Hey everyone I'm new here and I just picked up my first fiero about a month ago and what do you know I already have 2. I got super good deals on them both. I have an 86 SE 4 speed manual 83k miles and an 86 GT 4 speed manual 68k miles. I'm keeping the 2.8 in the SE. But the GT had a blown motor and it's apart now and I really wanna put something with more power in it and I don't know which one would be better a supercharged 3800 or a V8 of some sort. Any advice?
2nd the 3800, but it depends on your prefrence and money, both have pros and cons. V8's sound better and have more visual WOW factor, but cost a lot more to swap and dont get that great of gas mileage. 3800's sound kinda crappy, but are easier to install and are very well documented here, get great gas mileage, and the SC versions are plenty fast for normal driving without mods.
2nd the 3800, but it depends on your prefrence and money, both have pros and cons. V8's sound better and have more visual WOW factor, but cost a lot more to swap and dont get that great of gas mileage. 3800's sound kinda crappy, but are easier to install and are very well documented here, get great gas mileage, and the SC versions are plenty fast for normal driving without mods.
3800 SC fieros do sound kinda crappy until you hammer it and hear the sweet wine of the supercharger making power!
------------------ 84 Formula Clone, 3800SC, VS Cam, 3.2 Pulley, 4T65E-HD, HP Tuners, AEM Wideband, , Regal GS Gauges, S-10 Brake Booster. 12.53 at 106.5 1/4 mile
[This message has been edited by DimeMachine (edited 05-06-2012).]
If you want the sound of the V-8 rumble but the speed of a Toyota Corolla then go with the V-8....If you want the car to be fast, whine while doing it and still get good MPG then go with the 3800....
Here are a few swaps that I have done this past year at the Haus. The 3800s/c can sound great if you change the header style and modifly the muffler internally in this video.....
Here is one with the same headers but not modded muffler with a smaller supercharger pulley and cam.
and here is a V8 swap idle we did.....totally different idle.
I just finished a 3800 swap on my 88 a couple of weeks ago and personally I would recommend it. My engine combination is stock at this point except for a 3.4 pulley and the acceleration is amazing!
Good luck with your project.
[This message has been edited by 1988 Formula (edited 05-15-2012).]
which one would be better a supercharged 3800 or a V8 of some sort. Any advice?
Explain Better? MPG=3800SC Looks=3800SC -Clean install with a painted Blower wins everytime Sound=V8 (gotta have a small pulley and be at WOT to compete in the sound category with a 3800SC) Speed=3800SC Maintenance=3800SC Cost=3800SC WOW factor=V8 (everybody wishes they had a V8)
Either engine will produce as much power as you want, depending on what mods you do. Stock 3800SC and L98 Tuned Port V8 are both ~240 HP.
What a poor comparison not including the TQ number. 3800 is 280lbs and TPI 345lbs. Big difference as torque is what you feel pushing you. Now asking whish of these is better here is like asking in a Honda forum which of a Civic vs Fiero is better. I have both. I think the 3800 is a very nice and relatively easy swap. Cheaper too. Is reliable and you have lost of space to work. Stock is an awesone daily driver. Yes you can make big power #s but then you will have to spend a lot of $$ and push it to the limit. Oh, and it sounds horrible compared to anything. The V8 depends on which one. These days I would only do an LS. It will do lots of power normally aspirated without pushing it hard. The low end torque is amazing and for power potential the sky is the limit. If you have $$ do something like an LS4 (that's the FWD version?). If not then do the 3800sc. Anyhting is better than the 2.8/3.4.
------------------ Red: TPI V8 + 6-Speed White: 3800SC auto 304rwHP/366rwTQ
Explain Better? MPG=3800SC Looks=3800SC -Clean install with a painted Blower wins everytime Sound=V8 (gotta have a small pulley and be at WOT to compete in the sound category with a 3800SC) Speed=3800SC Maintenance=3800SC Cost=3800SC WOW factor=V8 (everybody wishes they had a V8)
I stay out of threads like this because there is so much heat generated over this topic that it can make the choice hard to make. But my contribution to this thread is purly opinion and may very from person to person depending on expectationa wants and needs.
My LS4 gets about 25mpg "looks" is a VERY subjective term. Ithink the Short Star "looks" better than a 3800
But the LS4 in my opinion also looks better.
I never heard a 3800 that sounds better than my LS4 (other opinions may very) The GM pushrod V6's just dont sound all that good. speed, is better than most Fieros on the road. Most Fieros are not modified over 300HP and 330TQ. Maintenance, 100K tune ups....how much better can it get? Cost, I did all the work myself and the drietrain cost about $2,000. Wow factor, I got a lot of looks and questions from the Short Star but most people had no idea it was a transplant. They just said it was a very clean car and did not know they had "such a big engine". BUT the LS4 brings in twice as many people that ask questions. I have had a person follow me thru a parking lot as I looked for a spot to park just to see what was under the hood.
Start up and showing the power steering working..
walk around showing some of the mods..
[This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 05-07-2012).]
Cost, looks, sound. How important are each of these to you? I haven't had a 3800sc, but I have N*s and a boosted ls4. Honestly any V8 or 3800sc will have fun horsepower in a Fiero. Although I have boosted my V8s it is only because of that old hot rodder saying "too much horsepower is just about right". LS4s are getting 25-30mpg in Fieros.
[This message has been edited by dratts (edited 05-07-2012).]
Yes you can make big power #s but then you will have to spend a lot of $$ and push it to the limit.
I think it's been pretty thoroughly demonstrated that a turbo on a relatively stock to mildly modded 3800 long block will produce very high power output without spending large quantities of money... and blow the L98's torque number away. Horsepower is what wins races.
[This message has been edited by Will (edited 05-07-2012).]
I stay out of threads like this because there is so much heat generated over this topic that it can make the choice hard to make. But my contribution to this thread is purly opinion and may very from person to person depending on expectationa wants and needs.
My LS4 gets about 25mpg "looks" is a VERY subjective term. Ithink the Short Star "looks" better than a 3900
How hard is it for you to change your sparkplugs?? All in all its purely a matter of personal preference on which motor you chose to install.
I think it's been pretty thoroughly demonstrated that a turbo on a relatively stock to mildly modded 3800 long block will produce very high power output without spending large quantities of money... and blow the L98's torque number away. Horsepower is what wins races.
The 3800SC vs V8 argument will go on forever.Some owners prefer the high output V6 engines while others love the sound, look and performance of the V8. The more recent high tech V8's are light weight and produce awsome horsepower but if you look at what guys like Darkhorizon and PBJ have done they are in the 10's with the turbo 3800. Let your taste, budget and expectations guide your choice.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, 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 "
Explain Better? MPG=3800SC Looks=3800SC -Clean install with a painted Blower wins everytime Sound=V8 (gotta have a small pulley and be at WOT to compete in the sound category with a 3800SC) Speed=3800SC Maintenance=3800SC Cost=3800SC WOW factor=V8 (everybody wishes they had a V8)
You are understandably happy to beat a ZR-1, but please don't omit the disclaimer. It wasn't the Vette, it was the driver.
I think it's been pretty thoroughly demonstrated that a turbo on a relatively stock to mildly modded 3800 long block will produce very high power output without spending large quantities of money... and blow the L98's torque number away. Horsepower is what wins races.
Your comparison was meaningless and still it is. I can say a turbo LS3 will blow away your turbo 3800. Bottom line compare oranges to oranges and do not mislead.
[This message has been edited by Alex4mula (edited 05-07-2012).]
Yor comparison was meaningless and still it is. I can say a turbo LS3 will blow away your turbo 3800. Bottom line compare oranges to oranges and do not mislead.
Actually, the fastest 3800s are destroying the fastest ls3's.
Yor comparison was meaningless and still it is. I can say a turbo LS3 will blow away your turbo 3800. Bottom line compare oranges to oranges and do not mislead.
Until is happens then it is just a fairy tale...Until then the Apple will continue to beat the orange everytime....V-8s are built by most for the WOW factor....the 3800SC is built for speed.....
Slightly different twist to this debate - and thus why I call my fiero the Dimemachine.
I would say the fastest fiero PER DOLLAR SPENT is the 3800 SC. You can get a fiero for $500, buy a decent 3800 SC engine, tranny and harness for $1k, and if you are mechanically inclined (with the help of this forum) run hi 12's for a total investment of about 3K.
If money is no object, I suppose and LSX would be nice - but with that cost, I would probably go with a late model vette. ------------------ 84 Formula Clone, 3800SC, VS Cam, 3.2 Pulley, 4T65E-HD, HP Tuners, AEM Wideband, , Regal GS Gauges, S-10 Brake Booster. 12.53 at 106.5 1/4 mile
[This message has been edited by DimeMachine (edited 05-07-2012).]
Seems to me, that a 350hp 350cid would beat a 270hp 3800SC every time. The 350 can't be that much heavier.
Makes since on paper, not in a fiero.
quote
Originally posted by Rickady88GT:
I stay out of threads like this because there is so much heat generated over this topic that it can make the choice hard to make. But my contribution to this thread is purly opinion and may very from person to person depending on expectationa wants and needs.
My LS4 gets about 25mpg "looks" is a VERY subjective term. Ithink the Short Star "looks" better than a 3800
But the LS4 in my opinion also looks better. [IMG]https://images.fiero.nl/2009/100_7935_(Medium).JPG[IMG]
I never heard a 3800 that sounds better than my LS4 (other opinions may very) The GM pushrod V6's just dont sound all that good. speed, is better than most Fieros on the road. Most Fieros are not modified over 300HP and 330TQ. Maintenance, 100K tune ups....how much better can it get? Cost, I did all the work myself and the drietrain cost about $2,000. Wow factor, I got a lot of looks and questions from the Short Star but most people had no idea it was a transplant. They just said it was a very clean car and did not know they had "such a big engine". BUT the LS4 brings in twice as many people that ask questions. I have had a person follow me thru a parking lot as I looked for a spot to park just to see what was under the hood.
Start up and showing the power steering working.. [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH3MGGQnEqs[YOUTUBE]
walk around showing some of the mods.. [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X6su0FhJ4I[YOUTUBE]
Am I missing something? All I see is plastic covers.
I have a 3800 myself, and it does not sound bad, I actually like the sound very much. This is an N/A 3800 though. Doesn't sound as good as my V8 of course, but that's not really a great comparsion. On my thread I made a very long report per say, on the differences between my 3800/F23 Fiero and my 4.9/4T60e Fiero. Long story short, My 4.9 Fiero is like a heavy, loud muscle car while the 3800 Fiero is like a light, quick true sports car. Big difference there.
I stay out of threads like this because there is so much heat generated over this topic that it can make the choice hard to make. But my contribution to this thread is purly opinion and may very from person to person depending on expectationa wants and needs.
Dude - I looked at your videos and Damn - Nice Job.
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