What you guys think?

YFM754 · Post by **YFM754** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:44 pm

I have been trying to decide on a motor swap ...thing is..ive never done one so ease of installation is a paramount. I got OE's advice what do you guys think? 3.4DOHC 3800 3800SC Quad 4 Turbo Sunfire? Northstar 4.9?
ehhh im confused

donk_316 · Post by **donk_316** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:51 pm

Easiest?

They all would be "easy"

The quad four would be a bitch cause you need the matching trany. The turbo sunbird engine is a waste of time.

3800 / dohc / N* .... Now you pick which one you want.

Kohburn · Post by **Kohburn** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:01 pm

N* not easy

3800 and 3.4 or 3400 are your best bets

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:32 pm

And from the reading the 3.4 DOHC is far easier than the 3800.

I wouldn't call it a swap so muh as it is more a replacement besides the wiring. Take the 2.8l out, bolt the 3.4 DOHC in.

Kohburn · Post by **Kohburn** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:42 pm

you can bolt the 3800sc in also if you buy the mounts ahead of time

i place the 3.4tdc and the 3800/3800sc on equal playing field for difficulty

donk_316 · Post by **donk_316** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:56 pm

Wheres the "difficulty" with the dohc? The wiring? Not really hard at all.

Series8217 · Post by **Series8217** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:06 pm

donk_316 wrote:Wheres the "difficulty" with the dohc? The wiring? Not really hard at all.

There's just a lot of stuff to do... mounts, wiring, fuel lines, dogbone, coolant lines, getting a chip that works for the Fiero VSS signal.. clutch release system modification for Isuzu trannys, dealing with short exhaust or having to port a manifold and make a custom crossover..

Kohburn · Post by **Kohburn** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:12 pm

donk_316 wrote:Wheres the "difficulty" with the dohc? The wiring? Not really hard at all.

what do you have to do for a 3800 that you don't have to do for a dohc?

I could have been driving a 3800sc last spring for the same difficulty and price as the 3.4dohc - and then i added the turbo upgrade to match the power...

i only did the dohc because i like the redline and i like the sound and at the time is was different - now everybody and their brother is doing one

crzyone · Post by **crzyone** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:54 pm

I would do a 3800sc or 3.4dohc. Both pretty cool engines in a fiero stock. As for ease of getting more power, the 3800sc is better.

Shaun41178(2) · Post by **Shaun41178(2)** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:08 pm

What year fiero do you have? please dont' say 84.

donk_316 · Post by **donk_316** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:09 pm

84s ROCK!

YFM754 · Post by **YFM754** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:50 pm

lol god no 85 se 2m4....sounds like DOHC? or 3800...hmmmmmm...whats the VCC?

donk_316 · Post by **donk_316** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:58 pm

YFM754 wrote:lol god no 85 se 2m4....sounds like DOHC? or 3800...hmmmmmm...whats the VCC?

VSS Vehicle Speed Sensor. The doohickey with the two wires (purple / yellow?) coming from the trany.

jstillwell · Post by **jstillwell** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:03 pm

I think one thing to consider, just from what I've heard about the 3.4 dohc from people who have them vs my experience driving an SC 3800, is what kind of driving do you get to do? Do you drive a lot of interstate? If so, perhaps someone can chime in on what their dohc runs at at say 80 mph. My 3800 is about 2100 rpm with the 4 spd automatic. I would think if you live in a hilly area like Series does, the dohc would be more fun then naked twister. I think driving 300 miles with a motor spinning at high revs might get annoying, especially if you have no twisties for miles around to get on it. Just my opinion, absolutely no basis in fact.

Personally, I had no idea that the dohc was such a good choice for swaps before checking out what guys like Kohburn and Series have done. It's just a choice of flavor, I guess.

YFM754 · Post by **YFM754** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:07 pm

uhhh dont tell the DMV but...my speedo has never worked...ive been W.A.G.'in it

Post by **eHoward** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:30 pm

From what I understand, the 3800SC is a lot more reliable and less maintenance.

Fast88Fiero · Post by **Fast88Fiero** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:59 pm

4.9! :thumbleft: It will get you in the mid 14's with the auto. :bootyshake:

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:08 am

jstillwell wrote: I think driving 300 miles with a motor spinning at high revs might get annoying, especially if you have no twisties for miles around to get on it. Just my opinion, absolutely no basis in fact.

The engine has no effect on what RPM the motor is at at 80mph, that is all trannsmission. And assuming that is the same, it doesn't matter anyways.

That being said, the DOHC is actually quite smooth, timid, and torquey on the lower RPM range. But it does not have the instant WOT power the 3800 has, you would need to drop a gear or wait it out for a second or 2. Much like a turbo motor.

jstillwell · Post by **jstillwell** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:14 am

aaron wrote:
jstillwell wrote: I think driving 300 miles with a motor spinning at high revs might get annoying, especially if you have no twisties for miles around to get on it. Just my opinion, absolutely no basis in fact.
The engine has no effect on what RPM the motor is at at 80mph, that is all trannsmission. And assuming that is the same, it doesn't matter anyways.

.

Duh. Good point. You're absolutely right.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:19 am

Woah I'm really starting to like the nicer/kinder jstillwell :thumbleft:

It is a good point though, if he doesn't want to have to drop a gear to get it to move, the 3800SC would be a better choice. Again that being said, once he drops a gear, with very minimal (And under $100) mods, the acceleration will be pretty much the same. From one you get a nice intake roar and Forumla 1 sounding growl, from the other you get the sexiness of blower whine. And I for one am a slut to teh blowa whine. I'll take that bitches whining all night long!