I have an 86 Fiero & I just bought a 1.4l Turbo motor from a 2012 Chev Cruz the was written off dues to damage to the rear part of the frame. The motor is complete with harness, computers, 6spd mt, shifter & linkage, cv joints & cradle. Anyone done one of these yet? Any advise/comments?
I don't think this swap has been done before, but I think it would make a neat swap. I rented a Cruze a couple of weeks ago and it had some pretty good zap for a small engine. Good luck with the swap!
I will. I just don't know how to post them on here. I can only link images from a web location? How do I do that? First, I don't know where on the web to place my pics. I guess once I knew where & how to place them on the web I can easily figure out how to link them on here.
I will. I just don't know how to post them on here. I can only link images from a web location? How do I do that? First, I don't know where on the web to place my pics. I guess once I knew where & how to place them on the web I can easily figure out how to link them on here.
Now this I wanna see! I'm curious as to what you will need to do to make the newer ECM/PCM's happy in a Fiero. Even though it's a manual setup, the wiring might be the most difficult. And you'll have to swap in the electronic gas pedal. I bet the MPG on the highway will be 45-50MPG. The Cruze really isn't that heavy, a manual Cruze Eco weighs in at just over 3,000lbs. A manual Fiero weighs about 2600lbs with a lighter engine.
Now this I wanna see! I'm curious as to what you will need to do to make the newer ECM/PCM's happy in a Fiero. Even though it's a manual setup, the wiring might be the most difficult. And you'll have to swap in the electronic gas pedal. I bet the MPG on the highway will be 45-50MPG. The Cruze really isn't that heavy, a manual Cruze Eco weighs in at just over 3,000lbs. A manual Fiero weighs about 2600lbs with a lighter engine.
The Cruze Eco can get at least 47 MPG highway. I leased one for 2 years, and got that a few times. Even got 42 MPG average on a trip going over the mountains.
I doubt the Fiero will get better MPG though. The Cruze Eco's cd is about 0.298, with the 88 Coupe Fiero being 0.35 and the other Fiero models being higher than that. There's a lot of changes in the Cruze Eco to reduce rolling resistance, drag, and weight, from the Cruze LS and LT. Some ultralight wheels, low rolling resistance tires, and dumping of unnecessary weight on the Fiero will help a fair bit though.
If you're going to swap the drivetrain in, you might as well grab the whole car, because you're going to need most of the electronics.
not a swap i have considered but should make for a fun fiero .go back to the wreckers and get the ignition lock and keys from the car you got the parts from .also the DBW pedal assembly and all the wiring harnesses associated with said parts .i would also pick up the fuel pump and harness .if you get all this stuff , getting the motor to run is plug and play .you dont need the stereo , airbags or anything like that .the engine will still run without any of that .same with vsa and abs .if you incorporate the cruz instrument cluster , you will have warning lights on but no running problems .not interfacing with fiero wiring is the easiest way to do a modern engine swap .just use the fiero ignition to feed power to the cruz starter and hide the cruz ignition in the centre consul until you get someone to tune out the VATS .i dont know if you can do this with HP tuners or not .go on their website and check if it is a supported vehicle .your milage should be pretty high .i get over 40 on freeways and i run a turbo 2.2 ecotec f23 5 speed in an 86 gt .
Invest in a factory service manual. It is great for figuring out circuit operation as well as wiring diagrams. IMO, it is essential when undertaking a never before done swap.
I doubt the Fiero will get better MPG though. The Cruze Eco's cd is about 0.298, with the 88 Coupe Fiero being 0.35 and the other Fiero models being higher than that. There's a lot of changes in the Cruze Eco to reduce rolling resistance, drag, and weight, from the Cruze LS and LT. Some ultralight wheels, low rolling resistance tires, and dumping of unnecessary weight on the Fiero will help a fair bit though.
You have to take into account frontal area when comparing drag coefficients and overall drag. Yes, the Fiero has a higher CD than the Cruze but the Fiero also has around 80% of the frontal area of the Cruze so the net effect is the Fiero actually has less aerodynamic drag than the Cruze.
Originally posted by mattwa: 47, seriously? I never heard of anyone getting past 42MPG, then again I never really asked. At that rate I might as well just buy a Cruze Eco and be done with it.
Yes. I got 45 MPG going to DC and back once as well. Got ~42+ MPG driving over the mountains even. And that was mostly driving between 70-80 MPH depending on the area.
Originally posted by NJD85GT: You have to take into account frontal area when comparing drag coefficients and overall drag. Yes, the Fiero has a higher CD than the Cruze but the Fiero also has around 80% of the frontal area of the Cruze so the net effect is the Fiero actually has less aerodynamic drag than the Cruze.
Nate
Do you have actual numbers? The Fiero is slightly wider and has the windshield at a steeper angle. They're probably pretty close though. So maybe the same MPG can be expected, or at least close to it. I think the 87-88 coupe body has the lowest drag of the 4, but it's going to be pretty close to what the Cruze Eco has as well.
Do you have actual numbers? The Fiero is slightly wider and has the windshield at a steeper angle. They're probably pretty close though. So maybe the same MPG can be expected, or at least close to it. I think the 87-88 coupe body has the lowest drag of the 4, but it's going to be pretty close to what the Cruze Eco has as well.
I'm finding frontal areas anywhere from 18.6 to 19.5 square feet for the Fiero. I know my '85 GT with the headlights DOWN has a CD of. 0.35. At sea level air density, this gives an aerodynamic drag at 80 MPH of 110 lb for 18.6 ft2 and requiring 23.6 HP at the wheels to overcome (aero drag only, not rolling resistance and other losses) to 116 lb of drag with 19.5 ft2 and requiring 24.7 HP to overcome aero drag.
The Cruze Eco looks like it has a cd of 0.29 and a frontal area of 23.96 ft2, giving 118 lb of aero drag at 80 MPH and requiring 25.1 HP. So they are very close.
By the way, I tried the MyFiero.com site to upload my photos but haven't got a clue how to use it. I went into "imagehost" clicked browse & retrieve my photo from my computer but went I clicked send it just refreshed the screen & I have no idea if the image upload & if it did where to go to see it. Can someone please walk me through it in case I missed a step?
I've owned a Cruze Eco since 2011 and when I drive from Michigan to Wisconsin, I usually get 48 MPG going and 42-45 MPG on the return trip. It’s a great little car that has a lot of room inside. I was wondering how the drive train would work in a Fiero.
------------------ Bob 84 SE IMSA Widebody 87 GT 5spd 11 Cruze Eco
I think this is an awesome idea. We engine swappers need to keep trying new power-trains as they come out. Its never going to be a rocket (obviously) but that shouldn't be the only reason to try a "new" swap. Yeah, I know, I cant believe I just said that too!
I'm surprised, I was expecting alot more wires and crap. Looks pretty simple for a 2012 power-train, and light-weight. No problem fitting that in the engine bay! Problem is, it looks like it had two torque axis mounts, one on each end. So you would need to make a large bracket that goes from the Fiero cradle to those points, or you could make and weld a bracket on each end of the engine bay, but of course those said areas would need reinforcements to spread out the load since it's really only sheet metal.
looks like you are missing the wiring harness for the BCM .or did you get it separately ? basically , you need the entire car's wiring harness to make it work .you can get rid of lights etc after you figure out what you do need .i am pretty sure this is a DI engine , but that really does not complicate things as all the high pressure stuff is packaged on the engine .you just need to get the in tank pump(low pressure ) and wiring to go with it .
Darth Vader can help you with the electronics Motor Trend,car& driver & other car test magazines are reporting some of the new Cruze models get up to 50 mpg, I subscribe to Car & Driver! great MPG reports on the late model Cruze if you want Fiero style & great MPG going into Obumbles ask for $8.00 a gallon gas you can not go wrong with an 87/88 Fiero duke 5 speed,& parts are less
you can install the later duke head if you want to equal the cruze MPG hiway plus,more stylish lighter rear wheels & tires for increase MPG around town..
Please keep us informed ,,GOODLUCK I woud love to have an ecotec in my GT Fiero ,,this is a very difficult swap..
[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 03-16-2013).]
Originally posted by XgovernmentAgent: Sequential Injection Direct Ignition? I know it's not a direct injection motor, not the one in my 2013 sonic anyways.
I saw a site that had one of these motors for a dune buggy/sandrail IIRC. Something to look for to see what was involved on that swap
Spark Ignited Direct Injection : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_direct_injection
Maybe the one in the Sonic isn't? I'm not sure now. I recall seeing "SIDI" in the Cruze info when I got it a couple years ago, and was looking through the booklet, but now I'm not entirely sure. Maybe they aren't yet then. Would be interesting to see what kind of MPG they get when they add SIDI then, given I was able to get 47 MPG in the Cruze Eco.
Well. I owned a cruze for a year and put 30 000 kms on one (automatic trans) thought it was great a first but the longer I owned it the more I HATED the engine/trans. Was getting sick of the "two stroke" power band. No power then to much to accelerate nicely, drive the bag off it to make it perform and then poor fuel economy. I will never again buy a vehicle that relies so heavily on the turbo to make power to move it rather then a turbo for added performance. I traded the cruze in on a Buick Verano..same car just a real engine (2.4 eco) and have put 10 000 kms on it an love every bit of it. So my advise...resell the engine get a real ecotec, sry.
So far so good. I got the motor, tranny & cradle out of the Fiero & have it sitting side by side with the new 1.4l Turbo. Looks like a very similar setup. Hopefully this will be a relatively simple swap. I'll have some picture later this week.
Originally posted by PBJ: looking for advise/comments.
Well. I owned a cruze for a year and put 30 000 kms on one (automatic trans) thought it was great a first but the longer I owned it the more I HATED the engine/trans. Was getting sick of the "two stroke" power band. No power then to much to accelerate nicely, drive the bag off it to make it perform and then poor fuel economy. I will never again buy a vehicle that relies so heavily on the turbo to make power to move it rather then a turbo for added performance. I traded the cruze in on a Buick Verano..same car just a real engine (2.4 eco) and have put 10 000 kms on it an love every bit of it. So my advise...resell the engine get a real ecotec, sry.
Pete
Did you have the auto LT or something? I drove my Cruze Eco like it was a sports car everywhere I went, running to 5K+ off the line, often shifting at 6500. I got 28-30 MPG around town consistently, and 45-47 on the highway, consistently. The torque curve on the 1.4 turbo is relatively flat, from 1800-4900 RPM. It's not fast, but even with that tiny engine, it was still fun to drive with the 6 speed manual.
There's a guy named Roger Thelin who sells hardware for Fiero Ecotec swaps. I'm not sure if anything he sells will work on the 1.4 turbo or not. But it wouldn't hurt to ask.
There's a guy named Roger Thelin who sells hardware for Fiero Ecotec swaps. I'm not sure if anything he sells will work on the 1.4 turbo or not. But it wouldn't hurt to ask.
Good News for those interested in this swap. I tacked some temporary motor mount onto the sub frame I stuck the motor back into the car to check out the fit & location. To my elated surprise not only does the motor fit in the compartment perfectly but believe or not the new CV joints from the 2012 Cruze fit into the hubs of the Fiero without any alterations needed what-so-ever. I mean they are the right length & everything. All I have to do now is set up the permanent motor mount & then course all the other hook up but that just save me a couple grand right there.