I have recently picked up a 2002 Chevy Cavalier 2.2 5 speed. I am planning on swapping it into my 1985 SE v6 automatic. The last owner put twice the amount of trans fluid they were supposed to and all the gaskets busted, and it slips when i accelerate into corners. Stalls sometimes. Thats my justification.
I am aware of *some* of the parts I need. I wanted to go for a fiero 4 speed swap but there are none by me, I tried. F23 has a good cruising gear so I'll go for it. I know I need two mounts, one front one back. But almost everything else is up in the air.
1) Should I use a Cavalier clutch kit or a fiero clutch kit? Does it matter? 2) Do I need a new flywheel? I'm keeping the stock 2.8, I figured I'd save an engine swap for a fiero that needs saving. This one only has 56k miles. 3) I originally got a rodney dickman clutch braided repair line, thinking I was going to get the M17 I found. I did not. Will this connect to the F23? I know there's the F23 clutch line connecter at fieroguruperformance...is that like a convenient add on or is that required? 4) Where should I be looking for master and slave cylinders? Can I use parts for a fiero or does it have to be a cavalier? 5) What changed to the wiring harness would be needed? I want to go basic basic. I know for fiero to fiero trans swaps, there are minimal changes to the wiring harness. In fierokyles video he just disconnected the gear selector so the ECU would always think it was in park. But it seemed like almost everything else was a bolt on. 6) I have heard things about a throwout bearing spacer. Do I need this for an 02 cavalier trans?
Any advice is welcome. My main worry right now is the clutch line, because I like rodney dickmans braided line. It protects against heat wear and I also already bought it. Would hate for it to go to waste.
I can’t lie this project is consuming me. The mounts sold by WCF are more expensive than the transmission, and I’ve seen instances where they don’t even line up. Would it be worth it to learn fabrication myself to save money and grief? Should I commission a fab shop? I haven’t really been getting many answers on here recently. Let me know if I should be shortening my questions or phrasing them differently.
I have recently picked up a 2002 Chevy Cavalier 2.2 5 speed. I am planning on swapping it into my 1985 SE v6 automatic. The last owner put twice the amount of trans fluid they were supposed to and all the gaskets busted, and it slips when i accelerate into corners. Stalls sometimes. Thats my justification.
I am aware of *some* of the parts I need. I wanted to go for a fiero 4 speed swap but there are none by me, I tried. F23 has a good cruising gear so I'll go for it. I know I need two mounts, one front one back. But almost everything else is up in the air.
1) Should I use a Cavalier clutch kit or a fiero clutch kit? Does it matter? 2) Do I need a new flywheel? I'm keeping the stock 2.8, I figured I'd save an engine swap for a fiero that needs saving. This one only has 56k miles. 3) I originally got a rodney dickman clutch braided repair line, thinking I was going to get the M17 I found. I did not. Will this connect to the F23? I know there's the F23 clutch line connecter at fieroguruperformance...is that like a convenient add on or is that required? 4) Where should I be looking for master and slave cylinders? Can I use parts for a fiero or does it have to be a cavalier? 5) What changed to the wiring harness would be needed? I want to go basic basic. I know for fiero to fiero trans swaps, there are minimal changes to the wiring harness. In fierokyles video he just disconnected the gear selector so the ECU would always think it was in park. But it seemed like almost everything else was a bolt on. 6) I have heard things about a throwout bearing spacer. Do I need this for an 02 cavalier trans?
Any advice is welcome. My main worry right now is the clutch line, because I like rodney dickmans braided line. It protects against heat wear and I also already bought it. Would hate for it to go to waste.
1 and 6, I think with the Cavalier clutch you don't need a spacer, Fiero 4 speed or other clutch you do.
2 you only need a new flywheel of you don't have one, automatics have flex plates not flywheels, make sure to get the flywheel for your year of 2.8 Fiero, as the 88s are different from the others. If you have a flywheel (from another Fiero or whatever, you should be good to use it, if all you have is your automatic Fiero, you don't have a flywheel at all.
3 f23 clutch line is very different from Fieros clutch line, I don't know in your insurance what will work, but starting with an intact Fiero clutch line (whole thing front to back) you can get a plug and play adapter for the f23 hydraulic throwout bearing (essentially an integrated space cylinder) from "thelin sells" website
4 Master cylinders can be had on Rock auto (and many of the generic or replacement items) Fiero one will work, the "slave cylinder" is a hydraulic throwout bearing that is in the bell housing of the f23, I think many clutch kits will come with a new one, if not, lookup that year/vehicle on Rock auto, they have them.
5, you have to do something to wire in reverse, the switch is on the transmission, I assume the auto Trans is also on the transmission, should be fairly easy to swap connectors and splice on, I don't know about the ECM and what not.
Fiero Rog is now selling mounting brackets. Since those were not available when I bought mine, I sprung for the WCF pieces. Still haven't installed them, though.
Also check out thelin sells for mounts, total cost for mounts and hydraulic adapter is like $350
Your response was very helpful, thank you :,)
I notice Thelin also has a shift correct bracket…is that required? Do I need to get longer shift and select brackets or can I use the stock ones for now?
Fiero Rog is now selling mounting brackets. Since those were not available when I bought mine, I sprung for the WCF pieces. Still haven't installed them, though.
I tried looking for his website and I can’t seem to find anything. I just see his old Facebook page :/
I notice Thelin also has a shift correct bracket…is that required? Do I need to get longer shift and select brackets or can I use the stock ones for now?
Yes, you need to buy a shift correction bracket, and longer shifter cables (not included with the bracket), or else fabricate everything
Yes, you need to buy a shift correction bracket, and longer shifter cables (not included with the bracket), or else fabricate everything
I thought I saw that it’s one or the other. Some people were wrapping the cables around the transmission instead of getting the correction bracket…if I do get the bracket would it still be 75” for both cables?
I thought I saw that it’s one or the other. Some people were wrapping the cables around the transmission instead of getting the correction bracket…if I do get the bracket would it still be 75” for both cables?
Exactly, long long long cables no correction, correction, and shorter, but still long cables, I don't know the exact length, every kit manufacturer will have a specified length needed
Exactly, long long long cables no correction, correction, and shorter, but still long cables, I don't know the exact length, every kit manufacturer will have a specified length needed
My transmission finally **** the bed. On the side of the highway. Rest in peace GM metric THM 125C (?)
If you haven't found this already, here is an old thread that (used to be) really complete on the F23 swap. Over the years images have vanished because they weren't hosted here, but the wayback machine might be able to help.
On the shift cables, going by memory, if you use the style of shift adapter than Thelin sells, I believe you can use a stock Getrag Select Cable, and you can call up California Push Pull to get a longer version of the other cable (name escapes me). Just let them know you are doing the F23 swap into a Fiero. They may still ask you how long you want it to be given how many different cable linkage solutions people have come up with. I *think* the last one I ordered was 133 inches? It actually turned out to be a few inches too long, and the guy who used it had to go to the extreme ends of the adjustments to make everything shift correctly. You may want to ask them what the most common length ordered is.
The cable they send you will have the F23 connector one on side, and the appropriate end for the Fiero shifter on the other side.
Also, if you are looking to sell your center console section for the automatic gear selector (and the gear indicator parts under it), I'd be interested in speaking with you!
