Today I pulled the pan off the 350 out of the Coupe. I was surprized to see it is a 4 bolt - but that's the good news. I pulled the Number 1 and 2 rod caps - sure enough, the bearings are shot and the crank is not good. I checked the bearings - they are 020 over sized! Not sure if the crank can go another 010 or not. PLus whoever put this motor together did a hack job. Looks like a couple different style rod caps - maybe rods. Only a couple had been numbered - the number 7 piston is in the number 1 hole and the number 3 piston is in the number 7 hole plus it looks like not all the rod caps were oreintated correctly. It will have to be torn down and done right - maybe a new crank too! It never ends.
Number 1 on the right and number 2 on the left: You can see why it had a knock. I bet these 2 are not the worst either.
Good thing I have a fresh 350 standing by! Now I have to fidure out how to get this plug out of the block:
This is where the remote oil filter fitting is plumbed into the other motor. It looks like its a "freeze" plug kind of thing. When I get it out, I may need to thread the hole to take the fitting? I'll figure it out later.
Tinkered a little on the Coupe today. Tore the cradle apart - got the trans removed and just need to take it to the steam cleaner to get the grime off of it.
Good thing I have a fresh 350 standing by! Now I have to fidure out how to get this plug out of the block:
This is where the remote oil filter fitting is plumbed into the other motor. It looks like its a "freeze" plug kind of thing. When I get it out, I may need to thread the hole to take the fitting? I'll figure it out later.
More later!
Pat
That plug is where I put my oil pressure switch/sensor. I used a adapter for the remote oil filter that didn't use that hole, it also had no plug in it when I got the block.
That plug is where I put my oil pressure switch/sensor. I used a adapter for the remote oil filter that didn't use that hole, it also had no plug in it when I got the block.
Hey Jim,
I ended up trying several "configurations" using elbows and such right off the adapter but no matter what I did, I had clearance issues with the mini starter. I ended up drilling most of the plug out - it was 1/2" long plug. I worked with a few different sized drill bits until I got to one that was just slightly smaller than the polug itself and it spun itself out. I did have to tap the hole for the fitting to attach the oil filter line too. SHould be putting it all back together this week.
I probably have a little more clearance because I'm using a 280z starter.
I may have missed it, but whats does your water pump setup look like?
It's the stock "shorty" SBC pump - uses the Archie "extended" pulley setup that sticks out into the fenderwell. I do not like it and I am looking at the alternatives? Just not sure what to do yet.
I have this week off so I am trying to focus on the V8 Coupe. Got the Cradle cleaned up and ready for some paint along with the trans. As I posted above, I had to drill out a plug in the block in order for the remote oil filter setup to work on this new motor. I first tapped the hole for 1/4 pipe but the initial hole was too large. I could not get the 1/4" pipe to tighten down and I knew there was no way I could get it to seal. Today, I went and picked up a 3/8" pipe tap and 9/16" drill. After drilling the hole out, I ran the tap in. The 3/8" pipe tightened down perfectly - hope it does not leak!
On a side note, after reading the thread about Komander Keen's swap project and all the drama about the title issues, I decided that I needed to do some much needed title work today. The V8 Coupe and my 47 Chevy truck had never been titled in my name so I went to DMV this morning and got the title work done. Cost me 150.00 for both so I was not terribly shocked and I feel a lot better putting more work and money in both projects.
Cradle ready for paint:
Trans ready for paint:
Oil hole too big for 1/4" pipe:
Drilled out - ruined my new motor paint job!
3/8" pipe and fittings ready for the oil lines!
Getting closer!
And a totally random pic - Seems like everywhere I go, I find something that reminds me of the Fiero! This was the meeting room at a Lodge I was at last week for a Staff Meeting!
More tomorrow!
Pat
[This message has been edited by katatak (edited 11-22-2010).]
Plan for the day was to get the cradle finished and ready to receive the nw motor. Never got to the cradle! Alos wanted to get the trans ready to go - I did get the new axle seals in and got it painted. I wanted to get the valvetrin put together in the motor and get the intake installed. As I was installing the push rods, I was "eyeballing" the new Comp Cams push rods and found one that had a piece of junk lodged inside the tube. I could shake it and hear it rattle and it was restricting the inside oil passage. I messed with it for quite a while. I got these at our local speedshop here in El Paso (Yearwood Speed and Custom) which is clear across town! So I jumped in the XTC and headed out. Went into Yearwood expecting a hassle and much to my surprize, was treated like I owned the place. While I was there I dropped another 100.00 on "goodies" so it was in thier best interest to make me happy.
Got back to the house and installed the replacement push rod, adjusted the valves, installed the rocker nut locks and then installed the manifold. I was hoping to be a little further down the road and wanted to be ready to install the bellhousing adapter, flywheel, clutch and trans this afternoon. Maybe in the morning!
Had big plans today! Wanted to get the motor mated to the trans and mounted back on the cradle. The trans kicked by but all day. It was hard to get the clutch disc lined up perfect due to the crank not having a pilot bushing thus not allowing the clutch tool to center the disc. After a lot of manipulating, cussing, grunting, etc. I won the battle.
I thought I would be smart and I made some "alignment" pins figuring that I could slip the trans on the pins and then wiggle it into place - no such luck. I stood the motor on it's nose, removed the alignment pins and then set the trans straight down on the motor. I could not for the life of me get the output shaft to spline up. I sat down in the lawn chair to take a union break and think about it. I reached over to give the trans a little twist and thunk..... Fell right into place?
Then I drug the cradle around front and did some grinding and welding and gave it up for the night.
On the hoist ready for the flywheel, clutch and adapter plate:
Fywheel and adapter plate installed - I used all new bolts, flats and lock washers - the PO used just bolts through the plate and "gouged" out some nice divets in the aluminum plate:
Disc and pressure plate in place :
Trans bolted up:
Some of the welds from the PO were cracked so I ground them down and rewelded them. Also did a poor job of cutting off the old mount so I trimmed it off and ground it down smooth:
If I can sneak out of the house for a little tomorrow, I may be able to get the motor/trans/cradle back together!
Have a Happy 'T' Day Pat, and to the rest of you El Paso Fiero Nuts. Enjoy your Holidays guys , you have all earned it this past year. I think I just named your group. The EPFNs
Joe
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 11-24-2010).]
Have a Happy 'T' Day Pat, and to the rest of you El Paso Fiero Nuts. Enjoy your Holidays guys , you have all earned it this past year. I think I just named your group. The EPFNs
Yahoo.... I was able to spend about 3 hours in the garage today - managed to get caught up to where I wanted to be yesterday. Got the motor back on the cradle and started to work on the new trans mounts. It had stock rubber trans mounts that were pretty much shot. I am going to cut the rubber off the original mounts and build a solid (tubular) steel piece to replace the rubber. The motor is already solid monuted at the front and now the trans will be solid mounted. This eliminates the need for some kind of torque strut - had one from the PO made out of a piece of pipe bolted solid to the cradle and the head. I'm not too worried about vibration transferred into the car - the cradle retains the rubber cradle mounts.
Mounted and ready for all the little pieces and parts:
Looking good Pat! The engine has an "industrial look" to it. I like it! Glad you caught that pushrod issue. Your rear tires are not long for this earth.
Looking good Pat! The engine has an "industrial look" to it. I like it! Glad you caught that pushrod issue. Your rear tires are not long for this earth.
Hey Rick - It falls in line with that "sleeper" look. It's a no frills street rod! I seriously thought about painting the manifold the same color as the block but I just could nt bring myself to spary piant on that nice clean aluminum manifold!
Did not get much done on the Coupe today. I got up early and went to the Mega Pull - looking to see if they had any "fresh" Fiero's. Found only one - a sad looking 84 base coupe - no options, no AC, etc. Motor and trans were removed but the cradle was bolted in. The 4 spd was in the trunk along with both axles - I think I'll go back tomorrow and pick up those axles. Never can have enough manual outer axles! There really is nothing else salvagable on this car. It looks like is was buried in the sand dunes with the windows down.
I was also looking for a 3800SC motor - they sell motors at this mega pull for 199.00 - you take your chances but 200 bucks for a buildable core is not too bad. I found one and there is definitely something wrong with the blower - turns real easy about 180 degrees then there is a clunk! It will still rotate but feels goofy. Spin it the opposite direction and it's free for 180 the clunk. Like there are teeth missing off a gear!
I am also looking for a 500 Caddy motor. Right in the front row of the GM section is a 71 Sedan DeVille. I open the hood and the motor is missing the manifold and heads. A quick check of the emissions sticker showed that it is a 472. I check the trunk and what do I find? 2 Brand new - wrapped in plastic GM 472 heads - complete! So I contemplate snagging them! But I really want a complete 500 motor - I could grab these heads and maybe sell them for a profit - but how many people in El Paso are looking for 472 Caddy heads? Maybe I'll change my mind by the AM.
Another item on my list was a GP Leather covered snake head auto shifter knob. Found several but they were in rough shape - picked up 2 in decent condition - 1 with the OD button and one without the OD button. I installed the OD version in the XTC - now I have a Nitrous button!
When I was done at the yard, I went to the 2 speed shops in town - I was looking for a T Stat / Fill housing for the Coupe. Same guy owns both speed shops and I ran into him at his original store. We got to BSing and spent an hour and a half there. He has some serious hot rod goodies in the back room! He had what I was looking for at his other store so I headed over there. When I got home, Jeff stopped by and we went looking for a couple of hood bumpers for his Vette and I needed a windshield washer pump for the wife's Durango. We spent another 2.5 hours wandering around junk yards. Found a perfect white Fiero Hood with the headlight doors! We did find the bumpers - but probably not the right ones and the pump for the Durango. All in all a succesful day but did not get any real Fiero work done.
Tomorrow we are going to try and button up Jan's 3.4 swap! Hope we can get her fired up tomorrow.
Not much done to the V8 Coupe today! I did get one of the solid trans mounts fabbed up this AM then spent most the day over at Jan's working on his Formula. Did not get it fired up but it's pretty close now. Just have to install a few hoses, fuel lines and some odds and ends.
Pat, when do you plan on installing it? I have my long weekend coming up/
I'm shooting for a motor stuff next Friday/Saturday - just waiting for the headers to show up. I have a few little things left to button up but I will get it all done this week. Finished the solid trans mount this morning after fixing the tail lights on the XTC and installing new locking hood pins. The mount turned out great. I am debating on messing with the other one - it's in a lot better shape than the one I built and not near as soft and flexible. I'll look at it a little closer this week.
When I came home from work today, my Wife told me that my Christmas present came today and that I would have to leave it under the tree until Christmas day. I told her that it was OK - I'd just have to leave the Coupe in the garage till then. She handed over the box and said Happy Early Christmas.....
In the box - my new Shorty headers. Now I hope they will fit. I'm a little worried about the firewall side! It will be close and I may have to build a heat shield on the firewall? I'll know for sure Friday!
And the new headers:
I will install these bare so that I can build the exhaust and strat the motor for break in. Once it's all up and running, I will take the headers off and send them off for ceramic coating. This was the last piece I was waiting on to finish up the V8 Coupe's new motor. Maybe I can have it running this weekend????
This evening, I decided to bolt on the headers and slip the motor in the car to check clearance. I was worried that these headers may be a little tight and I think I have to do some "engineering" to get some clearance both trunk side and firewall side. I was more worried about the firewall side but it actually looks better than the trucnk side. I have to remove the heater lines on the Firewall side and maybe relocate the crossover coolant tube/hose. The truck side looks to be a little tighter but I am planning on cutting the truck anyway so I can incorporate the "clearance" into the truck cut. Seems like a lot to do just to be able to use these headers but I was planning on the modifications anyway.
Motor with headers:
Slipin her in!
Firewall side:
Trucnk side:
More later!
Pat
[This message has been edited by katatak (edited 12-02-2010).]
Wish that I could be there as an extra hand. Looking good. I may have to call up Fieroking, and put in some hours in his garage. Since Benjamin's birth, I have neglected my poor Fiero. I need to work on something...
Wish that I could be there as an extra hand. Looking good. I may have to call up Fieroking, and put in some hours in his garage. Since Benjamin's birth, I have neglected my poor Fiero. I need to work on something...
Hey Tony!
I'm sure Fieroking would let you do some wrenching! You need to take Benjamin with you though - You have to start him off right - get him addicted before he realizes what you've done to him........ I'ts probably too cold for Fiero work up North! My Mom lives in Pocatello and she says it's been colder than a Witch's T.... well you know what I mean! Come on down, it was 68 here today!
Where did you get that interesting looking jack for the motor/cradle assembly? Looks trick.
Ken
Hey Ken,
It's a Motorcycle/ATV jack! It works perfect for swapping Fiero motors! I just lay a couple 2X6's long enough for the cradle to sit on and away I go. This particular jack has a lot of Fiero experience. It's up to about 10 or 11 swaps now. I keep planning on building a platform that I can pin or bolt to the jack platform that fits the cradel a little better. I installed the V8 this afternoon - by myself and it took all of 10 minutes to slide it under the car, jack it up, a little wiggle and the front bolts slid in with no hammering and then jack it up some more and slip in the rear bolts - done! I got this one at Harbor Frieght - many years ago. I have seen them sell for as low as 89.00. It's the only way to swap a motor
This afternoon I managed to remove the heater lines and get the trunk cut out. Then I installed the motor one more time to check clearance. Looks like I will have good clearance on the firewall side - I'll have to fab up a heat shield but that will be easy. On the trucnk side, it's a little too close for my liking. I think I will notch a section of the trunk wall and then build a "box" to create a recessed area to allow more air space between the header and the trunk wall. The only thing in the trunk will be the battery and some "road" tools but I would like to have it carpeted and think a little more clearance will do the trick. Now I need to decoide if I want to have the headers ceramic coated or is I will VHT them and the wrap with header wrap? Now I have to remove the motor one more time to finish up all the little odds and ends. While it's out of the way, I will finsih the engine compartment and do the mods to the trunk wall Lots of work still to do but I should be able to get most of it done this weekend.
I started by removing the inner fenderwells and then removed the taillights and rear bumper. When I pulled the first tail light, I found a "resident" from New Mexico! Or at least his house:
Then I removed the inner crush and steel bumper:
Then I removed the metal pan that the tail lights rest on and removed the tail light wiring harness:
Then I cut out the trunk: Carver1 would be proud of me - I "chopped" my first Fiero......
Now hear is the really cool part. With the trunk cut out, you do not need the back of the car raised into the stratosphere to slide the motor under the car. The SBC rolls under with plenty of clearance!
It's hard to make out in this pick - this is the firewall side with the cradle bolted in place. I will have to "tie" the crossover tube and wiring harness back against the firewall. I will also wrap both in heat resistant wrap. Then I will fab a heat shield that will bolt to some of the existing "stands" already on the firewall.
As for the trunk side, I think I will build a "reccess" in the trunk wall so that there will be more air space between the header and the trunk wall. This will take a little work. It will also mean a brake line relocation.
I also discovered that the timing tab on the timing cover will have to be "trimmed" a little as it touch's the passenger side frame rail. I am going to trim it about 1/2" and transfer the timing marks inward so that I will have a "normal" timing setup versus making marks on the flywheel and timing the car from underneath.
Looking good!
More later!
Pat
[This message has been edited by katatak (edited 12-03-2010).]
Worked on closing the trunk bottom in today - had great ambition till about 10:30. Jeff came by around 1:00 and lit a little fire under by butt. We managed to get the new trunk bottom/pan in and tacked in place. Also added a "crossmember" under the new pan - have one more to add. These will serve 2 functions - a solid place to mount the battery tray and a spacer for the heat shield as the muffler(s) will be under the trunk bottom.
Was out in the garage around 7:30am. Goal today was to get the trunk welded out and finish the passenger side frame reinforcement. I did not get either finished as I ran out of MIG wire and shield Gas at the same time? So I spent some time cleaning the engine compartment and the garage!
Just have to fill in the corners and apply some seam sealer then coat the inside and outside of the trunk:
Cleaned engine bay - just needs a new coat of paint:
I can't wait till I get this stuffed in for the last time!
Ya shoulda made me a pattern for that trunk bottom Pat. Joe
I still can Joe! If you want one let me know - I'll fab it up out of some construction paper or card stock. I have patterns for the corner pieces already.
I still can Joe! If you want one let me know - I'll fab it up out of some construction paper or card stock. I have patterns for the corner pieces already.
Pat
That'ed be great Pat. I will be happy to pay for the trouble. I have been sorta wondering the best way to cover that danged hole up. Joe
