i know the usual swaps are the 3800 series, 3.4 v6, ls1,lt1,northstar...but would our cars work with a lm7 5.3? or a lq9 6.0? without breaking the bank to fit them?

I believe those are cast iron engines and very heavy. If you want a Gen III/IV V8, you're better off going with an LS1, LS2, etc. since they are all aluminum. The swap is the same.

Look at the LS4, F40 thread in this section.
The truck engines will.... work, I suppose. But they're heavy.

well it was just a thought i figured they would be cheaper than say an ls1

As far as I can tell, I'm the only person who has done the LM7-into-Fiero swap.
The truck intake manifold can be used, but not the truck exhaust manifolds or oil pan.
The weight penalty is at least 65 pounds. No more than 88.
Around here, the 4.8L LR4 sells for $200, the LM7 5.3L sells for $500, the LQ4 6.0L sells for $800, and the LS4 runs $1400.
PM me if you're interested in my adapter plates.

[This message has been edited by Isolde (edited 02-28-2011).]

hmmm it was just a random thought, but im definatly going to look into it now...could be just a dream but a 6.0 Fiero Just sounds right...of course my truck will get engine envy....i will be asking around here more...and at work lol i work with mechanics so hopefully i can get the hook up but then i again im the new guy and one of the main mechanic guys is strictly import oriented...but then again its still just an idea

I love my dads little LR4. That sucker is just a great running little motor. Not a "super-powerhouse" but a nice, stock, solid, well running engine. What are they like 280-290HP?? Not bad.

[This message has been edited by 3084me (edited 03-01-2011).]

As stated above, the truck version of the LS(x) family of engine is only about 80 lbs heavier than the aluminum counterparts. For the weight premium, you do get a signicant reduction in price. It isn't uncommon to find complete engine/harness/ecm from the trucks in the under $500 range.

However, even with the low purchase price, the swap will still be "expensive" to most since it will require an adapter plate, custom flywheel, custom starter setup, a non-stock water pump setup, different manifolds and a whole list of other parts. The only available kit to swap an LS(x) based engine (iron block or otherwise) is from V8 Archie and starts at $3464 for the basic kit.

The LS4 is the FWD aluminum 5.3 and is the cheapest aluminum block LS(x) engines and comes with the FWD bellhousing and 4T65E-HD. I picked up my 18K mile LS4 (with harness, accessories and 4T65e-HD) for $1000. However, the LS4 is better suited to those who want to keep the 4 speed automatic. The manual transmission with the LS4 becomes complicated with the starter setup, but is do able with the right custom parts.

Except some 3800-II swaps, every Fiero swap requires a custom-fabbed exhaust system.
The LM7, LR4, LQ4 and LQ9 fuel system goes the exact same as any LS4, LS1, LS2, LS3, LS6 or LS7. For that, there's already more than enough info here in this forum, and likewise in Wagoner's book.
Those are the 2 aspects of my LM7 swap I stopped short of, so it never moved under it's own power. Does that mean I didn't do the swap?
I fitted the induction, exhaust manifolds, figured out the cooling, then decided I want to lighten my iron 6.0 and use that. So I am.
My $65 adapter plates are trim-to-fit, and not re-clocked like guru did his, but I offer mine in 3/16" and 1/4" thicknesses of steel, for both SBC and LSx attached to either a 282 or an MT2. F23 testing is pending warm weather. Probably 1 more month from now.
My mounting isn't show quality, because extreme performance at minimum possible cost is what I'm about. It's enough that I use a CNC mill for my plates.
After the last debacle, you can't be surprised I'm not posting pics or doing a build thread. I will PM pics, to those who are known to never bash, and I'm saving up pics for my future; already-built; thread.

quote Originally posted by Isolde: After the last debacle, you can't be surprised I'm not posting pics or doing a build thread. I will PM pics, to those who are known to never bash, and I'm saving up pics for my future; already-built; thread.

What debacle? Did someone flame your build thread on RFT?

Speak of the devil? What's your RFT username, huh Dobey? You've sure never been friendly to me here, despite my efforts. You're one I'll never PM pics to. But antagonism is off topic. All that's on topic is that I have successfully fitted the truck version, and Russ Fiero hasn't chimed in, so until he does, I'm the only one here who can speak on what it takes.
BTW, the iron blocks are dimensionally like the LS1, but some of the mounting bosses are different. Some can be ground off, some are helpful to have.

[This message has been edited by Isolde (edited 03-02-2011).]

quote Originally posted by Isolde: , I'm the only one here who can speak on what it takes.

?

quote Originally posted by Isolde: Speak of the devil? What's your RFT username, huh Dobey? You've sure never been friendly to me here, despite my efforts. You're one I'll never PM pics to. But antagonism is off topic. All that's on topic is that I have successfully fitted the truck version, and Russ Fiero hasn't chimed in, so until he does, I'm the only one here who can speak on what it takes. BTW, the iron blocks are dimensionally like the LS1, but some of the mounting bosses are different. Some can be ground off, some are helpful to have.

You're upset with me because I'm not doing what you wanted me to do with my engine? There are plenty of people who can speak on what it takes to install a Gen 3/4 small block into a Fiero. Archie. fieroguru. myself. And several others who haven't used Archie's kit. It's not exactly rocket science.

I'm sorry I'm not going to build my LS4 into a 5.7L for you, but my disagreeing with you or correcting your information on occasion, does not mean I'm somehow unfriendly. It's not like I've jumped into your build thread and said "hey, you should do this completely differently" or "how could you F that up?" like you've done on mine and guru's threads. Rather I haven't actually said anything unfriendly toward you. Mostly I've corrected you or asked questions; or if you corrected me, I probably said something like "oh, right" and let it be.

Why did you delete all your pictures from photobucket? There are very few left on your RFT thread which are viewable.

quote Originally posted by Isolde: As far as I can tell, I'm the only person who has done the LM7-into-Fiero swap.

quote Originally posted by Isolde: Those are the 2 aspects of my LM7 swap I stopped short of, so it never moved under it's own power. Does that mean I didn't do the swap? I fitted the induction, exhaust manifolds, figured out the cooling, then decided I want to lighten my iron 6.0 and use that...

In my book a test fit of a partially completed swap doesn't qualify as a "done" swap... regardless of whatever engine we are talking about. Most certainly it would qualify as a work in progress, and the details of your efforts thus far could be benefitial to others, but I would not classify it as a completed swap you can claim to be the only person qualified to discuss.

You know my RFT user ID (it is the same and only user ID I use every forum I post on - PFF, RFT, 3rd Gen, LS1-tech, S10 forum, and a few others), and I assume you are implying Dobey being Pocket on RFT. I haven't a clue if they are the same person, but I do know that Dobey and I are heading towards similar goals and have shared/discussed quite a bit in each others build threads as well as through PM's. From what I have seen/read, I have decided to pay attention to what he has to share regarding his swaps. We are taking somewhat different paths to somewhat different goals, but I have found him to be a good person to bounce ideas off of.

I am not sure what you are afraid of with posting a built thread... it is a document of your thoughts, solutions, craftsmanship, obsessiveness, attitude, etc... Sure there will people coming into them saying your doing it wrong, but that's part of having a build thread. Generally speaking there are more favorable comments and helpful suggestions than negative ones. Plus the build threads are key to sharing information about the varied swaps and enabling the various swaps to be further refined over the years as well as help the people just getting into swaps. They can also be a vital maketing tool for those interested in becoming a vendor, since most people want to see everything they are going to pay for and how it works.

[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 03-02-2011).]

quote Originally posted by Archie: ?

What, you've done an iron-block version? I've checked EVERY LS-swap thread, haven't seen anything. I guess you could bust one out tomorrow, but at the time I typed that...
Also, since the OP is considering the iron version due to cost, what with complete used LS1 take-outs starting at $2000, versus $200 for iron, he surely can't afford your kit, even if you find it perfectly compatible with your kit, even with the detail differences between the aluminum and iron blocks.
I cobbled together a CNC-milled plate, and custom interlocking poly based mountings, and starter mounting, and alternator mounting, all for less than 10% the cost of your kit. And with the damper, flywheel, oil pan kit and cooling system, I'm still under $1000. Putting my swap ahead of the LS4 as well. This will interest all those wanting 6.0 power on the cheap.
Plus mine requires no frame notching, and only minor cradle trimming, to clear the oil filter.
Piecing it together is intimidating. But trying to find another $2400 for your proven kit? And as one lump sum? My way allows $50 here and $100 there. No having to save up.
At this point, I'm still willing to PM pics to the OP of this thread. But unless he sends me a PM, I'm done typing on this until after I finish my F23 testing with my lightened iron 6.0 in about 5 weeks.
I'm thin skinned, and I WILL NOT be criticized when I can see the proof my hands have created.

[This message has been edited by Isolde (edited 03-02-2011).]

Speaking of "Truck" engines, anyone think about a Cummins 4bt 3.9 4 cylinder? A little too ridiculous perhaps?

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: You know my RFT user ID (it is the same and only user ID I use every forum I post on - PFF, RFT, 3rd Gen, LS1-tech, S10 forum, and a few others), and I assume you are implying Dobey being Pocket on RFT. I haven't a clue if they are the same person, but I do know that Dobey and I are heading towards similar goals and have shared/discussed quite a bit in each others build threads as well as through PM's. From what I have seen/read, I have decided to pay attention to what he has to share regarding his swaps. We are taking somewhat different paths to somewhat different goals, but I have found him to be a good person to bounce ideas off of.

I don't know who that is, but I don't have an account on RFT. I did find Isolde's thread a while back over there, but I see most all the pictures are missing from it now.