Real Fiero Tech

Why do you need an engine swap? Doesn't it have a 400? Drop a HSR with AFR 205's on it with MS2 or MS3 and go to town!

The Dark Side of Will wrote:Why do you need an engine swap? Doesn't it have a 400? Drop a HSR with AFR 205's on it with MS2 or MS3 and go to town!

It does have a 400, and runs better then the 327 the other(is that the right word? they're kinda one in the same now...) truck had. it's not really why I went forth with all of this though. the 400 does sound like a nice little engine for a 1987-92 firebird though...

ericjon262 wrote:like brighter headlights(with relays)

Can you get like Cibie or Hella H4 conversion housings? That what all the Benz guys do, the best sealed beam in the world is still crap IMO. Need to get composite housings.

CincinnatiFiero wrote:

ericjon262 wrote:like brighter headlights(with relays)

Can you get like Cibie or Hella H4 conversion housings? That what all the Benz guys do, the best sealed beam in the world is still crap IMO. Need to get composite housings.

sure can, it's just a 5.75" sealed beam, and plenty of companies make conversions.

Started drawing up mounts for the vortec swap...



first run looked good, but was flawed in more way then one... it was designed around stock rubber mounts, but seem to be impossible to find without going to the dealership. I also made them way too tall. and one side also intrudes too far into the engine compartment.



Revised is designed around GM RWD transmission mounts which are available anywhere, cheap, in solid, rubber, or poly. I've also designed them so the laser cut pieces will interlock, to make welding much easier.

only done with the passenger side so far, and it's not really 100% yet.

What CAD program?

The Dark Side of Will wrote:What CAD program?

Google Sketchup. seems decent for freeware.

Interesting... I must be lame. I tried that and thought it was crap... maybe I just didn't "get" the interface.

The Dark Side of Will wrote:Interesting... I must be lame. I tried that and thought it was crap... maybe I just didn't "get" the interface.

It's gone through a couple of updates since I used it last, I don't have much experience with CAD programs though...

I've tried Sketchup a few different times over the past few years, most recently a couple months ago, and could never figure out how to make anything useful. I use Solidworks regularly though.

Series8217 wrote:I've tried Sketchup a few different times over the past few years, most recently a couple months ago, and could never figure out how to make anything useful. I use Solidworks regularly though.

you guys are probably working with way more complexed stuff than flatstock too though!

hopefully 3rd time is a charm. (not done yet...)

Little more progress...




I have also found someone who can cut them out for me.

about to start on the crossmember.

I'm going to have to give sketchup another look... Nice job.

The Dark Side of Will wrote:I'm going to have to give sketchup another look...

I think it should work fine for static parts like I am designing.

The Dark Side of Will wrote: Nice job.

Thanks, they're just about done with the design phase now. just a little more work and I'll be ready to send the plans off to the cutter.

Decided to go ahead and finish them up...




Done? Hopefully...

And this is the free version of SketchUp, the demo for the Pro version... Or did you throw down the $600 and pick up the full pro version?

The Dark Side of Will wrote:And this is the free version of SketchUp, the demo for the Pro version... Or did you throw down the $600 and pick up the full pro version?

it was the demo of the Pro Version, but you only get to use it for 8 hours (blew through it quick) so now I've been using the free version.

ericjon262 wrote:

The Dark Side of Will wrote:And this is the free version of SketchUp, the demo for the Pro version... Or did you throw down the $600 and pick up the full pro version?

it was the demo of the Pro Version, but you only get to use it for 8 hours (blew through it quick) so now I've been using the free version.

As long as the free version can build models like you show AND produce drawings to have a shop make the parts, it sounds like it'll be fine for my uses for now.

To be painfully clear, that's "SketchUp Make", right?