Pontiac Fiero Turbo Ecotec LNF Engine Swap!

[@flux_core_fx]

Pardon my french, but HOLY SHIT. Dave came to our school (Mankato) at the time, and did a seminar. We learned a ton, I hope he is doing well! Thank you for sharing!

[@Toys4Life]

That's awesome, Dave is just a super guy all around! Thanks for leaving the comment sir!

[@flux_core_fx]

@@Toys4Life thank you for sharing! Subbed

[@racerd9669]

@@flux_core_fx It always makes me feel proud that I can pass on some knowledge to young car guys, after it is all a learning experience and what good is it not to pass it on.

[@w41duvernay]

Great vid.. I would love to see a video on how to swap in a turbo ecotec engine into a IRON DUKE fiero. Especially with the LNF using a direct injection fuel pump and the fiero using a "normal" fuel pump.

[@robdodge5814]

Ditto

[@ja60123]

👌

[@jeremyferg271]

You are a great host and a pleasure to watch and listen to. I look forward to your videos like I used to look forward to Saturday morning cartoons (back when television was a thing). Thanks for what you do!

[@Toys4Life]

Appreciate the kind words, thank you for that!!

[@johnnybaker3751]

Awesome video. I’m doing a 3800sc in mine so I totally get the labor of love part. It’s so cool to see the love for this car in others. Good luck Dave and thanks for sharing this video. I needed it, as you can imagine doing this swap can get so frustrating at times. Sometimes wonder why am I doing this, however in the end it will be so worth it. Thanks again

[@Toys4Life]

There is something extra cool about taking something slow and making it powerful and more efficient!!

[@nickstewart3725]

I'd love to see more on his fiero!....that's a awesome build for sure!

[@Toys4Life]

Me too! I plan to follow Dave (the owner) and the car as he continues to refine the drivetrain setup and the cars aerodynamics - ultimately for top speed testing. Thanks for the comment!

[@lowk3yo]

Very cool! Those motors take well to mods. Have a 3800 supercharged fiero and a 600 hp cobalt ss, many props!!

[@Toys4Life]

Thank you - Dave did a nice job on it for sure!

[@racerd9669]

That Cobalt must be badass

[@slamurai_jack]

Thought I've seen this car somewhere! I drive past it all the time in my LNF Cobalt and I always comment on it to my buddies when I see it, never thought it would have had such similar DNA! Wonderful video and wonderful build! Props to the owner!

[@Toys4Life]

Yeah - he is a cool guy and I agree, he did a nice job on this car!

[@racerd9669]

Hey man next time you drive by stop in and we can chat LNF fun.

[@JBsC6]

Cool ride . Congrats to Dave and his wild ride

[@Toys4Life]

Indeed, Dave's a really cool guy and he has a very unique and awesome Fiero.

[@moflyboyblanquito541]

Well there you are. Exactly what I was thinking. I’d love to have one.

[@Toys4Life]

Me too!

[@sebastianmorrison6114]

As an Ecotec guy I’ve gotta say this is a crazy build that just needs to be turned up I don’t think he needs the meth injection.. he’s already got a water to air intercooler and diamond pistons with a third gen block.. boy that thing will coast at 500hp easy with reliability. That being said it’s always good to build it safe.

[@Toys4Life]

Maybe Dave will see this and respond - he probably has some ideas as he recently had this out at Bonneville Salt Flats.

[@racerd9669]

We ran it at Bonneville with 12 lbs of boost and at a corrected altitude of 6200 ft it ran 142 in a mile with only 60% throttle opening. I only wish I had a cage in it so I could run the long course. The record in my class is at 217 now and I do believe the Ecotec has the power to at least that fast.

[@Toys4Life]

What do you believe is the maximum amount of boost that consistent for a full minute or so without issues?

[@racerd9669]

@@Toys4Life I think by Icing the intercooler you could run 20 or even 22 lbs for over a minute. You have to remember I am still running 92 pump gas. Using the water meth will lesson the chance of detonation and add power.

[@hondaman6918]

Omg, awesome video! This guy I and his car .... just... wow! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@Toys4Life]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kurtadelman272]

It would be great to see a follow up when he turns the boost up on the chassis dyno! Another follow up going to Bonnevile! Help him document the journey. 😎

[@Toys4Life]

Hopefully I can be there for at least the dyno tuning and some aerodynamics testing. I would like to make Part 2! Thanks for commenting!

[@sadielampduo3762]

I have a 3.4 v6 chevy I want to put a into a Feiro . Got the engine , just looking for the Feiro car

[@Toys4Life]

Sweet! I strongly suggest a 3.8 NA or SC over the 3.4. I started with a 3.8 NA, loved it - but instantly regretted it and found a 3.8 SC and was pretty happy.

[@Garageless]

I would love to go 200mph in my fiero! Sharp looking car! Flames are hard to look good and these look sick!

[@Toys4Life]

Agreed, whoever did Dave's flames did a nice job. I have to be honest though, Even the thought of going 150 in my Fiero scares me!

[@turboslugfiero]

I've done 137mph (220km/h) on a back straight of a race track keeping up with the Porsches! It's pretty scary stuff! Fieros are not super good in aerodynamics at these speeds😬

[@charleswittmer2477]

@@turboslugfiero stock v6 fieros were always good for the normal 120 by the factory speedo, my 88 with the 3.4 5 spd doesn't really seem to be a 130 mph car though and all of them has had the fuel go bad in the tank so they are resting. a 88 gt with the 3.4 5spd, a 86 porsche guards red 2.8 gt about 80k auto and a 86 red 2.8 se with about 68k auto. I also have a gold 86 2.8 se autoparts car. man I hate todays crummy gas.

[@AlexLightspeed]

We did an LSJ swap at lightspeed fieros. enjoying your channel as well.

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks man, I love the way you and Rose tackle stuff together!

[@turboslugfiero]

Thanks for this. Very good vid😉👍 I like his hood vents as well. I'm just a little bit scared by his stock brakes? Hope it's enough to slow him down at the end of his Bonneville run😜

[@Toys4Life]

I will try to talk him into the Grand Am vented rotor and larger Master Cylinder to dissipate that heat better. I am thinking you get a pretty darn long shutdown area as traction has to be quite limited ??

[@juniorrosado101]

Awesome car. I recently bid at a Mecum auction in Kissimmee for a Fiero with a small block V8, XLR Cadillac motor. Sold for $11k. Will look for it in future events.

[@Toys4Life]

That's cool!

[@RearEngineShop]

The car looks great. That engine looks good in there. 👍

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks 👍

[@sirloin4372]

If I ever did a fiero I would do at northstar swap. 300hp, 290tq and you can tune these motors and even cam em. Northstar performance is awesome same chrfab.

[@Toys4Life]

North Stars require to burn a chip don't they instead of flash programming?

[@PNW_Car_Mods]

Another well done video Toys. Good stuff. Guys like that don't grow on trees.

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks for the comments Sir, I appreciate it!

[@rodsingleton3097]

My 86 GT has a Gauge Cluster above the center air vents, a factory system, I didn't see any marks where it would've been, mine has the factory optional 8 inch subwoofer that's located above the passenger floor board that you can change with the slide bar up by the dome light area.

[@Toys4Life]

I have had a bunch of fiero's - only one came with the factory sub - kind of rare I do believe.

[@drtidrow]

Man, that's a tight fit with the factory turbo location... I wonder if an LNF out of a Cobalt SS or a turbo Ecotec out of a Buick Regal would fit better, being packaged for transverse mounting. Pity that a Sky Redline had to give up its heart for this swap, I really like the looks of them. :-)

[@Toys4Life]

I have no idea, RacerD, what do you think?

[@racerd9669]

Ray I am not sure if it is not the same set up, I have looked a Cobalts and it sure looks like the same set up.

[@99_goat91]

the cobalt ss LNF or the LDK/LHU out of a regal would fit just as well. The only difference is that you can not use the same flywheel or transmission that they come with.

[@racerd9669]

@@99_goat91 The trans was out of an HHR SS

[@charleswittmer2477]

did you say the vented hood will stop the headlights from blowing up at speed? my 86 does that but the 88 doesn't yet do it. I thought about adding a spring somehow, or the more complicated version was a solenoid actuated latch controlled by the light circuit.

[@Toys4Life]

Yes, if you're able to give the pressure of the air going through the radiator another outlet to escape, it should help the headlights from not coming up so soon. Mine typically come up around 105 or something like that. I simply put some tape on them when I go to the drag strip at this point. I never ever go over 100 on the street.

[@fredfuller2281]

i think a GM Northstar v8 swap with fwd trans reversed to work in the Fiero would be great project

[@Toys4Life]

These used to be popular before the 3800 swaps. I think they dried up as N* engines have been out of production for a long time - but agree - pretty cool!

[@ronaldrey8474]

Was that drive on Woods Chapel Rd. in MO. ?

[@Toys4Life]

?

[@Darrenlawrence89]

Sense you used the auto trans mated to the ecotec what did you do for cv axles ? Is it the same for a 4t65ehd ? I’m contemplating a ecotec swap

[@Toys4Life]

Hopefully the owner chimes in.

[@daver9024]

I just used the stock 4T45e that comes behind the 2.0 LNF. For axles, it was easy, being that the 4T is nothing but a Turbo 125 w O.D. You can use the short axle on both sides.

[@mayramosquera1727]

I am building a fiero with a 3.8 super charge from a Buick Park Ave, I almost done but I have not figure out how to connect the cluster form the Buick can you guide me what to do in order to make the cluster to work thanks for any advice

[@Toys4Life]

So you are transplanting the Buick cluster similar to what I did in this vid? kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKGZoGVmqa-ohLs

[@hondaman6918]

Wonder what brake upgrades he did to that?

[@turboslugfiero]

None. I saw only stock calipers and discs. He will need a bit more I think! 😉

[@Toys4Life]

Correct - none yet. Vented Grand Am rotors and the long shutdown area should be sufficient.... But what do I know, I have never been to Bonneville....

[@m.hstudioproductions6642]

The GM Quad 4 would've also been a nice replacement for the Iron Duke.

[@racerd9669]

Malik, I have a 291 hp N/A Quad 4 engine that I have a ton of development on. They are a good engine but not as strong as the EcoTec. It does use the same bell housing as the EcoTec. Thanks for looking at the Fiero project. I do have some KZbin vids posted on the car at Bonneville last fall , you might want to check them out.

[@Toys4Life]

I would think GM took everything (good and bad) learned from the Q4 and applied it to the EcoTec??? Maybe call the ET the Quad 4 version 2.0?

[@m.hstudioproductions6642]

@@racerd9669 Ooh, very interesting! I can't wait to see it!😁

[@Ayixlia]

This car is much better than the MR2 2nd Gen. It's bigger, wider and has more room than it and it can hold a V8!

[@Toys4Life]

I would like to own an MR2 for a while to dig into it and do an in depth comparison. Most are pretty rusty by now though.

[@jason.arthur.taylor]

i would pay $$ to see that run wide open on the salt flats!!!

[@Toys4Life]

Me too! Dave actually went to the salt flats but I do believe he was limited to a certain speed w/o a cage - which makes sense.

[@Grumpyoldman666]

He needs a KZbin channel for this ride

[@adrikjohnson4682]

I am looking for an 84 Fiero. Any tips? or do you know where I could get one?

[@Toys4Life]

Yes, look carefully inside the trunk area on both sides in the rear to see how rusty it is. Now that they're this old, they've either been stored and are pretty good shape or they're totally hatched and when you pull back the carpet and the rear trunk you will just see the ground.

[@Chewee394]

One that's been in the south all it's life should be free of most rust. If you get one that's been sitting, replace the brake calipers with corvette calipers and pennocks fiero forum is a great resource for doing swaps and other general information.

[@Toys4Life]

And get a car from the north for the body panels and interior pieces.

[@k00lkidz4]

I'm thinking about engine swapping my auto 85 what's a good affordable engine that doesn't require new suspension

[@Toys4Life]

GM 3800 series 2 or 3 is probably the easiest and least expensive tons of info online to help.

[@k00lkidz4]

@@Toys4Life thanks a ton bro, will I need a new transmission of suspension though? I have the three-speed automatic

[@Toys4Life]

@@k00lkidz4 take the donor cars engine computer harness and 4speed auto. Fieros 3 speed wont last.. and it is a 3 speed.

[@k00lkidz4]

@@Toys4Life cool im new to cars, the fiero is my first car actually lol

[@k00lkidz4]

@@Toys4Life would I also need to change the suspension?

[@aidanvincent9264]

What engine would you advise for an '88 stock fiero?

[@Toys4Life]

What are your goals?

[@aidanvincent9264]

@@Toys4Life higher 0-60

[@aidanvincent9264]

@@Toys4Life well lower time is what I mean

[@Toys4Life]

If your main goal is just quicker 0 to 60, and I'm assuming you don't want to spend any more than you need to, I would go to 3800 supercharged.

[@jasonhadley594]

I would love to ride in that thing.

[@Toys4Life]

Stop by! lol

[@ninjarider1156]

Also, I wonder what auto trans he is using

[@racerd9669]

It is a 4T45E from a HHR SS with matching converter.

[@Toys4Life]

Racer D is the owner - I can verify. Thanks Dave.

[@mr220v]

Mid engine 2L turbo. I can't think of any other car on the road that has that.

[@332ARA]

Anyone have a link for the shift control?

[@racerd9669]

You will find it under E- Trans Control

[@Toys4Life]

Thanks Racer D

[@joserribera4888]

What car brings that motor

[@Toys4Life]

99% sure these - Chevrolet Cobalt SS, HHR SS, Daewoo G2X Turbo, Opel GT, Pontiac Solstice GXP, Saturn Sky Red Line.

[@ninjarider1156]

he made 400 on a stock k04???? My lnf only makes 318 with the stock turbo maxxed

[@racerd9669]

Bit it is all the other mods done to the engine and fuel system and exhaust system.

[@ninjarider1156]

@@racerd9669 I really don’t understand what those could be lol. I know a ton about ecotechs, and unless I was shown the dyno results I have a really hard time believeing it. The stock fuel system is capable of almost 400 whp, and my exhaust is completely straight pipe.(aka the least restrictive for the turbo) my stock turbo is tuned to 30 psi, and it only makes 318 on a mustang dyno. Is it possible he meant torque? Also he is using the absolute worst trans, it is known to soak over 100 hp

[@racerd9669]

@@ninjarider1156 If you listen to what is said he says hopefully it can make 400 wheel HP. I think the water meth may get it there.

[@ninjarider1156]

@@racerd9669 hey man I’m rootin for him. But I also would bet he won’t get 400. With all the work he did, he should slap on a z57 and make 500 wheel he deserves it. He has a fully built motor.

[@Toys4Life]

Racer d is the owner of the turbo LNF Fiero.

[@overlordisgoogle8431]

💕❤️💕❤️

[@ninjarider1156]

The HHR SS trans is the worst performance auto trans. If he F40 swapped that thing he would actually make power

[@racerd9669]

I agree with you 100% and someday I may have to upgrade the 4T65 to be able to hold the power the engine can make. One thing I never do is shift into OD at anything over 1/4 throttle or try to apply power when I am in OD w/o the lock up on.

[@Toys4Life]

Good plan!

[@racerd9669]

If you do an F40 swap the trans will be stronger but the car will be slower, because you cannot shift at WOT as you can with the T45e

[@ninjarider1156]

@@racerd9669 Probably not, because of the power loss from the auto trans vs the manual trans. You have a decent point about wot shifting, altho doesn't the HHR come with no lift shift? I know SS cobalts do. Also a wot box is like 200 bucks

[@racerd9669]

@@ninjarider1156 I have not heard of no lift shift, I will have to check that out. But then you would need to have the GM ECM in the car also. Here is another problem with a stick in a Fiero, you have almost 5 feet of cable going back to the trans, it is not favorable to hard shifting.

[@okistash3075]

The flames are cringe af but cool swap

[@Toys4Life]

I like that I don't see flames often on Fiero's (if ever lately)- so it really stands out to me. But it is subjective - like any paint. He has done a nice job with the swap though - thanks for that!