Hi All,

I just bought a new fiero in the UK which has a Finale body kit, the Car is a non-runner with the engine dissasembled already.
Im thinking about puuting in an alternative engine rather then rebuild the 2.8 V6
So far I am considering a 24-valve 2.8 litre VR6 engine (204 BHP) or a Vauxhall 'red top' 2.0 16v engine (150 BHP). both of these put out more HP than the GM 2.8 V6 and with substantially better fuel economy.
Any thoughts on these options ?

The Opel, Saab, Vauxhall, and Holden engines are GM, so may be easier to swap depending on which engine you go with. The 2.0 out of the Vauxhall you mentioned is probably an Ecotec. There have been a few of them swapped, but it's not been a popular swap yet. Some of the models I'm sure also had the 3.8 SC engine which is popular and pretty easy to do.

This thread will probably be of extreme interest to you.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum3/HTML/000014.html

If I lived in britian, It would be a cosworth swap.

quote Originally posted by Custom2M4: If I lived in britian, It would be a cosworth swap.

Yes! I've got the C20GET engine in one of mine, and I'd be very happy if I could find the C20LET in the yards like you can. Would be a great lightweight swap candidate. It's the same block as the American engine.

[This message has been edited by L67 (edited 02-22-2011).]

I never thought about a cosworth swap, aren't those engines a bit big for the fiero, I don't really want to have to stretch the frame or aything.

I would like this car to be a daily driver also, so the smaller displacement of the C20XE is probably going to be better than the VR6 for this car.
I found some info on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C20XE

quote The C20XE evolved into the X20XEV(1994) with 136 hp (101 kW) and taking on the GM Ecotec name and finally it evolved into the X20XER(1999). The 20XE has now evolved into a large family of GM 16v engines, one of which is a 2.2L 16v chain driven engine found in many GM brands, including Saab, Pontiac, Saturn, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile. It was borrowed to Fiat and Alfa Romeo, for the Croma and the 159 respectively.

So it is the same engine family that you guys call 'Ecotec' and i've also found out that one has already been seen in a UK fiero.

For me, in Poland, when I think about fiero swap, there are two reasonably options - any V6 from Pontiac Trans Sport (3400 or 3800 - I used 3800, 175HP, LPG powered - looks enough for fiero, if anybody ask me). Second option - like in USA, 3800SC from any GM high powered car, Grand Prix GTsmth, or so. But they are rare and expensive here (price for unknown, more or less complete, 3800SC engine is same as price for full loaded and still driving 3800 Trans Sport). Other options (I4 engines, cosworths, V8s, anything from cadillac or vette, etc.etc) are too exotic, high cost, or simple stupid - too much work, not so much fun .

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Fiero 1985 notch 2.5 automatic
http://boni.smutek.pl/auto

[This message has been edited by Boni (edited 02-22-2011).]

and for an Italian owner what kind of swap you recommend?

The simplest UK option would be a 2.2 Ecotec and F23 gearbox from a Mk 1 Vectra SRi. A guy called Roger Thelin makes a kit to mount the Ecotec and F23 and convert the shift linkages to the Fiero 5 speed shifter. The original Fiero manual driveshafts mate perfectly to the F23. Its not a drop in swap (a small amount of welding is required to fit Roger's kit to the cradle) but there is a lot less to do than other swaps, and the engine and box is easily available over here.

If you get the full loom from the vectra, you will be able to use the vauxhall engine management, otherwise you might have to use megasquirt or something similar.

Its fairly easy (relatively speaking) to fix up a low pressure turbo to an ecotec for 200+bhp

There is at least 1 C20XE red top engined Fiero in the UK - saw one for sale online recently.