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| To engine swap or not to engine swap (Page 3/5) |
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Notorio
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FEB 11, 09:05 PM
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Just a thought. Since he's doing the head gaskets, you could take the heads to a speed shop and have them ported and polished. Also, the exhaust manifolds (ported and rewelded) and eliminate the obstruction in the Y-pipe. Then, when putting back together, replacing the rockers with the higher-lift 1.5 model. This combination of modest modifications really woke up my tired 2.8L motor and didn't require any changes to the tune.
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Nasta
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FEB 11, 09:31 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Notorio:
Just a thought. Since he's doing the head gaskets, you could take the heads to a speed shop and have them ported and polished. Also, the exhaust manifolds (ported and rewelded) and eliminate the obstruction in the Y-pipe. Then, when putting back together, replacing the rockers with the higher-lift 1.5 model. This combination of modest modifications really woke up my tired 2.8L motor and didn't require any changes to the tune. |
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Are those performance increasing or an improvement over a design flaw (obstruction in the Y-pipe?), I'm already looking at $3500 for the parts and labour, excluding any machining
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Patrick
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FEB 11, 09:58 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Notorio:
...when putting back together, replacing the rockers with the higher-lift 1.5 model.
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I believe you actually mean 1.6 rockers. The factory rockers are the 1.5 ratio ones.
| quote | Originally posted by Nasta:
Are those performance increasing or an improvement over a design flaw (obstruction in the Y-pipe?)...
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IMO, removing the obstruction in the Y-pipe is much more involved, and therefore debatable as to whether it's worth the hassle/expense. But porting the exhaust manifolds is simple/very quick to do with a bi-metal hole saw, and no re-welding is required.
 [This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 02-11-2024).]
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Notorio
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FEB 11, 11:41 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Nasta:
Are those performance increasing or an improvement over a design flaw (obstruction in the Y-pipe?), I'm already looking at $3500 for the parts and labour, excluding any machining |
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Sorry, I didn't read your post too carefully ... $3,500 seems a bit steep for the list of work you provided. But then I do my own work so I'm not really calibrated for what a shop would charge.
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Nasta
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FEB 11, 11:47 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Notorio:
Sorry, I didn't read your post too carefully ... $3,500 seems a bit steep for the list of work you provided. But then I do my own work so I'm not really calibrated for what a shop would charge. |
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Prices have been skyrocketing post-covid, but it's also in CAD not USD
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Vintage-Nut
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FEB 12, 01:03 PM
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| quote | Nasta:
It's become a necessity to get it done / I'm already looking at $3500 (CAD) for the parts and labour, excluding any machining. / I'm too invested to stop. |
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Obviously, the main portion of this cost is labor, not parts.
| quote | | Prices have been skyrocketing post-covid... |
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Everybody is feeling the pain on 'everything' and face it; auto repair labor rates will only continue to rise. The average labor rate is $125-$150 in my area, dealerships are more!
Clearly, you're in a bind when using a mechanic; a lot of PFF members work on their cars (a.k.a. "turn wrenches") for many reasons including this 'labor cost' AND the quality of the work.
So yes, "it is going to hurt" when paying a shop to work on your Fiero.......
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As your main concern is 'labour', this is my view on your situation:
*IF you have a firm belief of the reliability on 'this' mechanic; trust the estimate.
*IF NOT, GET THREE ESTIMATES with a full "scope of work" (SOW) which is a formal document that describes the activities, pricing and quality requirements.
1st: Gaskets/Seals (a.k.a. 'Repair')
2nd: Rebuild the cylinder heads with fresh valves (it's wise)
3rd: Add oil pump and/or water pump (think reliability)
4th: Add any "extras" if the budget allows
Good Luck!
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BillS
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FEB 12, 01:54 PM
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Sounds like you may not need a complete rebuild - maybe just some gaskets. First thing to do is check compression and see if the engine really is tired. You may just need some gaskets and possibly lap the valves but hard to know until you get into it.
Stock 3.4 from a Firebird/Camaro is 160 bhp but some of that comes from better manifolding; you can get some of that difference back by relieving the Fiero exhaust manifolds as was mentioned - that GM didn't do the simple additional machine operation to do that on the production line is almost criminal.
If the pistons need replacement and you don't want to buy a whole Camaro engine, a halfway point is to buy a good used crank from a 3.1 engine and a new set of pistons - you get a welcome increase in torque and drivability just from doing that.
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Mickey_Moose
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FEB 12, 02:23 PM
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Curious as to where you got the quote from?
There are a couple Fiero friendly places here in Edmonton and a few techs also work out of their garages that could do the work for you.
Send me an email (my listed email here is good) - or join the Edmonton Fieros facebook page. I am not on here often, so if you PM me here it could be many days before I reply.
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Vintage-Nut
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FEB 16, 08:27 PM
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| quote | Mickey_Moose:
Curious as to where you got the quote from?
There are a couple Fiero friendly places here in Edmonton and a few techs also work out of their garages that could do the work for you.
Send me an email (my listed email here is good) - or join the Edmonton Fieros facebook page. I am not on here often, so if you PM me here it could be many days before I reply. |
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No response?
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Nasta
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FEB 16, 08:31 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Vintage-Nut:
No response? |
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Can't reach him via facebook
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