Would I be better off with a 88 GT over an 86-87 GT as a base for a LS4 / 4T65E HD swap. Drag Racing only. Autocross or track car is hands down 88 GT. I'm going to start on this soon and am not going to use up a nice Fiero because it will most likely never return to stock. I bought my first Fiero new in 84 and have always wanted to build a Fiero drag car just never have got around to it. Thanks for any input.
------------------ Enjoy Life, you only get one shot at it.
An 88 Fiero is usually considered the best option if you want to make use of available performance suspension/brake components. But to really answer the question, we would really need to know what your definition of a "drag car" is. There have been many successful "drag cars" built using all Fiero years. Budget and performance expectations should be considered first to determine what end result you are trying to achieve. Tell us more about your goals...
There are much better platforms for a drag car than the Fiero. The big weakness is the transmission. A junkyard S-10, and truck LS with a Chinese turbo will go faster, be cheaper and be less costly to maintain.
the formula is lighter, and in my opinion looks better, with the classic tail lights and overall fiero look. /rant the 90's started killing cars that had edges and produced things like a bubbly sunfire and the ugliest camero ever. and now they are back to blocky cars with better aero than the bubble mobiles. long live the 45 and 90 degree angles!! /endrant
Neil's 88 I'm a dragracer that has had about all the fun a person could of had. I have run door cars and dragsters for about 55 years. I understand I can go faster for less money and less breakage. That is not the question. This car don't have to be very fast. I want to run Dragweek in a class that about 10.80 et will make a good showing. 500 whp would more than get the job done. $ 4000 of TEP trans and converter will hold that type of power. The 5.3 can make twice that much power with some help and the 500 NA. is not a problem. Sure you need axles and the rest but that is the price you pay. My wife's Corvette will almost get the job done but that is not what I want to do Anybody can make that happen. I want something that people will look at and bring a smile to their face. The reason I ask on the choice of years is because I don't know if the 88 takes up more engine compartment room or anything else that is a plus of a minus using an 88 chassis. Like I say it don't have to be fast it just has to be fun. The car may become a Power Tour car at some point who knows. It's a budget build, just sometimes the budget is bigger. Whoever said money couldn't buy happiness didn't have enough money.
------------------ Enjoy Life, you only get one shot at it.
The 88 has a little more room in the engine bay. Only because it has the strut towers set a little wider than previous years. But not by much. You could swap to coil over rear springs, but no doubt you already plan to, and that will allow you to cut and narrow the towers for more room.
Neil's 88 I'm a dragracer that has had about all the fun a person could of had. I have run door cars and dragsters for about 55 years. I understand I can go faster for less money and less breakage. That is not the question. This car don't have to be very fast. I want to run Dragweek in a class that about 10.80 et will make a good showing. 500 whp would more than get the job done. $ 4000 of TEP trans and converter will hold that type of power. The 5.3 can make twice that much power with some help and the 500 NA. is not a problem. Sure you need axles and the rest but that is the price you pay. My wife's Corvette will almost get the job done but that is not what I want to do Anybody can make that happen. I want something that people will look at and bring a smile to their face. The reason I ask on the choice of years is because I don't know if the 88 takes up more engine compartment room or anything else that is a plus of a minus using an 88 chassis. Like I say it don't have to be fast it just has to be fun. The car may become a Power Tour car at some point who knows. It's a budget build, just sometimes the budget is bigger. Whoever said money couldn't buy happiness didn't have enough money.
The fastest 1/4 mile Fiero on record is Scott's (darkhorizon) 3800 turbo Fiero. He ran a 9.87 1/4 mile run. He doesn't seem to post on this forum much anymore. My guess is that having taken the record he achieved his goal and lost interest.. Here is the record run. It is the second run on the video and his Fiero is not an 88. https://youtu.be/wDccYFa_kxI
------------------ " 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 "
[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 12-27-2018).]
Rickady88GT Thanks for your input on the shock towers. Thanks to all the people that took time and sent links with informatiom. The forum is a new part of the next adventure that I travel down. Let the hunt begain. I have a lot of nice stuff in the shop and will soon have a Fiero to walk arround. This is a project that I plan on having at 2020 Dragweek. A year plus seems like a long time but it will fly by. Thanks again for remewing my interest in the Fiero way of life.
The 88 has a little more room in the engine bay. Only because it has the strut towers set a little wider than previous years. But not by much. You could swap to coil over rear springs, but no doubt you already plan to, and that will allow you to cut and narrow the towers for more room.
Actually, the 88 engine bay is tighter. The 88 strut towers are further inboard than the 84-87. However, when it comes to fitting the LS4, it doesn't really matter as the stock LS4 alternator position won't fit either chassis due to strut tower interference. Beyond that, it comes down to the small differences in modifying the cradle 84-87 vs. 88 for the engine and transmission.
I have a strong bias for the 88's, but it is easier to upgrade the rear wheel bearings to larger CV shafts on the 84-87s, and that will likely be wanted/needed for more reliable use as a drag car. The 84-87 chassis is also lighter in stock form, which also helps from a drag racing perspective.
As for the LS4 swap, the accessory drive is the most complicated part with the alternator relocation (and coolant fill relocation). The 3 common alternator paths, 1. Notch the passenger frame rail and mount the alternator right above the axle (stock Fiero Alternator location) 2. Cantilever the alternator into the battery tray area and run it backwards. 3. Mount the alternator down low by the AC - requires extensive rework to the stock LS4 water pump housing, running an electric water pump, or deleting the AC.
fieroguru Thanks for all the info. The fitment of all the parts in the puzzle is the fun part. That is why plasma cutters and Tig and Mig welders were made. This is not by any means a couple week project. With all the info and opinions I have received from the group I will be on my way to a rewarding project. I haven't owned a Fiero in years so the hunt is going to be a fun one.
From the sound of it, it shouldn't matter which year you pick up since you are going to have to highly modify the car anyway. Just aim for a car with the least amount of rust possible on the spaceframe so you aren't fighting with that to begin with. I look forward to seeing how your build progresses.
Seems to me if it is going to just be a drag car and the location of the alternator is the issue... skip it. It's a drag car, who needs one of those. Deep cycle battery and charge it before each run. Not going to need A/C either for that matter. KISS... live by it, there will be tons of other issues getting it to run down a quarter that fast.
I would avoid the 88 for 2 reasons....of all the Fieros that is the most collectable and as many should be left pristine as possible.....Also, a number of parts are becoming hard to find for the 88s.....especially the brake calipers.
You should be able to get a pre-88 a bit cheaper....and the engine compartment is a bit bigger on earlier Fieros...They tilted the strut towers in on the 88s to get more camber gain in compression. The benefits of the 88 are more for road racing.
I would just buy the cheapest Fiero with the least rust I could find. You can make anything fast. I have stayed away from 88's mainly because of the extra cost and I don't really care for the rear semi trailing arm strut suspension. But maybe the 88 rear suspension would be better for drag racing? I don't know.
------------------ 86 GT built 2.2 ecotec turbo rear SLA suspension QA1 coilovers on tube arms
