I think I read somewhere that some (maby 4.5 or 4.9) caddy engines have aluminum block/heads?. Unfortunatley, I can't for the life of me find where I think I read this. Can someone confirm/dismiss this for me?

thanks,

aluminum block, cast iron heads

Kurt

The factory GM service manual describes my 4.6L Northstar as having aluminum block & aluminum heads.

quote Originally posted by KurtAKX: aluminum block, cast iron heads Kurt

I dunno - all that shiny stuff under the valve covers of this 92' 4.9 sure LOOKS like aluminum...

4.6?? I thought they were 4.5 and 4.9???

What years were the 4.6 available? Are there others besides the 4.5, 4.6 and 4.9?? Which is the easiest to wire if one was to retain the factory fuel injection?

thanks for the answers so far!

4.6 is the Northstar, 4.5 and 4.9 are the cadillac engines the 4.6 replaced. 4.5 and 4.9 are aluminum block, iron heads, descendants of the infamous 4100. 4.6 Northstar was a lot better, has it's own issues, and ways even more although it's aluminium (the overhead cam setup ain't light.)

Thanks Scott, that is what I was looking for!

Wow, the 4.5/4.9 Aluminum block/Iron head setup is lighter than the 4.6 Aluminum block/head configuration - that's interesting!

thanks again,

Three extra cams, extra timing pullies, twice as many valves, more material in heads for all that extra stuff... it adds up. But then its 275/300HP with the 4.6 vs. around 200 for the 4.9...

The real kicker is that the 4.9 weighs about the same as the stock 2.8 pushrod.

[This message has been edited by carbon (edited 04-09-2005).]

4.9's about 20# lighter than a 2.8
Northstar's about 20# heavier than 2.8

very cool info - Thanks again guys!

Are there any mod's for the 4.9 - sounds like this will be the engine I will go with.

Just curious, I'm sure the 200hp will be plenty for me, I don't autocross/drag race, and I'm not a street racer at all.....

thanks again!

the northstar requires cradle mods where the 4.5/4.9 swap does not. fiero addition.com goes over the swaps.-B-

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88 coupe 4.9 Izusu 5-speed Rockcrawl chip. True duels.No A/C .KYB GR-2 on all 4 corners Built to run.

quote Originally posted by 2-tone: the northstar requires cradle mods where the 4.5/4.9 swap does not. fiero addition.com goes over the swaps.-B-

uhhh---that'd be http://www.fieroaddiction.com
http://www.thefierofactory.com/cad.htm
http://members.fortunecity.com/bubbajoexx/id12.htm
http://groups.msn.com/FieroCaddySwapGroup/general.msnw
http://groups.msn.com/AkimotosV8FieroClub/general.msnw?action=get_message&mview=1&ID_Message=2

With these websites at your fingertips--------you too can have a Cadero! Just Do It!

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Proud Member of the North Florida Fiero club

4T60E Parks harness/ Rockcrawl chip-- more to come--

[This message has been edited by jeffndebrus (edited 04-09-2005).]

quote Originally posted by carbon: Three extra cams, extra timing pullies, twice as many valves, more material in heads for all that extra stuff... it adds up. But then its 275/300HP with the 4.6 vs. around 200 for the 4.9... The real kicker is that the 4.9 weighs about the same as the stock 2.8 pushrod.

Here is a nice comparison of an SBC, Northstar and stock V6. You can see the Northstar is huge.

That is my L98 Vette engine that I sold to buy that S* engine. And the Fiero engine is what came out of the GT to make room for the S*.
That S* has the same exact style heads as the 2000+ N* heads. GM used the 2000+ N* cylinder head style on The S* before it was used in the Cady V8 N*.

I didn't know that was a S* in the pic. Although I suppose from that angle a N* would look the same. Interesting concept to line up the motors.

so how much does the 2.8 weigh, i was looking at a N* SC 4.4 and it weighs 506 lbs., now that would be the engine to put in. 440 hp @ 6400, 430 @ 3600

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85 GT 3.4
Auto 3.08
14.9 @ 90 1.9 60"

quote Originally posted by Lilchief: so how much does the 2.8 weigh, i was looking at a N* SC 4.4 and it weighs 506 lbs., now that would be the engine to put in. 440 hp @ 6400, 430 @ 3600

N/A Northstars are about 425ish. They have plastic intake manifolds instead of aluminum and no supercharger or intercooler, obviously.