Ok guys I have a 86 as that I have as a doner car for my 88 project. Well my wife made a HUGE mistake. She told me if I don't go stupid crazy and keep the 88 somewhat stock ( supercharged 3800) I can go but wild with the 86.
Well I was digging around my brain talking to some car enthusiasts and then I seen the YouTube video. A big block fiero. Well I researched a power train and found an olds tornado. Big block carburated front wheel drive.
Talked to a buddy of mine and he knows where one is with 77k miles. The guy is asking $400.00. What a deal.
Now before I take on such an enforcer what are your guys thoughts? Has anyone token on such a task?
Lots of bracing and reinforcing, and a lot HEAVIER suspension. The torque of a big block could cause a lot of twisting force. But if you do it, I WANT TO DRIVE IT!!!!
If I do the swap I was thinking on dropping the cradle out the tornado and fitting it to the fiero. That way the mounts are all ready there and the suspension. As far as the handling, it's going to be one those trial and error things as I am not as intelligent in that subject as I would like to be. The main use would be a street legal door slammer quarter mile car.
I am not sure the weight but I do know the 375 no motor will not know it's attached to a vehicle. The fiero weight is 3000 lb less than the tornado does
Iron head, Great idea, just need to work out thee torsion that may be transmitted thru the car front to rear. (Twisting forces) I believe it can be done. We have several "engineer" types here who might just help if you ask. Burn rubber brother! ~Zep
[This message has been edited by mwzephyr (edited 02-13-2014).]
Go for it if you like but take some measurements and see how/if you may be able to fit it in a Fiero. I do not know the physical dimensions of a big block GM engine but I did manage to get a SBC 383 operational in an 88 (closer struts than your vehicle) but it did require some frame notching and use of an electric water pump to make it look good and fit.
The at I look at things is there is no such thing as it won't fit, just gotta make it fit. I did install a la hd 360 motor and 518 trans in my 95 dodge truck. For those who don't know. I installed a throttle body injection engine and trans that came out a one ton van. It was converted to carburated. That's my every dayer. So I know I can make anything fit and function.
I saw a lot of exhaust smoke coming out in the engine compartment, probably couldn't drive it with the deck lid on without burning it up due to engine heat. I was surprised it didn't sound better, just my opinion and that's not worth much to anyone but me. I agree on the auto transmission, I have no desire for an automatic either.
You could go with Caddys version with a 500 CID V8. It's the same transaxle. I'm pretty sure the Caddy is lighter than the 455. I put this set up in the back of a Ford van. It would be different.
I did see the video on the supercharged BBC in the yellow fiero. That was my inspiration. Is he a member? The caddy approach entered my head but the availability of parts would be sparce. Even though parts for an olds is not a whole lot easier. All I got to do is look up performance parts for a 79 10th anniversary t/a. Lol.
The guy in the video said the fiero frame was strong enough to handle his engine and he uses is as an every day driver.
The fact the it is auto shift does suck. But when is the last time you seen a front wheel drive longitudinal big block Gm with a standard shift transmission?
As far as the torsion of the motor to frame. Keep in mind it's not a front mount engine with a rear wheel drive. I do not know what the twist of the engine will be like. But it's interesting to think about.
AT hot rod car shows I've seen Tornadoes conversion into a VW pickup and a kit car sports car and several others I can't think of. There was a article in a old Hot Rod magazine a wild guess of around 1980 telling of how someone did this in a Vega. Olds 455 and Cadillac 500 are considerable lighter than a BB Chevy.
[This message has been edited by V8 Vega (edited 02-14-2014).]
Originally posted by ironhead.76: The guy in the video said the fiero frame was strong enough to handle his engine and he uses is as an every day driver.
As far as the torsion of the motor to frame. Keep in mind it's not a front mount engine with a rear wheel drive. I do not know what the twist of the engine will be like. But it's interesting to think about.
Probably not as much as you think. I posted the numbers here
If that Toronado is anything later than a 72' I would look for a different platform. The 455 was dropped to 215-250 HP, year depending, and that is a lot of work for such a small gain.
If that Toronado is anything later than a 72' I would look for a different platform. The 455 was dropped to 215-250 HP, year depending, and that is a lot of work for such a small gain.
Big blocks aren't 2.8l's.... A flowing exhaust, a new intake, carb, emissions delete, and air cleaner assembly would net over a hundred horsepower. And look at the torque figures, because that's what really counts.
If that Toronado is anything later than a 72' I would look for a different platform. The 455 was dropped to 215-250 HP, year depending, and that is a lot of work for such a small gain.
Weren't the calculations changed from Gross to Net HP in 72? It was about that same time that compression ratios were dropped, too, so it's hard to tell what's what.
Here is Big Block Fiero's thread. There is quite a bit of drama and the signal to noise ratio is pretty low, but it does have some pics of putting a 500 caddy into an 84 fiero: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...090219-1-062869.html
Here are some other longitudinal swaps:
[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 02-15-2014).]
