Through '84-'88 4 cylinder Fieros we're equiped with the Isuzu 5speed and not the Getrag...
The Isuzu 5speed will not bolt on to a '86 V6...
The reason I'm bringing this up is that I know a fella that has a couple of Fieros he wants to get rid of... and they are a '84 4cyl automatic and a '86 4cyl 5speed. I was thinking about a taking a long drive and having a look at the '86, since it had the 5speed, which I want for my '86 GT 2.8. I'm thinking now that it wouldn't even bolt up. I hate to buy it to only find out later that the trans wont work with my Fiero GT. Is this the case?
Also, the '84 automatic was going to be used for parts or possibly a project car...
84 used a 4 speed muncie trans, but had a weaker case than the one used with the 85 and early 86 v-6 cars. all 85-88 4 cyl cars used the isuzu 5 speed. late 86through 88 V-6 cars used the 5 speed getrag. all trans will bolt up to 4 cyl or v-6 Fieros of any year, with correct flywheel and throwout bearing etc. The Isuzu trans is the weakest of the three trans, but many have used it behind a v-6 or even a v-8 with good results if you don't abuse it. Personally I would pass on any 84 for use as a parts car unless you own an 84 that needs parts. many items are different on the 84s that will make you crazy (however I once used one for frustration relief (baseball bat works well) and it worked great for that purpose )
Russ
[This message has been edited by Russ544 (edited 10-16-2008).]
Thanks for the reply great information to know 86FieroCentPa ... it seems though all 4cyl Fieros came with the 5speed Isuzu only and I was really more interested in the Getrag
84 used a 4 speed muncie trans, but had a weaker case than the one used with the 85 and early 86 v-6 cars. all 85-88 4 cyl cars used the isuzu 5 speed. late 86through 88 V-6 cars used the 5 speed getrag. all trans will bolt up to 4 cyl or v-6 Fieros of any year, with correct flywheel and throwout bearing etc. The Isuzu trans is the weakest of the three trans, but many have used it behind a v-6 or even a v-8 with good results if you don't abuse it. Personally I would pass on any 84 for use as a parts car unless you own an 84 that needs parts. many items are different on the 84s that will make you crazy (however I once used one for frustration relief (baseball bat works well) and it worked great for that purpose )
Russ
lol... stress relieve that's a great idea... its been awhile since I knocked out a windshield with a bat or mallet. I remember paying 5 bucks when I was younger at fairs and fund raisers to beat the heck out of some car. Yes, I was really more interested in the Getrag not the Isuzu anyways and no I wouldn't be easy on the trans for the most part. A sports car is designed to be driven as a sports car not a mini-van
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11:48 AM
fierofool Member
Posts: 13001 From: Auburn, Georgia USA Registered: Jan 2002
If you have an 86 with a good 4-speed, you have one of the best transmissions to "drive it like a sports car." Only thing that needs to be done is open it up, and LocTite the bolts that hold the shifter forks in place. They tend to eventually come loose.
Hey fierofool actually I do like the 4 speed quite a bit, but I figured since I planned on doing some cross-country traveling this next summer that an extra gear would be nice on the freeways and thanks I will make sure to add some thread lock on them bolts
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08:36 PM
Russ544 Member
Posts: 2136 From: S.W. Oregon Registered: Jun 2003
4th gear in your 4 speed is an OD ratio already. the Getrag od ratio is only very slightly lower (~300RPM). not worth the swap just for that, and the 4 speed is plenty strong. some say the 4 sp is stronger than the 5sp in fact (I would be one of those people )
I C ... not much of a change in rpm... Good that saves me the need to tackle that part of my project. Now I can throw money toward other things like upgrading the ignition and exhaust system, and interior cosmetic work
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08:57 PM
2farnorth Member
Posts: 3402 From: Leonard, Tx. USA Registered: Feb 2001
If you do happen to put the Izusu in make sure you get the shift cables, brackets, and shifter also. They are different. In my humble opinion though it's not worth it to swap out the 4 speed for the 5 speed Izusu.
NM... you answered while I was typing
[This message has been edited by 2farnorth (edited 10-16-2008).]
if you are worried about strength you would do what some bud of mine are going to do to my car if we drop a v6 in (not the ecotec and tranny) renfoces the CRAP outa every thing it gets redundant but im thinking a whole cage (exo skeleton i dont know the proper term) yea it adds wieght but i plan on doing daughnuts if i want in a izuzue car
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11:08 PM
PaulJK Member
Posts: 6638 From: Los Angeles Registered: Oct 2001
I've had 2 85GT's that got Isuzu's swapped into them. Of course, each came with the 3:65 4-speed Muncie. When each failed, I got an Isuzu because of cost and availability. The first 85 increased MPG from 28 to 33 on the interstate with 14 inch tires. The 2nd GT was already getting 31 on oversize 15 inch tires with the 4-speed, but due to a number of factors like oversize 15 inch tires and a faulty speedometer, I can't get an accurate reading on current MPG.
In the 2nd GT, I initially went to a 4:10 out of an 84. Very quick, but MPG dropped down to about 20. Then I went to the Isuzu. I don't bang gears, but I do drive agressively in the mountains, and the Isuzu seems to keep me on the tail of the car in front, and out of the way of the ones behind. A common complaint of the Isuzu is a very short 1st gear and a weak 2nd that tends to break with abuse.
BTW, the 1st 85GT got its Isuzu at about 165K. It now has 291K. You can see it in action at www.gafiero.org in the RFTH 13 video. It's the red one, 2nd car in front of the camera. The camera car is my 2nd GT with an Isuzu, and the 1st car in front of the camera is running a 4:10 4-speed.
[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 10-17-2008).]
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