I think that a N* and a 3.5 would be about the same conversion, with the only differance being a V8 or V6. I think that mine will be much easyer than most N*s because I am not trying to bypass the OBDII. I just got EVERYTHING out of the doner car that the ECM needs. I am just putting it all in the car. Anti-lock break modual, Stock 2000 Olds ignition key and lock (for the anti theft system. I want it all in my Fiero even the remote unlock doors and trunk) If the ECM was linked to it I am putting it in the Fiero. I know it sounds complex but I have no other way to do it and pass smog in CA. It is not that much harder(so far) than the 3100SFI that I did in my 87GT. BTW I did that conversion the same way, I used a Corvette igntion key and lock in the stock Fiero steering colem and used the chip from the doner car for the VATTs.

Very nice! My friend has an Intrigue with the 3.5L Shortstar. It's a rev-happy engine, and it runs on 87 octane!

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So do I, in fact I have three 3.5's. One in the Fiero one in my 2002 Intrigue and one 3.5 in a crate on the floor. Mine hits the rev limiter every day and sounds good

You used a Corvette ignition lock in a Fiero column? Is it the modern double sided type? Can you explain a little more how you did that?

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Alan Frazier
'86 GT-'92 3.4 TDC under construction
'84 2m4 daily driver
'88 Silver coupe, auto For Sale

Yes I used a Vette lock but it was out of an 89 and it looks just like the stock Fiero key, but with a chip in it. It was almost identical to the Fiero lock. I used a dremil tool to cut out a groove for the wires. The wires are the pickups for the resistor chip in the key. The Corvette lock is just a little bit bigger in diamiter so I used a sanding drum on my dremil tool to open up the Fiero column. It looks factory and the key just says GM on it so it wont look funny by having a Vette name on it.
BTW I even used some of the parts in the Vette column to recondition my 87 Fiero column.

I have decided to bring this back to the top because a friend of mine has a 99 Intrigue that I can take everything I need from...

what kind of mounts, etc are you using?

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Yeah, an update would be great!

How is the mounting done? Torque axis or traditional?

[This message has been edited by TK (edited 09-27-2003).]

Rick,

Do you still have all of your notes handy??? I could put up another site like DOHCFiero.com for documentation, like I'm doing with the Quad 4. Would you be interested?

Bob

edited: still looking for someone to take on a northstar site too. Sure would be nice to have one stop to get all the info on these 2 installs as well...

[This message has been edited by 85frankenstein (edited 09-27-2003).]

How is it for changing spark plugs? Can the rear be reached easily? I have been loking over the many different conversions and some look like they need the engine dropped to change the plugs.

No. Just use two universals and they come right out. I have for years. No probelms.

That old rumor was started by folks that don't want you to have the sweetest motor ever stuffed into a Fiero

DKOV -
DMS

Well I guess it has been a while
I am tring to get it done for the Songmans Coastal Run.
When the PFF PIP stoped working it made it hard for me to post pics, so I just stopped. I like pics so a Site that can host my build up would be cool. I have had offers to post pics on other sites but have not got around to doing it. I want to do an entire write up on the conversion. But it would be for a Ca. Smog Legal set up and is very complex. But now that you can get an after market ECM the work is MUCH easier. I will also get CAD wire diagrams with all the conversions for those that want them.
As far as the spark plugs I can change them in all in about 20 minits. The cradle swings down so the back three spark plugs are VERY easy to get to. I dont even need the universals, just a long extension. The cradle swings down so far that I can get to almost any part of the lower engine and exaust. It is easy to swing down the cradle, just jack up the car. Put it on stands then put the jack under the rear of the cradle and take out the two rear cradle bolts. Lower the jack and down comes the engine. I did the conversion with this in mind so it is easier than the stock Fiero. I cant get the coil pack off with out lowering the cradle. But I will use the stock Fiero deck lid springs, and that takes up some room.
As far as the mounts the engine has no Dog Bone. It is mounted with Five lower moter mounts. Three of the are Stock Olds type, and two of them are Stock Fiero Tranny type. West Coast Fiero sels some tranny mounts for the 4t65e that should work. So I have three tranny mounts, the stock Fiero (modded) type and stock 4t65e (modded) type. The other two are stock Olds moter mounts on the front side of the engine, one at each corner. I used a steel 4t60e tranny mount (the one at the end of the valve body cover) and cut it to fit in the cradle exaust cut out at the right rear of the cradle. So the stock 4t65e tranny mount now sits were the stock Fiero exaust pipe used to pass throue the rear of the cradle. The front cross member of the cradle was replaced with a custom fabbed piece with two motor mount "pads" for the front side of the engine. Also the front tranny "rubber" mount is the same as the stock front mount on the Olds. So the two front mounts are VERY hefty liquid filled motor mounts. The tranny end mount is off of an 88 duke, it seems to be stronger looking than the stock Olds. The rear tranny rubber mount is a stock Fiero V6 tranny mount. the rear left engine mount is a stock Olds mount.
As far as no Dog Bone mount I know it will work with out problems because the Olds Arora 3.5 V6 has no Dog Bone eather.

So what your saying is to send our cradle and cash to you so you can make it 3.5 ready?

I can not wait to see this build!!! So where do you think the Turbo will fit? Intercooler?

Mine aint turboed, I was just showing off a pic of a sand rail engine. They put a turbo on it and stuffed it in a Buggie
Mine is all stock. But if I were to do a turbo I would put it over the Tranny. It would be just under the TB. Looks like it has room there.

Hey Rickady
Thanks for replying to my pm, now I got a few specific questions...

Can a 5spd Getrag be matted to this engine?

How much aftermarket stuff is there for these engines?

Is there much performance items that can be added? turbo/etc...

There are only really 2 things holding me on this swap...
Availability of upgrades/parts...
And if it can be used with a 5spd...
(I will never own an automatic vehicle; even my 92 GMC truck is manual)

Yes, it will bolt to a 5 speed you just have to get a fly wheel for it. I bolted mine to a 5 speed just to see if it would bolt together. Mine is the stock 4 speed auto because of CA smog reasons. As far as aftermarket parts check this link.
http://www.mechtech-ms.com/indexshowcase.html

Rickady88GT ,

First off I wanted to make sure I said THANK YOU for this post.

Second you are EVIL!!!!! Why? Because I want a version of either the 3.5 or 4.6 now!!! Dang dang dang!!

Thanks again and keep us posted. I'm still searching for actual pics of an installed 4.6 but all I keep finding is people explaining about the install with no pics.

I better run back over to the tech section to see if anyone might have added a link to a post I have over there.

The 3.5 isn't dying with olds! Turns out the 2004 Malibu is supposed to be getting the engine.

Can't remember what they're putting the 4.0 in though.

GM is messing with larger displacment 60º V6's for the future its called the "global engine family", the 3.5 DOHC is just the first off the line, the new CTS already comes with that engine. The Shortstar is a 90º (as shown in the pic that compares the engines)
As for the new 3.5's, it's almost too high tech to put it into a Fiero, but Im sure its going to happen anyway!

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84 Indy fiero Quad 4 HO (almost done!!)
85 2m? Getting parted out soon
Silver 88 GT, Newest addiction.

That would be cool if the 3.5 was used somewhere else but GM did kill it. The 3.5 in the Malibu is the next generation 60 degree pushrod V6. The closest thing to the twin cam 3.5 is the new 60 degree twin cam 3.6 V6.

Its not pushrod.. DOHC with variable valve phasing and stuff.. very cool

James Z

quote Originally posted by Rickady88GT: That would be cool if the 3.5 was used somewhere else but GM did kill it. The 3.5 in the Malibu is the next generation 60 degree pushrod V6. The closest thing to the twin cam 3.5 is the new 60 degree twin cam 3.6 V6.

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