Was at the scrap yard the other afternoon and saw an Olds Aurora with a V8 32 valve under the hood. Is this a N* or some other GM V8?

It is, infact, some other GM V8

Its a 4.0 litre Northstar in the Aurora. Same motor as Carol Shelby's Series 1 but without a supercharger.

Isn't this the motor called the ShortStar? No idea why it's called that either.

quote Originally posted by Hudini: Isn't this the motor called the ShortStar? No idea why it's called that either.

No. The ShortStar is a V6.

Anyone done the swap? What kind of numbers would one expect from this setup in a Fiero?

I think that motor was officially called the Aurora V8. I had one for a company car...it was a strong motor and a real nice car for that matter...another typically good GM product that did not make it in the marketplace for all the normal reasons, dammit! I remember there was a rumor the car would survive as a standalone product even after Olds was taken out back and shot...too bad they did not keep it around. The (3.6?) V6 in those cars was nice too so I hear...sorry not exactly Fiero related.

It shares some of the same parts as a 4.6L Cadillac N* and is based off the N* design. It is the same size on the outside so I call it a N* but it is only 4.0L and has less HP and torque than the Caddy N*. The Shelby Aurora race motor is loosely modeled after this motor but no parts will interchange. Here's my Aurora swap thread. This is just one way to do it. There are several other Aurora swap threads posted here on Pennock's. A search ought to bring them up.

[This message has been edited by cptsnoopy (edited 11-14-2008).]

It is the Northstar architecture, but with a smaller bore. Consequently the heads have smaller chambers and smaller valves. Aurora heads on a Northstar will give 11:1 compression, but flow less. The Aurora is rated 250 HP/~250 TQ.

The engine in a Shelby Series 1 IS a production Aurora engine, with relatively minor tweaks.

The 3.5 litre V8 used in IRL and CART racing is nominally a derivative, but really isn't.

quote Originally posted by Xerces_Blackthorne: Was at the scrap yard the other afternoon and saw an Olds Aurora with a V8 32 valve under the hood.

Yeah, I was looking at that one the other day as well. 32V 4.0L V-8... What do you think the Japanese manufacturer's could get out of a motor like that?

BTW, While I was there, I grabbed everything you were looking for off that red notchie on the next row over. I don't know what it was you were looking for, but I made sure to grab it, whatever it was.

lol, Thanks Bruce But I'm sure you didn't take the time to pull the sunroof panel the glass was already out and laying up front on the tray under the hood, thanks to myself and my g/f's dad...had to show him what I meant when I said it was removable He didn't believe me hehe

Drop me a list and let me know what you pulled, I may be able to use some of it and can probably swing by when I make it down that way to the g/f's house again...might have to pull another rear window from a volvo next week with her dad again...

quote Originally posted by Will: The engine in a Shelby Series 1 IS a production Aurora engine, with relatively minor tweaks..

A friend gave me this very cool 50 page IRL Aurora pamphlet that has some neat info. It does mention a tweaked 4.0L production Aurora engine breaking a lot of records two years prior to the IRL version of the Aurora engine being developed. They do not mention Shelby's name when it comes to the IRL version of the engine. The IRL version is similar to the production version only as required by IRL regulations, other than that it is a completely different animal. Here is a scan of the pamphlet cover.

I've got one that starts and runs. Someday the car will be operational, too...

Bob

quote Originally posted by Xerces_Blackthorne: Drop me a list and let me know what you pulled, I may be able to use some of it

lol. Naaa.... I was just busting your weables of steel. The only thing I pulled from that car was the trunk lock. I'm playing "Bruce The Locksmith" for FieroBruiser. He needs a door and trunk key for one of his cars that didn't come with a key and I needed spare lock parts to put everything together.

So you can't blame me for anything else missing off that car.

Edit - But do let me know when/if you're headed there again. I may be able to meet you there.

[This message has been edited by FTF Engineering (edited 11-15-2008).]

Will do Bruce, might head out there this week if all goes to plan. Possibly Wednesday for a couple of rear tires before inspection...

quote Originally posted by Xerces_Blackthorne: Possibly Wednesday for a couple of rear tires before inspection...

Let me know your plans when they firm up. I've got a previous engagement on Wednesday, late morning... 11:00 AM I think? But maybe if you're going to the yard later in the day.

LMK what you're thinking. I might be able to make it later.

quote Originally posted by cptsnoopy:

dual distributors... interesting. You'd think they would have gone with COP.

Will do Bruce

As for the COP comment, I'm sure there are probably kits out there aftermarket to do just that...would be interesting to see though...