Transmission
Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: General Fiero Chat
Forum Name: General Talk about Fieros
Forum Description: Just want to chat about fieros? here's the place to make that happen.
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3179
Printed Date: 22 November 2024 at 5:02pm Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Transmission
Posted By: oregonfieroguy
Subject: Transmission
Date Posted: 07 April 2013 at 9:25pm
Hey guys, im new to the forum. I'm thinking of buying a fiero but would
like to get the economy ratio transmission. How can you tell?
This is what the wiki page said, but i cant figure out how to tell which
tranny is in the car:
While General Motors management and accountants were opposed to
investing in a second two-seater sports car that might compete with the
Corvette, they perceived the oil crisis as a market opportunity for a fuel-
efficient sporty commuter car. To this end, the Fiero was re-designed to
use a fuel efficient version of GM's 2.5 L four-cylinder "Iron Duke"
engine capable of 27 mpg-US (8.7 L/100 km; 32 mpg-imp) in the city
and 40 mpg-US (5.9 L/100 km; 48 mpg-imp) on the highway with the
economy-ratio transmission option.
Also, are these transmissions interchangeable for that matter? Could
you put a five speed in an 84 and would it improve the mileage, or
make it worse?
Also...
I saw an 84 with 2m4 on the back, and one without, does this mean
anything or is it just missing?
Thanks for your help!07_213427_fiero_back_2m4.jpg">
07_213451_fiero_back_no_2m4.jpg">
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Replies:
Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 07 April 2013 at 11:59pm
oregonfieroguy wrote:
I saw an 84 with 2m4 on the back, and one without, does this mean anything or is it just missing? |
All 84's were originally 2M4. (2 seater, Mid engine, 4 cylinder)
oregonfieroguy wrote:
Also, are these transmissions interchangeable for that matter? Could you put a five speed in an 84 and would it improve the mileage, or make it worse? |
I put a 5-spd Isuzu in my '84. It required the shifter, the cables, the clutch slave cylinder, and if I remember correctly, the throw-out bearing to be swapped as well.
The gas mileage is definately better on the freeway as 5th gear is an overdrive. Therefore it's quieter as well while cruising along.
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Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 08 April 2013 at 9:59am
A few quick things, as Patrick said the 5spd is better suited to the 4cyl engine, but not because of Freeway rpms. The Econo 4spd which has a 3.32 ratio top gear is actually taller than a 5spd. You do have lower rpms with an Econo 4spd on the highway than you do with the Isuzu but only by a few hundred rpms. Having 5 gears that you can split up vs. 4 gears makes the low power of the duke much easier to be in the right gear. You will find with the Econo 4spd in traffic you will be constantly changing from 2nd to 3rd gear and back. 3rd in the Isuzu is right in the middle of 2nd / 3rd in a 4spd. I would like to note, there are 3 different 4spd Fiero transaxles. The 3.32 Econo 4spd the 4.10 Performance 4spd and the 3.65 4spd for the V6. The 4.10 4spd is the one that Patrick had and is HORRIBLE on the highway, but great for zip around town.
Now trying to find a 3.32 4spd will be a nightmare. I had a few back in the late 90's and have been searching for another for the last 10 years and can't find one. You really are better off finding an 85 Fiero that already has a 5spd in it. Plus the 85 Fiero shares most of the parts with the V6, where as the 84 is a pretty unique beast.
Last question for ya, I am in Oregon myself at the moment. Where abouts are you down here.
------------- Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.
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Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 08 April 2013 at 11:25am
Capt Fiero wrote:
A few quick things, as Patrick said the 5spd is better suited to the 4cyl engine, but not because of Freeway rpms. The Econo 4spd which has a 3.32 ratio top gear is actually taller than a 5spd. You do have lower rpms with an Econo 4spd on the highway than you do with the Isuzu but only by a few hundred rpms.
Now trying to find a 3.32 4spd will be a nightmare. |
Well Dave, if an "Econo" 3.32 4-spd is next to impossible to find, it's kind of a moot point for someone who wants to swap their tranny that its 4th gear is taller than 5th in a 5-spd. I don't believe 4th gear in any of the other 4-spds compares with 5th gear in a 5-spd.
But yeah, I do agree with you that the gearing in the 5-spd is great overall, both around town and on the highway.
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Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 08 April 2013 at 12:00pm
This is copied from my personal website. I also have an excel spread sheet that calculates speeds and rpms in each gear with variable tires sizes and engine redlines if you are interested in that.
Trans Info
< ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------>&n bsp;
How to read chart. Using 84 Econo as the example.
3.32 is like the rear end gears that number is multiplied times the individual gear ratio to find out the number of turns of the wheels in relation to the numbers of turns of the engine. In this case Most of the work is done for you. In this case 1st gear, will require the motor to spin 11.72 times for one rotation of the rear wheels. Meaning at 6000 rpms the rear wheel will be spinning 510.63 RPMS. This is a much higher rate than the 84 Perf. Ratio of 6000rpms = 414.65 in first gear. What it boils down to is the bigger the number the quicker your car will be 0-60 but also the slower you will be in top end. The smaller the number the slower you car will be 0-60 but you will be able to go say 100mph at only 2800rpms.. Now if you have a V8 or a souped up V6 you may find that the Econo Tranny can actually be faster because you can hold each gear longer. Working with a 6000rpm redline and a 15" wheels you can go 100mph in 3rd gear with Econo trans. That means you do not have to waste time shifting. Now you should have a basic understanding on trans ratios, the bigger the number the quicker you car can move the higher the number the better the gas mileage
Just as a side note, both the 84 Transaxles
were Muncie's same as in the 85-86.5
V6 Cars. The High Ratio trans offers the highest gears of any Fiero Trans even higher than the 5spd Getrag or the Isuzu. The 4.10 Ratio is so low that unless you are an in town driver or a drag racer most find it to rev happy on the freeway.
------------- Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.
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Posted By: oregonfieroguy
Date Posted: 08 April 2013 at 1:15pm
Thanks guys! This is great info. First off, I gather that the econo trans is
impossible to find -- so I will stop looking for it.. but,... how do you know
you have one if you find it? Is it safe to assume by this vin information that
the AE's are the economy? Then... what are the differences between they
sport and the SE? Is the SE just options like power windows etc?
1G2AE37R#EP###### - 1984 Fiero
1G2AM37R#EP###### - 1984 Fiero Sport
1G2AF37R#EP###### - 1984 Fiero SE or Indy
Also, I gather from the info that you COULD swap an 85 transmission into
an 84 -- and that the 5-speed 5th gear would be CLOSE, but not quite as
gas miserly as the 4th gear in the econo tranny.
That is a big help. I know what I want.. an 84 with a 5 speed in it... so this is
what I will hope to someday put together...
I live in Eugene, Oregon. I've looked at a few nice ones, but haven't decided
what I will buy yet.
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Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 08 April 2013 at 2:29pm
You have to check the RPO codes and hope that the trans has not been changed out, IIRC the Econo Trans is RPO MY8 its on the sticker under the hood.
------------- Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.
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Posted By: oregonfieroguy
Date Posted: 10 April 2013 at 7:17pm
Thanks. I'm not familiar with the rpo codes. Any chance you have a
pifcture of the sticker so I can see what I'm looking for? Do you mean
if I find MY8 anywhere on the sticker that I have one with an econo 4
speed? Whats the code for the sport 4 speed? Thanks for your help.
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Posted By: Dr.Fiero
Date Posted: 12 April 2013 at 10:47am
Pop the front hood. Look on the inner fender, right in front of the master cylinder(s).
It's about 6*5", and has a series of 3 letter/number codes.
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Posted By: Romeo
Date Posted: 12 April 2013 at 6:09pm
Is it possible to swap in a 3.32 final drive in to the
stock four speed? I have the "performer" transmission right
now, and I can honestly say: It sucks. Its "performance"
ends at about 160KM/H. Ugh.
------------- Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.
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