Does anyone know a good 2.5 mechanic in the deep south - Biloxi or southern MS/LA area?
Dave K Davidonedog@gmail.com
strip the engine and take it to a shop yourself. not too many engine rebuilders at all anymore but the ones left can do the block, heads and rods and then you can put it together yourself or hire a competent shop to do so. luckily these engines are very simple
If the cylinders are within the taper spec all that would be required is a simple honing, Then you can install new pistons, and rings of the correct diameter. If the crank journals are within spec then a fresh set of rod and crank bearings will work. You could always add a better cam and port the heads for more horsepower but a larger throttle body would be required. If you don't want to rebuild yourself Jasper Engines should be able to help you with a short block or a compete rebuilt engine.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Can you give a bit more information? Are you just looking for someone to rebuild the engine, or do you need someone to do the entire thing (pull the motor, rebuild it, and install it)?
The Iron Duke is probably one of the easiest motors to rebuild... something you can probably do if you have a little bit of time, you just need a machine shop to make sure everything is in spec and machine it if not. Otherwise... parts are still available... including new camshafts, lifters, pistons, rings, etc.
What year motor? They got roller lifters in 1985, and then went to DIS in 1987, and then got an internally mounted oil filter and balance shaft in 1988.
I really appreciate everyone who replied. Originally I was brief in describing the issue, but I see I need to expand. A guy who used to be a friend of mine runs a small auto repair shop in Slidell, LA. His whole shop went under water in Hurricane Katrina. In an effort to help[ him get back on his feet, I took all my auto work to him including personal cars, trucks and tractors. He also did some Fiero work for me. I have an original black SE bought from the original old lady owner with 64K on it. I drove it very little till one day the head gasket blew. I took it to my "friend" who had the head magnafluxed and it was said to be cracked. I told him that I would look for a new head and that if he needed the bay space to push the 84 outside, but to be sure to use the new shower curtain I bought to cover the engine. I also cautioned him and his mechanics not to lean on the pristine tail lights. (you all know why). I told him if needed, they could remove the lights and put them in the pass seat. We then arrived at the monsoon rainy season here and I had to have hip surgery. I could not even get back to the car for 2-3 months, but trusted that he would take care of it. When I finally got back to it, there was no cover on the engine and the cylinders were full of rusty rain water. We are now not on speaking terms :-) I think it could be bored without removing the engine, but these days a lot of mechanics don't know what a boring bar is. The tail lights were now in the pass seat with the right one shattered. They don't know how that happened. I asked local mechanics for quotes, but they won't touch a Fiero (you know that story) The car is too nice not to save as it has all the options including fleece seats. I am now facing down more surgery so there is little that I can do myself. I would sell it to someone that wanted to care for it. I have about $1800 in it.
I really appreciate everyone who replied. Originally I was brief in describing the issue, but I see I need to expand. A guy who used to be a friend of mine runs a small auto repair shop in Slidell, LA. His whole shop went under water in Hurricane Katrina. In an effort to help[ him get back on his feet, I took all my auto work to him including personal cars, trucks and tractors. He also did some Fiero work for me. I have an original black SE bought from the original old lady owner with 64K on it. I drove it very little till one day the head gasket blew. I took it to my "friend" who had the head magnafluxed and it was said to be cracked. I told him that I would look for a new head and that if he needed the bay space to push the 84 outside, but to be sure to use the new shower curtain I bought to cover the engine. I also cautioned him and his mechanics not to lean on the pristine tail lights. (you all know why). I told him if needed, they could remove the lights and put them in the pass seat. We then arrived at the monsoon rainy season here and I had to have hip surgery. I could not even get back to the car for 2-3 months, but trusted that he would take care of it. When I finally got back to it, there was no cover on the engine and the cylinders were full of rusty rain water. We are now not on speaking terms :-) I think it could be bored without removing the engine, but these days a lot of mechanics don't know what a boring bar is. The tail lights were now in the pass seat with the right one shattered. They don't know how that happened. I asked local mechanics for quotes, but they won't touch a Fiero (you know that story) The car is too nice not to save as it has all the options including fleece seats. I am now facing down more surgery so there is little that I can do myself. I would sell it to someone that wanted to care for it. I have about $1800 in it.
The car definitely sounds like it's worth saving. Do you have pictures of it that I can see? I'd love to see those original fleece seats too.
As for the engine itself... I'm not a machinist... but I just don't see how you'd be able to bore the cyl walls with the pistons still in there. To that point, you'd need to replace them anyway with a larger bore. 64k miles is nothing... but with a totally opened engine, I'm sure every single component within the motor has rust on it. You'd likely need to have the entire thing rebuilt. My personal opinion... sell it, and buy a running Fiero so you can enjoy it. Getting that thing fixed is going to be more hassle for you than it's worth. It doesn't sound like a difficult task for someone who has the time and the place to do it themselves, but man.... you really do not want to pay a shop to do that.
I'm in the process of helping my daughter rebuild her own car, and I'll tell you... every bolt has a specific place, with a specific purpose. Looking at this kind of work as a 46 year old is much different than when I was a 19/20 year old... where I just put bolts back if they fit. The Fiero my daughter has was running and driving... it had over 200k miles on it, but had been tinkered with all its life. So... there were all kinds of little hacks and fixes. There's no garage I can imagine, not even a GM dealership, that's going to take that thing apart and remember where everything goes. They're going to re-install things in whichever way it fits just so that it runs and drives off the lot.
Can you post pictures? If you can't figure out how to post them, e-mail them to me and I'll upload them for you... 73vwtodd@gmail.com
Don't want to take this thread off track but later versions or the last ones made of the Duke engine in 1993 had a 5000 rpm redline and made 110 HP. IIRC those engines had improved heads, a larger throttle body and a different cam profile. For those starting over rebuilding this engine may make sense.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Don't want to take this thread off track but later versions or the last ones made of the Duke engine in 1993 had a 5000 rpm redline and made 110 HP. IIRC those engines had improved heads, a larger throttle body and a different cam profile. For those starting over rebuilding this engine may make sense.
None of the electronics are compatible with the early engines. The 87 and later engines are DIS. The 93 would likely make a great substitute for an 88 or 88, though.
Sorry for the delay. Took me a while to remember how to do pics. After the car became disabled, it sat in the yard till a storm blew a tree branch on it that punched a hole in the decklid and broke the luggage rack. It also has new tires. Hasn't been driven since 2017. The incar boring trick is accomplished by dropping the pan, pulling the rod caps, then pushing or driving the pistons up and out through the top. Might have to hone some due to rust, but old time mechanics did this a lot.
I've still got my world class literature collection (I call it that :-) And lots of other stuff like an 87 Silverado long bed V-6 that is really straight but needs a total resto. $1,500. Also a yellow 88 coupe that needs resto. $400 If I can remember how to post pics here I will, but my gray matter is turning to caulk now.
If I can remember how to post pics here I will, but my gray matter is turning to caulk now.
No "gray matter" required. The Upload Media tab is located at the lower left of the posting box.
This "new" system of uploading images is so much superior to PIP that we used previously here, but... To avoid corruption of the resulting URLs, hit the Enter key before and after each upload. (Yes, that's twice between uploads.)
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 08-25-2024).]
Sorry for the delay. Took me a while to remember how to do pics. After the car became disabled, it sat in the yard till a storm blew a tree branch on it that punched a hole in the decklid and broke the luggage rack. It also has new tires. Hasn't been driven since 2017. The incar boring trick is accomplished by dropping the pan, pulling the rod caps, then pushing or driving the pistons up and out through the top. Might have to hone some due to rust, but old time mechanics did this a lot.
I would not bother trying to rebuild the engine in the car, Years back some were done that way but its really a bad way of doing the job. You may be able to pull the pistons and rods out the top and hone but how do you get the main bearings and seals replaced, This also assumes that the cylinder bore taper and crank journals are within spec. I would buy a new short block and do the job the right way. On a side note you can't swap the early 84-85 Duke engines with the improved later DIS versions as the ECM is not compatible with their electronics. Thanks to Raydar for clarifying that point. You could swap in the later engines only with their harness and ECM but now you are talking an engine swap and its more work for little gain.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
I've still got my world class literature collection (I call it that :-) And lots of other stuff like an 87 Silverado long bed V-6 that is really straight but needs a total resto. $1,500. Also a yellow 88 coupe that needs resto. $400 If I can remember how to post pics here I will, but my gray matter is turning to caulk now.
Which might explain why you've submitted the same posttwice now. Just teasing you, this seems to occur on a semi-regular basis with many different people here.
Looking forward to seeing those images!
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 08-23-2024).]
Nothing I do will facilitate sending the pics to this location. I am suspecting my Win 7 system. So anyone that want pics will have to email me and I will email them back to you.
Nothing I do will facilitate sending the pics to this location. I am suspecting my Win 7 system.
I am using Win7 right now. That isn't the issue. Are you logged in to your PFF account here prior to trying to upload these images? If not, that would explain the problem.
The Upload Media tab is located at the lower left of the posting box.
