3800 Fiero (Making it Faster!)

[@CarputingYT]

Woo hoo! More Fiero content. The only thing I can't copy is E85 because I'm Canadian

[@Toys4Life]

Glad you enjoy is sir! No E85 in Canada - or just your specific area?

[@CarputingYT]

@@Toys4Life None in Canada. To my understanding it's because E85 is problematic in the cold (I am still surprised we don't have it anywhere in the summer). I am doing another engine build that would really benefit from E85, and I'm almost debating importing a few drums every summer. It's really hard to get good fuel in Canada, we also don't have drag strips like you do readily available to use in the states nearly as much. Harder to be a car enthusiast here lol.

[@DullerCrab]

@@CarputingYT We have 4 E85 stations here in BC

[@chrisdooley6468]

That 11.8 1/4m time is superb. I recently saw an E63 AMG wagon do an 11.8 so there’s a comparison lol

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you sir!

[@turboslugfiero]

Nice to see you doing some work on the Fiero. I agree that the gearbox is the limiting factor for pushing beyond 500HP. As well, a Fiero doesn't need too much power; it needs to be able to put the power that it has onto the ground, without spinning its wheels!

[@Toys4Life]

Good to see you making progress getting your engine back together!

[@turboslugfiero]

@@Toys4Life Thanks 👍😃

[@rkirschner7175]

Keep on keeping on. That whole concept is incredible. 🙀😺❤👍

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you, I appreciate it sir!

[@Johnny-xf9mp]

So I am Looking at an ‘04 Commemorative Edition and came across your channel while I devour every little piece of info on Corvettes…. I’ve fallen in love with this car, I can’t use this comment section to tell you everything about this car but, it’s low miles, garage kept very well maintained/ mild top end work, exhaust…Z 06 suspension…3:90 gears…. The list goes on!! …. I hit the subscribe button/ hit the likes on all the vids… you’ve given me a Huge amount of info ! Thanks man!

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you for the note and the sub!!

[@ProCoach2373]

Old GM master tech here. LOL A compression check will show major issues, but a leak down is the way to go for true soundness of the cylinder components. It wouldn't surprise me if you have a leaky valve. Those are sound engines as you have stated, but I do recall rebuilding the heads on one 3.8 back in the late 90's with a leaky valve. Also, GM likely specified that a compression check should be done with all the plugs removed and at operating temperature. You are probably slightly out of spec on that lowest cylinder, but perhaps you just keep an eye on it. Now would be a great time to rebuild the heads though. :) Higher compression means more HP! Sorry! LOL As always, I enjoy your content!

[@Toys4Life]

Appreciate your comment sir! This is kind of a budget sleeper build so I don't like to spend a lot of money on it - unless it's really needed. I have no doubt that you're right & there is some valve leakage - and I know you're right that a cylinder leak down test would tell which valves were leaking. I also have no doubt that my engine could be improved upon with a valve job -but then I'm putting fresh Heads on 170,000 mile short block - so the argument could be easily be made that - that wouldn't be so bright either and that I should just to rebuild the whole engine? It never ends .. I've been in the gearhead game for decades and over the past 10 years I've heard many people say 3.8 don't seem to take to rebuilding well. They typically don't use any facts - so I'm not sure what they're referring to but I thought I would bounce it off of you, do you know anything about that truth or myth? Is there anything particular about the 3.8 that rebuilders tend to get wrong???

[@ProCoach2373]

@@Toys4Life That makes perfect sense to me. It would likely be a can of worms. Valve job, valve guides, valve springs, refacing the head and who knows what else. No more than you drive it, it may last a long time yet. I'd be a little concerned about burning a valve and damaging a cylinder head, but I'm sure 3.8 heads are plentiful. --I'm out of the loop as I haven't turned wrenches for a living in well over 20 years. I was a GM Asep student and them a GM Master tech for a short period. I hated the job, so I became a business man! My guess is that GM parts are no longer available and the aftermarket support lacks quality in comparison. With that outstanding oil pressure and if the rings do well with a leak down, a top end rebuild may be viable for many miles. Murphy seems to always bit me in the ass with cars. I'd take the super charger off and get everything fresh and pretty, and then I'd burn a valve pulling out of the driveway. LOL Your luck with engines may be better than mine. :)

[@Toys4Life]

I hear you, luck is a big part of it for sure even if you do everything else right. Thanks for the thoughts sir!

[@matthewbratton3825]

Love your car and posts. I have that same Pontiac Service sign!

[@Toys4Life]

You don' see them too often - I agree they are cool. Thanks for commenting sir!

[@pulloutperformance]

Love the videos! And if you block the coolant passages won’t that over heat the supercharger? Those roots produce temp

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you!! The coolant just goes thru the corner of the SC and into the TB to heat it up and prevent icing in the winter. It doesn't circulate thru the whole SC. I don't think this will affect much on daily driving but for drag racing - letting the car cool down for a half hour between runs I am hopeful the SC, TB and intake tubing leading to the Throttle body will stay cooler and free up a few HP.

[@pulloutperformance]

@@Toys4Life sweet! Good info, excited to see how the car does! My 2000 trans am ws6 ran a 11.82 Pb stock with 100shot of nitrous! Amazing what your car does!

[@Toys4Life]

I had a 99 trans am and it was just stock but man that's a beautiful car! 13.7 @ 103, so IMO you're 11.80 is pretty freaking awesome! Those trans ams of skyrocketed and value to, makes me doubly pissed that I sold mine.

[@rapposracing8538]

Great stuff!! Have you ran it at the track again after the porting? I'm interested to see how much gain. I have a S/C 3800 its ran 12.1@113mph with 12psi and with a 100 shot nitrous high 10s. Looking for more gains without spending a heap of money.

[@Toys4Life]

I have not. The I am going the next track day that the weather cooperates and will report back!

[@jplperformance9073]

Yeah TEP is the best at the 4t65e. I'm picking up my 350whp Trans next week and dropping off my 500whp Trans for a COMPLETE build. I'm pumped for the first Trans so I can drive my GTP again.

[@jasonhadley594]

Are you running the stock cam still??

[@Toys4Life]

No sir, I'm running a vs cam from ZZ performance. I would call it a mild keeps the majority of the low end torque but bumps the horsepower up at the top and a little bit too

[@racerd9669]

I think I may know someone who would love to redo that entire engine for you. Have you been following Eric Holdner,s 3800 project he is doing now at westech. It is on Utube every night.

[@Toys4Life]

Yes. Good stuff, tons of Dino runs lots of good information. Best things he shared are that headers don't do squat for that motor and that the intercooler is only worth 20 horsepower over e85. That guy is just knocking out the videos.

[@racerd9669]

@@Toys4Life Did he do gasoline testing also, not to sure?

[@Toys4Life]

Yes he sure did, excellent excellent stuff.

[@racerd9669]

@@Toys4Life I posted a old dyno vid of the Iron duke and it is getting lots of interest, imagine that?

[@Toys4Life]

That's awesome, can you provide a link?

[@johnmaas373]

Did you say at idle fully warmed up it had 45psi of oil pressure? I looked at your gauges and was it actually 25psi?

[@Toys4Life]

4:18 Not sure what gauge you are looking at but 45ish is what it is at (🙂

[@johnmaas373]

@@Toys4Life what rpm was it at?

[@Toys4Life]

@@johnmaas373 idle for one part and around 5,000 RPM for the second part.

[@melvingrimes7886]

Leak down test. With a properly sized turbo lag is none existent. I have been drag racing for over 30 years and always used turbos. It's all about the power you want and exhaust .AR

[@Toys4Life]

Agreed - I really should do a leak down. I would do a turbo but I would want 550+hp and that will easily kill my 4t65e-hd and New H.P. hard parts are no longer readily available.

[@melvingrimes7886]

@@Toys4Life It would be nice if someone would step up and start offering a performance build kit for the 4T65E but I think that time has passed sorry to say.

[@Toys4Life]

There used to be parts available, but they stopped supporting it... Otherwise I think I would seriously consider putting a turbo on mine.

[@melvingrimes7886]

@@Toys4Life Monster Transmission used to build a mean one.

[@JR-uy3zo]

5 speed from a Cavalier good for 700hp

[@k00lkidz4]

Love the Fiero content, thoghts on honda K20 or k24 swapped Fieros

[@CarputingYT]

I think that would be a great engine if you want something reliable with good horsepower, I think most people do the 3800 swap because it's straight forward, with K20 or k24 I imagine you'd need a different transmission and custom mounts/axles for that.

[@k00lkidz4]

@@CarputingYT i looked into it and a 2003 acura tsx transmission works fine. I don't know about the other stuff tho....

[@Toys4Life]

Yes. Respect to the K24 ! 3800 is easier thought and for daily driving with the SC I think it might be more fun - unless you have the booost turned way up on the K24. I want to drive a well done turbo K24 though just to be sure.

[@donaldbowen1889]

Super turbo charge it!!

[@Toys4Life]

I think one or the others good enough in my humble opinion.

[@APatchworkCanvas]

I want to make a diesel battery hybrid Fiero next. Someone buy my 3800sc Fiero!

[@daren9721]

You think meth injection would give a bit more power? Those root style blowers create a lot of heat. I'm thinking the meth would cool the intake a bit.

[@Toys4Life]

Without E85 I think meth would be worth it. If all I had was pump gas I would intercool for sure. Since I have E85, I am tempted to add a little NO2 dry shot - like 75hp or so...

[@daren9721]

@@Toys4Life e85 will cool the cylinders injected straight in but the meth would cool the intake before it gets into the cylinders and cheaper than nos.

[@Toys4Life]

I wonder if that would affect the coating on the rotors and also infiltrate The rotor bearings?

[@daren9721]

@@Toys4Life I think it enters in and out so fast it doesn't affect your bearings, it will keep it cool and clean. Cooler bearings longer life. Just my two cents, I could be wrong. Something to look in to though 🤔

[@Auxbeam]

Hi Do you need some great lighting for your car to help you better driving at night? We're the pro auto lighting manufacturer for nearly 20 year and we're looking for sponsorship!

[@Toys4Life]

Hi, I might be interested - what do you have for C5 Corvette lighting?

[@Auxbeam]

@@Toys4Life Hi Maybe let's replace the bulbs with the stronger performance bulbs? What is the year of your C5?

[@josels1292]

First comment. Haven’t seen it but still the first.

[@Toys4Life]

lol - hopefully you watch it now...