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Rickady88GT V8 build thread by Rickady88GT
Started on | : 06-10-2009 08:55 PM |
Replies | : 418 (48764 views) |
Last post by | : Rickady88GT on 07-30-2022 12:02 PM |
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Jul 23rd, 2009
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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I took the car out last night for a 45+min drive. This is imposable to recognize as a Fiero from inside at night. The new dash and new color lights set this car in a different class. I now have blue lights on all my switches and orange gauges. I need to try to get a good night pic of the lights. .JPG) .JPG) .JPG) [This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 07-23-2009).]
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02:12 AM
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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My tire diameter is a little smaller than the donor car tire. Mine are a little over 26" and the Monte was about 27". So my speedo is about 2mph slower than the speedo shows. This affects my instant fuel economy settings a little. As of my last long drive the D.I.C. shows 36-40 mpg in one direction and 30-34 in the other. Note that the wind and slope do affect MPG so an accurate reading needs to have both directions in the calculation. This is with the D.O.D. on. In V8 mode the instant economy drops to 25mpg at best. I know this is not accurate enough to bet money on but does give an idea of what is going on. I am keeping all my gas tank fill receipts to accurately calculate the real MPG.
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12:41 PM
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2.5 Member Posts: 43235 From: Southern MN Registered: May 2007
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Isolde Member Posts: 2504 From: North Logan, Utah, USA Registered: May 2008
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time to start with the engine mods! or add some boost. a t76 is a good way to go for a stock 5.3, but a pair of T4S04s would let you be at full boost several hundred rpm sooner, and take the power level a bit higher.
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03:02 PM
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madcurl Member Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
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Nashco Member Posts: 4144 From: Portland, OR Registered: Dec 2000
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You're right to use the "indicated" MPG as a guideline, but in reality it's not really good for much. On my Sky, the indicated fuel economy and the ACTUAL fuel economy (using miles driven on the tank divided by gallons to fill the tank) are rarely the same. They are usually within about 15% of each other in either direction.
That's a bummer that you couldn't drive the car, as you've obviously put enough effort into this car to make it much more than a trailer queen. Keep us posted, and thanks for the update. I really dig that interior, now you've got me wanting to find a wrecked Malibu! It's a shame they only come with autos...
Bryce
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04:31 PM
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Jul 24th, 2009
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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X2. [This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 07-24-2009).]
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01:40 AM
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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Thanks for the comments. The car should be smog certified before I even think about mods  The ref might not think it is so cool with turbos? If I get it thru him first then I can do the other "little" things  I look forward to the new door panels and center console  My Short Star got an all around average of about 26mpg. I would be very happy to get better than that with a V8. The Malibu dash is a bit tight on the leg room. The Malibu has a very tall driver cabin and the dash is tall too. I would make custom lower halves if I were to do this again so I could get 2" moor leg room at the lowest part of the dash. As it is now I just move the pedals all the way forward and the seat all the way rearward and my legs lay flat enough to clear the bottom of the dash. If I move the pedals or seat together, my shins hit the bottom of the dash. My wife has no problem. [This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 07-24-2009).]
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01:42 AM
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Jul 27th, 2009
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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I have over 300 miles on it after the swap and the last 115 cost me about 5 gallons. That is an average of 20mpg. I calculated the the exact miles per gallon to 20.48 mpg. The DIC says 21.2. So that is not bad for an estimate from the DIC. That is actually much closer to the actual than I thought it would be.
Passing power is MUCH better than the Short Star. I used to get to 80 passing a single car. Now I get to 100 if I let up just after overtaking the car. 0-60 is much better too.No "real" numbers but if I try to hard the PCM shuts down the throttle. So where it is now will be dwarfed by the post PCM tune latter.
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02:31 AM
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ArbinShire Member Posts: 90 From: Tallahassee FL Registered: Nov 2004
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| quote | Originally posted by Rickady88GT:
.JPG)
I will try to make some new video soon. |
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Isn't that shifter a little close to the dashboard?
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02:53 AM
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hksteck84 Member Posts: 149 From: MICHIGAN Registered: Apr 2009
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I have to say the build is most impressive, and I give you 2 thumbs up on the dash build. But I'm hoping your not completely finished with the center console. I see some MAJOR POTENTIAL with the center console... KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
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09:14 AM
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PFF
System Bot
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Isolde Member Posts: 2504 From: North Logan, Utah, USA Registered: May 2008
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As long as the turbos aren't between the exhaust manifolds and the cat(s), you're golden. just because Squires patented the rear-turbo concept with camaros doesn't mean you can't put a T76 or a pair of T4S04s after your cat(s) so long as you don't try to sell a kit. Nashco, maybe you've missed it elsewhere, but the LS4 with a manual tranms is as simple as boring the LS4 to 5.7L, plugging the DoD, and running it as an LS6, which is what I'm working on. Plus it fits better than a real LS6 with the Archie kit. You can have the 58x reluctor replaced with a 24x when you have the crank rebalanced for the larger pistons. Then just use the Ls6 programming and cam. the dbw tb is no issue, the LS4 heads are the same as the LS6 except for the valve stems, it's super easy.
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11:06 AM
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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| quote | Originally posted by ArbinShire:
Isn't that shifter a little close to the dashboard? |
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It may be hard to tell but the shifter is cut down 2-3 inches (one of the few short auto shifters" and moved back about 3". It is in "Park" in that pic and I have 2' between the shifter and dash. For comparison my Olds Intrigue has 2.5" between the shifter and dash. So this on may be closer than a stock Fiero but I have plenty of room when the shifter is in drive. In park I can still put Cd's in the 6 disk in dash Radio. The heater controls are under the Radio so the radio is completely unobstructed. I can adjust any function on the heater controls even in Park without the shifter getting in the way..
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12:31 PM
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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| quote | Originally posted by hksteck84:
I have to say the build is most impressive, and I give you 2 thumbs up on the dash build. But I'm hoping your not completely finished with the center console. I see some MAJOR POTENTIAL with the center console... KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. |
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Thanks, the center cover is just a piece of carpet with a hand made shifter boot. It is not the center console. I ran out of time for the West Fest Fiero show. I tossed that over the metal tunnel just to hide the tunnel for the show. I did not even have enough time to cover the doors. I have an idea how I will do the doors and center console but they will be latter.
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12:38 PM
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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| quote | Originally posted by Isolde:
As long as the turbos aren't between the exhaust manifolds and the cat(s), you're golden. just because Squires patented the rear-turbo concept with camaros doesn't mean you can't put a T76 or a pair of T4S04s after your cat(s) so long as you don't try to sell a kit. Nashco, maybe you've missed it elsewhere, but the LS4 with a manual tranms is as simple as boring the LS4 to 5.7L, plugging the DoD, and running it as an LS6, which is what I'm working on. Plus it fits better than a real LS6 with the Archie kit. You can have the 58x reluctor replaced with a 24x when you have the crank rebalanced for the larger pistons. Then just use the Ls6 programming and cam. the dbw tb is no issue, the LS4 heads are the same as the LS6 except for the valve stems, it's super easy. |
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We need to talk
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12:39 PM
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Nashco Member Posts: 4144 From: Portland, OR Registered: Dec 2000
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| quote | Originally posted by Isolde:
Nashco, maybe you've missed it elsewhere, but the LS4 with a manual tranms is as simple as boring the LS4 to 5.7L, plugging the DoD, and running it as an LS6, which is what I'm working on. |
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Isolde, maybe you've imagined it elsewhere, but I never said anything about mating a manual trans to an LS4. I like all of the engines available in the Malibu (Ecotec BAS, 3500 w/ E85, 3600...all great swap candidates) and I think swapping the interior along with the powertrain would be great; similar to what Rickady's done, except without the Monte engine/Malibu interior complexity. The only thing I don't like about that idea is going with an auto, since that's all that was available in the Malibu. Bryce
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12:48 PM
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Isolde Member Posts: 2504 From: North Logan, Utah, USA Registered: May 2008
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Sorry I misunderstood. I saw it as you wishing for a legal way to have a manual trans with a Malibu engine, and thus the LS4, the only FWD engine on earth worth having. My apologies.
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03:36 PM
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hksteck84 Member Posts: 149 From: MICHIGAN Registered: Apr 2009
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| quote | Originally posted by Rickady88GT:
Thanks, the center cover is just a piece of carpet with a hand made shifter boot. It is not the center console. I ran out of time for the West Fest Fiero show. I tossed that over the metal tunnel just to hide the tunnel for the show. I did not even have enough time to cover the doors. I have an idea how I will do the doors and center console but they will be latter.
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Well I can't wait to see the new improvments. This build has really inspired me, and again keep up the good work.
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05:49 PM
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Bruce Member Posts: 2189 From: Ventura, California, USA Registered: May 99
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Rick, You make us Central Californians very proud! bb
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06:51 PM
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Jul 28th, 2009
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RONT4.9 Member Posts: 85 From: Myrtle Point OR. Registered: Oct 2007
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| quote | Originally posted by Rickady88GT:
I have over 300 miles on it after the swap and the last 115 cost me about 5 gallons. That is an average of 20mpg. I calculated the the exact miles per gallon to 20.48 mpg. The DIC says 21.2. So that is not bad for an estimate from the DIC. That is actually much closer to the actual than I thought it would be.
Passing power is MUCH better than the Short Star. I used to get to 80 passing a single car. Now I get to 100 if I let up just after overtaking the car. 0-60 is much better too.No "real" numbers but if I try to hard the PCM shuts down the throttle. So where it is now will be dwarfed by the post PCM tune latter. |
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Don't have the DIC in mine, but using the trip meter i have checked mine a couple of times and it's averaging 22mpg overall. (I have the interceptor gauge and my speedo is vary accurate ) Also my car is the basic 88 coupe, so it may be a little lighter.
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01:13 PM
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Aug 2nd, 2009
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Fieroking Member Posts: 2149 From: Coeur D Alene Idaho USA Registered: Jun 2002
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All I can say is WOW. Makes my puny efforts with my 4.9 and 3.4 DOHC pale in comparison. Excellent work Joe Sokol ------------------ 85 SE Daily driver with a 3.4 DOHC build underway 88 Formula/GT 4.9 Allante Intake (My Baby)
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11:58 PM
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PFF
System Bot
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Aug 3rd, 2009
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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1986 Fiero GT Member Posts: 3383 From: Eden, NY USA Registered: Mar 2005
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| quote | Originally posted by Rickady88GT:
This Monte Carlo radio needs an adaptor to use an aftermarket amp and subs.
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Yes, you will need at the very least a line output converter, which can be found readily at your local Best Buy or custom shop. Basically, it takes a high (speaker) lever signal and transforms it into a low (line) level input for an amp. If you want very high fidelity, I recommend an Audio Control LC7, but anything with at least 4 channels should work fine. These are generally "better," because you get far more adjustability, they're generally built better and you'll get strong (~5V) pre-outs to your amps. Definitely the best route. These can be picked up from online, or possibly your local custom shop, depending on how much they deal with things like this. | quote | Originally posted by Rickady88GT:
The problem is that this radio has different style antenna plugs for the windshield type antenna and won't plug into the ones I have in the car So I need to get a "Y" fitting to link the two Fiero antennas together then an adaptor to link the Fiero antennas to the Monte radio? If any one has suggestions I would appreciate them
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Yea, a standard Y-adapter should work fine for connecting the two, and can possibly be found at Best Buy or your local custom shop, but that guy may very well need to come from online. We never had them at Circuit City. You could always just make your own, too. For going into the factory deck, you'll need a 40CR20 if it's a Metra part. I'm not sure what American International or Scosche call them, but it's the same part. Basically a female connector for the standard Motorola antenna connector found on your Fiero antenna, and a male Chrysler (yea, that's right...GM used Chrysler antenna connectors for their newer cars) plug to go into the OE Monte deck. Your local Best Buy or custom shop will have this. We use them all the time for satellite radio installs. Just make sure you give them the year and make and model of the car, but I'm 99.99% sure it's a 40CR20.
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08:22 PM
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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Cool, thank you very much. Would it be better if I just used some sort of after market add on windshield antenna? IF they even exist?
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09:26 PM
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Aug 4th, 2009
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Austrian Import Member Posts: 3919 From: Monterey, CA Registered: Feb 2007
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Or you can replace the "stock" deck with a double DIN touch screen and use your amp. I'm not sure if you're going for the "factory GM" look though. Stock stereo's tend to be really bad for sound quality. Line level adapters work, but they have only so much source material to deal with. Besides, you won't get HD radio. - I hear it's all the rage now.
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12:54 AM
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DRKORN Junior Member Posts: 8 From: Registered: Feb 2009
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Not showing my flyfisherman colors here or anything but, AWESOME brown trout!
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02:18 AM
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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| quote | Originally posted by DRKORN:
Not showing my flyfisherman colors here or anything but, AWESOME brown trout! |
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Thanks. Catch and release. It may still be there  That was the only fish I got. AND it was the very last "cast". The day before, I tied spinners and cast masters but the fish laughed at me. This day my wife and kids wanted to swim in that pool. But I wanted to fish with my daughter first. So an hour or so of my daughter taking the tiny gold hook tied directly to the line with a cricket around the pool and tossing it into the creek, I finally got one. I saw the fish take the cricket so I "set the hook" but there was to much slack in the line. I thought it was gone, the fish took another cricket. So I reeled in the line and about half the line in I felt a huge tug. It was on, a great fight. I landed the fish and the hook just fell out of its mouth. It never set. I just kept the tension on the line and it stayed. .JPG) this is the pool I got the fish from. My daughter would walk the hook all the way around the top and drop the cricket in the small bowl at the top and it would fall down the little water fall and go it's natural flow down stream.
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02:56 AM
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Aug 22nd, 2009
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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OK, I finally ran out of gas today. The fill up was 10.38 gal + the 1 gal from the reserve can. After the tank mods I still have an 11+ gal tank. I went 229 miles on a full tank of gas and that comes out to 20.13 MPG. Not as good as the last tank of gas at 20.48. BUT this time I drove around town in 3rd gear instead of 4th so the DOD does not turn on in town. The polly mounts and 1,000 RPM at 30mph causes to much vibration, and I don't like the sound of a V8 4 cylinder. I get some black soot in the tail pipes too, so a good dyno tune should help the economy and power?
I tried to get some video but the camera is in bad shape ( to much trail dust from 4 wheelin) and the quality sux.
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01:19 AM
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DeLorean00 Member Posts: 4251 From: Sacramento, CA / Reno, NV Registered: Aug 2005
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Once again, Nice Jeep! I love Cherokees!
Also awesome Fiero! You build some great machines!
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12:09 PM
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Aug 23rd, 2009
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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| quote | Originally posted by DeLorean00:
Once again, Nice Jeep! I love Cherokees!
Also awesome Fiero! You build some great machines! |
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Thanks, I want to swap a V8 into the Jeep next  How about a 6.2 Escalade with the 6 speed auto?
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01:45 AM
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hye_4_life Member Posts: 469 From: Clovis, CA Registered: Jul 2008
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Rick, where did you go for your camping trip? It looks real nice there.
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01:47 AM
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PFF
System Bot
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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| quote | Originally posted by hye_4_life:
Rick, where did you go for your camping trip? It looks real nice there. |
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That spot is "off the beaten path" but is in the Dinky Creek area.
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11:42 AM
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Sep 16th, 2009
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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Getting better, 25mpg. I still have not had it "tuned" so I think it can be better.
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08:34 PM
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Sep 17th, 2009
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Isolde Member Posts: 2504 From: North Logan, Utah, USA Registered: May 2008
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I expect it to get much better, because I had a '78 Camaro, with the big rear spoiler, and a carbureted 350, that got 25 mpg. You have 25 less cubic inches, modern EFI, and better aerodynamics. Keep at it!
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10:01 AM
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Sep 18th, 2009
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FierOmar Member Posts: 1646 From: Glendale, California, USA Registered: Dec 2001
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I know you mentioned that a manual trans would not be smog compliant. However, my question is whether this engine would bolt up to the same bell housing as the 2.8-3.4, 3.8, 4.9, etc.? ------------------ FierOmar
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10:23 AM
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Isolde Member Posts: 2504 From: North Logan, Utah, USA Registered: May 2008
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FierOmar, The LS4 will bolt right up to the same transaxles as the other engines you list, without an adapter plate. And even better, it can be emissions legal, all it takes is boring the LS4 to 5.7L, then using the following stuff from an LS6 as found in the Z06 'vette: pistons, cam, intake, and computer. Then you get it smogged as an LS6. The biggest hassle is getting the LS4 crank rebalanced for the LS6 pistons.
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11:06 AM
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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| quote | Originally posted by Isolde:
FierOmar, The LS4 will bolt right up to the same transaxles as the other engines you list, without an adapter plate. And even better, it can be emissions legal, all it takes is boring the LS4 to 5.7L, then using the following stuff from an LS6 as found in the Z06 'vette: pistons, cam, intake, and computer. Then you get it smogged as an LS6. The biggest hassle is getting the LS4 crank rebalanced for the LS6 pistons. |
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Not in CA. ALL they care about is the numbers on the block. The engine has to have the smog equipment that GM assigned to the block. The ref will check it. I even had to go to the CHP for an inspection to verify that the engine was not stolen property. Now I will say that later you could change out the block and convert it to an LS6, but only after the initial certification and even then it will still be smog legal as an auto because the cert sticker. A better way to do it is to start with a manual equip engine. Certify that then swap to a LS4 block. Bu you have to ask yourself if it is worth all the trouble?
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12:24 PM
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FierOmar Member Posts: 1646 From: Glendale, California, USA Registered: Dec 2001
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| quote | Originally posted by FierOmar: I know you mentioned that a manual trans would not be smog compliant. However, my question is whether this engine would bolt up to the same bell housing as the 2.8-3.4, 3.8, 4.9, etc.? |
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| quote | Originally posted by Isolde: FierOmar, The LS4 will bolt right up to the same transaxles as the other engines you list, without an adapter plate. And even better, it can be emissions legal, all it takes is boring the LS4 to 5.7L, then using the following stuff from an LS6 as found in the Z06 'vette: pistons, cam, intake, and computer. Then you get it smogged as an LS6. The biggest hassle is getting the LS4 crank rebalanced for the LS6 pistons. |
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| quote | Originally posted by Rickady88GT: Not in CA. ALL they care about is the numbers on the block. The engine has to have the smog equipment that GM assigned to the block. The ref will check it. I even had to go to the CHP for an inspection to verify that the engine was not stolen property. Now I will say that later you could change out the block and convert it to an LS6, but only after the initial certification and even then it will still be smog legal as an auto because the cert sticker. A better way to do it is to start with a manual equip engine. Certify that then swap to a LS4 block. Bu you have to ask yourself if it is worth all the trouble? |
| Let me mention that my primary interest has been track performance (road racing)... not street. So, I really don't need to worry about smog, referees, etc. So, looking at the various transmission options, any vote for the best choice? ------------------ FierOmar [This message has been edited by FierOmar (edited 09-18-2009).]
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01:31 PM
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Rickady88GT Member Posts: 10649 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
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| quote | Originally posted by FierOmar:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rickady88GT: Not in CA. ALL they care about is the numbers on the block. The engine has to have the smog equipment that GM assigned to the block. The ref will check it. I even had to go to the CHP for an inspection to verify that the engine was not stolen property. Now I will say that later you could change out the block and convert it to an LS6, but only after the initial certification and even then it will still be smog legal as an auto because the cert sticker. A better way to do it is to start with a manual equip engine. Certify that then swap to a LS4 block. Bu you have to ask yourself if it is worth all the trouble? |
| Let me mention that my primary interest has been track performance... not street. So, I really don't need to worry about smog, referees, etc. So, looking at the various transmission options, any vote for the best choice? [/QUOTE] By "track" do you mean strip or coarse? The easiest (as if there is such a thing) way to brake neck power from an all aluminum V8 is to get an LS3 with an Archie 6 speed F40 kit. But since this LS4 is not my idea of the ultimate Fiero I will have to drive it till I get around to building a 6 speed LS3. But I don't plan to use the Archie kit. I have other ideas I would like to try.
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01:49 PM
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FierOmar Member Posts: 1646 From: Glendale, California, USA Registered: Dec 2001
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| quote | Originally posted by Rickady88GT:
By "track" do you mean strip or coarse? The easiest (as if there is such a thing) way to brake neck power from an all aluminum V8 is to get an LS3 with an Archie 6 speed F40 kit. But since this LS4 is not my idea of the ultimate Fiero I will have to drive it till I get around to building a 6 speed LS3. But I don't plan to use the Archie kit. I have other ideas I would like to try.
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Road course (of course). And for such an application, I'm not so sure that a six speed gearbox would be needed although I do have one. I'm thinking 5 speed Getrag would do the trick. I happen to have one from a Fiero, a Beretta GTZ, and an Olds SCX with W41 option. I am thinking that the Beretta GTZ probably has the best overall gear ratios and final drive ratio for an LS4. As always, your thoughts and comments are appreciated. ------------------ FierOmar
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03:26 PM
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