Real Fiero Tech

Hey everyone,
I'm helping my friend Brian to pull the failed 3.0L V6 out, and install a Chevy 350 that Brian already has. The car has been automatic all it's life, but Brian wants a stick. I told him that sounds like a personal problem. But since the stick that woulda been Nissan-installed in his car was a version of the T5, and since GM used the T5 behind 305s, that's what we're searching for. I haven't yet checked whether we need cable or electric speedometer, but it needs to be the '88-'92 version. The car has 3.54:1 or 3.70:1 differential gearing, I haven't verified which yet, so we probably need the TBI 305, code LO3, version for the 0.625:1 fifth gear. TPI 305 , code LB9, versions had a 0.725:1 fifth.
The Nissan's original rollers were 225/50R16 on 16x7". But '94-'98 Mustang 17" wheels fit pretty well, so it's looking like a set of 255/40R17 tires on 17x9". Probably Dunlop Star Spec tires.
And the engine is a Hecho en Mexico special, with large-combustion-chamber heads, and dished pistons. That gives a low static compression ratio of around 8.0:1, made even worse by our high elevation of 4500' above sea level. The valve sizes are 1.94" / 1.50", and that's not going to change. I may just sell him these vortec heads, for compression and for flow. The block does NOT have provisions for the stock roller lifters, but the Vortec intake ports stall hard at 0.475" true valve lift, and that means a COMP 224-duration-at 0.050"-lift lobe. So it looks to me like a Nitrous Xtreme 268, which specs at: 268* / 286* duration advertised, 224* / 236* duration at 0.050", .477" / .490" advertised valve lift, 113* lobe separation angle, ground 5 degrees advanced. Even assuming the best headers, exhaust, and induction, I'm figuring an uncorrected 245-250 rwhp, and torque similar, depending on shorty headers or long tubes.
If we go Vortec, it most certainly will be carbureted, as I already have a Performer intake, still in the box. Even so, the Z car was factory rated as 205 crankshaft HP, which figures as just over 140 rwhp now. That makes 245 rwhp a gain of 75 percent.
If anyone is interested, I'll turn this into a build thread. Otherwise, this is just telling you what I'm doing when I'm not either (1) earning my pay, or (2) working on my adapter plate and 383, or (3) sleeping or eating.

On the other hand, I'm thinking he should invest $750 in the 4.5L Nissan V8 from an '02 Infiniti Q45. that'd give about 240-245 rwhp with a T5. It'd be emissions-legal compared to a 350 Chevy, it'd get more MPG, it'd be easier to wire to the car, and it'd be more unique. But I love big engines, so I also priced a Nissan 5.6L V8 from an '04 Titan. $1600. Okay, that can't happen. Next question would be if the Q45 or M45 either one ever came with a manual trans. You know, flywheel and computer.

Wikipedia says no.

Internal Combustion Engine + T5 = ground beef. In fact, I think you can substitute hamster on wheel or Internal Combustion Engine, and still end up with ground beef inside transmission.

It's all in how you treat it. I know a guy who has a supercharged 351W in his '84 Mustang, with a T5 and drag slicks. Runs low elevens. But not just any T5, it's the T5 from a '91 Mustang 2.3L. It's not even the stronger 5.0 version. But it is the "World Class" version. For the GM T5s, this was any T5 installed in any '88-'92 F-body. The V6 versions had the same crappy 4:1 first gear as the '89-up Ford Mustang 2.3L version, but the upgrades were still in there. Now, since the weak version can hold a supercharged 351W with drag slicks, surely the best version ever can hold 250 rwhp on sticky street radials.
Based on online info, Brian should have a 3.70:1 gear, but it should not have a limited slip. That didn't become standard until April of '87.
Considering the gearing and my proposed cam, the 0.725:1 fifth would be best. Not for mpg with a 350, but for everything else. I thought of running a poll, but I already know everyone would vote for the Nissan 4.5L V8. And with that, I might even hunt for the rare 3.90:1 rear gearing.

I've been running a T5 in my 400 sbc powered RX7 for several years. I drive it almost every day, and drag race it occasionally. The engine makes 330 whp and 400wtq. With the 100 shot of nitrous, it dynoed at 440whp and 560wtq. It's been holding up just fine.

Steve

This project starts today. First up, the stripped LM7 block, bolted to a mostly empty '95 4L60E case. The final config. will be a 350 Chevy V8.

2:30 and the damn thing's still not here yet. I'm bored and aggravated. I coulda done something with the last 5 hours had I known.

you guys might not believe this. I didn't. A new Nissan LSD for this car runs $1903.01, and a new 3.55:1 R&P set runs nearly $570!
I'm thinking I'm going to Pick-N-Pull and get the center section assembly, housing, axles and all, from an '89-'97 T-Bird / Cougar. Then the gearing choices go down to 2.733:1, and up to 4.300:1. Or more if you want a spool. We don't.

And a crate motor for my 300D is $19,000 but who pays main dealer prices on that kind of stuff. This is what ebay is for homes.

btw I am trying to find a box I can fit those axles in.

At lunch time I went to put my mini floor jack under the front of the car, and couldn't. Not even behind the front wheels. Within an hour I was holding a pair of mis-shapen coils that had been torched to lower the nose. A few minutes ago I removed the coils from the '96 Bonneville struts. I think these can be used with a small measure of effort. They might cause the front suspension to be topped out, but that's fine. I just need to be able to roll the legs of the "cherry picker" ( engine hoist ) under the car.

how is your enzo killer fiero build coming along?

Selling these swap mounts is gonna speed things up a bit. You know how it is: the more $ you can put into it, the sooner the build gets done. This project is costing me virtually nothing, just a few hours of spare time. I did get the Trans Am out of the garage. That's also indirect progress. That's better than none at all. Pretty good, considering this is the busiest part of my year. I have a waiting list of guys having me port their heads. There's 4 pairs of heads sitting on my bench right now. Tonight I start cleaning them.

Supposed to rain again this afternoon, but it's now 38 degrees, and is supposed to be sunny until 3, and 48 degrees by 3. I expect to get some progress made today. Tomorrow's supposed to be even nicer, but I can't work on cars on Sundays. The last time I tried it, the car got stolen a few days later. It kills me, but I keep my hands off my cars on Sundays.

Ya think maybe the forecasters are called that because they're too busy playing with their 4skins? Maybe they'd quit getting it wrong if they got stabbed with a butcher knife every time they make any mistake?
I got the cruise control removed. That's it. Then the rain started.

looks like the SBC is going to be an easy fit.

I hope you're not making mounts out of exhaust tubing.

No. IDK whose car it is, I "borrowed" the pics. I haven't got the 3.0L V6 removed yet.

Whew okay, cause that looks like an ROL autozone exhaust reducer.