Will the 3.0 mercruiser engine bolt right into a stock fiero? Anything special that needs done to do this?

I was just curious because I always hear about the 3.0 crank being used in the iron duke and was wondering whether the whole engine would bolt in.

The Mercruiser engine has the intake and exhaust on the same side. The plumbing would be difficult.

I'm just thinking of different options I like four cylinders and prefer carbureted but there doesn't seem to be many options that bolt into the fiero setup. I would use my duke but im not crazy about the crank and connecting rod problem. Does anyone make a forged crank for them and a carbed intake.

I know you said you prefer carbureted, but if you are looking to stick to a 4 cyl. and bottom end strength is important, the Ecotec family of motors is IMHO THE best 4 cylinder you can put in a Fiero. The bottom end of those things would put a 4 bolt SBC to shame and there is a huge aftermarket for them. Of course like ANY engine swap, you gotta figure out a lot of things to get it in and running, but it would net you some serious MPG and even the early Ecotecs from Saturns made over 140hp stock, the newer ones put out even more with supercharging and such.

Im not trying to force my opinion on you, you just said you were thinking of different options and if you dont already know much about the Ecotecs, study up a little and you might be impressed. I dont have an Ecotec in my Fiero but I would love for that to be a swap in my near future (got 2 going on already). I used to have an Ecotec from a Saturn L series from when I worked at a Saturn dealership, some lady drove through a very deep puddle and hydrolocked the motor. Insurance didnt want the core back so I took it home and paid about $150 for a new rod, bearings, and all the seals and rebuilt it in my shed. It had 6,000 miles on it but it sat for so long that I ended up giving it away

-Joe

quote Originally posted by MaverickFiero84: Does anyone make a forged crank for them and a carbed intake.

Look for a Mercruiser or Super Duty 2.7 crank, and as for the carbed intake, they pop up on Ebay from time to time, like this one.

The mercruiser engine won't work. It has the SBC bellhousing bolt pattern. No provisions for a side mount water pump.

Ok thats what i thought on the mercruiser but wasn't sure.


I would love to use a ecotec in my fiero but from what i read the trans is specific to them and i really don't want to mess with all that computer stuff and getting it to work with the fiero dash. now if there was a way to run a carb and the distributer less ignition to work and be able to bolt it up to a non computerised manual trans.

if the mercruiser engine has the SBC bolt pattern, could you not just use archie's adapter plate? the merc is a very strong engine , it is actually based on the original "iron duke" from the 60's .at 3.0 L you should be able to make some serious power . i have a turbo 2.2 ecotec in my fiero and love it, but i understand that some people want simpler things .i have always thought the mercruiser motor would be a great duke replacement .

I remember that at the FOCOA show in Osage Beach there was a Fiero with a Merc Cruiser engine in it. I'll have to dig out that CD file to find the photos.

Does the Mercruiser engine rotate in the correct direction? I thought some marine engines rotated the opposite as in cars.
Jim

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87 T-top 2.8 5sp Camaro Dash Bonneville door panels; 86 355 body & interior kits 3.1 Auto; 85 SE 2.5 5sp, 86 SE 2.8 auto parts car

counter rotation of props is usually accomplished by gears in the outdrive .most gasoline I/O engines are versions of old GM car designs .as for the water pump not being in the right place , use an electric one .

I was wondering on that if an electric one was available that would work.

im sure you can make an electric pump work. just gotta modify afew things and what not and im sure you could get it to work
iv thought about this also.

Just a question, but the mercruiser engine I remember was a marine engine.. we had one it was a 6 cyl, with 3 carbs and 2 distributors on it. it would start in either direction as the transmission on that boat had no neutral or reverse. anyone have pictures of this mercruiser he is talking about?

You can find a picture on ebay or google it 3.0 Mercruiser GM they seem to be well built

mercruiser ( mercury marine ) has used all kinds of engines and setups over the years .the reverse rotation instead of reverse gears is a new one on me but with marine engineering history you got to figure over the years they have tried just about everything .but the 3.0 mercruiser has been a 4cyl version of the GM iron duke for as long as i remember .sometimes they have called it a 130 because of HP rating but it is the same motor .i think OMC has used this motor too as well as volvo-penta .boat graveyards are full of them .