northstar in a custom fiero?

[georgemanolov]

I am thinking of buying a running cadillac 96 up and using the engine and transmission for a drive train in my fiero. i am planing on doing most of the work myself and i am worried or uncertain so to say of all the computers and sensors and wires. Is there a simpler way of doing that and can i avoid messing with stuff that can be excluded? or in other words is it possible the engine to run properly without all the cadillac's wires and components? I also heard that only a chip can boost the horsepower pretty good??? that is the car I am working on for some time...
Thank you for your help!!!

 

[JayMaechtlen]

do a search - there are several outfits that specialize in Fiero conversions and there's lots of info out there.
Rod's right, in that a four can could plenty of power in that car, given a bit of work and boost.
On the other hand, lots of folks have put the 3.8 GM in there with the 4-speed automatic. Torque, power, easy.
Handling? Dunno. Maybe fine? Some have done the Northstar.
Engine/trans controllers: They vary. If using the automatic, you might want the controller from the donor car. There are other options.
I've read that the 5-speed won't handle much torque. Good enough for 4-cyl or small V-6. The automatics (not the Fiero 3-speed, but the 4T60 or 4T65E) will handle all the power you want.
The swap is do-able, but not entirely trivial.
(my 3.8 Buick in Corvair is on the road now!)

Jay Maechtlen

http://www.laserpubs.com/techcomm

 

[JayMaechtlen]

Ref "emissions stuff": If you pick the vintage, you might get a motor/computer that doesn't monitor the Cat converter function via additional O2 sensors. If you have only ones O2 sensor, then the beast will run just fine and won't care if, well, let's say 'if the cat is working exactly per factory'. ;-)

Jay Maechtlen

http://www.laserpubs.com/techcomm

 

[georgemanolov]

I've been looking into cadillac 500 this thing is a monster and with aluminum heads is lighter than a small block. is it really that good or the people who sell parts for it claim that with minor modification this thing is over 400 hp and 550 torque..wow

 

[MikeHalloran]

I'm guessing it's light because it's thin.
Which suggests that hopping it up will reduce its life, to a greater degree than doing the same to an engine built with larger safety factors, and more iron.

On the other hand, a Fiero can't weigh enough to seriously stress the engine, unless you're adding a layer of armor.





Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[IceStationZebra]

The issue with the 500 Caddy is that it hasn't been made since about 1976. They were never as common as the other big blocks to start with, so parts are going to be harder to find.

I think Mike is right about the blocks being thin walled. Remember that this motor was never designed to go in a truck, unlike the chevy, ford and dodge engines. It's also not a high revving motor, so that helps too. And if you don't know already the Caddy motors share the Buick/Olds/Pontiac bellhouseing - the "corporate" chevy pattern was the odd duck.

ISZ

 

[JayMaechtlen]

The thing about Fiero, it wants a transverse motor.
(Well, as noted above, you can put anything into anything, but...)
The Northstar is (normally) transverse, as is the Buick 3800 and some number of other motors. The Northstar, being a V8, will be wider than the V6 and tougher to fit. Yes, same number of cylinders in a row as the 4-cyl, but its trans probably takes more space than the trans for the 4-cyl. The V6 leaves enough width for the bigger trans it needs, versus the 4.
Anyway, it depends on what you want- a quick sleeper, a monster street freak, or what.
Happy imagineering!

Jay Maechtlen

http://www.laserpubs.com/techcomm