Still gaining more info for my swap this winter... I have read every single 3.4 swap thread there is on the board.

Starter relocation, is there areson that nobody is having the new starter location welded up and flattened so that it's stronger and does not have the little angle so you can snap your starter mount holes off? is it really bad to weld on your engine block?

also absolutely none of the 3.4 build threads talk about what part of the engine block you have to hack off to make the automatic tranny fit. Is it something small that is easily done with a air grinder or do I need to take out the plasma cutter and chop off huge chunks of the engine? there are zero details on it.

Finally, anyone have a 4t60 and a 3.4 in their car? I'm really looking foreward to the near 30mpg and quiet ride at highway speeds but if you have to chop the block for a stock 3.4 what do you have to do for the larger 4t60?

I am getting excited and going to start grabbing parts soon (A drive to mid illinois the 9th or 10th to get a 2.8+cradle+tranny+etc so I can do this while still driving the fiero)...

Cars are certianly a sickness... being happy about smashing fingers, bleeding, frustration, things not working right, yelling, spending more money than you expected, and finally making friends hate it when you ask "what are you doing friday night? can you give me a hand?" makes us happier than a kid on cristmas day.

[This message has been edited by timgray (edited 08-25-2006).]

Ask and you shall receive...

Here is info on drilling and trans mod.

I'm doing a 3.4PR and 5 speed right now. Just drilled and tapped my starter this week.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Archives/Archive-000001/HTML/20050410-2-055874.html

When I was assembling my second 3.4L and tightening the starter down, it cracked where it sits on that angled area. So, I pulled the starter back off and welded up the angled area and ground it flat. I didn't have any problem with my first 3.4 and haven't heard of anyone else having problems either but, I would recomend that if you have the means then fill it in. You wouldn't want to be laying under the car at some point in the future, bolting the starter up, and have it go "crack" as you give it that last little turn.

quote Originally posted by triker: ...You wouldn't want to be laying under the car at some point in the future, bolting the starter up, and have it go "crack" as you give it that last little turn.

Wouldn't that make you say "darn!"

Having said that, I haven't had any trouble with my 3.4 in that regard.

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Raydar
88 4.9 Formula IMSA Fasback..........................88 3.4 coupe................................................

Read Nealz Nuze! Praise the Lowered!

Not sure if this post covers any of the issues, or maybe you have found it allready.
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/041835.html

You also have to remember, other than tightening the starter to keep if from coming loose you don't have to tighten it as tight for the Fiero since the starter is on the "backside" of the engine instead of the front like it is on stock 3.4.
This is because the starter is pushing down on the flywheel to turn the engine when the starter is on the backside.
That means the force of starting is pushing the starter up against the block not trying to pull it away like a stock 3.4 would do. So the bolts only need to hold the starter in place and keep it from moving sideways. As long as you get the bolts tight enough they don't works loose your good to go.

Cool guys, thanks.