northstar in a custom fiero?
northstar in a custom fiero?
(OP)
I am thinking of buying a running cadillac 96 up and using the engine and transmission for a drive train in my fiero. i am planing on doing most of the work myself and i am worried or uncertain so to say of all the computers and sensors and wires. Is there a simpler way of doing that and can i avoid messing with stuff that can be excluded? or in other words is it possible the engine to run properly without all the cadillac's wires and components? I also heard that only a chip can boost the horsepower pretty good??? that is the car I am working on for some time...
Thank you for your help!!!
Thank you for your help!!!





RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
The Northstar is unlikely to run at all without most of its original harness connected to _something_.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
Second, if memory serves correct there was a manifold with a carb base offered. I'm not sure if it was the 1st or 2nd gen Northstar though. One place to check is chrfab_dot_com. You could also make your own.
ISZ
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
small block adapter plate fiero transmission and axles is most likely going to be the price of 2 totaled cadillacs. I do like the idea of carburetors a lot more.
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
If you want to do it mostly yourself, the trick is to completely take apart the harness and identify the required wiring and then cut out the rest. You will end up with a harness with a number of switched and constant power inputs required to run everything. You'll have to be proficient at splicing wiring and following wiring diagrams to pull this off.
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
Duh, all the work is available over the counter! Adapter wiring, instructions, everything!
Rod
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
It should be easy to find the parts you need,
they'll fit exactly,
it's a sweet little engine that's plenty big for the car,
and it won't make the handling evil.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
Rod
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
I had what I think was that same V6 in an 85 Camaro, where it was small enough to look cute, ran well enough to drag the Camaro around nicely, and sounded good.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
I was looking into rotary engines but they do not have enough torque without the extra modifications but are half the weight of the northstar. with 22 inch wheels i definitely need torque. i am hooking up corvette c5 suspension front and back and will have more time to research and decide. i am drawn toward the northstar and might get it carburated so that i am sure i wont get stuck.
and again would cadillac transmission work ok or it needs "feedback"? that is something am still try ing to figure out how interconected are the engine and the transmission?
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
If you are going to go through the trouble of mounting C5 component bits, then you can do almost anything you want. But I don't understand how you don't want to spend money to convert the engine, yet you want to spend $$$ to upgrade to C5 parts?
ISZ
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
Fe
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
I once saw an Austin Mini with a 390 Ford.
I once saw a 912 with a BBC in it.
What about Jay's Blastolene Special?
Sorry. I guess I should be more sympathetic. I think a 1650 PV-12 would really look cool.
Rod
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
ISZ
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
Rod's right, in that a four can could plenty of power in that car, given a bit of work and boost.
On the other hand, lots of folks have put the 3.8 GM in there with the 4-speed automatic. Torque, power, easy.
Handling? Dunno. Maybe fine? Some have done the Northstar.
Engine/trans controllers: They vary. If using the automatic, you might want the controller from the donor car. There are other options.
I've read that the 5-speed won't handle much torque. Good enough for 4-cyl or small V-6. The automatics (not the Fiero 3-speed, but the 4T60 or 4T65E) will handle all the power you want.
The swap is do-able, but not entirely trivial.
(my 3.8 Buick in Corvair is on the road now!)
Jay Maechtlen
http://www.laserpubs.com/techcomm
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
Jay Maechtlen
http://www.laserpubs.com/techcomm
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
Which suggests that hopping it up will reduce its life, to a greater degree than doing the same to an engine built with larger safety factors, and more iron.
On the other hand, a Fiero can't weigh enough to seriously stress the engine, unless you're adding a layer of armor.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
I think Mike is right about the blocks being thin walled. Remember that this motor was never designed to go in a truck, unlike the chevy, ford and dodge engines. It's also not a high revving motor, so that helps too. And if you don't know already the Caddy motors share the Buick/Olds/Pontiac bellhouseing - the "corporate" chevy pattern was the odd duck.
ISZ
RE: northstar in a custom fiero?
(Well, as noted above, you can put anything into anything, but...)
The Northstar is (normally) transverse, as is the Buick 3800 and some number of other motors. The Northstar, being a V8, will be wider than the V6 and tougher to fit. Yes, same number of cylinders in a row as the 4-cyl, but its trans probably takes more space than the trans for the 4-cyl. The V6 leaves enough width for the bigger trans it needs, versus the 4.
Anyway, it depends on what you want- a quick sleeper, a monster street freak, or what.
Happy imagineering!
Jay Maechtlen
http://www.laserpubs.com/techcomm