Wanted: Fiero to V8 conversion

Buy a car that's already been swapped/mostly swapped that someone's given up on -- then finish it up the way YOU want.

You should save about 1/2 doing it that way.  Or more.

 

I am assuming this is you?

Sunshine wrote: From: sunny k [mailto:sunshine2244@hotmail.com] Sent: September-11-09 5:51 PM To: hotrodfiero@shaw.ca Subject: re: engine conversion   Hi, I posted an ad on CL as I am looking for information for a person that can do Fiero to V8 Chevy conversion.   Russ with the white vette sent me your email address, which was very kind of him. He said you would be able to point me in the right direction   (actually he said "Wright" direction, which might be an inside joke or a typo LOL) thank you Heather

 

      I sent you a long winded reply, and will post it here as well, as this info might help some other people in making there decision. 

    How’s that old bugger doing?    Guess he still can’t spell.  Didn’t really matter though, as he could drive the pants off that old Vette of his.     Ya know Dang it I haven’t talked to him in years.             He still got the white Vette and doing the street racing thing?

 

             Well to answer your question, yes I can point you in the right direction; however it’s not cheap to farm it out.         You’ll look in the neighborhood of $10,000 for a complete turnkey conversion and that does not include the car.       Now that’s for a Chevy V8.    If you want to go the 4.9  Caddy V8 route that price is closer to the $6000 range, and frankly I think it makes a better driver, however you lose the ability to go WILD and NUTS with the engine.      If you’re a friend of Russ’s your probably a HP freak as well.     I wanted a good all around fun car, so I personally went with the Aluminum Block Fuel Injected 93 Caddy V8, its low on HP at only 220hp, but its 320lbs of torque and gets 30mpg with a top end of 250kph hooked to a 5spd manual.   Darn near yank the front wheels off the ground in a stoplight to stoplight drag race.  Scares the pants off many a Muscle Car with it, and completely embarrassed many a Ricer with it. The kicker is you don’t need a conversion kit, as the 4.9 Caddy V8 uses the same small GM bell housing as the Fiero, so any stock Fiero trans will fit it.      You’ll obviously need a custom flywheel, and have to order some mounts online, but the engine is also about 3” shorter than a SBC so there is ZERO modification needed for water pump driver or alternator clearances, you get to use all the stock Caddy accessories, and parts so there is no major hunting to get a specific oil pump adapter, or mini starter or other odd requirements when using a regular Chevy V8.    Being an Aluminum Block, there is no weight penalty either.  I think the Caddy V8 weights in a touch less than the Fiero V6 does.

 

              The drawback is there are no “upgrade” heads for the Caddy, only 3 different cams in existence 1 stock, 1 semi modified and 1 extreme off the deep end.       Only intake upgrade is using newer caddy intake as there are no aftermarket parts.    No aftermarket headers, basically you get what you get and that’s it.         There are people doing modifications however on a piece by piece basis, with everything being done custom fab.       The best mod I have seen for the Caddy swap is a small Turbo, and even a crazy, Blow through carb system using the old fuel injection ports as a direct port nitrous and a turbo strapped on top of the carb.   The crank and bottom end held up remarkably well and to my knowledge was sold to someone else and is still running today.

 

                    If you go with the Chevy V8, the sky is the limit, our best local guy is running a ZZ383 GM Crate motor, tuned port fuel injection, through a GM G6, 6spd trans axle, after re-tuning 425hp and 450lbs of torque in a Fiero is quite the package. 

 

 if you want a reliable daily driver V8 that is good on gas, has loads of neck snapping torque, the Caddy V8 is the way to go, if you want a V8 that can launch you into orbit, unlimited speed, unlimited parts, and can be built to run 9's in a e heaver car than a Fiero, the Chevy V8 is the way to go.     However I have yet to meet a person that drives a Chevy V8 Fiero on a daily basis.  DOn't get me wrong, they are great and awesome.  However most people do the right thing and install the "hot rod" parts which kinda reduces the street ability of it.     If you dumb down a SBC to the same levels as the Caddy you cold make it a great daily driver, but then it would have been a waste of a motor and waste of the added expense.    I guess with the CHevy you could upgrade it later, which would be an advantage over the Caddy. 

 

Most of the guys with V8’s did their own work, and did it over a longer period of time to save on the huge labor costs, however the guys that have farmed the work out, have all been through private mechanics.   These are specialized guys that are willing to work on Fiero's and do long term projects for people.

 

There are 2 guys that if you are Serious and are aware of the costs I can get you in touch with and can further discuss it with them.    However they prefer I don’t give their number out unless I have at least spoken to you and know that you are serious about it.    They don’t need the business as they have a line of people wanting them to do various things.  Uhm, did you ever watch an old show called Seinfeld, (spelling) the Soup Nazi, if he didn’t like you, he didn’t serve you, it was that simple.     Hell back in the day Russ was like that, he would only work on your car/engine if he liked you, otherwise you could just go screw off.   Thankfully, him and I got along and he built one of the best V6 engines I have ever raced.  (Still blew it to hell, but it at least lasted longer than the rest)

 

                 WE have a club meeting this Saturday, one of the for mentioned mechanics will be at the meeting, which would save me having to give out any numbers.     Feel free to pop by, I’ll be the one in the leg brace and cane or crutch. (recently torn MCL and possible ACL in my knee)      

 

 

David   604-807-2623

857GT, “Eight Fifty Seven” Part 85GT, Part 87GT, Part Caddy V8, ALL FUN.

88GT V6 5spd, All Stock Yellow Hardtop.

 

Yes, thanks for that reply.   I am seeking the info for someone else and will pass on this, then get hopefully he will followup with the more technical information and/or questions.

You have all been very helpful, and gave me a at some of the posts. 

Thanks very much.