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3.5L LX9 Swap into ’86 2M6 4 speed

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bcampbell View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote bcampbell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: 3.5L LX9 Swap into ’86 2M6 4 speed
    Posted: 10 February 2012 at 10:37pm
Hey I'm new here and new to Fieros. My end goal is to
have a daily drivable Fiero that I can have fun with
autocrossing occasionally. I'm not looking for something
super fast as that's what my other car is for.

I bought my Fiero back in December for $700 and it had a
2.8 in it that was rebuilt in '09 (sticker on the engine)
by Cords Engine Specialists. However after trying lots
of ways to get it running and also discovering cylinder
#1 had >20 psi lower compression than #3 and #5 I decided
to give up on the 2.8. There's minimal rust on the whole
car so I really didn't want to just scrap it.

The LX9 I got is from nfswift on these forums as he
abandoned his swap. As a bonus, I ended up with his LX9
from an '06 G6, aluminium cradle bushings, poly rear
control arm bushings, 3400 coils and ICM, TCE crank
trigger, and 3 exhaust manifolds to play with for $600.

My shopping list right now for remaining necessary parts
includes:
- '88 Flywheel
- 7730 ECM and pigtails
- Knock Sensor
- Rad Hoses
- LX5 Throttle body
- Wiring from crank sensor to ICM
- Either vette fuel filter or 3400 rails and injectors
with regulator (haven't decided yet)
- A tune, obviously
- New motor mounts (don't trust old possibly 25 year old
mounts)
- Alternator (does anyone know if a 3400 alternator will
bolt up?)

Plans include to get the LX9 injectors tested (they've
been sitting for a few years now and I just don't trust
them), making a throttle body adapter plate for the LX5
throttle body, and wiring in a 7730 ECM per Darth Fiero's
instructions available on-line. I also plan on de-
looming the harness and routing the wires in a way that's
ideal for the Fiero. Since my 4 speed clutch is
practically brand new and I don't plan on a lot of WOT
with this engine I'm going to re-use it. Since the LX9
didn't come with a starter I'll most likely re-use the
2.8's starter.

And here's some pics of the car and the new engine:







I want to have this running ASAP and I'm probably gonna
make a parts run to Port Angeles since everything is so
much cheaper in the US. My goal (probably unrealistic)
is to have this started within 3 weeks.
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Dawg View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Dawg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 February 2012 at 1:10am
Looks like it's in nice shape for $700. Good deal I think.

Welcome to the group.

Dawg
You dream it up....I'll make it
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Post Options Post Options   Quote bcampbell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 February 2012 at 1:26am
Thanks it was my first time painting a car and there's
lots of flaws with the body (been in a front end
accident). However there's minimal rust on the whole
car, the brakes were all done within the last 5000 kms,
and the suspension is not showing any sagging. Most of
the rust I've found so far has been cleaned and coated
with POR-15.

I'm probably gonna try going over it again with rollers
after seeing how well my friend's truck turned out since
I have tons of leftover paint anyways. And eventually
I'll paint the trim in flat black and scrape off the red
overspray on the windows from the PO's paint job .
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Post Options Post Options   Quote bcampbell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 February 2012 at 10:09pm
Minor update for today, I just took a wire wheel attachment
for my drill and cleaned up the aluminium parts a bit, then
moved the tensioner and swapped its pulley with the idler
below the water pump.


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Post Options Post Options   Quote CFoss Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 February 2012 at 9:14am
bcampbell, where are you at? On the island somewhere? I was going to help nfswift with his swap (Electronics side) but then he moved on to other things.

If you're looking at the 88 flywheel for the neutral balance, keep in mind you can just get the wieght on a pre 88 flywheel machined off and it's just as good. I did this for my 3.4 swap.

It's 1/2 hr of work and $50. (Actually the guy charged me $25 cash and I gave him $40 and said thanks for doing it, it was his day off).

Chay
86 SE 3.4
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Post Options Post Options   Quote bcampbell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 February 2012 at 12:26pm
Originally posted by CFoss CFoss wrote:

bcampbell, where are you at? On the island
somewhere? I was going to help nfswift with his swap
(Electronics side) but then he moved on to other
things.If you're looking at the 88 flywheel for the
neutral balance, keep in mind you can just get the wieght
on a pre 88 flywheel machined off and it's just as good.
I did this for my 3.4 swap.It's 1/2 hr of work and $50.
(Actually the guy charged me $25 cash and I gave him $40
and said thanks for doing it, it was his day
off).Chay


Ya I live in Victoria and the car/engine is in Cowichan
Bay. As for the flywheel, I can get a brand new one in
the US for $55 so it's not really much more than re-using
the imbalanced one. Plus I can get most of the other
parts I need new there and I'll most likely also buy new
motor/trans mounts ($10 ea, haven't priced them out
here).
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Capt Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 February 2012 at 1:01pm

Please don't use stock mounts.......     Do yourself a HUGE favor and order a set of dickman trans mounts. It will save you a TON of grief later on. 

Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote bcampbell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 February 2012 at 2:15pm
Originally posted by Capt Fiero Capt Fiero wrote:

Please don't use stock
mounts.......     
Do yourself a HUGE favor and order a set of dickman trans
mounts. It will save you a TON of grief later on. 




Why would stock mounts be inadequate? Wouldn't the stock
G6 use rubber mounts anyways? As long as the mounts are
new, I didn't think it would be a huge deal. Obviously,
I'll need to fabricate a dog bone mount in addition to
the three stock mounts.

Edit: It looks like rodney's transmission mounts use a
standard polyurethane GM transmission mount. I happen to
have one of these leftover from my 89 Firebird project.
How much work would it be to make use of it?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Capt Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 February 2012 at 3:42pm
The Stock Rubber G6 would have been stronger.  If you can use G6 mounts great.  However the stock rubber Fiero trans mounts IMHO are Junk.  Granted my V8 makes 300+lbs of torque, but the fact that I could put a new set of stock rubber trans mounts in, take it out to the street pop the clutch ONCE, and bust a Lordco Anchor mount, I stopped using stock mounts.  If I could have used the Cadillac rubber mounts I would have been fine, but the Fiero mounts just can't handle the abuse of an engine swap.  Even if you don't drive it hard all the time, if you plan to take it to the road course occasional, a good set of aftermarket mounts will give you a great deal of piece of mind.
Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote bcampbell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 February 2012 at 5:07pm
Originally posted by Capt Fiero Capt Fiero wrote:

The Stock Rubber G6 would have been stronger. 
If you can use G6 mounts great.  However the stock rubber Fiero trans
mounts IMHO are Junk.  Granted my V8 makes 300+lbs of torque, but
the fact that I could put a new set of stock rubber trans mounts in, take
it out to the street pop the clutch ONCE, and bust a Lordco Anchor
mount, I stopped using stock mounts.  If I could have used the Cadillac
rubber mounts I would have been fine, but the Fiero mounts just can't
handle the abuse of an engine swap.  Even if you don't drive it hard all
the time, if you plan to take it to the road course occasional, a good set
of aftermarket mounts will give you a great deal of piece of mind.


Ok thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I can't really afford to spend
$150+ on mounts right now so that will have to wait for the time being. I
won't drive the car hard just to be on the safe side until if get some
better mounts.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote bcampbell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 February 2012 at 5:14pm
Anyone here have experience tuning OBD1? I took a look at the
injectors today and they appear to be in great shape, the only thing I'm
wondering is that since if I use an LS1 vette fuel filter to regulate the
pressure, it will constantly be at 58ish PSI. Does this present a tuning
problem since the 7730 computer is designed to work with vacuum
regulated (and thus variable with MAP) fuel pressure? I know I can get
a vacuum regulated aftermarket regulator but I'd rather not spend the
extra cash.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote CFoss Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 February 2012 at 7:40pm
I have the stuff...prom burner/reader and ostrich ii for tuning, and tunerproRT of course. You'd need a G2 (I think) adapter from moates if you want to borrow it and do it yourself.

What code were you thinking of running in the 7730?

My wideband 02/logger got destroyed though. I have to get a new one!


As far as the reg goes, I've always wondered about the function of that beast. One way to look at it as the load increases it increases the psi to the injectors to help deliver more fuel. But hey, why not just deliver the fuel at a high pressure all the time and cut down the injector pulse width?

My hypothesis is that is has more to do with lowering pressure at idle to better deliver smaller quantities of fuel at low injector pulse widths for emissions.

My guess is that a solid 58 psi will be fine to tune with. You just have to make sure that psi won't overwhelm the injectors, but they are a new type so I'd guess them to be ok at that psi.

As you are creating a map anyway, the regulator can be taken into account with the map.

Other will hopefully chime in with more knowledge.


Chay
86 SE 3.4
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Post Options Post Options   Quote bcampbell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 February 2012 at 8:30pm
IIRC I was planning on running the $A1 code. It would be really sweet if
I could borrow the tuning hardware. I already have a laptop and
tunerproRT and an ALDL cable that should work. One thing I don't have
is a wideband but can't the BLMs be used with data logging? I'll order
a G2 adapter tomorrow if they're not too expensive.

I have some more pics and updates I'll post later tonight.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote bcampbell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 February 2012 at 11:54pm
So today I got some basics done, pulled off the upper
plenum and throttle body, pulled out the fuel injectors,
took a look at the spark plugs, transferred the oil
filter adapter and pressure sender from the 2.8, and de-
loomed and labelled the 2.8 harness.

After pulling off the upper plenum and the fuel rail I
cleaned up the lower intake a bit as it had dirt and oil
on it. Taking a look at the injectors, they are in great
shape, and I'm having second thoughts about needing to
have them tested. I was expecting to find some dirty or
rusty injectors from sitting so long disconnected from a
fuel system, but appearance wise they are fine.





What do you guys think? Get them tested or not?

I removed the stock 3500 oil filter mount as I have read
it interferes with the Fiero cradle, and took the spin-on
adapter on the 2.8 and installed it on the 3500. I used
a 3/8 Allen socket to remove/install it; I don't think it
was exactly the right size but it's close enough and
that's the only allen socket I have that's nearly big
enough.



As for the oil pressure sender, I'm not exactly sure if I
put it where it's supposed to go, but I saw a plug near
where the oil filter mounts and found that the 2.8's oil
pressure sender threads right in in place of the plug.
Hopefully I got that right :).



I also modified the front engine mount to clear the new
oil pan and test-installed the CPS mount bolted over the
motor mount. So far so good.




I then took a peek into one of the valve covers through
the oil fill cap and checked out the spark plugs that
were in the engine (#1-#6 left to right in the picture).




And then on to wiring. I'm thinking I'll try to use the
whole 3500 injector harness instead of grafting the
individual plugs onto the 2.8 harness. The engine came
with a nearly complete harness so I have the other side
of the connector that plugs in. The harness also has a
plug for the new MAP sensor on it (in addition to the cam
position sensor and CTS). If going this route I will
change the pigtail for the CTS to a 3-wire sensor.

Question: If I switch to a 3 wire sensor, does that mean
I have no wire for the dash temp warning light? The
2.8's gauge sender is a 2-wire while some other early V6s
seem to have just a 1-wire sender. I'm thinking with the
2-wire sender, one wire is for the temp gauge and one is
for the warning light, am I correct? If that's true, I
can probably just wire in a 3-wire sensor and forget
about the warning light.

Finally I labelled and deloomed the 2.8 engine harness in
preparation to be run neatly on the new engine. In the
process I also discovered a problem area in the old
harness where I'm assuming the harness was rubbing on the
alternator belt and it completely cut through the fan
switch wire, cut through the insulation on an alt pigtail
wire, and cut through the insulation on a fuel injector
harness wire. I'll be splicing in new wires to replace
those three (fan switch will become knock sensor wire
anyway). Anyone know if I'll need a new pigtail for my
alternator (I'll probably be getting one off a 3400).


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Post Options Post Options   Quote bcampbell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 February 2012 at 7:58pm
Picked up a 7730 computer today and an LX5 throttle body
($75 and $65). ECM came with pigtails and the number on
it read 16198262 instead of 1227730 but when I looked up
the number it appears to be an updated number (ECM is a
re-manufactured Delphi unit, so that makes sense).
Throttle body came with an IAC and TPS installed, and I
found some pigtails that will work for them. 1 is from
the 2.8's ICM 4-wire and the other is a 3 wire I found in
my box of leftover wiring from an LT1 swap.

Was about to order a G1 adapter from moates and then
found out shipping was $33! Anyone know a Canadian
business that sells them?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote CFoss Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 February 2012 at 8:36am
I don't think there is a Canadian business that sells them, but I don't really know. I've never seen it.

$33 is really excessive for a small super light part. What form of shipping did you choose? I use usps, and slow is good for me which usually makes it cheaper.  Maybe phone those guys and see what they have to say.

You can't use blm's exclusively. You can use them in closed loop if you want, but not in the power (fuel enrich) areas. In these areas the coorect a/f ratio is too low for the narrowband o2 to measure, and therefore blm's are not updated.

You can borrow my ostrich no problem. I have to tune my own ride what I finally get it ready, but it's a 3rd car so I'm pretty flexible.

One sugestion, you could use $59 (Sy/ty updated code) which is pretty easy to tune and has all the stuff for forced induction should you choose that route later. You would have to grab a 3bar map sensor. You are going DIS right? I suspect you have no choice with the intake. I'm pretty sure they have the settings available to do it.

Check out code59.org.

It's what I'm tuning with for the turbo, so I'm totally biased.


Chay
86 SE 3.4
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Capt Fiero Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 February 2012 at 8:46am
I have an odd question has anyone tried finding an OBDII system that will work on our engine swaps.  My Caddy is from what I understand OBD1.5 or a very late OBDI  Our club OBDI scanner won't work on my Caddy ECM, as it won't go to a new enough year.  (Our old OBDI scanner would work though)  I have been reading about OBDII stuff recently and really like the options on the newer systems.
Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6
Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote CFoss Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 February 2012 at 10:40am
I cna't see any reason why it wouldn't work.You may have to add sensors though (cam and or crank).

It seems like the way to go for custom programming is efi live, or hp tuners.


Chay
86 SE 3.4
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Post Options Post Options   Quote bcampbell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 February 2012 at 11:07am
Originally posted by Capt Fiero Capt Fiero wrote:

I have an odd question has anyone
tried finding an OBDII system that will work on our
engine swaps.  My Caddy is from what I understand OBD1.5
or a very late OBDI  Our club OBDI scanner won't work on
my Caddy ECM, as it won't go to a new enough year.  (Our
old OBDI scanner would work though)  I have been reading
about OBDII stuff recently and really like the options on
the newer systems.


I know there's someone that's used a '98 Venture PCM with
their 3500 swap. The main reason I didn't go that route
is because it's more expensive to tune, wiring is more
involved (although equally as well documented), and
another 24x crank sensor has to be installed on the
engine. I understand the main advantages would be SFI
and a faster, more capable engine controller.

I would also have been interested in installing the stock
3500 PCM but there are zero aftermarket tuning options
right now (HPTuners only lists the '07+ VVT/DoD 3500
engines as being compatible with their software right
now). And of course without the ability to tune the PCM
it expects lots of input from the BCM, like VATS.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote CFoss Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 February 2012 at 11:12am
I think it might be worth it if you can find an obdii code that runs lean burn/wideband 02 for the extra fuel economy. Also, I think the logging output is vastly improved with obdii.

SFI doesn't do you any good except for a cleaner idle. Big deal.

Chay
86 SE 3.4
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