been edited by katore8105 (edited 12-07-2011).]

Just wondering what PCM you are running it on

quote Originally posted by katore8105: Before the naysayers beat you up, I am swapping a 3300 into my SE daily driver this winter behind a 282. Sinister is tuning it for me. I have done a lot of the leg work in forms of what you need so If you need any help, drop me a PM. I just like the engine and wanted something unique. Edit: for spelling

quote Originally posted by secre7skw3rl: I have to agree with OP, if he has the money to get a practically brand new motor, why go get a 500 dollar junkyard pull that might be more of a hassle than it needs to be.

More hassle than it needs to be... What? We're talking about the 3800 engine, THE most reliable engine installed in the Fiero ever. I'm not suggesting he go buy a '96 engine for $500, the engine's on car-part.com I referenced were manufactured in '08, and are practically brand new. The statistical odds of something being wrong with an engine like that are next to none, and the engine will be under warranty in the off world chance something is. I'm suggesting he buy the better engine for $700 less, but hey, if you guys think that $700 is worth the piece of mind to buy an older less efficient engine..

Yeah, the 3300 is just a downsized 3800.

If you're just going to use a stock (or close to stock) engine, then IMO the 3800 would be a better choice.

I have a car with a 3800. I like the 3800. I don't like the transmission. The new 3300 on ebay was only $1200 complete from intake to pan. I asked what transmission would work with it, and what ECM I should use. I don't have unlimited funds but this seemed to be a good alternative and I know the engine will probably last beyond my advanced years.

I will look into the new 3800 that L67 mentioned, I appreciate Katore's kind offer to share info and all the other responses--Timm, as always, you were helpful and thanks to L67 as well. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.(it looks like night at 7:45am in Oregon)

The new 3800 has the same GM metric bellhousing that it's always had. You can mate the engine with every FWD transmission in existance. Use the better engine, mate it to whichever transmission you prefer.

Now if this crank is compatible with a L36...

(from an email I sent to my brother after reading this thread)

Did you consider a 91-93 3300 crank in your L36 Fiero? With 215 cid you could work some magic. If you have a BMEP of 174 (247 ft-lbs) at 2000 rpms and again at an 8500 rpm redline you would have 95 hp just off idle and 400 at peak. If you pull off a 188.5 BMEP (269 ft-lb) at 5000 rpm, you would have a L67 trumping 255 hp in the meat of your power curve. I hate to say it, but this is why honda builds engines the way they do. Spinning it up builds power quick. However, in this case you are doing it with a solid engine that has torque for off the line grunt.

The only questions I have are:
1. are the journal diameters compatible with the 3800?
2. is the crank as strong as a 3800's?
3. how many miles can you get out of a 8500 rpm pushrod v6?
4. how much will the custom rods inflate the price?

If unique is the goal, this might do the job!

What trans do u have? I see u mentioned slamming in gear so I am guessing the 65e...what other issues are you seeing? Might be a tune issue...

quote Originally posted by phonedawgz: Just wondering what PCM you are running it on

I believe it's the 8706. It came from the Donor Ciera. Can't remember off the top of my head. It's buried out in the shop atm.