FieroWannaBe and his little project Fiero.

[FieroWannaBe]

Dave here, This is possibly the sickest forum ive ever seen, Everything I love about the automotive hobby in one spot. Nostalgia, Community, Ingenuity, creativity, Enthusiasm, and of course Driving!

My car is a 1986 Fiero GT, 4spd Manual. Im am about 70% done with my engine swap. It is a 1996 Lumina LS 3.4L DOHC. It is my second car I ever owned, And I plan a lot more for it.

I am currently a Engineering student, So I work slowly and spend little money, Once I graduate and get a real job, I have a lot I want to do for the body and suspension, and a maybe a turbo (still leaning towards N/A).

Currently I have the engine resting on the cradle waiting for me to finish the exhaust, crossover, and replace the shift bracket. My modifications are aluminum cradle bushings, poly motor mounts, Aluminum Flywheel, Spec stage 2 clutch, and 2.5in Moroso Spiral Flows.

Here are pics:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/Picture0441-1.jpg
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https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/09/3be57245-1.jpg
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[Fireeater]

Welcome Dave.

[Benoit23]

I was just talking with some friends about these cars, I've always liked these little cars & would love to have one to fix up. keep us updated on your progress.

Welcome

[derekf]

Welcome aboard, Dave.

[jackfrost]

cool project. i think one of these would make a great track car...

[70bird]

Welcome to the site!
I was just talking to a friend last night who bought a 88 Fiero, and plans on putting a transverse mounted V8, possibly LSX.
Anybody have any info on this swap?

[derekf]

Mark, Loyde at FastFieros.com has done a few.

[70bird]

Mark, Loyde at FastFieros.com has done a few.

Derek, Thanks for the info , I'll pass it along.

Dave, sorry for the hi-jack! Let the thread proceed!

[FieroWannaBe]

V8archie.com has complete DIY kit, as well as in-house installs for both LSx and SBC engines. There is also a streetdreamsbyross.com kit, that is a copy of the v8archie SBC kit, but doesnt have the costumer service of v8archie.

[BuddyP]

Welcome! Cool project! I bought a red '86 SE last summer to drive back and forth to work. Drove it for a few months then sold it right before winter.

[FieroWannaBe]

Welcome! Cool project! I bought a red '86 SE last summer to drive back and forth to work. Drove it for a few months then sold it right before winter.
Well what did you think of it?

This car is just a project of mine I've had since high school, Ive been working on it very slowly for about 4 years now. I have 2 years left of my degree, and then I will work on it Pretty heavily, for now finishing the motor install is in all I have the works.

I am debating in my head if I want to go with a wide body or night, The car has a short wheelbase, so I don't know if its appropriate for it or not. But V8 Archie makes a really nice wide body kit, and There are nice wide body suspensions available through the kit car market.

But for sure My future plans are:
-A full tubular front crossmember, a-arms, and fabricated up rights. I will probably buy them from HT Motorsports, as they did all the R&D for me.
-I may swap in a 1988 Rear cradle as its far superior to the earlier version. Or there is a A-arm available that will eliminate the bump steer problem I have with the toe-link setup. I have to see how hard it is sourcing a quality cradle and hubs, as 88 hubs are freaking rare.
-With the motor, I'm looking into making my own port design to get the heads CNC'd, and I already have some plans for Full lengths headers, Im going to try design them in my Pro-E class this semester. I also hope to utilize my schools Rapid Prototype center to make my own upper intake manifold that will allow me to mate 6 GSKR750 throttle bodies to the Lower intake and run a ITB and plenum setup. I should be able to hit the power levels I want on that alone, but I also have some spare cam towers that I want to have reground, But haven't decided on a profile that I want for it. There is one already available but it's still to mild for my taste

I dont want very high power because the FWD transaxles available are weak, The new 6 speed out of the Pontiac G6 is pretty strong but it is like GM put ratios from something like a Mistu Fuso in there, they are pretty horrible, 1st May as well not even exist, So I'm going to look for a low mile Fiero 5 speed, and a quad 4 Getrag 5 spd to get a custom ratio set from.
I'm looking for around 300ish WHP, with a peak torque at around 4.5k or 5kRPMS.

The only thing I have a problem with body wise is the low pressure zone behind the rear window, creates high drag, so I will install a IMSA-style whale tail spoiler. I also want some side scoops if I don't get the wide body. There is a set I really like, but Production is unknown right now. I also have so nice design for a new front bumper, but I have seen some chins spoilers I like for the stock front, and it is fairly nice design aerodynamically. Also, I have started a hood vent for the front hood, to relieve under hood pressure.

These plans are pretty ambitious, But I don't plan to accomplish all them until after I graduate, And I'm anticipating a cost of under or around 15k, Kind of a lot but, I really like the car and don't plan on ever getting rid of it.

I will post some pics of parts and plans and some of the work I've already done.

[BuddyP]

Well what did you think of it?


It was ok, it got the job done that I wanted it to, it kept 5k miles off my truck until the wife got her new car and I took over her old one. Bought it last summer for $1k... it drove so bad I wanted to drive it into a ditch on the way home. After new tires, new shocks/struts, turned rotors and new break pads and some good hard detailing it was a completely different vehicle. Had $1600 into it, sold it for the same amount the first week of December.

Here's a before shot....
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

and "after" shots....
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[BuddyP]

Welcome to the site!
I was just talking to a friend last night who bought a 88 Fiero, and plans on putting a transverse mounted V8, possibly LSX.
Anybody have any info on this swap?

Lots of info here... http://www.fiero.nl/cgi-bin/main.cgi
scroll down toward the bottom and you'll see a black 508hp LS1 Fiero.

[Jim Nilsen]

www.v8archie.com (http://www.v8archie.com)

Here is a link to the guy who has perfected it over 10 yrs ago.
Have fun cause those cars can be wicked fast very affordable to get there in very little work time.

I have seen these kits up close and they work better and fit better than the v6's did from the factory.

[FieroWannaBe]

Lots of info here... http://www.fiero.nl/cgi-bin/main.cgi
scroll down toward the bottom and you'll see a black 508hp LS1 Fiero.
There is actually a book chronicling the build fo that car, I own it.
http://www.amazon.com/Performance-Fieros-Turbocharging-Nitrous-Oxide/dp/141168060X

[SaturnVUEguy]

If you have seen my project car thread, you'd know I've been thinking of what kind of car I want. Now you have me heavily leaning toward a Fiero! My brother-in-law has a Fiero GT with some front end damage. Maybe I'll try to buy that off him

[FieroWannaBe]

If you have seen my project car thread, you'd know I've been thinking of what kind of car I want. Now you have me heavily leaning toward a Fiero! My brother-in-law has a Fiero GT with some front end damage. Maybe I'll try to buy that off him

Well for front ends, instead of finding good used parts body parts, a Nice high performance solution would be the Race-style tilt front end by Norms Fiberglass.
http://www.normsfiberglass.com/Tiltfrontendclips.html
it's not cheap, but it does cut a lot of excess weight, and actually creates more front end down-force. But I so believe you lose some of the front impact parts, but not all.

[SaturnVUEguy]

I was actually thinking of a v8archie body for the project anyway, although that tilt front looks really nice

[ZVT]

Those cars make a great platform for an LC2 engine swap.buick GN motor.There's a couple on the HYBRID GN forums that are kickin ass

[FieroWannaBe]

Those cars make a great platform for an LC2 engine swap.buick GN motor.There's a couple on the HYBRID GN forums that are kickin ass

The FWD 3800 is one of the most popular swaps in fieros, since the transmission bolts right up and its ability to talk massive boost, and the ease of swapping a SC smaller pulley for more power. The problem with the LC2 is the BOP bell-housing. But the 3800, which is a direct descendant, is a great engine and has the FWD bellhousing (no adapter plate needed then). Some efforts where made to lighten and strengthen the block; also, the head ports where optimized more in the series 2 version. I had considered one, but opted for something more unique, like the LQ1 I chose.

[SaturnVUEguy]

Do you kow if there is a way to order a v8archie body, minus the front section? I love the rear end of their cars, but not too crazy about the front ends, and I do really like the one you posted earlier

[FieroWannaBe]

Im sure if you email him, hell be more than accommodating, but if you order re-body parts the rest of your body will not match well. The only one I that he offers that I know will work with a factory front would be his widebody kit, his finale, fino and gt40 kits wont incorporate with the stock front well (I believe they are wider by the doors).

[SaturnVUEguy]

I like the Fino and Finale rear end, I wouldn't do a replica GT40 kit on it

[PRO TC]

my buddy has one with a corvette lt1. its not a super high hp motor but man is that thing scary fast. he used some of the v8 archie kit and fabed the rest still has fi just did a cam swap
Barry