Ok, here is where I need all of your help... I'm shopping for side scoops for the car. They have to be functional for the cold air intake. My tastes are pointing me towards the AusFiero stage 2, but as we all know, they are not available. Anyone have any ideas for similiar types of scoops? I'm not a body guy, so I can't make my own. Dave
I don't know if he was able to get them made again but I would try to get the ones from Germany. They are similar to the stage 2s. I think its the fiero warehouse that has some that are pretty nice. Or go with the ones archie sells. Those are the only ones I can think of right now.
It is so hard to keep up on the progess this summer. Every spare chance I get to work on the car, it is usually a nice day and I go out and enjoy it. I do have a few boxes of parts left to put on the car and then after it is all back together, I want to do a complete post of completed pics of the swap(top to bottom). Maybe a driving video too. I did promise myself that I will have the swap 100% completed within one year of the start, though. The winter months are real easy to spend 10-15 hours a day on the swap because there really is nothing else to do in NJ when it is miserable outside. Dave
Originally posted by bmwguru: The hardest part of the swap other than the shifter is my F**king OCD. I built so many mounts, shifter mounts, pedal braces etc until I was completely satisfied.
I know what you mean, I can't tell how many times I've made a part of some sort or another 3 or 4 times when the first one would have worked just fine!!!
If you can't see the future, your not driving fast enough. Joe
I had a few free minutes to assemble the interior to 100%. We officially have Joey's approval of the interior, but the shifter may need some getting used to...and I'll probably shorten it an inch or two. I've been playing around with the adjustments of it and I have no problems finding any gears.
Here is a shot of the OBDII connector mounted in the Fiero's stock location. The VW computer is mounted in a fabricated plastic carrier similiar to the stock Fieros. All diagnosis and programming are done with the VAG-COM or factory VW laptop.
If all goes well, the exhaust should be completed with the Porsche tips by tomorrow. After that is begins the fine tuning and the gauges should be installed by next week. Dave ps...Any request of pics or how I did what? I can answer them as best as I can.
[This message has been edited by bmwguru (edited 09-08-2008).]
WOW, You did say it would be done soon. When can we see a new video of it all put together and running? This time no throttle in the hands, please. :-)
Not sure of the color yet. Joey has the final say in that. As for videos...Abe see page 9 of this thread. Maybe new videos after state inspection passes it this week (with no cats) Dave
got some exhaust finished today. 100% mandrel bent.....nice Porsche exhaust tips and a nice low rumble with a few small flames out the tail pipes....I might have to retune a little bit.
[This message has been edited by bmwguru (edited 09-09-2008).]
I would love to get pics taken from the bottom of the engine bay, the VeeDub computer and maybe some engine bay pics with all the covers on.
Would maybe a VW shortie shifter conversion work? You've done so much fabricating, maybe a already made aftermarket part would do the trick?
P.s.: I like the OEM location ODBII connector. Makes it look like it's always been there.
-Max
I'll get those pics when I can put it back on one of our regular lifts. I have it on a mid rise lift now because the customer's cars are on the other lifts. Thinking about the shifter.....After all the fabrication I've done, what is a few more hours on the shifter. I still have the CAI and gauges to go, but it is all downhill from here.
With an almost artistic quality. i.e.: Vr6 Custom axles, where Fiero meets VW, design features you're particularly proud of. Have fun with the camera. We what you find, we're all curious.
I'll post up some more pics soon. Some of the pics I'll email you for your private viewing Max, but others I will post up here. I can't let all my secrets out. I'm working on a driveability issue with the car right now. I traced it back to a defective sensor that was brand new, so I should have that issue resolved in a few days when i get the new part. I am having some serious issues trying to find decent parts for the cold air intake. Any good websites for custom CAI stuff? Other than that, I found it was easier to wire in a relay and sensor for the fan rather than try to make the VW fan module functional. This makes for a lot of less wiring and easier diagnosis if there is a failure. Dave
Actually, I just ordered the VDO set today, so I should have them installed by mid week. I ordered everything needed to complete the car and hopefully start the tuning process. As of right now, I'm really not feeling the 5.5lb flywheel. It is really light and the rpms seem floaty. Dave
I installed the CAI and the gauges. The intake was pretty simple once I found the parts. The air filter is a little large, but I'll probably change it out for a slightly smaller one once I install the new quarter panels. The gauges were not as bad to wire up as I thought they would be. The oil pressure switch was tapped from the oil filter housing. It has two unused ports and all I needed was a 10mm to 1/8" adapter and it was fine. The coolant temp sensor and fan control switch was installed in the pipe that fed the radiator (at the engine). The tach signal I took right from the ECM wiring to the cluster. I was able to fine tune the tach by watching the tach and the rpm reading on the VW laptop. Same for the water temperature. The speedometer is all that is left to calibrate and then the gauges are done. The car is still a few months from completion, but it is coming along nicely. I was having issues with an extended crank and found the starter switch to be defective out of the box, so I replaced it and the engine fires right up. Dave
I still vote this as one of the coolest swaps sure everyone can swap a 3800sc or a sbc but it takes balls to go all out and install a vr6 motor and all of the hardware. you sir are one of a kind. I vote to see more wacky swaps just for the hell of it.
Thanks for the compliment. The next swap has already been decided and it will be a shop project. I'm not going to disclose what it will be, but it has never been done on a Fiero yet and I really have no clue how we are going to do it yet. Shawnhalolush came up with the idea and I said, let's try it. So when this swap is done (probably by mid November), I'm taking a month off and then we'll start on the next one. Dave
Is that popping sound in the video from the engine or is it from something else. It sounds pretty darn good when you get on it. I'm glad to see it out on the road finally. This is definietly one of my favorite swaps.
The popping sound is my poor quality camera trying to pick up the exhaust pulses....one of these days I'll get a better one. I was still getting used to driving a Fiero with a LSD. It is definitely different than one with an open rear around turns. If all goes well, Joey should start her driving soon, and then make her list of demands of things for me to change. Still on target for mid November to be 100% completed. Dave
I am glad to see it is runnin good. someone seemed a little uneasy when she took off from that stop sign. good job.
It wasn't me driving, that was Dave. But don't worry, I will be taking it easy for a while to get used to the way it handles. I do usually drive fast, but I don't do any more than I can handle. I may be crazy.... but I got 5 kids to raise, so I ain't gonna be wreckless.
Joey
P.S. Yes, it does sound great! I can't wait to drive it! Dave did a great job on the swap... but I know it won't be completely done until all the bugs are worked out. (he is kinda anal like that)
The engine does have such a sexy European sound to it. The powerband is amazing with the variable intake manifold. There is plenty of torque at the bottom end and it just keeps on giving up to 7,000 rpms. This would be the perfect swap for a rebody. In naturally aspirated form, it is very impressive. In the video I had the car up to about 85mph before I had to slow down to 40mph for the car in front of me. Everything seems to be going ok with the testing. It runs at 180 degrees at all times and it is rare the fan comes on to cool it. There are a few small quirks I will be addressing within the next week, but only a few hours of time. The hardest part of this swap was trying to figure out how the hell to do it. If I do another one of these, I could probably have it done in a 1/4 of the time. Just trying to figure out how to make the shifter work properly was weeks of trying and failing. I have it set up perfectly now and can hit every gear without guessing. Now it is just up to the toughest critic....Joey. I'm sure she will make a list of what she wants changed around or redone. Dave
Really, impressive work. You have created a one off swap and did so in an honest fashion. You used your own knowledge and time. The car sounds great and judging by the orange car in the background will look fantastic as well. That motor looks as though it was factory installed. amazing attention to detail. I hope to see your cars and shop in person sometime.
