Well today was an interesting day. I acquired an 84 Century with the 4.3 V6 diesel and th125c transmission. This vehicle has been sitting since 01 but it still started and ran enough for me to drive it home. I am surprised that it even started let alone drove. Smoked a bit but I attribute that to the 10+ year old fuel. Sometime in the future I plan to install this into one of the 85 SE's that I have in storage and make it into the econo-car. Fuel is going to be cheap considering I am already making bio-diesel for the farm in small batches. Curious to see what kind of mileage I can get with this engine swap. I may even look into swapping an Isuzu in place of the auto and maybe even a light turbo to bring power back to sea level rating. Living at 8000 feet does have an effect on engine power.
This could get interesting. I will keep everyone posted.
I read through that topic earlier and that is why I am here now. I plan on doing a few modifications to the engine, mainly for longevity when facing a turbocharger. Mainly strengthening the lower end and the clamping force of the heads. The previous owner stated that he was able to attain over 40 MPG on a regular basis with the car before he retired it/couldn't drive. Curious what I may be able to get in a Fiero.
I will need to go into the engine and freshen it up a bit. Several years (10+) of sitting is not the best of mechanical equipment. I do know the Stanadyne DB2 injection pump needs some work. Idle is good, but anything over 1/2 throttle and it starts to miss and smoke. Hopefully this is just a fuel issue from the old fuel on board. Otherwise it starts up without a problem and settles into a decent idle after a few seconds.
Oh my friend so many projects... I like the aspect of a highly fuel efficient diesel in a fiero. truthfully I think there is still something to the economy side of the economy box sportscar. Tell you what I definitely know someone willing to put in some serious road test time on it. So I say shoot for Walden to Kansas City 1.5 tanks? that would almost be cheap enough for my broke ass. Good luck my friend and lets see those tools finally get dirty!
------------------ Honestly, What is a "stock" Fiero?
I will make one comment that there are members here that consider older 350 chevs to be old truck motors. A diesel is more of a truck motor than a v8 without a turbo it would just be a disappointment. It is not a modern motor it is as old as what you have this is not an upgrade. Please put your efforts into a modern diesel if you must have an alternative fuel. Do not do this swap for anything other than the fact you cannot obtain any other motor. I can appreciate anyones work i am not the kind to knock you down but if you want performance you can do so much better. Even if the year was 1984 i don't see any more performance or efficiency to be gained for the swap. If it is a matter of no choice then it isn't a terrible swap you can still do worse but i just must ask why?
I will make one comment that there are members here that consider older 350 chevs to be old truck motors. A diesel is more of a truck motor than a v8 without a turbo it would just be a disappointment. It is not a modern motor it is as old as what you have this is not an upgrade. Please put your efforts into a modern diesel if you must have an alternative fuel. Do not do this swap for anything other than the fact you cannot obtain any other motor. I can appreciate anyones work i am not the kind to knock you down but if you want performance you can do so much better. Even if the year was 1984 i don't see any more performance or efficiency to be gained for the swap. If it is a matter of no choice then it isn't a terrible swap you can still do worse but i just must ask why?
Sure. I don't understand why anyone would fix up a 56 Chevy, either. After all, any new car handles better and has more modern technology throughout. Who needs that old junk. That's called sarcasm, BTW. If I had the money, I'd try to stuff an old nailhead Buick into a Fiero. Can you imagine the visual hit if you could get a Ford flathead in there?
Sounds like an interesting swap. I would like to put a diesel in a Fiero but I wasn't sure what Trans axle would bolt up to what block. I look forward to the progress.
Thank you for the offer and the encouragement, unfortunately the engine had either a bad head gasket of cracked head. With that, there will be no diesel anytime soon due to the car being sold for more than I purchased it. Now I can concentrate on swapping in a modified 4.9 with 5 speed. Two running 4.9s and a 4.5 Allante engine make this decision easier than the diesel 4.3. I know someone that can make a new cam, not a re-grind, making cam choices a non-issue.
Originally posted by weaselbeak: Sure. I don't understand why anyone would fix up a 56 Chevy, either. After all, any new car handles better and has more modern technology throughout. Who needs that old junk. That's called sarcasm, BTW. If I had the money, I'd try to stuff an old nailhead Buick into a Fiero. Can you imagine the visual hit if you could get a Ford flathead in there?
My first car was a 49 ford with a 53 flathead engine. The adapter is the only issue I see. Well that and the fact that it is a 6 volt setup. That car had more room around the engine than anything I've had since. Flatheads forever! I beat that car all through high school and it never let me down.
So I say shoot for Walden to Kansas City 1.5 tanks? that would almost be cheap enough for my broke ass. Good luck my friend and lets see those tools finally get dirty! 
Now I can concentrate on swapping in a modified 4.9 with 5 speed. Two running 4.9s and a 4.5 Allante engine make this decision easier than the diesel 4.3. I know someone that can make a new cam, not a re-grind, making cam choices a non-issue.
