quote Originally posted by Whuffo: Low-revving high-torque motors like a SBC or the Caddy 4.9 give you that kick-in-the-pants launch but the power falls off at the higher RPMs. High-revving (D)OHC motors wind up much higher and really fly if you keep the RPMs up - but that low-end "grunt" isn't there. {...} You may want something different; I'll admit that if I was building something to run at the drag strip I'd take a close look at the 3800SC...

Absolutely!

IM(NSVD)HO: Torque is the key in daily driving and in my not so humble opinion, any application at 'street legal speeds'. There just isn't the time for 'wind up' -- unless you are driving for other peoples eyes!

Now this may be a valid goal for some. But then I must admit that I have grudgingly come to appreciate the Iron Duke (with a few helps) as a "good engine for me PRECISELY because it has good torque for the size (cause as we know the horsepower ain't great!)

In fact, my Duke is worse at the higher RPM's. My 'shift point' in gears is about 3200 rpm -- that is the 'sweet spot' and it sure ain't max Horses!

Hmm. Any of you v8 folks live in/around Grand Rapids? I'd like to see a V8 Fiero (SBC or Caddy) in real life.

what is the weight diff between the n*,sbc(iron block),ls1,lt1,3800sc,and stock 4 and 6's?

if you think about it..... say for example:
you give 3 different guys (or girls) $4000.00 each. one for a sbc build up, one for a n* build up, the other for a 3800sc build up. if all spent the money wisely they should put up hp/fpt close enough to be competive. as mentioned before, g.m. just doesnt make a affordable transverse transmission that can stand-up to all the power that you can build up any motor too. if you think that a 4t65 or a getrag is bullet proof.... give it to me i will kill it in less than 3 runs. you ask any "real" performance car builder and they will tell that proper combination of engine-trans-gears and balance will win everytime. this engine puts out this h.p and that engine put out this h.p is all b.s..... less emphasis on just the engine performance and more emphasis on the combination will yeild a greater performance car.
someone can put a properly setup 200hp motor with the right gearing and whip a 400 hp car with bad gearing. i seen a mild 4.3 v6 s10 (with no spray) truck spank the do-do out of a really nice 375 hp camaro (with a 100 shot of spray) just because he was running some 4.10 gears to the camaros 3.08s.
if someone wants to claim they got the fastest street fiero, so be it... but to out right say one engine is better than the other is unfounded untill you lay-out the complete package.
p.s. if you think you got the fastest street fiero, email me, i just about have something ready for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My car has 0 cylinders and makes about 0.5 horsepower.. that's about as hard as I can push. You all need to be grateful you have working cars. I'm still dinking around with the 4.9 swap.

The best swap is always what you go with. Don't bother convincing others that the 3800SC (or any other engine for that matters) is the "best" one to go with. This thread is useless. The pros and cons of each engine have been weighed out extensively in various other threads. Probably the most said phrase by the V8 guys is "IT ALL COMES DOWN TO PERSONAL PREFERENCE". As for me, I like grunt. Every day on campus I see (and hear, from miles away..) Hondas wind up to 6000 RPM just so they can get out of the intersection without bogging.. that's not for me. Each of us likes something different, and to force one's opinions on someone else is just plain stupid. Yeah, I'm a V8 guy; obviously.. but I am in support of swapping whatever engine YOU WANT into your car. It's your car, not mine. If it were my car I'd put a 4.9 in it.. guess what I'm doing.

P.S. "Grand Nationals are dogs".. you lost all credibility right there.

Have a great day and if you guys need anything to console yourselves, your car is faster than mine, because mine doesn't move unless I push it.

yeah word to wipeout!
i think someone needed to say it...good job. all the bickering that goes on over personal preference is pointless. cause your not gonna get anywhere!!! if you want to hear a that SC whining behind your head then get a 3800sc..if you want muscle then go for a small block chevy..wipeout already said it all perfectly!

WOW this thread is OLD! I remember when I started this thread in response to some "people" going around and saying there was something better; claiming their way was cheaper and offered better bang for the buck.

You guys are correct tho. The best engine is ultimately about personal preference, and I did not start this thread to argue with someone's personal feelings. I started this thread in a somewhat feable attempt to clear up some BS that existed on this board at that time because there there were some trying to spread misinformation about the L67.

Whatever your flavor, I am just glad to see that there are people who take the time to do an engine swap that shows that they care about their Fiero rather than sending it to the crusher.

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1987 Fiero Coupe 3800 Series II Intercooled Turbo (12.79et @ 106.6mph)
1987 Trans Am GTA 5.7L Superram 4L60-E (13.1et @ 109mph)

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GM EFI chip reprogramming & 3800 Fiero Conversions