3800 Supercharged Fiero (Tips & Closer Look Part 2) / Engine Swap

[@RearEngineShop]

Can’t wait to get my 3800 swap finished in my Wide Body Fiero.

[@Toys4Life]

You are going to need a grin-ectomy!

[@thejunkman]

As a Fiero collector. I like this video!

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks thejunkman!

[@magnusdanielsson2749]

I have an -88 2.8 formula with the 3speed auto. I must say I really like the car like that. Its very responsive, smooth shift and perfect kick down. Doing up a 3.4 engine now and will keep the gearbox. Hoping it will not brake..

[@Toys4Life]

I think it should be fine, and that 3.4 will add a nice bit of low end grunt for sure!

[@mattperkins7038]

This is really neat. Looks rad, man.

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you!

[@aloneranger3980]

You should do a series on building a car like this.

[@Toys4Life]

That would be fun - Thanks for the suggestion!

[@scottgas1299]

I would love to see a Fiero with a new Camaro V6/6spd in it. I think the this high rev engine better suits the character of the Fiero. Regardless I bet this lil beast is a hoot to drive. OR the GM 2.0 turbo/6 speed I think would be a great combo for the Fiero.

[@Toys4Life]

Me too on the new Camaro V6!

[@calvinthedestroyer]

How did you hook up the axles? did you swap the hubs or cut the axles and weld them to the fiero axles?

[@Dwizzlejay]

Your awesome build, your choice manuals are not for everyone...

[@darinr9424]

Wice def... but ehh.. i woda had to gone with at least a 4.3. Much more power potential with a blower and just a carb. On e85 fuel just over 700 before they push out head gaskets. But studes and O Rining it would cure all that. About 20 years ago a magazine built a carbed 4.3 with a super charger and it broke over 700 power was still climbing till it puked the head gasket

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you! Hard part today is finding a transverse transmission that will hold more than 390 RWHP....

[@mnhobbyfarmer502]

Nice job Larry,

[@mnhobbyfarmer502]

Toys4Life C5 last time I saw you we where on a pontoon

[@Toys4Life]

@@mnhobbyfarmer502 Shares all the same letters of NEK? I give...

[@petehiggins75]

Ok..which axel needs replacing Second what throttle body cable did u use..great video love it

[@dj4monie]

Lots of axle videos and threads out there. This is why you get a Grand Prix GTP over the other 3800SC vehicles because you can reuse the GTP axle (assuming you are reusing the automatic which I would recommend as well) and one of the Fiero axles. I don't remember which one, lost of videos and forum threads by the way look it up... Throttle cable has been covered too, 4 cylinder Fiero throttle cable works with little modification, the 6 cylinder with more. IMHO DBW makes sense here, no need to do either those just drop the motor in with the PCM and go. Now you need the pedal from those cars to communicate with the DBW, but that's not complicated. There is so much you can do with DBW over throttle cable. It eliminates IAC and vacuum based cruise control (which the Fiero has).

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks for the comment! It has been a while but I seem to recall using the stock Fiero throttle cable. This is an easy part of the swap. Axles were easy too, I will include some data in Part 3 or Part 4 about the axles I used. For me this was a concern because I did not want to have to get any expensive custom axle parts made. Good news is you can do it with all off the shelf parts.

[@petehiggins75]

Keep up the great work and keep on whoopin some a#@😀

[@leadsled8961]

SBC fits like it was made for it.

[@Toys4Life]

SBC is OK but is kinda long....SC 3800 is better for this application IMO...

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

what donor cars have the correct trans with the best series of 3800 engine should i get? I am buying a beater fiero tomorrow. thanks

[@Toys4Life]

search cars that came with 4t65e-hd wiki and that is your list. Series 2 or 3 3800 SC V6

[@dj4monie]

I have sort of a off base question but it's related. I've been told that despite the problems with the front manifold and you opted to upgrade to the ZZP Powerlog the gains + price is not worth it as the problems can be fixed with the tune (assuming HPT or DHP) but my question is about the VS cam. Did you replace any of the other valve train components, timing chain, water pump, etc? Not a Fiero swap can't do that now, but driving round a GP GTP in very good condition. By my math I can run mid 12's with a 3500 lbs GP with the same mods on E85; though I might run something stronger at the strip to get a few more tenths.

[@Toys4Life]

When I took the manifold off the 3800 that's closest to the firewall, it's clear to me that it's very restrictive. Especially if you're going from 240 horse to mid 300. The ZZP piece is beautifully crafted and pretty cheap, I would do it again. As for valve train components I just put in The LS6 springs and I think they're modified retainers to hold them if I remember correctly. Yes I put in just a stock replacement timing chain and gear and tensioner. That was several years ago.

[@3613jeremy]

It didn't look like the SC was ported was there any reason you didn't have it done to the SC and intake seeing you like running the track thanks

[@Toys4Life]

I ported it last winter, did a whole video series on it.

[@3613jeremy]

@@Toys4Life ya I watched it after I typed after asking that

[@TiojoEstra]

Can anyone please tell me if all this modifications can also be done on a Buick park avenue ultra 1999 thanks a lot

[@Toys4Life]

Yep

[@MercedesE63S-AMG]

I used the Getrag 5 speed with Spec 3+ with my swap. My car has been swapped since 2000. What I want to know is how hard was it to convert to E85? What & all did you have to change? Who tuned it?

[@Toys4Life]

New Fuel pump, ethanol rated hoses, 60lb injectors and I tuned it myself. Pretty simple tune (as far as tunes go).

[@jim52970]

Did you go with a slightly higher stall converter when you did the swap or is it stock?

[@Toys4Life]

Stock. Sooo much torque down low in a light car - does not need any more stall IMO.

[@550sized]

Sounds awesome

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks Man!

[@ezracotoc1875]

What was the original motor in that specific car? And what transmission do you have?

[@jim52970]

All GM 3.8 series II super charged motors came with the FWD 4T65E Heavy Duty trans (various cars models- all the same motor / trans combo) Solid, good automatics! The standard 4T65E's not so much. Most likely had the wimpy IronPuke 4banger Ezra.

[@jamien9327]

Nice!

[@jimmyhamm9737]

HOW MUCH FOR THE TOTAL COMPLETE SWAP +PARTS?

[@Toys4Life]

That's a tough question, I'm pretty thrifty and did all the work myself. I probably have less than 2 k into the swap.

[@TiojoEstra]

@@Toys4Life So total?? Whit labor and you can do the same whit my 1999 Buick park avenue ultra lol

[@Toys4Life]

If I was retired, I might just give you a quote. That having been said I have a full-time job and there's no way I could fit it in, it's a lot of work!

[@w41duvernay]

That instrument cluster looks like it's out of a Buick.

[@Toys4Life]

97 regal GS to be exact.

[@oriancunningham]

good shit.

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks man!

[@racerd9669]

If anyone has driven a 4 or 5 speed Fiero you know haw bad they shift. I love stick shift cars but in the Fiero with 5 ft of cable you will never be faster than an automatic trans Fiero.

[@Toys4Life]

Yeah, I never wore a great shifter, but for road courses and stuff that would be more fun than an automatic. I prefer the automatic for drag racing and for a 0 to 60 bursts!

[@Friedbrain11]

I like the auto version.

[@Toys4Life]

Definitely better for drag racing and stoplight racing!

[@tankeater]

8 seconds to go 54 more MPH??? I'd say gearing and torque converter should be next on your list of TO DO

[@Toys4Life]

I'm not tracking what you're saying? Can you please clarify?

[@tankeater]

@@Toys4Life of course man. 0-60 3.7 sec 1/4M 11.8 sec @ 114 11.8 - 3.7 = 8.1 sec 114 - 60 = 54 MPH 8.1 seconds you gained 54 MPH. Ether your gearing is too long and/or your torque converter can't handle your amount of torque. With your weight, HP, and torque I'd of guessed 122 - 128 MPH If you're not close to redline at the 1/4 gearing is the issue. If your shift to 3rd and 4th feel sluggish, it's your torque converter.

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks for the clarification - I understand your comment now and appreciate it! I remember when I got into 3800 sC fieros I thought the same thing - why is the trap speed so low for the HP & E.T. ??? I am running the 4t65e -HD tranny with a pretty tame converter. I just checked a HP tuners scan & it goes thru the traps at a too low 4900 - about 1200 RPMs lower than ideal. Keep in mind the M90 at these power levels is pretty undersized so while it provides GOBS of torque down low, it really is undersized for the 3800 at around 375 crank HP at higher rpms. That is also part of the problem...perhaps a big part. There used to be one other gear available for this tranny that is a bit lower. I remember researching it years ago but a guy named "dark horizon" (turbo 9.8 second 3800 Fiero) told me he had tried the lower gears when he was still running an M90 on his 3800 (for the exact reason you discuss) but it didn't alter his ET. He believes it is because of the M90 being undersized at these power levels - which made sense to me. Correct me if I am wrong but if I went with a higher stall converter, I would get off the line quicker (provided I still had traction and the tranny didn't break) but I believe I would still be going thru the traps at 4900 rpms...right? One more thing, this is typical of 3800 fiero's - check out this 1/4 mile list & let me know your additonal thoughts - Thank You! I am DimeMachine. www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/070670.html

[@darinr9424]

Still nice tho

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you!!