How much can I expect to pay for an engine overhaul on the Fiero V6 engine (ball park)? Gasket kit rods, bearings, push rods, engine honing and the engine assembled by a mechanic? I am looking at an '86 GT and the owner says a rod is knocking. Why did so many of these engines have problems like this? And will a overhaul with new bearings and rods eliminate this from happen in the future? Was it the quality of the parts used back in the '80's or a lubrication issue?
I am new here an thanks for viewing and your answers.
Currently drive a '87 Fiero 4 cylinder and love that darn thing.
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11:46 AM
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Gokart Mozart Member
Posts: 12143 From: Metro Detroit Registered: Mar 2003
Give these guys a ring: Marshall Engines, Inc. 404 West 8th Street Kearney, Nebraska 68845 Sales: 1-888-236-9610 Main: 1-308-234-6788 Fax: 1-308-234-1978 engine@marshallengines.com
Riteway Auto & Small Engine 1822 Avenue A Kearney, NE 68847-6016 Phone (308) 236-8533
Gibbon Transmissions 1016 E. 25th St. Kearney, NE 308-233-5825 1-866-TRANNYS Fax: 308-233-5353
[This message has been edited by Gokart Mozart (edited 01-26-2011).]
You would be better off buying a reman short block from a reputable place. This way, you would get some sort of warranty. Also, the cost would most likely be cheaper because you would not be paying your mechanic more in labor. Having an engine rebuilt by one single source also increases its reliability; as everything is dun under one roof (no way for them to pass-the-buck so to speak)...
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01:15 PM
DLCLK87GT Member
Posts: 2694 From: South Jersey, USA Registered: Feb 2009
Welcome to the Forum! You can use a 3.4 out of a 90's Camaro. It'll swap right in more or less. You'll need to relocate the starter to the other side of the block and it's not that hard with this jig; http://rodneydickman.com/ca...g/index.php?cPath=34 then most of the 2.8 top end parts just swap over. Or you can ( as stated above) get a reman long block for it. Most places will not warranty it if you tell them it's for a Fiero though because of the starter relocation.
[This message has been edited by DLCLK87GT (edited 01-26-2011).]
Originally posted by studebakerjim: Why did so many of these engines have problems like this? And will a overhaul with new bearings and rods eliminate this from happen in the future? Was it the quality of the parts used back in the '80's or a lubrication issue?
The answer is that yes to a degree the L44 2.8L V6 used in the Fiero had lubrication issues, primarily in the bottom end. The '85 year model engines had this problem even more. I believe the main culprit was smaller oil galleys that would feed oil around the crank. The blocks were remedied to a degree after '85 and many many 2.8L V6 Fieros have driven many miles (mine is at 280k), but persistent problems do exist with lubrication issues.
As mentioned, a good upgrade would be to swap in a 3.4L block from a Camaro/Firebird. It is essentially the same engine and most everything Fiero will work. All you would have to do that would be major work would be relocating the starter.
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05:42 PM
dratts Member
Posts: 8373 From: Coeur d' alene Idaho USA Registered: Apr 2001
Another one I've seen on ebay is brand new 3.4 dohc engines. They are not the best of the 3.4 dohcs but they are only $300 the last time I saw them. You would still have to relocate the starter, and go to pull and save to get everything you need to fully dress it. But still, $300 for a brand new never installed crate engine?
How much can I expect to pay for an engine overhaul on the Fiero V6 engine (ball park)? Gasket kit rods, bearings, push rods, engine honing and the engine assembled by a mechanic? I am looking at an '86 GT and the owner says a rod is knocking. Why did so many of these engines have problems like this? And will a overhaul with new bearings and rods eliminate this from happen in the future? Was it the quality of the parts used back in the '80's or a lubrication issue?
I am new here an thanks for viewing and your answers.
Currently drive a '87 Fiero 4 cylinder and love that darn thing.
Off topic, but: Are you a Studebaker owner?
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07:33 PM
Jan 27th, 2011
studebakerjim Member
Posts: 31 From: Kearney Nebraska USA Registered: Jan 2011