I have an 86GT 4speed and want to put a non SC 3800 into it..I was looking at doing the swap for a 5 speed, but is it worth it? Or will the 4 speed do me just fine?

I think it's a matter of preference. I've seen lots who have stayed with the 4 speed, but I went for the 5 speed F23 for my swap. Always been partial to the better gearing ratios of the 5 speed. It does mean a lot more shifting of course, especially driving around town, but on the highway you get nice low revs at cruising speed.

In town light to light the V6 4 speed is a better match gears wise for the 3800SC engine but as mentioned on the highway it becomes a bit of a gas guzzler. Personally I like the 4 speed or I did when i lived in town.

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DARN Cars now open with
Over 30 years wiring experience between cars and trade as an avionics technician in both Canadian Air Force and civilian aviation.
Over 25 years experience building and modifying cars.
Over 10 years of full Fiero engine swaps and harnesses building and still going.

I got the 4 speed on 3800sc, and my advice would be to go with F23 swap as now I am going to be tearing it back down to do just that..... The 4 speed is strong and has really nice gearing for side roads and drag but on the highway it's painful.

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86 Fiero GT 4spd - L67 swap: VS cam, GenV
98 GTP - Some mods

The 5speed will at best offer you 1 or 2mpg better... but be better overall due to the longer gears. Tuning and or driving style will net you better gains in MPG unless you commonly make 50+ mile highway trips.

I keep reading to take the wide ratio 4spd trans from an 84, and swap the 4th gear out of it, and into one of the 4spds from a v6 fiero.
thus retaining the mpg on the highway, while still being able to accelerate like a beast at the strip.

OF course... you could also just modify your s/c 3800 to make more hp/tq to move it with the wider gears...

quote Originally posted by AL87: I keep reading to take the wide ratio 4spd trans from an 84, and swap the 4th gear out of it, and into one of the 4spds from a v6 fiero. thus retaining the mpg on the highway, while still being able to accelerate like a beast at the strip. OF course... you could also just modify your s/c 3800 to make more hp/tq to move it with the wider gears...

Now FINDING a good condition econo-geared 4 speed.....