Ottawa Fiero Club Forum

General => General Chat => Topic started by: 2ML67 on February 14, 2005, 03:08:19 pm



Title: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: 2ML67 on February 14, 2005, 03:08:19 pm
Found a mint condition 84 Fiero which has been sitting for over ten years in storage. The body and chassis is like new but motor is siezed from sitting.
Can't see putting in another 2.5 so am thinking about installing an ecotech out of a newer Sunfire/Cavalier.
Found one at the wreckers out of a 2003 with a mere 7,000 km on it, can get whole set up what ever I need to swap into a Fiero for $1,500 plus taxes.
Plusses are 140hp not too bad, very small PCM so it will fit in factory location, very low mileage so like new car when done and best of all very light weight set up.
Question is do you people think its worth the work to swap this set up into a Fiero. Dan   


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: aaron88 on February 14, 2005, 04:18:16 pm
Even though that motor is new-ish, I'd replace the water pump (seals) and timing chain tensioner.  The water pump seals go when they get dry and the tensioner is problematic.

But my real advice would be to go with a different motor all together.

Aaron

.


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: Rob on February 14, 2005, 04:25:42 pm
Do it! would it be an automatic car? or manual? I want to see this swap done!


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: FieroBUZZ on February 14, 2005, 04:28:07 pm
I think this is the kind of engine that loves a standard.  I think with an auto you might be better with something else.



Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: Rob on February 14, 2005, 08:49:19 pm
ive got a car that could be a guinie pig??? lol, these engines are going to be enjoying a lot of aftermarket support! I just wonder about the electronics.. but if anyone can crack the wiring problems it would be Dan!


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: dguy on February 15, 2005, 09:44:27 am
It's something few have done before if any, methinks.  Go for it.

Kitten's Sunfire had the Ecotec in it IIRC.  Peppy little thing for its size, but it had a stick.  No idea what they're like with an automagic.


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: 2ML67 on February 15, 2005, 09:51:58 am
Was thinking of going with a 5 speed standard as the idea is build the car up for my oldest daughter who will be 16 in a few years so don't want too much power but want it to be reliable. So far have heard only good things about this motor and $1,500 fo every thing its hard to not do it. There are lots of these engines available with very low mileage and as Rob stated lots of after market stuff to improve with. So as she gets better at driving slowly give it more power.  My understanding is that GM has an adapter plate to use for bolting up to the stock Fiero bell housing.
Talked with my insurance company and they said it would not make any difference in rates over the original 2.5l it came with. The fact that the gauge pod fits so nicely in the Nissan 240sx dash is also a bonus. Dan


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: Joe Fieroshop on February 15, 2005, 10:50:10 am
Dan, are you going to re-use the stock PCM? If I'm correct, in order to have this car fire up you would need the cluster too. I know from my 1998 Z24, when it was at the paint shop for it's custom color change i removed the cluster to change the face color. Later that night the owner of the paint shop tried to move the car by starting it, the car would not start! I came back and hooked the cluster back and she ran.
It's possible too that you may need the body control module (BCM)? Thats if your going to use the stock PCM?
I could be wrong?

Joe


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: GoFast88 on February 15, 2005, 12:12:33 pm
 ???Lets see. The difference in HP is the same from a stock 2.8 that are dime a dozen. So you are paying $1500 for a newer engine and the headacks of adapting it to the fiero. To me newer isn't always better. Like putting in a newer 4 cylinder engine @ 140 hp to replace a 1950 chev flat 6 @140 hp. Either drop in a diesel @140  hp for an economy boost or a 350 @350 hp for a performance boost.
my 0.02 worth.


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: FieroBUZZ on February 15, 2005, 12:27:55 pm
Well I'd leave any transplant difficulties out of the equation.  Dan seems to thrive on this type of thing.

A car for a 16 year old girl?

Tempramental old 2.8/2.5 motor....... or a modern engine designed to provide reasonable power and fuel economy.  Add in an increasing aftermarket and the choice seems even more clear.   O0



Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: 2ML67 on February 15, 2005, 01:00:23 pm
Thanks for your vote of confidence there Gary. As for the cluster thats the bonus as I will put in a Nissan 240sx dash which the Sunfire/Cavalier guage cluster fits very nicely in. Run every thing that it wants so the whole drive train still thinks its in the original car. When done she has a car which cost a total of around $2,000 but with the reliability of a new car. Dan


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: GoFast88 on February 15, 2005, 02:17:28 pm
 :)Sounds like you are talking yourself into it.  ;D


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: PhilTheThrill on February 16, 2005, 12:44:28 am
Hey i would love to see and ecotec swap :D.  especially one wiht the ion redline super charged engine it would be interesting to see. I am maybe a little biassed i own a saturn too.


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: 2ML67 on February 17, 2005, 08:26:29 am
Hey Rob are you serious about getting this done to your car. I thought you wanted an L67 in there. Dan


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: Rob on February 17, 2005, 03:09:30 pm
id love to see the swap, and being the first woulnt be so bad, but I wonder about all the wiring these days.. so I htink the ol' 3.8 will still be my plan! Keep a bay open for my car! tax season is almost here :)


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: GoFast88 on February 18, 2005, 09:15:42 am
so I htink the ol' 3.8 will still be my plan!
There is no substitution for cubic inches.  ;) (eh Aaron)


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: aaron88 on February 18, 2005, 03:39:39 pm
unless it's a 4.9 L


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: 2ML67 on February 25, 2005, 08:36:46 am
Was at the wreckers yesterday and measured up one of these engines. It is so light that I was able to pick up the engine by myself from the floor and set it on a shelf two feet off the floor. Now that is nice and light. The one I was looking at is out of a 2004 Grand Am with under 500km on it. They quoted me $1,600 for every thing I need right down to the am/fm/cd radio out of it. So it is now a definite go on this project.
Does any one feel that it would be worth documenting or starting a post on this once I start it. Dan


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: Kevin on February 25, 2005, 08:48:48 am
  Yes please start a post about it. Nick and I were talking about this a while ago and were watching the turbo ecotec thread on PFF with interest. I was wondering how much work it would be to put one in having never done that sort of thing myself. Start a thread Dan.   Kevin


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: aaron88 on February 25, 2005, 10:33:39 am
  Yes please start a post about it. Nick and I were talking about this a while ago and were watching the turbo ecotec thread on PFF with interest. I was wondering how much work it would be to put one in having never done that sort of thing myself. Start a thread Dan.   Kevin

Other people are so quick to volunteer your time Dan.  Do it only if you want to.

Aaron


.


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: GoFast88 on February 25, 2005, 12:01:52 pm
I can send you down a camera, if you don't have one.  Think of it as a walk down memory lane once you complete it.


Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: JP_86_2M4 on June 26, 2005, 04:29:47 pm
I'd be very interested in swapping my 2.5L for this 2.2L ecotech engine myself if Dan doesnt mind doing it for me ofcourse  ::).  I've also been watching the PFF on the swap and seems promissing so far.  Dan have you done anything on this since the winter?  I'm sure lots of ironduke owners like me  (that think fuel economy that is) would love to have this engine in their Fiero.  I believe the guy doing the swap in the states has the wiring harness done but I could be wrong.   :-\



Title: Re: Engine swap opinions please
Post by: 2ML67 on June 26, 2005, 07:27:59 pm
Got so side tracked doing 3800Sc swaps I haven't done much more on the eco tech swap. From what I have looked into some slight problems would be PCM and BCM work together so both are needed and the gauges and even the radio are also needed unless PCM reprogramming is to be done.
My plan is instal a matched set up into the Fiero. This would consist of everything from the same car. The engine, tranny, PCM, BCM, radio and the gauges. The gauges could be used by installing a Nissan 240SX dash at the same time. The radios can be gotten around but why when they are nice am/fm/cd players in them. Easiest would be the 4speed auto but the 5 speed manual could be used with a little more work.
unfortunately I sold the Fiero I was going to use so will be waiting till I find another to build before going any further, unless some one wants me to build one for them. I have gotten quotes from wreckers from $1,600 to $2,000 for everything depending on year and mileage. Dan