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| California Dreamin (3800SC Manual Swap) (Page 1/6) |
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Notorio
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OCT 24, 08:52 PM
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I've been pondering my options to rebuilding my 2.8L that would pass the People's Republic of California Emission Test and Visual Inspection (like slipping in a 3.4L PR or a 3400 with the Fiero top end). If you can picture Captain Queeg and his ball bearings, staring off into space mumbling 'there's got to be a way...' that would be me right now. The Rules say you can't swap in the 3800SC with a 5spd manual trans b/c GM never offered that option. Has anyone successfully found a way around that road block? I know there are other CARB-legal swaps I could do but this is the one that haunts my dreams ...
John
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Spoon
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OCT 24, 11:01 PM
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Get one of these first. Then figure a way to hide the clutch pedal. They'll never know.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vi...292450-/232978334191
Spoon
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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut
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viperine
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OCT 25, 12:13 AM
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Is it really that hard? Honest question! Would a Monroe crew really be able to tell a fiero wasn't equipped with obd ii? I see my mechanic fishing for connectors without a care for all cars coming through and he IS smart enough to say "hey wait wtf is that engine doing in there?!".
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fieroguru
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OCT 25, 01:24 AM
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Swap in a 3800na from a Camaro with a 5 speed, get it smogged, then do a top end swap to add the SC. Might have to swap it back for inspections.
Or swap in the 3.9L/F40 from the 2006/2007 G6 GTP.[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 10-25-2018).]
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pmbrunelle
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OCT 25, 12:35 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by fieroguru:
Swap in a 3800na from a Camaro with a 5 speed, get it smogged, then do a top end swap to add the SC. Might have to swap it back for inspections.
Or swap in the 3.9L/F40 from the 2006/2007 G6 GTP.
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Camaro wasn't EPA-tested with the Fiero 5-speed. Technically, from what I know of California, you would need to install the Camaro 5-speed + 3800NA combo. The engine and transmission are considered an indivisible block.
3.9/F40 is agood idea, otherwise, if OP wants a 3800SC, then the 3800SC + its automashit would be compliant for smog testing, then swap transmissions for driving around.
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Notorio
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OCT 27, 12:59 AM
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What I am fishing for here is members who have successfully gotten the 5spd version approved by the CARB Referee (or ignored by the smog test station.) I can see getting the auto version through but changing back to the 5 spd every two years seems like a lot of trouble.
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Crasian
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OCT 28, 01:06 PM
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I have looked into this extensively.. by the rules of BAR it simply won’t be smog legal in California so i don’t think you will find what you are looking for... not trying to be negative, it’s just how it is here in Cali, totally sucks. Maybe do the swap and find a “friendly” smog tech? ....
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Notorio
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OCT 28, 03:43 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Crasian:
I have looked into this extensively.. by the rules of BAR it simply won’t be smog legal in California so i don’t think you will find what you are looking for... not trying to be negative, it’s just how it is here in Cali, totally sucks. Maybe do the swap and find a “friendly” smog tech? .... |
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Did you look at the option of buying the car out of state then bringing it into California? Different rules apply perhaps? Of course that wouldn't help with doing the swap on my current car ...
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Notorio
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OCT 28, 03:46 PM
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Rant --- of course it is maddening that the swap would result in proven Better MPG and Less Emissions but the Bureaucracy won't allow it ( ... I'll quote a San Diego ex-mayor here: 'Have you had enough Government yet?'
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hnthomps
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OCT 28, 07:13 PM
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Didn't West Coast Fieros have some sort of 3800 setup with a manual transmission that would get by CARB? My memory may be faulty but it cannot hurt to ask them. Another potential solution is to apply for one of the special vehicle permits (500 or less issued per year IIRC) if that would allow your desired engine/transmission configuration.
Nelson
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