3.4 DOHC swap: http://dtcc.cz28.com/Customer/3.4DOHCFiero/swap.htm

3.8L Supercharged swap: http://home.neo.rr.com/fieros/3800sc.htm

I've read the early engine fires were mostly caused by running the engine low on oil, throwing a rod, and spraying oil on hot exhaust bits.

Why not? My $400 benz with a junkyard engine swap is still going strong.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

The Fiero looks like a sporty little car, but did you notice the curb weight? That thing is heavy.

BG, I beat you to the link by three minutes.. lol

That was an issue that was criticized, people thought having the "space frame" and the plastic body panels attached would make a lighter vehicle. But it turns out in order to make the car stiffer you had to make the frame thicker. It would of been lighter to build the car from uni-body standpoint, hence you don't see cars built entirely the same way today.


On a side note the 2.8, 3.1, 3.4, and 3.4 DOHC are all in the same 60º cylinder bank engine family to fit into tighter spaces. The 3.8 is a 90º engine.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

I saw three Bonnevilles yesturday in the junkyard with engines... so they are easily had

2700 Lbs or so? That's not too bad. It weighs less than my third chouce a 280ZX, but more than my first choice, a MR2. It should have more power too.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

They're kindof heavy for what they are, but the mid engine makes them handle pretty well.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I too had a Fiero as a first car. Mine was an '84, red with a luggage rack (yuck). I put a nice Clarion stereo in it and remember loving the headrest speakers. 10 gallon tank, back when RUG was about 85 cents. Awesome handling, very very fun to drive. Mine had a 4 speed. But power? Not so much. I had the I4 which, as stated previously, had only 100 horse. The plastic panels were the experimental precursor for the plastic used by modern GM vehicles like the Saturn. There really weren't any safety issues with the Fiero, but somehow the buying public at that time was not ready for a "plastic" car, so this feature hurt the Fiero's reputation somewhat. Go figure; nowadays people buy Saturns left and right and actually LIKE the plastic because it is marketed as ding and dent free... I was rear-ended by a 3/4 ton GMC conversion van at about 45 mph sitting at a light. Because the Fiero was so low, the van actually got somewhat up the trunk and rode the rear driver side quarter, clipping up to the pillar just behind and to the left of my head. But I came out fine, and the car was fine too. Drove it for another couple of months with no problems until I got rid of it. I'd buy one again if it was in good condition and the price was right. Then again, no, I don't think I would. I've owned a Miata for a few months now and, while it has nearly the same handling as the Fiero, its mechanicals are bulletproof and it has the added bonus of being a convertible.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

I've never driven a Fiero but after having a miata I bet you wouldn't think the fiero is equal in handling.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

t_walgamuth, you'd be surprised. I have a Miata, and I had a Fiero. I remember the Fiero well. The driving dynamics and handling are very very close to those of the Miata. Although its overall design and technology are not on par with the Miata, the Fiero had a couple advantages. It was a hardtop, with a very stiff chassis compared to the Miata. It was also mid-engined. Believe me, mine handled pretty well.

One major difference between the two would be that the Fiero tended to understeer, while my Miata tends to oversteer. Oversteer is definitely more fun, but up in the snow belt where I lived when I had the Fiero (Chicago) believe me you'd rather have understeer. Another major difference was power-to-weight ratio; the Miata wins handily. Both cars have about 100 horses, but the Fiero was a much heavier car.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

My 99 Miata has about 2250# and 140 hp. The steering is razor sharp and the way it has been set up it will spin on a dime and give nine cents change!

I put on a larger front bar and disconnected the rear and am going to go pick it up tonight or tomorrow. I can't wait to try it out next weekend at the autox.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I have a 90 (first year) with the 1.6 and 100 horses, just over 2,000 lbs. My car is more similar to the Fiero than yours. My steering is also razor sharp. Again, trust me - the Fiero is very similar.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

LeMans huh?.
Well, just watch the chicanes as they can play hell with the most poorly engineered Detroit steering geometry.

Hell,I knew a guy ran it in a Chevy Citation,ripped the whole goddam subframe out! BE CAREFUL!

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Well I got it for $200. Now I have to find an engine. It should be quick with 240HP if I can get a 3.8 in there and gut it out.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

OK.. I admit it... I owned a Chevy Citation in High School.... I beat the crap out of that car. But good memories to say the least.... Somehow, cousins and uncles of my local family ended up owning some sort of variation of this car the X-body. Celebrity's, Olds Ciera's, Fiero's, Buick Skylarks, and etc. And somehow we all ended up working on each of these pieces of...

As far as the cradle (as noted above as the subframe) is concerned, they are known to fatigue and crack with the early fwd X-Body and A-Body (share the same cradle with the Fiero). Early 90s A-body cradles were improved.

But I would guess that the Fiero's cradle wouldn't have a problem because it does not handle the steering also, which adds stress to it. Just make sure the cradle mount bolting area are not too corroded. That would cause issues..


Sounds like fun! A stock supercharged 3.8 would get you that power, if you can get it cheap.. But I wonder if bay area would clear the belts?

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System