I am looking for someone to help with a 4.9 conversion in my 88. I am mechanically inclined but have never attempted something like this. I have contacted the Fiero Factory in Ga. and will us them if I have to but it is a hell of a trip for me and I would like to do all the prep work and the detail work to make sure the install is very clean. A pay/trade deal could be worked out, I just pulled the stock motor and is has about 60,000 miles on it, plus a new gasket set for it.
My options are..
1. Prep the cradle and suspension along with the engine bay and the engine as I want then rent a truck and trailer then take a 7 hr drive to drop it in Ga., then do the engine bay clean up and button up when it gets back.
2. Find a trust worthy person to help with the install and be able to "do it right the first time"
3. Try to do the complete install myself
Just like everyone else I have a budget so the more I can do myself the better. I have a friend that can do any welding I need and I already have my car in the air and the cradle dropped.
4.9's are not that hard if you have the engine harness made. The axles are off the shelf at Autozone (if you are using the caddy 4 speed), the mounts are simple angle iron, and some universal trans mounts. Fuel lines can be bought from a speed shop. If you can replace a stock 2.8L, you can swap a 4.9. Everything you need to know is on the forum
The stock, unmodded ECM can be used, but it sets a couple of codes. There are people here who can program Caddy chips. (I do my own.) If you start having chips made, pay particular attention to the broadcast code that's on yours. It'll be a 4 digit code. "BWYB" or similar. There are at least 5 different flavors of chips for the 4.9. Some of them will run in "limp mode" if you try to make them run a different version. In other words, just because a chip will run somebody else's car, doesn't mean that it will also run yours correctly. I make it sound ugly, but the people who do chips already know this stuff, and usually know what works with what.
I just purchased a 4.9 already converted and ready to go with a low 42,000 miles on it. Thanks Steve, look forward to meeting you next month when I pick it up.