I am doing a 3.4 swap from a 94 firebird into a 1986 fiero 4 speed v6. I am reading that the timing cover for the 2.8 in 85-86 is different and you can NOT use the firebird oil pan unless you upgrade to a 87-88 timing cover? Is that right? Or you can use the firebird timing cover /oil pan and a firebird water pump BUT you need to swap the water pump impeller for the fiero one as they rotate backwards. And which harmonic balancer should I use? Should I use the one from the 2.8 and cut a new timing groove? Also should I use gasket sealant on the timing cover or just put it on dry?

[This message has been edited by Filben (edited 03-13-2025).]

quote Originally posted by Filben: I am doing a 3.4 swap from a 94 firebird into a 1986 fiero 4 speed v6. I am reading that the timing cover for the 2.8 in 85-86 is different and you can NOT use the firebird oil pan unless you upgrade to a 87-88 timing cover? Is that right? Or you can use the firebird timing cover /oil pan and a firebird water pump BUT you need to swap the water pump impeller for the fiero one as they rotate backwards. And which harmonic balancer should I use? Should I use the one from the 2.8 and cut a new timing groove? Also should I use gasket sealant on the timing cover or just put it on dry?

you use as much as you can from the fiero. your supposed to use litterally but the fiero 2.8 block and harmonic balancer.
the rest is all 3.4 stuff. and your supposed to double coat every gasket with rtv. like rubbing it on the gasket when its held between your fingers for a real skim coat

quote Originally posted by cartercarbaficionado: you use as much as you can from the fiero. your supposed to use litterally but the fiero 2.8 block and harmonic balancer. the rest is all 3.4 stuff. and your supposed to double coat every gasket with rtv. like rubbing it on the gasket when its held between your fingers for a real skim coat

I found this thread https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/139701.html while looking for which bolts get thread sealer(haven't found out though, you figure that would be a sticky in the How-to section or in the pics of the torque specs). There is a difference between the early and later 2.8 timing covers. I may clean and reuse the fiero oil pan just to make it easy on me and not have to buy more parts. I was just wanting clarifications so I don;t mess stuff up. I only want to do this once and do NOT want to have to drop the cradle again to redo some leaky nonsense. I have spent way too long cleaning 40 years of the worst gunk imaginable off of everything. I literally had to chisel chunks off with a hammer and screwdriver, over 1/4inch thick and rock hard or stickier than tar.

The 3.4L swap in an 85 or 86 V6 car presents two choices.
Obtaining an 87 front timing cover. This will allow using the 3.4L oil pan.
or use the 85-86 front cover with the 2.8L oil pan

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See this thread to observe the difference between timing chain covers for clockwise and counterclockwise rotation water pumps:
https://www.mgexp.com/forum...1341284/#msg-1341284

The water(coolant) needs to be thrown into the discharge areas.

If you use a Fiero water pump and timing chain cover, then everything will be going in the correct direction.

quote Originally posted by pmbrunelle: See this thread to observe the difference between timing chain covers for clockwise and counterclockwise rotation water pumps: https://www.mgexp.com/forum...1341284/#msg-1341284 The water(coolant) needs to be thrown into the discharge areas. If you use a Fiero water pump and timing chain cover, then everything will be going in the correct direction.

Yeah, but I read in the thread I posted that you CAN use the firebird/camaro timing cover and waterpump if you swap the water pump impeller for one for a fiero. I was hoping someone could confirm/deny it. I am probably going to stick with the fiero timing cover and clean the oil pan(I do not want to clean that, it is so gross, covered inside and out with decades of sticky grime).

quote Originally posted by Filben: Yeah, but I read in the thread I posted that you CAN use the firebird/camaro timing cover and waterpump if you swap the water pump impeller for one for a fiero. I was hoping someone could confirm/deny it.

Your post was wrong; that's why I linked to the thread on the MG forum. I thought the picture would be clear.

Deny deny, your idea doesn't work.

If you use the Firebird/Camaro timing cover, then the discharge of the impeller won't be thrown directly into the timing chain cover outlets. The discharge of the impeller would be pointing in the wrong direction relative to the outlets in the timing chain cover.

quote Originally posted by pmbrunelle: Your post was wrong; that's why I linked to the thread on the MG forum. I thought the picture would be clear. Deny deny, your idea doesn't work. If you use the Firebird/Camaro timing cover, then the discharge of the impeller won't be thrown directly into the timing chain cover outlets. The discharge of the impeller would be pointing in the wrong direction relative to the outlets in the timing chain cover.

Its not MY idea. Its from the thread I linked farther up the thread. I just wanted clarifications/confirmations from people that have done this swap. And I really don't care either way about using the camaro timing cover, I'm using my original timing cover as I have it and I cleaned it already. I just also have a pile of firebird parts laying around and wanted to know what can be used and where. Thank you for your input, though.