hey i just bought my first car, a 1986 pontiac fiero gt fastback (project car) and i wanted to know witch engine to put in it becouse the one in is now is "gone". i was thinking a 3.1 3.4 or a 3.8 supercharged. i wanted to know which is easyest to swap. and if the 3.8 neds allot of cutting and new engine mounts? if people can tell me what they know about swaping thease engines in a fiero i would be very gratefull thanks

P.S. dose anyone know where i can get thoes stege II sidescoops?

if you want to see my car go to http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2910644

thanks

3800 is not alot of cutting, biggest thing is wiring. the 3.1 would be the easiest from what I have heard, personally never done one but seems to basically be just the same as a 2.8. most power would be the 3800sc.

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87 GT
series 1 3800sc (7.597 @88.53 1.579 60ft)

Welcome to the Forum!

Gone as in the engine is not there? Or it's just broke?

If the stock 2.8 engine is still present then easiest would be 3.1 from a FWD car as it's simply a plug and play. The 3.4 is next easiest with a few minor mods like relocating the starter. If the stock engine is not present in the car then just go with the 3800 SC.

Easy is relative. Do you have a budget in mind? Tools? Garage? How are your fabricating skills?

I went and looked at that one as well...definetly a project car. I will have a complete great running 130K 2.8 for sale soon if you want to go that route.

Welcome to the forum. It really depends on what you want to do with the car. Probably the easiest swap would be a 3.4 but the 3800SC looks great in the back of a Fiero and it pushes it along nicely.
If it wasn't for the fact that I found my kit I would have probably gone with the 3.4 just because it requires less work but then I would probably not been happy with it. Having 280 to 340 HP is a lot of fun in a Fiero and it gets attention.
If you have the tools and can read the books I would think the 3800 would probably be the best bang for the money. You can upgrade the tranny at the same time and it should also get pretty good gas mileage.
Good luck
Jake

Although I've recently swapped my aged 2.8L for an essentially all-new 3.4L, I'd agree with Hudini's assessment regarding what is the easiest "swap" of the three alternatives you've mentioned:

Easiest of the 3 You've Mentioned:

1. 3.1L
2. 3.4L
   
3. 3800SC

Incidentally, a "swap" by my definition does not include another 2.8L for your current 2.8L, and in fact that was not even one of the three options you'd mentioned. However, if in hindsight you think that should be included, then yes, that 2.8L "swap" for your existing 2.8L technically could be called the "easiest."

A related point is that while I've no idea what emissions inspections you or anyone else faces anywhere in Canada, the first two options above easily would be the least visually noticeable to any "emissions police" --- by far.

It sounds to me, however, like you may have already talked yourself into the 3800SC swap.

If so, be advised that while it's a fine swap, you'll just need to justify it to yourself on some basis other than "easiest" (or for that matter, least noticeable).

Whatever you decide to do, good luck with your project, and welcome to Pennock's Fiero Forum!

wiring is the same with all motors swaps, unless your talking about a 3.4 bottom end on a 2.8.

3800 offers most power for money, and most likely the most durability and near best gas mileage.

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Losing site of our roots in the cathode rays.



Ultimate 3800 swap thread

quote Originally posted by darkhorizon: wiring is the same with all motors swaps, unless your talking about a 3.4 bottom end on a 2.8.

For the benefit of this thread's originator, 86_fiero_gt_92, could you clarify what you mean by that statement?

Surely you're not asserting that a pushrod 3.4L crank (your "bottom end" term) needed for a 3.1L engine requires wiring modifications as sophisticated as those required for a 3800SC engine swap, are you?

Phrased differently, you don't mean to imply that implementing the wiring required for a 3800SC swap is just as easy as implementing the wiring required for a pushrod 3.4L swap, do you?

to ancer some of your questions:
i got a big garage (about 6 cars fit)(its my dads mechanics garage)
i got tools(because its at a mechanics garage)
fabricating skills (between me my dad and his mechanic i think we got it)
buget(hoping to do it in 1000 but i got 700 more as a back up)
what i ment by "the engine is gone" is that my dads mechanic said its better to put in a different engine.

one more question i have is do i need to change the trans if a swap the engine for a 3.1 3.4 or 3.8?

if its an auto you can keep the same trans for the 3.1 and 3.4 but if your doing the 3800sc the auto would bolt up but its not really worth it because the stock auto isnt strong enough. If its a manual you could keep it depending on which one it is.

If you are within driving distance of Belleville Ont. drop by and I can show you either a 3800SC swap in progress or one finished depedning on when you drop by. I can also show you a 2004 Grand Am 3400 engine that is going into a Fiero to give you an idea of what is involved with that swap. Fiero people are always welcome at my place. Dan

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Signature compliments of F-I-E-R-O
2003 3800SC series II powered
www.photosled.com/showgallery.php/cat/631
www.photosled.com/showgallery/cat/1583

quote Originally posted by 86_fiero_gt_92: buget(hoping to do it in 1000 but i got 700 more as a back up)

Everything you mentioned sounded great until I saw your budget. I know the Canadian dollar is strong right now, but you are not going to get very far on even $1700. If you buy a ready built 3800 SC wiring harness you have blown almost your entire budget, not to mention the mounts and you still have to buy the engine..

I suppose if you do 100% of the work yourself you might be able to do it for that budget, but if money is tight I would stay towards the low end of your scale with another 2.8 or maybe a 3.1.

quote Originally posted by 86_fiero_gt_92: P.S. dose anyone know where i can get thoes stege II sidescoops?

In regard to your question, Fiero Shop International (which seems to have a good reputation)is one source for "Stage 2" scoops.

On their website, they've a good picture of the Stage 2 scoops after installation : http://www.fieroshop.com.au...roduct.php?product=2

Keep in mind that many who install Stage 2 scoops either lose the Fiero's cold air induction system (not good for power), or they retain it by fabricating their own CAI system behind the driver's side fenderwell. Although functional, the latter makes changing the air filter far less convenient than is changing the air filter with the stock Fiero CAI system.

By the way, I'm not knocking the Stage 2 scoops; I personally think they look great, but sometimes people forget some of the potential drawbacks associated with installing them.

Finally, I don't know what the shipping cost would be for Fiero Shop International to send those Stage 2 scoops from Australia (where they're located) to your home in Canada, but I'd think they'd be substantial. Maybe somebody else here on Pennock's Fiero Forum knows of a different source for Stage 2 scoops that is closer to you.

i was loking this morning on the internet and i found a 2.8 with 155k and a 4spd trans for sale for 150$ the person said the engine was in a 85 gt dayly driver so im thinking about getting that but i wana know if there is any was of seeing if the engine is good if it is out of the car

quote Originally posted by 86_fiero_gt_92: i was loking this morning on the internet and i found a 2.8 with 155k and a 4spd trans for sale for 150$ the person said the engine was in a 85 gt dayly driver so im thinking about getting that but i wana know if there is any was of seeing if the engine is good if it is out of the car

86_fiero_gt_92, maybe somebody else here has an easy way of providing an answer to your question, but given that the 155,000-mile engine you've mentioned already is out of the car, purchasing it sounds like a very risky gamble to me --- unless you know and can trust its previous owner.

Caveat emptor.

Like what others have said, what do you want out of your car? Do you want it to be the fastest thing possible for things such as running at the drag strip? If you have never riden in fiero in general I would recommend doing so. When i got my fiero i didnt even got to drive it because we wanted to get right on it. So then after it was said and done me and my dad rebuilt the 2.8l and it was ok for ahwile then i wanted more power so i ended up switchin out the motor i just rebuilt to put the 3800sc motor in. Find out what YOU want it for first then go from there. Youll end up happier this way.


Tommy

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-1986 GT
-Swapped 2001 GTP motor Series II with 40k miles
-Auto Meter gauge pod (Oil, Boost, Battery)
-3.4 Pulley
-True cold air intake
-Flowmaster 80 series muffler with 2.5inch mendrel bent exhaust tubing

the car would be used to get me to school and work in the summer for now but as i get older i would like to take it to the drag. the thing im not shur about is should i put in a 2.8 entill i need more power or just put in a bigger engine and save money in the long run. i havent even thought about putting in a nother 2.8 but now i see it is alot cheper the puting in a different one and it would be good enough for me for a while and it would leave me with more money to get the body work and interior done

quote Originally posted by 86_fiero_gt_92: the car would be used to get me to school and work in the summer for now

Given everything that you said...I would definitely recommend another 2.8L motor. The other swaps are going to be more time and money. If you can get a motor from someone you trust then just put it in. Otherwise, I would suggest rebuilding it first, then you know what you have.

I did my 3800 swap just so I could drive it to school, I really had no idea that it would run 12's.

quote Originally posted by darkhorizon: I did my 3800 swap just so I could drive it to school, I really had no idea that it would run 12's.

how much did it cost you?

Anything but a V8.

Turbo > N/A V8 allll day.

I went from no fieros, and no motors to a 3800 swapped 88 fiero for about $1000 after it was all said and done, I had a few great deals though.

quote Originally posted by darkhorizon: I went from no fieros, and no motors to a 3800 swapped 88 fiero for about $1000 after it was all said and done, I had a few great deals though.

I hate you..... lol