i'm about to start my 3800 swap in about a week. How does the transmission hook up with the engine. I've heard you have to grind the fly wheel down to like .840 of the thickness?? But whats the best tranny to go with, the 5 speed thats in the fiero now, or the 4T65E? Why is one better then the other? Isn't the 4T65E a automatic?

Thanks, Ryan

For the 3800 5 speed swap, what you do is take a 5 speed Firebird flywheel and have it turned down to that spec. The 4T65-E is an automatic. Its good because it came with the engine, requires no computer modification to operate properly. But If your car is already a 5 speed. The choice is quite obvious in my opinion.

i notice that on the 1/4 mile list of fastest fieros, the top ones had a 4T65E. Are they faster to have???

quote Originally posted by greengoblin0129: i notice that on the 1/4 mile list of fastest fieros, the top ones had a 4T65E. Are they faster to have???

The majority of fast drag cars are autos.

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Nick www.naskie18.com AIM: Naskie182010

Quicker to make a auto shift for you in this century... more fun for some to row the gears but you lose the torque multiplication of an automatics torque convertor and the mileage is about the same with lockup convertors and overdrives. Also, I like the not having to reprogram everything if you stick with the automatic that the donor came attatched to.

So there aren't any manuals built for the 3800? I wanna do an L67 swap and was hoping to either hook it up to my '86's Isuzu o find a better 5-speed out there. I just plain don't like automatics.

manuals are cool, but once you start making real power they explode.

Uh oh, can of worms just has been opened and spilled. Im not going to touch it.

But anyway better and much stronger manual's are on there way. A 6 speed that bolts up will soon be available.

I have a 3.8L series I, but have it mated to a 2001 getrag 5spd (cavalier/sunfire)...custom brackets to run the cables...as far as I know, nobody has this setup...

that auto is good and strong, if your comfy with that, then go with it.
but if u want a lil more fun , go with a strong 5 spd.
the auto will give u more consisten 1/4 mile....and consistency is #1 in 1/4 mile (bracket racing).
i do the twisties so i like stick, but i also do 1/4 mile...just takes work with stick.

the only "mods" needed to be done on a ODBII ECM is....ground the drive and park wires. that's it! no re-programming needed unless you want to raise the rev limiter.
I have had my 5-sp (getrag) working great for me ( 1/4 13.2 )

Alot of "ladies" like the auto. but it is not a "sports car" in my opinion
Why change everything?

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88 GT, 3800SC, Getrag 5sp. Custom

I have a 5-speed transmission, that I pulled out of a 92 Sunbird with a 3.1 V-6. It bolted right up to the 3800 S/C.
How can I tell if it is a Getrag trans. I would like to use the transmission that West Coast Fieros have. But they are crazy, if they think,
someone is going to pay that much for a transmission. Anyone know of what that transmission is from?
http://www.westcoastfiero.com/transmissions.westcoastfiero.com/index.html

[This message has been edited by 3.8 SC (edited 05-27-2005).]

quote Originally posted by 3.8 SC: I have a 5-speed transmission, that I pulled out of a 92 Sunbird with a 3.1 V-6. It bolted right up to the 3800 S/C. How can I tell if it is a Getrag trans. I would like to use the transmission that West Coast Fieros have. But they are crazy, if they think, someone is going to pay that much for a transmission. Anyone know of what that transmission is from? WCF Transmission Pages

It's out of an NSX, and yes, there are going to be those that are going to pay that for a reliable high HP / TQ manual transmission application.

The Getrag is not designed for high HP & TQ apps, so this is a solution to it...replace it and forget about it.

As for finding out if it's a Getrag, hit the search, I know there was a thread a while back that had all the pictures of the transmissions that were available all in one little area. Great info all in one little package.

--Allen

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If it came off a 3.1 it is a getrag. That's the only manual transmission used on 60 degree PR V6's after 86.

SO SHOULD I GET RIDE OF THE 5 SPEED AND PUT THE AUTO IN IT???<---is that a stupid question? :-)

Got to say there is not a Fiero that is much more fun than a 3800SC with the 5 speed. I converted my car from auto to the Getrag and love it. If you building a quarter mile car then go with an auto but if you are building a Fiero for the love of driving then stay with the Getrag. If you want a quarter mile car then start with another car instead of a Fiero.

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Red 88 GT T-Top 3800 INTERCOOLED SUPERCHARGED
White 88 GT Stock
Please give me a rating if you appreciate my contribution.
Click here to read the History of Skitimes Car

[This message has been edited by skitime (edited 05-27-2005).]

quote Originally posted by skitime: Got to say there is not a Fiero that is much more fun than a 3800SC with the 5 speed. I converted my car from auto to the Getrag and love it. If you building a quarter mile car then go with an auto but if you are building a Fiero for the love of driving then stay with the Getrag. If you want a quarter mile car then start with another car instead of a Fiero.

yea...i think i'll just do the 5 speed, i want a fast 1/4 mile car......but i'm not goin to make it the fastest car ever, so i'll just stick with the 5 speed for the fun of it......not much fun in a automatic :-/

Thanks, Ryan

quote Originally posted by mcaanda: The Getrag is not designed for high HP & TQ apps, so this is a solution to it...replace it and forget about it. --Allen

Is there anything that can be done to the Getrag 5-speed to make it a little stronger?

Yes there is. If you would put a limited slip dif you could save a lot of wear and tear on the trans. What often destroys the trans is the fact that one wheel spins. (80% of the time the right rear cause of the longer axle) When the wheel grabs it put a lot of stress on the dif and the spyders blow out. If you prevent that you could save a lot of transmissions. Crazy Henry has a 500HP V8 Fiero with a 200HP shot of go juice and was of course blowing a lot of 4 speeds. After he put the limited slip in he rarely LOL blew a trans. Made me believer.

I can tell you right now, if you like manual transmissions, then you WILL be disapointed with the auto/3.8sc swap.. I have that combo, and Im thinking about selling the car now.. I was hoping the extra power would make up for the lack of 'funess' but it doesnt! I may just wait for that 6 speed to come out and do a swap with it though.. only time will tell.

quote Originally posted by greengoblin0129: not much fun in a automatic :-/ Thanks, Ryan

You may want to hold off on that statement until I get my GT back from Norm's. I think people are combining "shifting" with "driving". I believe "driving" is the overall experience inside your Fiero while you are going somewhere in it. Sight (interior + mods), Sound (stereo + engine), speed (HP + TQ), handling (suspension), braking, etc. If you have a Fiero that you like driving because of shifting, then it's obvious. If you like to enjoy a whole lot more while driving (fiddling with stereos, eating, talking on cell phones while you blow someone away "Sorry, hold on a sec... A mustang is lining up to me at the light ::2 seconds later:: Okay, he's long gone... So what's for dinner?"...)

Just plan a layout of what you enjoy the most, and start investing time + money that would eventually get you driving your ultimate Fiero. Or do what I did, and keep buying/selling Fiero deals until you have a keeper. There is a great deal on a modified Fiero every few months. Everyone knows who the "Mall Hunters" are on this board.

I say save your money and buy a deal where someone is sacrificing their investment to get out of the game. It better to have the running car than to have a Fiero in pieces that you are forced to sell because you run out of time or $$$ to finish.

Greg

PS - PLZ don't neg if someone on a cell just about hit you today... I've been a delivery driver for 10+ years and don't talk, eat, etc. unless it is at a light if I'm cruising in light traffic.