I ditched the idea of a 3800 series 1 swap and decided to go with a 2.8l v6 out of a 1986 fiero.
What heads are interchangeable onto the engine, and when did they come out with the "fast burn" style heads for the v6? also, would it be worth the time and effort to port the factory heads or just to switch them for a different pair then possibly port them?
I obviously don't know to much about the factory 2.8 engine, so if you know of any performance ideas/parts just let me know.
thanks
The are 3 heads that will work on the Fiero 2.8L. The first is the small valve cast iron head that was used on the S-series trucks, The second is the stock H.O. heads that are already on the engine, or the Falconer race heads.
The later aluminum heads require you to use the matching intake which means you need to use the matching DIS ignition and such.
They never made a "fast burn" style head for the 60* V-6's.
As for performance parts, There are a few parts available that will work well. You have a choice of about 16 different cams to start with. Here is a list of some recommended parts:
Crower HI-DRAULIC HAULER / Performance Level 4 camshaft
Comp Cams roller tipped rockers and heavy duty pushrods
Coyles double roller timing chain
Fiero Store stainless steel performance valves
Trueleo intake and headers (
www.trueleo.com)
Accel 19# injectors
Holley adjustable fuel pressure regulator
RSM 62mm throttle body
Take the heads to a shop and have them ported, polished and decked .010
Once all the above is done you should have around 210hp.
If you put all the same parts on a 1993-1995 F-body 3.4L you will have around 235hp.
The F-body 3.4L is a better block to use as well since it has better designed oil galleys, is stronger than the 2.8L, and aside from a larger displacement is the same size block externally as the 2.8L and all the parts of the 2.8L bolt onto the 3.4L. They even use the exact same heads. So even if you have a Fiero 2.8L you could swap over all the external parts (intake/exhast manifolds, ignition system, timing cover/oilpan, etc.) and it would look like a stock 2.8L just actually be a 3.4L and have 20 hp more.
One a final note: If your Fiero is a 1984 as your screen name indicates, There are some things you will need to do to the car in order to swap in a stock Fiero V-6. You will need a 1985-1988 decklid to clear the top of the V-6 because the 1984 decklid with the center vent will hit the top of the V-6 intake. The main harness where it enters the body on the firewall has to be moved because the V-6 exhaust manifold wil interfere with it. You will need to cut a hole where the harness goes in like on the 1985-1988 Fiero's. You will need to upgrade the radiator to a V-6 radiator as well as the fuel pump in the tank.
Swapping in a stock V-6 into a 1984 is actually harder that it appears. GM made many changes to the chassis in order to use the V-6's for the 1985 model year.
One thing to consider is building a SD4 engine. All you would need to change is the fuel pump.
Though not a production engine, the Super Duty 4 racing engine was notable and widely publicized at the time because it was used in the Fiero IMSA race cars as well as the 3 specially built Fier Pace cars for the 1984 Indy 500. It was the basis for NASCAR's Touring Car series. The Super Duty 4 (usually called the "SD4") is still in use today for ARCA Racing.
A 2.7L 232 hp SD4 engine powered the 1984 Fiero Indy Pace Car to over 138 mph during the race. (it went 144mph when they were testing it on the track) The SD4 was never available in production vehicles, however Pontiac's Performance Parts counter had all the SD4 parts available and one could garner a 2.7L 272 hp version and a 3.0L 330 hp version. All 2000 Indy Fiero Pace Car replicas came with the stock production 2.5L 92 hp Iron Duke engine.
The SD4 was the last in a line of high performance Pontiac "Super Duty" engines. Kansas Racing Products still makes the engines after buying the rights to make them from GM.
Cosworth also produced a 16-valve head (Cosworth Project DBA, 1987) for the Iron Duke.
