Cascade Crew

Boostd1 · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:43 pm Post subject: Few Questions/Need Input

So, down the road this summer, I'd like to get another toy to mess with while DD'ing the G35.

I've settled on the idea of another 3800 powered vehicle, but certainly excluded another WrongWheelDrive GP Laughing

Also, ditching the shitty M90, all ideas are going to be a turbocharged application.

That being said, I've considered 3 platforms:

Fiero GT (88ish)
3rd Gen Firebird
4th Gen Camaro (96-97) or a Firebird (98+)

I know a ton of guys who can easily install/swap a 3800 into a Fiero and convert the harness and whatnot...this obviously being the lightest of the 3, but don't know the platformall that well...

A 4th Gen Camaro with the factory 3800 in it already would be easy as pie to make, but would cost a bit more for the cost of the car...turbo kits are also readily available with good proven numbers of over 400whp all stock.

THEN I thought of the idea of doing it in a 3rd gen Firebird/Camaro...this is where I thought I'd post up. Few questions -

How hard would it be to swap the motor in? Any engine mount brackets available?
How hard would it be to convert the harness to run the 3800/OB2?
Fuel pumps available?

Thanks for the insight, other ideas welcome Very Happy

iansane · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:24 pm Post subject:

Eeeeenteresting...

fiveoformula · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:38 pm Post subject:

Well I think everyone here is biased towards a third-gen. Thats were my vote goes, on the Fiero idea, sounds cool but there is alot of Fiero-only parts to those things and I have know idea what tranny/axle options you have there. And you can likely find a better condition, nicer-looking third-gen over a Fiero or 4th gen for the same money. What I would do, is find a clean lower mile bone stock V6 Firebird, then stick your Turbo'd 3.8 in with a T56 or built 4L60E. Cool

As for fuel pumps, you can use a walbro 255, or even maybe the same one as your GP.

Dewey316 · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:46 pm Post subject:

Datsun 510? Wink

Turbo 3800 in a 510 would be a riot!

iansane · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 11:16 pm Post subject:

Speaking of datsun, an updated 1600 would be ultra cool.

91RSVert · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:12 am Post subject:

Ive heard of 2 people putting the rwd 3.8 in a 3rd gen. Sounded about like as much work as putting an lsx in one.

Fuel pump, easy, the whole effing tank from a 4th will work with just modifying the neck and fuel line connectors.

Alphius · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:31 am Post subject:

Yes, there's absolutely nothing that makes the 3800 swap any easier than any other engine swap in a third gen to the best of my knowledge. And why boost a 3800 when you could boost a junkyard 5.3 or 6.0 LSx motor for nearly the same price and difficulty?

Not that it wouldn't be hella cool. It would.

Datsun 510 would be sick with a 3800, kind of like this guy with his 3800 Corolla. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLgHguU2rSQ

RSFreak · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:56 pm Post subject:

The Fiero sounds cool and would be light and have the advantage of a mid-mounted engine. However, I think the Camaro would be my choice. Cool

aaron_sK · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:13 pm Post subject:

IROCDave · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:46 pm Post subject:

My vote is for a fiero. GM High Tech featured a Fiero with a northstar engine it. The guy said it was almost plug and play.

DBL_TKE · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject:

I say fiero.

aaron_sK · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:00 pm Post subject:

Boostd1 · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:34 pm Post subject:

I like the idea of a 3rd gen, because their arent a whole lot of them around here, modded nonetheless...

I toyed with the idea of the LM7 turbo, but I just don't know. They sure do put out hell of a lot of power, but the 3800 is my specialty...my forte, if you will. It's a platform I know, understand and can work on and easily tune. Plus, a turbo Series III 3800 F-Body isn't something you see everyday Laughing

I just like being different I suppose Razz

I would REALLY like to do a Fiero, but that's foreign territory to me. Mid Engine, small ass car...the transaxle options are the same as FWD because its Mid-RD, so a 4T65E would be the choice. Guys with 500WHP in these cars are running low 10's @ 135+.

And the 4th gen would just be easy. Taking out the same basic motor I'm putting back in. No harness swap, just plug and go.

iansane · Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:41 pm Post subject:

I say thirdgen just because I like thirdgens.

And the interior of a fiero is enough to make a foxbody mustang owner cringe.

Boostd1 · Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:23 pm Post subject:

I'm starting to lean towards a 3rd Gen, lol. Laughing

You just don't see any 3800 Turbo Firebirds around here. It would be the cheapest route also I feel.

DBL_TKE · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:05 am Post subject:

I say don't do an f-body. V6's in f-bodies have always seemed weird and out of place to me. A fiero would be cool because you Never see a nice or cool one.

Boostd1 · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:10 pm Post subject:

After seeing this...

http://storage.canoe.ca/v1/dynamic_resize/sws_path/suns-prod-images/1297161973829_ORIGINAL.jpg?quality=80&size=650x

I don't know if I can really drive something around THAT unsafe... Shocked

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2320

I vote turd gen. While you Pontiac wasn't my cup of tea for a performance car you did really good work on it. Looked good and sounds like it ran even better. Think you could build a bitchen third gen.

chevymad · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:16 pm Post subject:

There's a video around where you can see a 3d gen transam get split in 2 by a bridge piling as well.

IROCDave · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:46 pm Post subject:

Name another "car" that can take a cylindrical intrusion at a high rate of speed without looking like that.

I would love to push a 3rd gen, but with the cash outlay to get it to run better than a SBC you would be better off spending cash up front and buying a TTA.

Sorry, my opinion of a fourth gen is - great engine and manual transmission, but the rest of the car is a POS. The looks only stand out against late 80's Taurus's and the interior is worse than a 3rd gen. You would also be stuck with the same real issues of a 3rd gen.

I would stick with the Fiero. Look for a GT V6 model with manual transmission. I drove the crap out of one in the late 80's. GM did work out most of the bugs and they are a fun little car. The seats were great also. That would be different and go really fast.

There is a reason most people go with mainstreem vehicles to modify. If you want to be different, commit to it and dive in head first.