Hey everyone,

I tried searching but came up with nothing. Can someone tell me which engine is the Southstar? (usually referred to as S* here on the forums). Which models/years was it used?

thanks,

That's Shortstar. The Olds Intrigue was one, not terribly sure about others.

Its actually called a short star, its a N* with 2 less pistons.

I believe it can be found in some late modle oldsmobiles, I'll let someone else answer that question.

Its basically just as hard to install as a N*, might as well swap in the larger engine, unless you are concerned with fuel economy.

it can also be found in the cadillac catera, my neighbour has one.

Thanks for the replies!

I think a turbo short star would be awesome.

quote Originally posted by olaf_fiero27: it can also be found in the cadillac catera, my neighbour has one.

The Catera did not feature the Shortstar engine. The Shortstar displaces 3.5 liters. The Catera engine is 3.0 liters. It is a completely different family of engine.

You can find the 3.5L Shortstar in the Oldsmobile Intrigue and the Oldsmobile Aurora.

I've driven quite a few Oldsmobiles equipped with the 3.5L engine and I am less than impressed with the motor. I recall a major automotive magazine did a performance comparison of two Olds Intrigues. One was equipped with the 3.5 Shortstar, the other the naturally aspirated 3800 Series II. I believe the 0-60 times of the two cars were identical. The 3800 was quicker 0-30, but the 3.5L posted a slightly better 30-50 mph passing time. Given the complexity of a 3.5L, I cannot see it being a viable swap compared to a 3800, much less a 3800 SC.

I agree, but think of how much the 3500 S* is going to pick up with mods. The potential is much higher do to the efficient DOHC design.

I'd still choose a 3.4L DOHC over the S*, but if money were no object, I'd lay my life on the line for a N* and 10 grand to mod it.

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This is a Short Star....S*
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/035053.html

The way I did mine was VERY complex. But now days with the after market computers it is MUCH easier to convert. Mine is smog certified for CA smog and has ALL of the factory electronics. I used the Olds dash, tranny, PCM, BCM, ALBM, gas tank pressure sensor, charcoal vapor canister and more. The entire system is stock Olds modified to fit into the Fiero and that is why the swap was so hard. The next one will be MUCH easier. In fact I now have Remote door unlock, trunk unlock, anti theft system theator lighting, ONE key to open the doors and trunk and igintion and MUCH more thanks to the complexity of the system. If I chose to do the system just to run the engine in a Fiero it would have been MUCH easier. In fact VERRRRRRY few IF ANY have done a compleet OBDII North Star at all. AND only a hand full have done smog legal swaps that conform to CA. smog standards, so it is not fair to blame the complexity of MY smog legal swap on the 3.5. And it is not fair to comare an OBDII CA smog legal swap to the average swap. ANY OBDII smog legal CA engine swap WILL be complex.

As far as the 3800na vs the 3.5L LX5 the 3800 does NOT HAVE A CHANCE. I own both a 3.5 S* Fiero and a 2002 Olds Intrigue with the 3.5 S* and the 3800 NA aint squat. The 3.5 lives at 3000-7000RPM and the 3800na runs flat on its face at 5000RPM. The 4 speed auto 4T65E is the short fall of the 3.5 drive train not the engine. GM programed the shift points to "Save The Tranny" so the shift points are very soft smooth and conservative like a Caddy. The 3800na has the low end torque to pull the TALL gears of the 4T65E and the 3.5 keeps pulling hard when the tranny wants to shift. The speed gov is electronicaly set at 110mph from the factory. How do I know? I took my 88GT S* out for a test drive to scan the car with a scanner under a wide range of driving conditions. I shifted the car into 2nd gear and floored it. The car sputtered out at 110mph as the PCM shut off the fuel. So I shifted in third gear for another run and the same thing happened. 110mph the engine was shut down by the PCM, but this time at MUCH lower RPM.

Yes the S* 3.5 LX5 is a more complex swap but I think it has been given the short end of the stick by some people that have never driven this car. I have let SEVERAL people drive the car including Madcurl who has THREE North Star Fiero's, one who has a 3800SC, and at least one other who has a ZZ4 SBC Fiero and they were all very impresed with the S* Fiero as were the others who drove my car.

Sorry if I sound a little bent but the 3800na aint going to take this one.

Thanks Rick

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[This message has been edited by Rickady88GT (edited 04-10-2005).]

quote Originally posted by Rickady88GT: I have let SEVERAL people drive the car including Madcurl who has THREE North Star Fiero's, one who has a 3800SC, and at least one other who has a ZZ4 SBC Fiero and they were all very impresed with the S* Fiero as were the others who drove my car.

That was me. I've said it before and I'll say it again, that car is sex on wheels. Completely different feel from the L67, far smoother and "European" feeling then the BFH effect of the blown 3800. Rick may seem very proud of his swap, but in reality he is far too modest. It truly is an amazing piece of garage engineering.