Through personal connections I got the German high-performance tuning company BRABUS to rebuild my V6 for me. Check out http://www.brabus.com. This must be the first Fiero "powered by Brabus" in the world ;-)
Yeah!
------------------ www.yellowfiero.com/fiero.html 17" DEZENT T wheels with 215/40 tires front and 235/45 rear, KONI shocks, EIBACH lowering springs, drilled/slotted rotors. PU dog bone, all bushings and engine mounts, K&N air and oil filters, OZELOT exhaust, Mercedes SLK yellow paintjob, Mr. Mikes leather seats, door skins, shift and e-brake boots. MP3 deck and custom subwoofer behind passenger seat, F355 style front. Fiero Store rear swaybar, strut tower brace, black carpet, air intake. Rodney Dickman's competition short shifter. Billet aluminum dash kit from Kitcarman.
[This message has been edited by yellowstone (edited 02-26-2005).]
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10:16 PM
PFF
System Bot
Scott-Wa Member
Posts: 5392 From: Tacoma, WA, USA Registered: Mar 2002
I wonder if they are they still in business? I got to drive a 1980 RUF twin turbo 911 ( or whatever the designation is) while stationed at Ramstein AFB in the mid 80's that was for sale. Ramstein to Saarbrucken and back in about 30 minutes, hit about 340kph with a gear to go... that's fastest thing I've ever driven. See if they can match that ;-)
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10:33 PM
Feb 27th, 2005
$Rich$ Member
Posts: 14575 From: Sioux Falls SD Registered: Dec 2002
You're right, the engine looked good when we opened it.
Several reasons for the rebuilt:
- I have to pull the engine in my yellow GT anyways due to an exhaust leak and thought that while I was at it I could drop in a rebuilt engine right away and be done with that for the next 20 years. I had bought a red 88 GT as a parts car and had an extra engine right there... (see https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/048295.html)
- My engine didn't look at clean as the rest of the car (the yellow GT) and I want perfection all around :-)
- This is my first time doing this kind of engine work and I'm just doing it for fun and learning
- I wanted to do some performance mods without downtime to my yellow GT
- And last but not least: ...because it's there... (famous words of George Leigh Mallory when asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest)
quote
Originally posted by RossT:
Why isn't there any carbon build up on the tops of the pistons? Looks clean, why the rebuild?
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07:16 AM
yellowstone Member
Posts: 9299 From: Düsseldorf/Germany Registered: Jun 2003
I'm going for a stock rebuilt with some mild performance touches:
- New stock cylinderheads with new valves and valve springs - Fiero Store engine rebuilt kit (new stock pistons, cam, new timing chain kit, new lifters, oil pump, complete gasket and seal set, all new bearings) - I may go with an overbore to 3.1l but that's not decided yet - the Brabus people will advise me on this - Totally blueprinted engine by BRABUS - Alleyboltz SS engine bolt kit - Power pulley kit - New water pump - Heatcoated larger diameter Sprint manifolds and Y-pipe - HIgh-flow cat
That should be good for a few HP extra (anybody has a guess how many???) without compromising reliability...
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Originally posted by DelawareFiero:
"Powered by Brabus" would look cool as a badge on your car. (like RUF does to the cars they mod.)
Then when people ask you about it, yeah its a AMERICAN made car The Legendary FIERO
Congrats on the rebuild.........any go fast goodies being added??
Keep us posted.
[This message has been edited by yellowstone (edited 02-27-2005).]
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07:56 AM
yellowstone Member
Posts: 9299 From: Düsseldorf/Germany Registered: Jun 2003
I wonder if they are they still in business? I got to drive a 1980 RUF twin turbo 911 ( or whatever the designation is) while stationed at Ramstein AFB in the mid 80's that was for sale. Ramstein to Saarbrucken and back in about 30 minutes, hit about 340kph with a gear to go... that's fastest thing I've ever driven. See if they can match that ;-)
I'm going for a stock rebuilt with some mild performance touches:
- New stock cylinderheads with new valves and valve springs - Fiero Store engine rebuilt kit (new stock pistons, cam, new timing chain kit, new lifters, oil pump, complete gasket and seal set, all new bearings) - I may go with an overbore to 3.1l but that's not decided yet - the Brabus people will advise me on this - Totally blueprinted engine by BRABUS - Alleyboltz SS engine bolt kit - Power pulley kit - New water pump - Heatcoated larger diameter Sprint manifolds and Y-pipe - HIgh-flow cat
That should be good for a few HP extra (anybody has a guess how many???) without compromising reliability...
Just a note - to get to the 3.1 you change the crank ( which requires new pistons), don't think you can do it with only an overbore.
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08:10 AM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
Too bad the rules are so tight in germany....or you could have gotten one of the other Brabus engines Good luck with the buildup! I bet your fiero will look like new inside out when its done...
"I got the German high-performance tuning company BRABUS to rebuild my V6 for me."
It should be no body but yourself. That is the only way to learn.
Like the old saying: me, myself and I WILL rebuild the motor. This is the correct statement. Me, myself and I will rebuild her. Ever heard of the old story, the little engine that could?
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04:53 PM
yellowstone Member
Posts: 9299 From: Düsseldorf/Germany Registered: Jun 2003
Sorry, I just don't have the tools to bore/hone a cylinder and I won't install a cam etc. when I have no idea what I'm doing. I'll do everything else, but engine internals should be done by professionals, I believe.
quote
Originally posted by Solo2:
"I got the German high-performance tuning company BRABUS to rebuild my V6 for me."
It should be no body but yourself. That is the only way to learn.
Like the old saying: me, myself and I WILL rebuild the motor. This is the correct statement. Me, myself and I will rebuild her. Ever heard of the old story, the little engine that could?
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05:04 PM
Saber49 Member
Posts: 937 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: May 2004
why don't you go with the performance rebuilt kit from fiero store, maybe to help you on your autobahn cruises. I think if your investing in a professional rebuild go all out.
[This message has been edited by FieroWannaBe (edited 02-27-2005).]
Sorry, I just don't have the tools to bore/hone a cylinder and I won't install a cam etc. when I have no idea what I'm doing. I'll do everything else, but engine internals should be done by professionals, I believe.
A very good point, but I also agree with Solo2, it is always best to learn by "hands-on" experience. Naturally not many have the big machines, but pick up the Factory Service Manual and 95% of all the debug and testing of an engine is done by standard hand tools. Most shady tree people out ther hand majority of what is needed to keep a car going with simple hand tools. Yes when it come time to bore and hone an engine take it to a machine shop, but installing a cam, that is where the education comes in, your friends, teachers at school, other office coworkers, they could be your teachers, you have unliminted resources out there.
Right now my neighbor's son who is 16 is starting to rebuild a honda, he sometimes uses me for qiuck questions, but the whole key is he is doing it himself with help.
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09:10 PM
Feb 28th, 2005
ducattiman Member
Posts: 674 From: TheNetherlands Registered: Mar 2003
Sorry, I just don't have the tools to bore/hone a cylinder and I won't install a cam etc. when I have no idea what I'm doing. I'll do everything else, but engine internals should be done by professionals, I believe.
A very good point, but I also agree with Solo2, it is always best to learn by "hands-on" experience. Naturally not many have the big machines, but pick up the Factory Service Manual and 95% of all the debug and testing of an engine is done by standard hand tools. Most shady tree people out ther hand majority of what is needed to keep a car going with simple hand tools. Yes when it come time to bore and hone an engine take it to a machine shop, but installing a cam, that is where the education comes in, your friends, teachers at school, other office coworkers, they could be your teachers, you have unliminted resources out there.
Right now my neighbor's son who is 16 is starting to rebuild a honda, he sometimes uses me for qiuck questions, but the whole key is he is doing it himself with help.
He is having it blueprinted which means the shop will assemble, disassemble and reassemble as necessary to make adjustments. At least one round if they get really lucky. So if they are doing all that, he may as well have them assemble the unit. If he does the blueprinting work himself, then he will be making many trips to the shop and that will be more trouble than it is worth. Add to that, one minor mistake and all of his money and time will go "up in smoke". So he's doing the right thing IMO.
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12:31 AM
yellowstone Member
Posts: 9299 From: Düsseldorf/Germany Registered: Jun 2003
Just for your information: My day job is Marketing Director for a large entertainment company and I've had NO mechanic training or experience (other than owning a Fiero for 10 years) whatsoever. So I'm doing what I feel comfortable with and outsource the rest (or get someone to help).
I already learned a lot pulling the engine and stripping it. It's just the block, oilpan, crank, cam and cylinder heads right now and I won't do more myself. I got myself some sandblasting equipment, though, that will see some heavy use shortly... :-)
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05:02 AM
Vonov Member
Posts: 3745 From: Nashville,TN,USA Registered: May 2004
(Wonder who SM2 was?) Brabus put together some sweet machines when I was in Deutschland...
------------------ '88 Formula - 4.9 conversion by The Fiero Factory
"Yea, verily, I say unto you, there is no substitute for Cubic Inches. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of rice, I shall fear no evil, for V-8 is with me..." ---- from the Cubist bible
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06:59 AM
Saber49 Member
Posts: 937 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: May 2004
Solo2 reminds me of the Lysol commercial where you here the germs muttering as they mill about (unseen) on the countertop. The woman comes and sprays down the surface and you hear screams that gradually fade away as she wi[es the surface... down to one whimpering voice that goes 'ugh!' as she puts down the can of disinfectant. I wonder what V6 advocate would have any interest in this thread? Hmmm?
Anyway, back on topic. One of the above posts pointed out that you should go with a 3.1 crank to get the displacement. It will in effect make yours a stroker motor but I seem to recall that GM designed better oiling into the updated crank. Probably better for Autobahn runs. You need a crank with a 981 casting number, like the ones out of a 91 Camaro 3.1 You will also need the pistons to match. The ones for cast iron heads, not aluminum heads. You will need a new crankshaft key for the timing gear and the harmonic balancer. The 2.8 has two separate ones. The 3.1 crank needs one long one. You will need to get the crank, pistons, rods and flywheel balanced. Especially the flywheel. The 2.8 is externally balanced with a weight welded on the flywheel. It will need to be machined or cut off and the flywheel rebalanced. The 3.1 crank is internally balanced with counter weights. I would also suggest cleaning up the inside of the stock exhaust manifolds if you're gonna use them. You'll know why if you look down into the flanges. I suppose a cam is in order as well as the usual roller rocker conversions and other standard go-fast goodies. Good luck. I have no time, tools or experience to really do this myself although I'd like to try in the future. If I had the spare engine to work on while I drove one, I might but it seems I only work on cars when they need it.
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11:35 PM
Mar 12th, 2005
yellowstone Member
Posts: 9299 From: Düsseldorf/Germany Registered: Jun 2003
Your doing the right thing... if you don't want/know how to do it, you won't be sorry finding the right people to do it correctly for you. Just about anyone can assemble an engine... how long it lasts troublefree is another question. Having someone that will do it correctly using correct tools and procedures goes a long way to a satisfied owner.