lol @ woo woo Indians not welcome to seven/eleven Indians...made my friggin day.. almost blew ice cream out my nose!!!
I thought that would get a chuckle out a few people. Glad it made ya laugh.
I am heading back to Oregon tomorrow. So the 4.9 will be parked for the time being.
------------------ 857GT Part 85GT Part 87GT Part Caddy, 93 Eldorado 4.9, 5spd Dual O2 Custom Chip, Custom Exhaust. MSD Everything Now with Nitrous. Capt Fiero --- My Over View Cadero Pics Yellow 88GT 5spd Full Poly Suspension, Lowered 1/2" in front, Corner Carver.
Well I have been denied entry into the USA for the time being. (long story) Which means its spring of 2014 and as expected its time to play.
I just posted this to the Cadero list but really wanted to update all you guys here that have been helping me keep my sanity with this car for so long.
Hey guys, as embarrassing as this is to admit, I was all revved up about tearing into the car that afternoon, but life in general just got in my way of working on the car. That was until Yesterday!!!
Oh that smoke you all saw, just ignore that, it was steam and oil burning off from the valve cover job, plus water that drained down when I opened up the deckled. I have a muffler where the cat normally would go.
So I have a 2nd Video of the engine noise, if you want to peak at it before reading the rest of this email. http://captfiero.com/v8repairs/videos for those that couldn’t wait, you have already learned what it turned out to be…. Drumroll…… Rod Bearing. Holy Hell that was a nightmare to get apart. I had to pull both engine mounts completely off the car, and support the crank pulley on the cradle with a 2x6 I still don’t have the pan all the way down, but you can see in these pics, the 4.9 has some really oddball oiling system, and I could not even find the oil pump pickup tube until I used my camera like a scope. (yes I do have but the camera was quicker)
The rod journal closest to the flywheel has a great deal of slop in it. I have not gotten the cap off yet to see just how bad it is. I am praying the crank is not tore all to hell. I know the correct way of doing this is pull the motor, replace all the mains and rods, get the crank turned .010 get all the rods re-sized and go from there. However I don’t have the time or the money to do a full drop and rebuild right now. In 6-12 months when we are in our new house then maybe I can take the time. So my plan is, IF the crank AND the rod don’t feel like a Janice Joplin album, groovy and totally screwed up, IF they are not pounded oval, I am going to toss in an oversize bearing in there, then put the pan back on and fire it up. I might, do a full set of rod bearings while I am at it, just do all the other ones with closer to stock sizes. I should be able to plasti-gauge those. It might last 60 seconds, 60mins 60 miles or 6 years. However anything over 6 months and I would be ecstatic over the moon happy. I would finally sell off my Yellow 88GT 5spd and just have my Goldwing and my V8 Fiero.
So all of you patiently waited through right. Well here are the pics. http://captfiero.com/v8repairs once you have looked at all the pics, click on one of them, and a House Icon appears near the top, if you click that it will take you to the video’s page.
Well that is where I am at for now.
I want to thank all the great info I have gotten from here over the years, hopefully I can return the favor someday.
David aka Capt Fiero of BC.
------------------ 857GT Part 85GT Part 87GT Part Caddy, 93 Eldorado 4.9, 5spd Dual O2 Custom Chip, Custom Exhaust. MSD Everything Now with Nitrous. Capt Fiero --- My Over View Cadero Pics For Sale $4000, Yellow 88GT 5spd Full Poly Suspension, Lowered 1/2" in front, Corner Carver.
I have been following your experiences with the 4.9L here on the forum and I guess that you take the award as the bad luck guy! I've found that low mileage 4.9L's are not difficult to find and you might b better off finding another engine and putting it in. I am joining the ranks of the 4.9L owners as a swap is in process here for my ragtop 85. I am striving for a high torque engine that can cruise long distances well and offer a pleasant ride. Since the 4.9L cruises effortlessly and pleasantly at 1700 RPM on the highway and gets 29-30 mpg; I figured that it was about time to try the swap. IMO, its an easy and inexpensive upgrade.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Powerlog manifold, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Flotech Afterburner Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
If it were a dead stock 4.9 I would have never even bother to crack the pan. However the work to swap over all the custom work, and cam and possibly having to pull the heads IF I find they were ported. If I can't get it done in the engine bay without pulling it, the car will get pushed aside until I have the time and finances to do it right. Right now with my immigration battles, this project was just a "what if" project while I had a tiny bit of spare time on a Sunday. I am not sure what house let alone what country I'll be living in, 6 months from now. We are also in the middle of a record breaking heat wave, so laying outside under my car is a nice get away from sitting around watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates or Dora or Barbie movies for the millionth time with the kids.
Having a 4.9 is addictive, you short shift it, it has so much torque its like a sling shot out of 1st gear and just keeps pulling until you are at 4000rpms in 5th gear. That's when you hit the Nitrous Button, and pull right to 6000 in 5th. Just wait you will have fun.
------------------ 857GT Part 85GT Part 87GT Part Caddy, 93 Eldorado 4.9, 5spd Dual O2 Custom Chip, Custom Exhaust. MSD Everything Now with Nitrous. Capt Fiero --- My Over View Cadero Pics For Sale $4000, Yellow 88GT 5spd Full Poly Suspension, Lowered 1/2" in front, Corner Carver.
I don't know about the name, I am horrible with the idea of naming a car. A guy and I on a FB forum joked around that a Fiero with a Turbo 6.0 LS could only be owned by someone with "Suicidal Tendency's". Which has kinda stuck, but I'll have to wait till the car is done and I start driving it to decide if that will stick or not.
------------------ 857GT Part 85GT Part 87GT , 5spd Custom Exhaust. MS3 Gold Box 6.0 LS Turbo.
Price Drop!!! Yellow 88GT 5spd Full Poly Suspension, Lowered 1/2" in front. For Sale $3750 USD
I don't know about the name, I am horrible with the idea of naming a car. A guy and I on a FB forum joked around that a Fiero with a Turbo 6.0 LS could only be owned by someone with "Suicidal Tendency's". Which has kinda stuck, but I'll have to wait till the car is done and I start driving it to decide if that will stick or not.
I agree I dont even name my cars at all. Except my latest has a plate that says AWSM80S, partly inspired by our backtothe80smn car show, so I have called it the Awesome80s Fiero from time to time.
Good luck with the swap. Looks awesome and should be fun to drive. Hope that you are using a strong transmission behind that engine.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
@ 2.5 I totally agree, I've never felt a name on a car was really needed. I only added the 857 to that build because My 85GT was my first die hard long-term car, and most of that 85 is installed on the 87 chassis. Right down to the trunk, ignition and door locks are 85 and use my original 85 keys.
@Dennis, I would love to hear your input in this other thread. https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/141402.html it is in regards to Turbo locations in a Fiero. Seeing as you are the oldest and wisest Turbo guy on the forum, I'd love to hear your input.
As to the Trans, I am going to be running a FWD Berretta Getrag until it explodes, then upgrading to the F40 hopefully with some sort of twin disc clutch.
------------------ 857GT Part 85GT Part 87GT , 5spd Custom Exhaust. MS3 Gold Box 6.0 LS Turbo.
Price Drop!!! Yellow 88GT 5spd Full Poly Suspension, Lowered 1/2" in front. For Sale $3750 USD
@ 2.5 I totally agree, I've never felt a name on a car was really needed. I only added the 857 to that build because My 85GT was my first die hard long-term car, and most of that 85 is installed on the 87 chassis. Right down to the trunk, ignition and door locks are 85 and use my original 85 keys.
@Dennis, I would love to hear your input in this other thread. https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/141402.html it is in regards to Turbo locations in a Fiero. Seeing as you are the oldest and wisest Turbo guy on the forum, I'd love to hear your input.
As to the Trans, I am going to be running a FWD Berretta Getrag until it explodes, then upgrading to the F40 hopefully with some sort of twin disc clutch.
Thanks for the flattery but all the stuff that I learned about turbos was taken from the old noted experts like John Craig who built my own turbo on the old 3.4L. If at all possible my favored location for a turbo on a Fiero is right over the transmission but with the stick shift cables there it becomes a difficult install. A high location for a turbo is usually the way it is done for proper oil drainage. Mounting it low can cause oil leakage. Make sure that the I.D. of the crossover pipe where the turbo mounts is not too large or you will kill the low end and also make sure that the oil drain back line is 1/2" I.D. or more. As for your choice of transmission the FWD Getrag may hold 250 Ft lbs of torque but you will probably put double that power into that box. Autos may not be as much fun to drive but they can hold the power that you are talking about. Darkhorizon (Scott) owns a 3800SC that makes 750HP and he runs the 1/4 mile in the 9's. The 4T65eHD has held up. I have serious doubts that any stick trans that can be transverse mounted in a Fiero can hold high power but thats just an opinion. Try the FWD Getrag, maybe have it Cryo hardened, use two dog domes to keep powertain rotation minimal and see what happens. If you are not getting on it all the time it may last a while.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Originally posted by Capt Fiero: ... As to the Trans, I am going to be running a FWD Berretta Getrag until it explodes, then upgrading to the F40 hopefully with some sort of twin disc clutch.
Sounds like a plan! I have a T-550 (one version of the "Beretta Getrag") in my 4.9 car. I try not to shock load it, but otherwise I give it hell whenever I want. It has held up nicely, in spite of having been driven ~10 miles with no fluid (when the drain came out.) It also has the EP LSD. I have no idea how - or whether - that has affected the durability.
The F40 sounds like a good "plan B". I have only ever heard of one F40 breaking, and I suspect that one had issues from day one. Lots of F40 LS swaps are happening now, with good success.
The engine is completely installed, all fuel lines are now done, the cooling system is now done, brakes are now done. Just need to finish up the battery/charging cables, install the custom Standalone engine management, and start building all the turbo parts bits in the exhaust. On the final stretch now. It won't be done before winter hits, so I won't really get a chance to drive it this season. I start a new job on Monday so I'll have a bit less time to tinker as well.
------------------ 857GT Part 85GT Part 87GT , 5spd Custom Exhaust. MS3 Gold Box 6.0 LS Turbo.
Price Drop!!! Yellow 88GT 5spd Full Poly Suspension, Lowered 1/2" in front. For Sale $3750 USD
[This message has been edited by Capt Fiero (edited 09-23-2018).]
The engine is completely installed, all fuel lines are now done, the cooling system is now done, brakes are now done. Just need to finish up the battery/charging cables, install the custom Standalone engine management, and start building all the turbo parts bits in the exhaust. On the final stretch now. It won't be done before winter hits, so I won't really get a chance to drive it this season. I start a new job on Monday so I'll have a bit less time to tinker as well.
Looking good . Location of turbo is IMO good. This project is going to be awesome when done.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
The turbo is just resting in position and not final install location yet, but I wanted to get an idea of how much room I'll have around the turbo vs space in that pocket of space above the transaxle. I'm going to have to try and either rotate the intercooler or change the position of the TurboSmart blow-off valve. I'll be installing fiberglass mecham style side scoops to feed air to the Intercooler. At a later date, I'll be changing over to an Air-Water intercooler.
------------------ 857GT Part 85GT Part 87GT , 5spd Custom Exhaust. MS3 Gold Box 6.0 LS Turbo.
Price Drop!!! Yellow 88GT 5spd Full Poly Suspension, Lowered 1/2" in front. For Sale $3750 USD
[This message has been edited by Capt Fiero (edited 09-25-2018).]
