Honda K series mounts kFiero (Page 2/2)
FastOwen2XLL JUL 18, 01:29 PM
I know you focus primarily on K swaps, but I am curious if you have considered or started looking into doing a J motor swap? Something with for example, a J35 and a 6-speed TL manual trans? I have a more traditional swap I am about to start, but have my eye out for the right chassis for my NEXT project.

I see your solution to the shift cables facing the wrong way and a few things you have done that I foresee as issues. Does 'looping' the shift cables like you have caused shifting issues like binding or inability to engage gears?

I was hoping to find a way to use OEM mounts. Since J motors can be found in almost anything from Accords to MDXs, there more than a few styles to choose from. My daily is a V6 Accord and I love it!
Raydar JUL 18, 01:54 PM

quote
Originally posted by FastOwen2XLL:

I know you focus primarily on K swaps, but I am curious if you have considered or started looking into doing a J motor swap? Something with for example, a J35 and a 6-speed TL manual trans?




I had to do a top end job on a J35 (broken timing belt) and was impressed with the engineering. ("Interference" notwithstanding.)
I have often thought that it would make a superb Fiero swap. Especially after seeing Miatas with them.

FastOwen2XLL JUL 18, 03:43 PM

quote
Originally posted by Raydar:


I had to do a top end job on a J35 (broken timing belt) and was impressed with the engineering. ("Interference" notwithstanding.)
I have often thought that it would make a superb Fiero swap. Especially after seeing Miatas with them.



(For anybody that is curious what we are talking about, The Honda/Acura J motor is the most common all aluminum V6 Honda/Acura V-Tech engine used and continuously improved in almost everything that you can get a V6 in since 1996.)

Most modern engines are an interference design. That being said, most J motor timing belt failures are due to lack of owners following maintenance recommendations. Every J motor calls for a new water pump, timing belt, tensioner, etc. at 90k-110k miles. You don't skip this maintenance and get away with it forever. You rarely, if ever (I never have and I am around alot of owners) hear of a failure before the recommended mileage for replacement.

Some J motors are close to 300hp stock. Most are conservatively tuned for economy and emissions. 320hp is neither difficult nor expensive to attain. The powertrain would be lighter than almost any of the more common GM-based engine swaps. Plus you have V-Tech. I think a super-reliable 300hp, 30mpg Fiero is more than obtainable. (My 2014 278hp Accord coupe gets 34mpg highway and over 26mpg average in a heavier car). Honda motor wiring harnesses are neatly packaged. But they do use a unique motor mount system that could take a considerable amount of fab work to use the stock mounts.

Even bigger power can be made with boost. At work, there is a guy who drags his J motor in his 6th gen Accord coupe. He is in the 9s with it and flirting with high 8s in th 1/4. (No BS, I have seen both videos and time slips of what he is running). It is still street legal and he still drives it to work occasionally, so it is not ultra light. Of course he has a massive turbo and lots of internal and external high performance parts. His biggest issue lately is he has been snapping CV axles like chicken bones.
Raydar JUL 18, 09:29 PM

quote
Originally posted by FastOwen2XLL:
...
That being said, most J motor timing belt failures are due to lack of owners following maintenance recommendations. Every J motor calls for a new water pump, timing belt, tensioner, etc. at 90k-110k miles. You don't skip this maintenance and get away with it forever. You rarely, if ever (I never have and I am around alot of owners) hear of a failure before the recommended mileage for replacement.




Wellll... Our replacement timing belt (originally replaced at ~100K) broke at 215K. It might have been over-mileage, but it wasn't by much. But then again, I didn't do the first replacement. No telling what kind of crap the mechanic installed. But there was silicone on the water pump gasket, so I have to believe he did something.

The really strange thing is that my wife's best friend put 280K on their original timing belt. I replaced that one, after Tammy's broke. It looked just fine, when I removed it.
BV MotorSports AUG 11, 04:07 PM

quote
Originally posted by FastOwen2XLL:

I know you focus primarily on K swaps, but I am curious if you have considered or started looking into doing a J motor swap? Something with for example, a J35 and a 6-speed TL manual trans? I have a more traditional swap I am about to start, but have my eye out for the right chassis for my NEXT project.

I see your solution to the shift cables facing the wrong way and a few things you have done that I foresee as issues. Does 'looping' the shift cables like you have caused shifting issues like binding or inability to engage gears?

I was hoping to find a way to use OEM mounts. Since J motors can be found in almost anything from Accords to MDXs, there more than a few styles to choose from. My daily is a V6 Accord and I love it!



I am installing a J series into my best friends 85GT once the big move is over.

The shifter setup has been revised. I am working with Eric of HUX Racing to have a setup that uses stock Honda shift cables and the cables come into the trans from the front (like stock Fiero).
RandomTask AUG 18, 07:41 PM
LMK when these go back on sale. I'd be interested in picking up a set to screw around on another fiero.

Thanks,