Has anyone considered a Honda 3.0L SOHC or a Honda 3.2 DOHC engine swap? The SOHC engine is rated at 240 HP @6200 rpm and the 3.2-liter DOHC V6, is rated at 290 HP @ 7100 rpm if you use the same pistons that are in the Acura NSX. I've been looking at the new GM all aluminum engines http://media.gm.com/division/powertrain/ and the 3.2L DOHC V-6 (LA3) 220 HP in the Cadillac CTS and 3.6L DOHC V-6 (LY7) 260 HP in the Cadillac SRX look like GM's attempt to catch up with Honda's engine technology. I'm a little leary of these engines since they haven't had enough miles on them yet to work out all the bugs.

I've been looking at the 3.4 DOHC swaps that everyone is doing. But what I don't see is much aftermarket performance goodies for the engines unlike the Honda engines.

I currently have an 87GT with a 3.1 OHV engine with 160K on the engine and I know that probably in another 40K it will be time for another engine.

Let me know what you think!

Honda engines would take a lot of serious $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to swap in, you'd need the trans, axles, all of the wiring, ecm, etc. You can only use a newer honda engine becuase the older ones roatated in the wrong direction. Those newer GM engines are based off the cadillac northstar I think, which has been around for 11 years, they're good engines.

a 350v8 or a 3800SC2 would be better bet i think alot faster and both have lots of go fast goodies for them plus honda engines just dont have the beefy sound that american engines have..=)

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ca_extreme,

That's one nice looking GT you have there.

Any more pics?

Please excuse the highjack

From what I've been told by a mechanic who specializes in Fiero's and Honda's the 3.0L SOHC will bolt up to the getrag transmission, with an adapter, so all I'll need is the ECM and the wiring harness. I'm looking at the 2003 engine and wiring harness and ECM out of a Accord LX or EX sedan.

The new engines are a completely new redesign of the Opel and Saturn V6 engines and only went into production in July of 2001 at the GM plant in England. The block and the heads are aluminum. From what I've been told by all the engine shops here in Atlanta is that GM has problems with the "Continuously variable cam phasing" that they're using in these engines.

If someone has some different information on these engines I would like to hear about it. I originally started this project looking at the 3.2 DOHC V6 in the Cadillac CTS.

quote Originally posted by Porsche: From what I've been told by a mechanic who specializes in Fiero's and Honda's the 3.0L SOHC will bolt up to the getrag transmission, with an adapter, so all I'll need is the ECM and the wiring harness.

No way the clutch will fit the input shaft splines...

You'll need a 100% custom clutch, or a highly modified tranny.

Better off keeping the Honda tranny. Easier to make mounts than machine clutches

Yup. And there's a pretty wide aftermarket for honda tranies that isn't there for the getrag.

quote Originally posted by Mach10: Better off keeping the Honda tranny. Easier to make mounts than machine clutches

I personally would go CR-Vtec with a turbo, but if you want to go V6, more power to you.

Think you guys missed the point, he's talking about using a Honda Engine with the Fiero trans via adapter plate. Just has to use a performance clutch for the Getrag.

the 3.8 has quite a bit of after market. But the man wants to put in a honda engine. there all good engins. What mach 10 said is that it wouldnt fit the splines of the honda engine.thats the prob. if Porche could find some mounts that would work it wouldnt be that bad. I say More power to him. if it wasnt fro people experementing we wouldnt have half the info.

if you do this put the 3.2 in and if you can find a 6-speed out of a 2002-up NSX and use that. You do know this will cost about 5.6 S***loads of money since it says honda? if you etched honda on a turd it would make the price 984760346078 times higher than what it should be. but if you got the cash to do it have fun and can i have some?

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'86 Fiero GT

www.KylesFiero.tk

quote Originally posted by NINJAX: What mach 10 said is that it wouldnt fit the splines of the honda engine.thats the prob.

The splines are on the clutch disk. So if you use a Getrag clutch disk the splines are not an issue.

However isn't a custom flywheel also required with an adapter plate set-up? The space created by the adapter plate has to be taken up some how and then there's also the pilot bushing/bearing area.

My inclination would be to stay with the Honda transmission.

Now that Saturn is using the Honda V6 it may be more"doable" sence GM and Honda worked out the GM to Honda electrical conversions for the anti-lock brake modual, Body control modual, Gauge pod and so on. Yes I would go through all the troble (again) to get a powerfull all aluminum DOHC V6 with a magazine full of after market parts I just wish GM would build there own FWD engine and 6speed tranny combo that could keep up with the other world class sports car engines and stop trying to "keep up with Hyundi"

It's pretty silly, in my opinion, to go through the trouble of adapting a Honda engine to the Getrag when Honda makes some very nice transmissions that already work with their engines. Amazing isn't it?

Now, what exactly are you after with a Honda engine/powertrain vs a more common swap like a 3800 or V8? I guess you want uniqueness?

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'87 Fiero GT: Northstar, Getrag, TGP wheels, rear sway bar, rod end links, bushings, etc.
'90 Pontiac 6000 SE AWD: Leaking ABS unit fixed, load levelling rear suspension fixed, still slow

Maybe he's going for a high revving v6, that doesnt need constant attention, and has more power than any DOHC v6 GM has offered yet.. and has some aftermarket.

James Z

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How long with a Getrag last when you are shifting at 7500rpm consistant? I smell burning Syncros!

Sanderson: The Getrag clutch disk is the same size?

Still, I'd use a Honda tranny. Mounts are simple as hell to build, machining flywheels and adaptors is stick business.

Go with a GM engine.If you want a small car buy a honda with a honda engine.Just recently the regal beat both accord and camry for long term reliablity.

Cool that is good to see, but GM does not make a 6 speed tranny. Just a preferance of mine, I want a 6 speed. I am not convinced that the Fiero (130HP)tranny can stand up to big HP for the long term dayly driver. Yes people have put turbos, V8's and hopped up supercharged engines behind them. But the bottom line is that GM knew from the start that the weak Fiero 5 speed trannies cant handle over 160HP for the length of the woranty and that is why you will NEVER see GM put a 282 on anything that makes more than 140HP. Gm put very few 5 speeds behind V6's, nerly all GM cars with V6's had auto's. As a matter of fact sense the 3.4DOHC in 92-93 GM wont put any FWD manual tranny on anything with more than 4 cylnders. WHY? Public demand for autos? dont ask me I know they can do it but they just wont. In the past they had a HD 5 speed that was called a 284 but it was only made for a few years. This is why I would do a 240HP 6 speed Honda. Or even try a Nissan Maxima with 260HP 6 speed, then modify it up to 350Z specs for 280HP, with out a turbo or super charger.

[This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 11-17-2003).]