I am looking at possible engine swaps for my fiero for later this year after finally managing to get a secondhand 3.1 to drop in and get my fiero on the road at last I am hoping to find something a little more powerful with readily available parts here in the UK.

The X25XE and X30XE are available in a number of European GM vehicles including Saab and bolts up to the F23 and F28 gearboxes that I hear mentioned on the forum from time to time. This engine is branded Ecotec but I think it is a family 1 engine as its has the cast iron block with Ali heads, The Ecotec's I read about here on the forum are family 11 all ali engine i think.

The engine can be tuned to over 200 BHP with upgraded camshafts and improvements to airflow, throttlebody and exhaust headers. It is used in a number of kit car and replicas here in the UK.

Is this engine available in the US? Has anyone ever consider trying to swap one.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X25XE

It seems the only one with real boost in power over a stock 2.8 is the 3.0 version. I would avoid them though, as they aren't great engines, no longer produced, and have little to no aftermarket.

The Ecotec you mostly see about here is the all aluminum 4 cylinder, which took the name from the 54 degree Family engines that were also called that. I would recommend going with one of the 4 cylinder Ecotecs instead, as they are still built, and have a much larger market and aftermarket. The Ecotec 4 cylinder, and High Feature V6 engines are GM's new global I4 and V6 engines. And there are very few cars left coming off the production line with pushrod V6 engines at GM. If you really want a V6, I'd recommend finding one of the pushrod 60 degree engines, as they will be easier to deal with, though I am not sure what is widely available in the UK for those.

The 54 Degree engines were used in the US, though not the two specific models you mentioned; as they were only in Opel or Vauxhall cars. I haven't seen anyone ever swapping one into a Fiero, though.

Hi

Thanks for the reply, the 60 deg V6 was never fitted into anything in the GM range in the UK the best of my Knowledge, probably because gas prices are so much more here than in the US, currently equivalent to around US$8.75, not many V8's here.

Most Vauxhall's over the past 20 years have used the Ecotec named engines in I4 and V6 forms, starting with the iron block engine. All GM vehicles started to switch to the all ali engines around 2001.

These still hold a good price at the moment in salvage yards and ebay etc, while the older Ecotec can be picked up for a lot less, hence the appeal. Reading up I understand these were fitted in some Cadilacs but these suffered timing belt problems.

Most members here are not familiar with UK engines. Ask yourself this, "What are some of the faster cars in my country?" and "Of those cars, which engine has the best potential to fit into a Fiero?" then "Which of those can I bolt a FWD transmission to that will also fit and take the power?" and finally "Which of those is affordablet to pick up used?".

Fair comment, I am just investigating the Ecotec option these seem to be getting more popular with swappers due performance mods and better gas mileage. This engine is about the only link between GM in the US and UK and would make life alot easier.

If it has be done in the US and someone has a write up on it then I can consider it. Gas mileage is important because of the cost of fuel here but its not my daily drive so i can live with sub 25 MPG .

Original US parts are an issue because while US parts dealer are available here, all parts are mail order frustrating if you need something urgently and carry the extra cost being shipped to the UK in the first place.

I know someone has done the Rover V8 swap on the forum, another engine readily available but this looks very complicated and very thirsty.

Almost every car in Europe with the possible exception of BMW is now front wheel drive so the choice is good but if I want to stay GM it will be the Ecotec is some form or other. Most performance tuners in the UK cater for the small "hot hatch" German and Japanese car market thats favoured by the "boy racers" here.

The Fiero is just a great looking car for its age, i just want that little bit more like most forum members but have the disadvantage of living this side of the pond.

I don't think anyone in the US has done one. There's certainly no aftermarket for them here, and parts aren't so plentiful. Plus as noted on the Wikipedia article, if you get one of the Catera engines that didn't have the recall fix for the timing issue, there's reisk of the engine grenading at any moment, as the timing problem would cause critical failure. So it's just not worth doing over here, where much better engines are plentiful, and easier to swap anyway.

The choice V6 swaps over here have been the 3800 and the 3.4 DOHC. Did none of the Vauxhalls or Opels have the 3800? I know they used it a bunch in the Holdens, before being replaced by the High Feature engines.