is there any problem with using a 1992 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSEI as a donor vehicle for a Fiero Swap? Pros/Cons to using this 3800 engine. I have a chance to get one with 56,000 miles for $500 and i noticed that most people are using 2003 + motors... CAN I STILL USE THE 1992 3800???

Yes you can use the 1992 motor. It is a series 1 3800 and i believe it has the smaller SC on it. The series 2's have the m 90 . You can use the m90 as long as you have the lower manifold i believe . The computer for the 1992 motor is OBD1 so you have no tranny control functions which means you can use it with the manual tranny. I think most people that do the 3800 sc swap with a manual tranny use the OBD1 computer. Some of the eperts will hopefully chime in and set ya straight. $500 sounds like a good price too. . . . as long as the motor isn't blown.

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REMEMBER KIDS 4.9's ARE NOT SBC's

Hi Chris:

No reason you can't use that motor for a swap. It won't have the power of the Series II motor but a marked step up from any stock motor you may have in a Fiero. Check out Engine Specs and info on this http://www.gmtuners.com/ site for more on the differences between some good swap candidates. I started out with 3800 n/a motor from a 92 Bonneville but happened to come across 3800 Series II s/c from a 98 GTP so I swapped swaps and have driven the new motor for the first time this past weekend. Very Fast. Where about are you from in Ontario and welcome to our addiction.

Dave

I wouldnt recommend it unless you plan on getting an M90 supercharger, otherwise the SSE1 blades wear out long before the M90. If you are going to do some heavy mods, go with a SeriesII, they have four bolt mains.

The engines last forever and I just dont like the fact the old superchargers dont.

[This message has been edited by AP2k (edited 04-11-2007).]

I may prefer series II but there is nothing wrong with using a series I, seeing as yours is an earlier one you can always get a SC and throttle body from a 94/5 and swap your smaller SC pulley onto it to give you more power. When working on the engine remove and inspect the harness that connects the ignition module to the crank and cam sensors I have found quite a few of them where the insulation has melted off the wire and the conductor is exposed. Dan

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Signature compliments of F-I-E-R-O
2003 3800SC series II powered
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Thats what I'm installing in one of mine I bought a slightly beat up 92 bonneville ssei for $1000. replaced the hood and headlights then sold it for $3000. and 3-4 years later bought it back with a freshly rebuilt trans for $1000. then dismantled it sold the rear bumper cover to a guy in colorado for $250., sold the side mirrors for $40., sold the A/C controls for $50., the instrument cluster sold for $90., sold the slightly worn leather front seats w/controls at a swap meet for $250., sold the center console door and a few other console parts for $150. (apparentally they break alot), and the magnetic thingy under the package tray for the dash compass sold for $50. Sold the bracket that supports the powersteering pump and alternator for $20. after I made a new bracket for just the alternator that puts it in line with supercharger and water pump so only one belt. So I made most of my money back plus I got engine, rebuilt trans, trans cooler, wiring harness, vats module w/key and tumbler (if you use a 89 camaro steering wheels colar you can add vats to the fiero), auto dimming mirror, and the factory CD player witch looks like it was suppose to be in a fiero and I also reused the air compressor for the auto leveling in my truck for increasing the air pressure in the air shocks if I think I need more while driving, I also saved the heads-up display and it's controller in case I get really creative and update the fiero's interior if I can aim it right. If you don't use the trans it may throw a few check engine lights the computer in 92 does monitor something through the big round plug on the trans. The motor comes out the top easily once the hood is removed just that the rear trans mount is in between the rack and the cradle so disconnect the rack before you start lifting it out. Oh almost forgot I also saved the front sway bar for a future project that will end up in the rear (maybe it might be to much bar) on the fiero and I found a sizzler appron with a name tag of Jesus with $40. of tips stuffed under the trunk carpet by the antenna (somebody testing me? I did make an honest effort to track down previous owner of the car from the 1st time I bought it). I think the trans mounts from the bonnville would work they look really close to the fiero auto trans mounts but mine were oil soaked and desolving so looking at them is all I did with those. The exhuast manifold is headed right at the trunk sheetmetal and I still got some wiring to finish up before I can test fire and start working out any bugs.

The series 1 3800 uses the Eaton M62 supercharger. The coupler in them is the weak point; it's common for them to start rattling at like 60k miles. But a rebuilt unit goes for around $200 on ebay.

http://stores.ebay.com/ABCsupercharger

[This message has been edited by D B Cooper (edited 04-14-2007).]