Is it worth it?
My dads friend which drag races and knows a lot about cars/engines is working on his 78 Firebird Espirit this winter, in our garage. My dad mentioned it too him about doing a V8 Swap in my Fiero, and he said save your money and turbocharge it. He says it will cost less then $1000.00CDN for everything I need.
The car will be around 160HP. Which is a big difference from 98HP out of the factory.
Overall is the turbocharger worth it?

Well, there are others who are more familar with the particulars but if you are talking about fabricating a turbo for a 4 cylinder Iron Duke that came with the Fiero you are out of luck. The engine will not tolerate the increased stress of the turbo, and for the money you are best looking into a engine swap. Even a 3.4 PR has an output of 160hp, and with a turbo you can boost it to over 200hp.

You'll go from 70 whp, to probably 110whp if you want to be safe. then KABOOM. I hate when people jump in and tell people their dukes and 2.8 pr's suck, but sorry the duke just won't take the added abuse. Its proved it over and over again.

There was a company in the late 80s,,early 90s that made turbo charger kits for the fiero,most of the engines came apart,,turbo & duke spell problem.it gets excellent MPG,, Any modifications should be done above the block..

quote Originally posted by Mr.PBody: You'll go from 70 whp, to probably 110whp if you want to be safe. then KABOOM. I hate when people jump in and tell people their dukes and 2.8 pr's suck, but sorry the duke just won't take the added abuse. Its proved it over and over again.

You can get close to 110 with a Holley intake and free-flow exhaust and stock cam.

Dukes can take more volumatric efficiency, not more pressure on the rods. If you want to replace the rods, the older style 350 rods are the correct size, if not a little shorter to get a lower compression ratio. The crank or the block will be the next to go after that.

[This message has been edited by AP2k (edited 11-24-2007).]

3800+S/c+I/C

The 4 cylinder turbo project has a name - it's called "BOOM, what's in your wallet".

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there are some nice GM 4 bangers to turbo
Q4, old sunbird OHC 4 ,[it even came with a factory turbo]
and the new dohc 4
but they require a swap and some a trans swap tooo

but not the iron duck
unless you luck in to a super duty motor

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Question wonder and be wierd
are you kind?

I have one of the turbo dukes on this fourm. It was fun building and fun to drive for all of a month till the motor blew. That was at 6 psi of boost. I still believe it can work and I will get it to work. But not at this moment. It naps in my backyard under a cover for the last five years and myabe it will be there for another 2. I will make it work but I like my 86 2.8 that I am working on now. But I will say at 6 psi that thing moved. When I get back to working on it I will post lots of pics and info.

-Frank

quote Originally posted by AP2k: You can get close to 110 with a Holley intake and free-flow exhaust and stock cam. Dukes can take more volumatric efficiency, not more pressure on the rods. If you want to replace the rods, the older style 350 rods are the correct size, if not a little shorter to get a lower compression ratio. The crank or the block will be the next to go after that.

What I meant by that was with safe boost, and a holley intake doesn't exist anymore according to a ton of threads. 110whp on a stock cam????? on an 84????? I really doubt that. With 2.8L V6s doing 100-105whp stock. How much does that holley intake add? If its that good an iron duke with 3 mods (intake, tbi, and exhuast) will pwn a V6 with a bolt on or two because it makes the same power and is lighter.

quote Originally posted by Mr.PBody: What I meant by that was with safe boost, and a holley intake doesn't exist anymore according to a ton of threads. 110whp on a stock cam????? on an 84????? I really doubt that. With 2.8L V6s doing 112-18whp stock. How much does that holley intake add? If its that good an iron duke with 3 mods (intake, tbi, and exhuast) will pwn a V6 with a bolt on or two because it makes the same power and is lighter.

there, i corrected your quote on the stock 2.8L wheel horsepower

its still very sad really, my 3.4L stock only dyno'd around 129HP to the wheels.

matthew

I know but the PR is the fieros roots!! I am going to make it fast!!!!! (until I can afford a 3800 swap then I will join the L44 hate team) lol.

If you have an 87 or 88 duke 4 you can easily build an engine with 100 to 110 at the rear wheels,you will be able to stay with the V 6 till about 50 mph,you start with the S 10 head match the ports(do not port S 10 head) roller rockers..and a custom ecm!! To build a strong duke you have to change the crankshaft and rods,this is not worth the effort unless you just want a strong duke permanently in the engine bay,,a swap is never easy. ,Just to remove an engine or pull a transmission thru the side is a chore for all but the most dedicated motorhead who knows the world is not right unless smoke screen tire smoking is available.A duke that will run 0 to 60 in under 9 seconds and get 40 mpg is most desirable I have secret lustful desires about the duke,very stimulating ,but they must be forever hidden because of the severe penalty of being found out and failure