Re:thinking of doing a 3.8 buick swap
 

I've seen fieros with small block chevs so I'm sure this is easy to do. Try a site called listbyengine.com They have lots of engine transplant projects to look at.

Re:thinking of doing a 3.8 buick swap
 

i was checking with some the guys who have 350's in their fieros which are pushing like 450 hp. Believe it or not but one of the guys snapped like 4 trans and he took one from a beretta and no probs. The 3.8 supercharged is a 3800 ,i have seen these both super and turbocharged and the result is impressive.

Re:thinking of doing a 3.8 buick swap
 

another thought for the trans:

i did a shitload of research when i was going to put a 3.4 DOHC in mine. found out that the gearsets are interchangeable between the isuzu/fiero trans's and the gearboxes in actual isuzu cars- the only difference is that the gears used in GM boxes were tempered differently and weaker because of it.

the other plus is that there is a wider selection of gear ratios. final drives as low as 4.11, and as high as 3.23.

i did some math on the gear ratios in the 4.11 imark gearbox (with the 3.4DOHC in the fiero) and the ratios in the stock fiero getrag 5 spd (with the same engine) and the isuzu trans put down a MINIMUM of 20% more torque in every gear because of the lower gears...

my philosophy was to more efficiently use the power the engine was already making before adding more..

isuzu boxes aren't too hard to come by in yards either..

Re:thinking of doing a 3.8 buick swap
 

i was just thinking of the isuzu trans to :). As for the lower gears pontiac made a sports edition trans on the 4 banger fieros that had a 4.11 gearing ,my brother just bought one a while back but hasn't used it ;D. Thanks for all the useful info though guys i greatly appreciate it.

Re:thinking of doing a 3.8 buick swap
 

How about the Cadallac northstar V8, 300 HP stock and I have seen them in Fiero kit cars a lot. They also come with a stick shift tranys now, I have seen it on the commercials for the STS. Pick up a copy of Kit Car magazine, there are suppliers for all kinds of Fiero high performance stuff it there, the Fiero is the donor of choice for most of the kit cars out there right now. I have pictures from the kit car nationals in Carlisle PA of three Lamborghini Diablos parked side by side, two kits and one real Diablo, one kit had a Northstar, one had a small block, all three looked the same. If I can find the pics I will post them.

Re:thinking of doing a 3.8 buick swap
 

those northstar engines are pretty good. those bonneviles or whatgever are pretty fast with them :) and they're huge cars

Re:thinking of doing a 3.8 buick swap
 

---- i would wet my pants if i could go with a northstar .........but they cost so damn much, Just the kit to install them is like 3g's. I seen those engines go for a good price as well , i would love to have one though in my fiero. As for the Kit Car magazine i have a few of them i use for references but the makers are costly ,just cause they use them for lambo and ferrari kits. Its a bitch to find good priced stuff for fieros as well since they don't make them anymore :'(. I have seen a good bit of stuff for them though ,as this being my second fiero ;D.

Re:thinking of doing a 3.8 buick swap
 

dude, i'm tellin ya.. either the 3800IISC with an isuzu trans or custom drop in a turbo 4G63 engine much like this one http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...9/fc8ac019.jpg

imagine, shave 150lbs off the back of the car, add a 16g turbo and bigger injectors... i think you could outrun a northstar pretty easily with half the cylinders..

Re:thinking of doing a 3.8 buick swap
 

Thats a good point, power to weight ratio would be unbeatable. Doing a cross manufacturer swap is a lot of work and you wind up with a frankenstien monster that you are stuck with for the rest of your life because no one will buy it, just ask the guy I know with the RX7 tt rotory motor in his MGB. At least the 3.8 and the northstar are still GM.

Re:thinking of doing a 3.8 buick swap
 

If i would ever drop another engine besides a GM i would drop a skyliner engine in her ;D. Like custom said it is alot of freakin work to do something like that. I just love the sound of american muscle 8). Im just trying to keep it as simple ,cost / time effective and upgradable for the future if need be. But that is a trick setup though ib that fastback fiero.