Pennock's Fiero Forum
  Technical Discussion & Questions
  '84 Iron Duke

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Email This Page to Someone! | Printable Version


next newest topic | next oldest topic
'84 Iron Duke by raysr11
Started on: 09-19-2013 01:43 PM
Replies: 14 (487 views)
Last post by: TopNotch on 09-24-2013 04:04 PM
raysr11
Member
Posts: 1254
From: Concrete, WA
Registered: Nov 2008


Feedback score:    (12)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post09-19-2013 01:43 PM Click Here to See the Profile for raysr11Send a Private Message to raysr11Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I've heard that the early ('84) Iron Dukes had oiling issues. That said, would it be worth the time and money to rebuild an '84 or get a later model? And what cars had an Iron Duke that would fit in a Fiero?
IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
jaskispyder
Member
Posts: 21510
From: Northern MI
Registered: Jun 2002


Feedback score:    (22)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 205
Rate this member

Report this Post09-19-2013 01:48 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jaskispyderSend a Private Message to jaskispyderEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I haven't heard that one. Anyway, you can swap out 84-86 without rewiring, I believe. But 87 and up have DIS, which would require wiring (and computer) changes.

IP: Logged
raysr11
Member
Posts: 1254
From: Concrete, WA
Registered: Nov 2008


Feedback score:    (12)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post09-19-2013 02:34 PM Click Here to See the Profile for raysr11Send a Private Message to raysr11Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Out of any front wheel drive car that had a 2.5? Back to oiling, I read somewhere that that was what was causing the fires. The engine had a poor design causing it to pitch a rod.
IP: Logged
jaskispyder
Member
Posts: 21510
From: Northern MI
Registered: Jun 2002


Feedback score:    (22)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 205
Rate this member

Report this Post09-19-2013 02:52 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jaskispyderSend a Private Message to jaskispyderEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by raysr11:

Out of any front wheel drive car that had a 2.5? Back to oiling, I read somewhere that that was what was causing the fires. The engine had a poor design causing it to pitch a rod.


There is info online about which engines work in a fiero. I will have to look that up. (this may help: http://www.pontiacforum.com...owthread.php?t=27585 ) As for the '84, GM used a smaller oil pan and filter in the Fiero. Basically, you were running with 3 quarts of oil. Then, the rods themselves had issues (there was a recall of 2.5ls, and it was not specific to the Fiero). GM produced rods that were bad... and the Fiero got all the attention when a rod went through the block and dumped hot oil on the cat. converter.

Your car should have been recalled and changes made to the engine to remove these issues.

Here is some recall info to double check:
http://www.fieronews.net/fu...alls/fierorecal1.pdf
http://www.fieronews.net/fu...s/recalls/84C15B.pdf

If you don't have any issues with your engine, I wouldn't rebuild or replace it, as there really isn't any reason to.

IP: Logged
raysr11
Member
Posts: 1254
From: Concrete, WA
Registered: Nov 2008


Feedback score:    (12)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post09-19-2013 03:12 PM Click Here to See the Profile for raysr11Send a Private Message to raysr11Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Thanks for information. I just picked this car up yesterday for $200. It has been setting since 2003. Someone removed 2 plugs and never replaced them so a rebuild is in order. It's not rusted out anywhere, no mice nests and it's all there. Even has speakers in the seats, and good glass. This car is an addition to my '85 with a hybrid 3.4. Does the upper link tell me if I have a recalled model?

[This message has been edited by raysr11 (edited 09-19-2013).]

IP: Logged
TopNotch
Member
Posts: 3537
From: Lawrenceville, GA USA
Registered: Feb 2009


Feedback score:    (7)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 60
Rate this member

Report this Post09-19-2013 03:36 PM Click Here to See the Profile for TopNotchClick Here to visit TopNotch's HomePageSend a Private Message to TopNotchEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Check the mileage on the car. If the engine is still the original, and the car has over 75,000 miles on it, it's not likely that the engine has bad rods, or any other parts. It would have blown by now.
It's like my 88 duke. Some of them had bad balance shafts (a new addition for 88), which blew. But when I rebuilt my 88 duke at 200,000 miles, the balance shafts were still perfectly good, including the bearings. so I just put them back in. 20,000 miles since the rebuild, and still going. (If only I could find time to fix the clutch...)
IP: Logged
theogre
Member
Posts: 32180
From: USA
Registered: Mar 99


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 567
Rate this member

Report this Post09-19-2013 04:10 PM Click Here to See the Profile for theogreClick Here to visit theogre's HomePageSend a Private Message to theogreEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
oil cause to break rods?
Maybe... GM likes to blame everything.

Old Duke had some weak rods and even weak blocks. What is not unique to Fiero either but Fiero had the catalyst very close to the engine. The catalyst plus spilled/leaked oil will cause a fire fast.

Get 84-86 duke w/ roller cam setup. Indy has roller cam I'm told but mostly 85-86 cars.

Roller cam setup get a bit more power and cam set last longer flat lifters.
See my Cave, Quick Ref

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)


The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

IP: Logged
jaskispyder
Member
Posts: 21510
From: Northern MI
Registered: Jun 2002


Feedback score:    (22)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 205
Rate this member

Report this Post09-19-2013 07:47 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jaskispyderSend a Private Message to jaskispyderEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by theogre:

Indy has roller cam I'm told but mostly 85-86 cars.




Do you have a replacement GM engine? GM replaced engines in various Fieros and other cars that used the 2.5 and was within the VIN range of bad engines. My uncle had his 2.5L replaced in his GM 4 door car (maybe a celebrity?). My 84 had a replacement GM engine.

IP: Logged
raysr11
Member
Posts: 1254
From: Concrete, WA
Registered: Nov 2008


Feedback score:    (12)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post09-20-2013 12:31 AM Click Here to See the Profile for raysr11Send a Private Message to raysr11Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by theogre:

oil cause to break rods?
Maybe... GM likes to blame everything.

Old Duke had some weak rods and even weak blocks. What is not unique to Fiero either but Fiero had the catalyst very close to the engine. The catalyst plus spilled/leaked oil will cause a fire fast.

Get 84-86 duke w/ roller cam setup. Indy has roller cam I'm told but mostly 85-86 cars.

Roller cam setup get a bit more power and cam set last longer flat lifters.
See my Cave, Quick Ref




Will the roller cam set up work in a non-roller cam block?
IP: Logged
theogre
Member
Posts: 32180
From: USA
Registered: Mar 99


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 567
Rate this member

Report this Post09-20-2013 02:02 AM Click Here to See the Profile for theogreClick Here to visit theogre's HomePageSend a Private Message to theogreEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by jaskispyder:
Do you have a replacement GM engine? GM replaced engines in various Fieros and other cars that used the 2.5 and was within the VIN range of bad engines. My uncle had his 2.5L replaced in his GM 4 door car (maybe a celebrity?). My 84 had a replacement GM engine.

Some recall/warranty jobs had engine replace... yes, some/most/all had roller cam sets.
Is very possible Indy and maybe other RPO codes call for roller cam dukes.

For those reasons you can't trust any data to order cam sets etc. That covered in cave link above. You need to check lifters and/or push rods.
Roller lifters use "no-spin" parts that is obvious when "door" under intake is open and Rollers use short push rods.

 
quote
Originally posted by raysr11:
Will the roller cam set up work in a non-roller cam block?

Factory? No. I told oil holes to lifters are moved.
Aftermarket ask the makers.
IP: Logged
raysr11
Member
Posts: 1254
From: Concrete, WA
Registered: Nov 2008


Feedback score:    (12)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post09-21-2013 12:32 AM Click Here to See the Profile for raysr11Send a Private Message to raysr11Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I'm still wondering if the engine in the car I bought is a recall engine. From what I've read here the recall engine would be a far better engine to rebuild than the pre-recall. Better rods, cam etc. I was at a pick and pull today and there was an '86 Notch with a 2.5. The pcv set-up is different than mine as is the power brake vacuum line, and it looks different overall . There is no nomenclature on my car to indicate it has been recalled.
IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
Lou6t4gto
Member
Posts: 8436
From: sarasota
Registered: May 2008


Feedback score:    (7)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post09-22-2013 01:29 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Lou6t4gtoSend a Private Message to Lou6t4gtoEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
there are a number of reasons to use a Later block, the Oiling, The Rods, with a 86-87 block you get a roller cam. Just be careful, you CANNOT use just Any fwd duke, the motor Mount bosses "must be in the right places" (Found that out the hard way)
IP: Logged
raysr11
Member
Posts: 1254
From: Concrete, WA
Registered: Nov 2008


Feedback score:    (12)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post09-22-2013 09:36 PM Click Here to See the Profile for raysr11Send a Private Message to raysr11Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
So the '86 would be a better build candidate than an '84?

[This message has been edited by raysr11 (edited 09-22-2013).]

IP: Logged
Lou6t4gto
Member
Posts: 8436
From: sarasota
Registered: May 2008


Feedback score:    (7)
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post09-24-2013 03:57 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Lou6t4gtoSend a Private Message to Lou6t4gtoEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
YES, if all the "Bracketry" will bolt on.
IP: Logged
TopNotch
Member
Posts: 3537
From: Lawrenceville, GA USA
Registered: Feb 2009


Feedback score:    (7)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 60
Rate this member

Report this Post09-24-2013 04:04 PM Click Here to See the Profile for TopNotchClick Here to visit TopNotch's HomePageSend a Private Message to TopNotchEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Whatever year you rebuild, if you have to replace the rods, use 88 rods. They have a wider beam, and are therefore, stronger.
IP: Logged

next newest topic | next oldest topic

All times are ET (US)

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | Back To Main Page

Advertizing on PFF | Fiero Parts Vendors
PFF Merchandise | Fiero Gallery | Ogre's Cave
Real-Time Chat | Fiero Related Auctions on eBay



Copyright (c) 1999, C. Pennock