Fiero Projects
Step-By-Step
Here I will document step-by-step the swap from 2.8 to 3.4 pushrod.
This is step by step including part numbers and pictures.
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Ruin the 2.8 ( so it needs replacing ). I did this by doing continuous donghts in
parking lots. Other aggressive drive will suffice.
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Accuire 3.4 engine. I got this from Ed Parks at the
Fiero factory. This is the
only way to go. For cost of the engine, mine was $1100, plus $450, Ed acuired the engine, modified
block for starter, provided modified front strut mount, provided modifed 88
harmonic damper, provided injectors and had them cleaned ( $7.50 each ), delivered
all of it to my house ($150), and provided free tech support. Well worth the money!
Prices are between Ed and I, yours might vary.The eninge Ed got for me was from a wrecked
95 pontiac firebird with 47,000 miles on the eninge.
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If you don't get the enigine from Ed then you must do most ofd the above machine work or get it done.
This includes moving the starter to the other side of the engine, and all the things listed
above that The Fiero Factory did to my engine. In short--Get it from Ed.
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Now that the engine was at my house and I was ready to start...I moved 2100 miles to
Salt Lake City, Utah. You can skip this step.
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Drain the oil, coolant and transmission fluid. Discard of fluids properly. Most auto parts
stores will take the oil and recycle it. Most dumps will take the coolant and tranny juice.
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To start remove the trunk lid. Just four bolts, ground wire, and trunk release connector.
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Next, start removing the engine. I did this by following the haynes manual.
Don't remove all the connectors
from the engine as the manual says but instead unplug the wireing harness from
the ECU and take the two
relays off the fire wall behind the air cleaner. Then pass the ECU connectors thru the fire wall.
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Disconnect the A/C lines after discharing A/C system pressure (have a professional discharge the A/C system).
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Disconnect all the coolant lines at the engine.
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Disconnect trans cooler lines (if car is an Automatic).
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Disconnect cables from tranny.
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Mark all connection and lines as you disconnect them, or--as I did--take lots
of pictures. Digital cameras are the best. I took lots of digital pictures (about 150 so far).
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Make sure every thing is disconnected from the engine that attached to the trunk wall
or the fire wall.
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Make sure every thing is disconnected from the engine that attached to the trunk wall
or the fire wall. ( not a typeo do this step at least twice ).
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Remove the rear wheels.
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Take the calipers off of thier mounts and hang it to the side. Don't disconnect the brake lines.
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remove the three nuts at the top of each struttower. This will leave the whole suspension free to come out with the cradle. Much easier than getting the car aligned when done.
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Disconnect the parking-brake cable. This need to be done in three places. At each caliper.
In the center of the rear of the cradle, disconnect main cable from cable that comes off
with cradle. And the small clip holding the main cable to the cradle.
Even though I have the GA brakes I still had to do
this since I just left the parking brake cable on the car when I did the brakes.
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Lower the car until the cradle is resting on a dolly. My dolly was four 2x4's bolt to
four swivel wheels (each rated at 200lb load).
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Disconnect the 2 bolts holding the front of the cradle to the frame.
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Disconnect the 2 bolts holding the rear of the cradle to the frame.
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Make sure every thing is disconnected from the engine that attached to the trunk wall
or the fire wall. ( not a typeo do this step again ).
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Slowly raise the car off the cradle, checking every inch or so for clearance problems.
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Slowly raise the car off the cradle, checking every inch or so for clearance problems.
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When the car is high enough move the cradle out the side of back and away from the car.
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Set the car back down on jack stands supporting the car at the jack points behind the doors.
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Relax enjoy the moment.
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Contacts:
Fiero Factory
v8archie
Fiero Store