Ottawa Fiero Club Forum

Anyways I think I've decided to move ahead with an ecotec swap.  Right now I am am trying to find one in my price range. So far i have removed the old duke from the car and am starting to clean the engine bay and cradle up.

Well after two years of starting this thread I finally have the motor for this car. I have just removed the motor and trans from the Alero and will finish removing the wiring harness this week.  My plan is to start working on the on the motor mounts in November.  Anyways here are some pics of the engine removal.

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003015.jpg)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003016.jpg)

enjoyed the pictures, good luck and keep showing the pics.

Do you plan to install any noise / heat isolation product on the firewall and the strut towers?

I installed DEI's "Floor & Tunnel Shield - Heat & Sound Insulation" on the firewall of my Formula. It is a good product. Before installling the V8 this winter I will install more on the strut towers.

I completed with Ultimate product from B-Quiet inside

(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_m72_QDJWnWI/S4k2IPaaoKI/AAAAAAAAN4U/nJ0Gh82ty_A/s400/157-Compartiment_moteur.jpg)

(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_m72_QDJWnWI/S4mgntTx0HI/AAAAAAAAOV8/DiuGZyuLd_U/s400/031-Insonorisation-Droit.jpg)(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_m72_QDJWnWI/S4mgmP84CsI/AAAAAAAAOV4/Kcd8-ZMflJ8/s400/032-Insonorisation-Droit.jpg)

Hey falcon I might install some on the firewall for the heat but not on the interior for the noise.  Anyways this weekend I made good progress and started to weld the motor mounts for the engine.

I guess you have somewhere heated to work?

Let us know if you get stumped somewhere.

Looks good so far.

Yeh my garage is insulated.  It's 18' by 24' detached but I only heat it with a construction style 240v heater when I'm working on the car.  I think the engine mounting and test fitting will be pretty easy t's more the electronics im worried about.  I took all the wiring out of hte Alero Intact and will get HPtuners.  I hope to have it at least being able to start by spring.  There is so much more things to do on hte car like the brakes and the steerring column is in peices and I have so much body work to do but hopefully with a working motor I'll be able to do some fiberglassing outside i hate sanding inside so much dust everyerwhere.

I just looked HPTuners up and it looks like it's a software based program that allows you to tune your stock ECU.  Do you plan to upgrade at any point to Turbo?  I'm not sure what problems you might have with the motor not being in it's stock vehicle, but I'm sure you did some homework.

The reason I'm going to get hptuners is to be able to remove vats and other security features from the stock ecm.  I did keep everything from the wiring gauges and the ignition and the radio but want to be able to cleanup most of the wiring. Eventually if its running good i might add a turbo which hptuners can be used to tune the fuel.

Can it control the boost?

Hey Aaron I'm not 100% sure so do not take this as a fact but I beleive it has boost control only when the car already cam with a turbo like a cobalt SS, solstice but not sure for cars that did not come turbo from the factory.

Anwyays I test fitted teh engine In the bay and i hitnk i might move it froward an inch I'm not sure its pretty tight with the trunk what do you guys think?

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003046.jpg)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003052.jpg)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003044.jpg)

you could also tilt the motor more vertical instead, which isn't a bad idea anyway.  Looking good though.

the ecotec is actually tilted stock, and even with the tilt the exhaust manifold is a tight fit and i do not want to cut out the trunk

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003011.jpg)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003043.jpg)

Why not modify your mounts to move it forward a touch?  I imagine that moving the assembly 1" forward would still be within the operating angle range of the CV joints.

Hey Don that's what I plan on doing since i might want to add a turbo later the  extra space will be needed.

So i finally got around to moving the engine an inch forward and working the the top engine mount.  I also got a new header.  I also bought Hp tuners and plan to start working on the wiring next week.

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003063.jpg)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003061.jpg)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003057.jpg)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003058.jpg)

So still working on the final mounts.  I adapted a jeep motor mount as a front transmission mount and I welded in the top motor mount.  Progress is coming along good hopefully get the cradle painted this week and then start the wiring.

Top mount.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003084.jpg)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003080.jpg)

Front Transmission mount.
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003079.jpg)

let me know how it goes with hp tuners...  eyeballing it myself, gonna have to start in on my computer soon.

Hey fighter, what you plan to use HP tuners for?

I played around with the software a bit seems simple enough but I have not licensed my cars yet, I also plan to use it on our Colorado to  hopefully get a bit better mileage.

Reconnected the wiring before putting it back into the car.

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003118.jpg)

Engine is back in with all the mounts.

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003122.jpg)

Cut out a hole for the exhaust since it was a tight fit.

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003121.jpg)

Also made brackets and installed the coolant overflow tank.

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003123.jpg)

Ok, stupid question:

What's so special about the ecotec? why not just go with a 3800 sc or a stock 2.8l?

Ihaven't read alot about that swap, that's why im curious about the advantages of taking this engine in a Fiero and why people would be interested in making that mod (If I recall correctly, it's only 2.2L. If you compare to a 3800 sc, its a great improvement in hp, torque and even fuel consumption, then again, I don't know anything about the ecotec. Is it powerful? Fuel economic?)

I'm just curious... :)

And it's starting to take shape, nice work! ;)

Fred

Hey Fred.  I like it because its different probably why I like fiero's in the first place.  I am also a lot more comfortable working on 4 cylinders.  This engine can be found in many cars from cavaliers to a solstice.
Many different upgrades are available for the and  stock the 2.2 makes 140 hp while you can get the 2.0 turbo at 260hp.  Also the f23 getrag transmission with the 2.2 is perfect for the fiero axles as they fit right in.

I have a bad habbit of under-estimating 4 cylinders...  :-\

But I should say i'm pretty impressed! Maybe an other engine i might look into for my car!  >:D

I'm curious on how this will end up now, keep up the great work!  O0

Fred

Food for thought.

The EcoTec motor with a good build is capable of:
over 250hp NA
up to 300hp with stock supercharger
up to 500hp with turbo on 94 octane pump gas
and as GM has built it: up to 1400hp on race fuel for their Cobalt drag car  :D

.

I want one...  :D Actually... with the size they have... could I fit 2 of them?  :D lol.. :P

If it could be that easy! :P

Fred

Got around to welding in a panel to hold the fuse box.  I was looking at the shifter linkage and I will have to modify the up down movement to be in the opposite direction or else the gears will be reversed. Still trying to figure out a way to reverse it.

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003147.jpg)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003149.jpg)

I hope that fuse box is water tight.  You could put it in the trunk.

Hey Aaron,

The reason its there is i rather not lengthen the wires.  I dont plan on having the stock trunk. The rear clip it will probable flip out to rear and I will make sure there isnt a vent on that side. plus it san 84 with hte current trunk the side access panels are solid.  Also with hte exhaust the trunk is already shrinking.  I know itès not a car to carry things with but its still fun to be able to bring a few bags soemtimes.

tuners will get used on the 3800 in my fiero, should have the suspension and brakes done by the beginning of the season, after thats done I'll start in on the motor.

The goal will be 450hp, so hp tuners is a must if I dont want to spend all my time having someone else do the work. 

I've also seen reference to people  somehow changing the pcm's program on the "fly", having a DD program and a race program...  so I'm curious to see how long it takes to flash the computer.

Hey fighter if you want to see tuners you can come this summer and check it out.  The pro version is the one that can modify setting on the fly for 650$.  you can upgrade the standard version to a pro for 250$.  I got a good deal on the normal version and what I"m doing its just fine.  I think it more beneficial to get a wide band sensor when your have boost.

Anyways I have been working on the shift cable electrical and plumbing. I need to make brackets to bolt down the coolant tubes and shifter cables so they do not flop around. Just refilled it with oil tonight hopefully I will have everything ready to try and fire it soon.  I will make a video if i get it to start.

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003182.jpg)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003181.jpg)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003180.jpg)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003185.jpg)

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/S5003183.jpg)

Couldn't find a good place for the battery in the engine bay so I made a front batter tray. 

(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/856.jpg)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/857.jpg)
(http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/Philippe_Morin/855.jpg)