Craigslist Find: A V8-Swapped 1986 Pontiac Fiero
13
Sponsored Links
Isn’t it about time that GM brought back a mid-engined car? Even if they don’t make another one of our dreams come true, it’s fine, because there are still enough Pontiac Fieros out there to go around, and then some — kinda like this one from the Chicago area.
The 350 cubic-inch V8 was not standard in a Fiero by any stretch of the imagination. But the owner of this fine show-worthy specimen feels that good old GM was wrong in that part, and outfitted one himself. On top of the heart transplant, this car features pristine paint, a custom interior, body panels, and audio system. This little rocket is rated at 355 hp, and obviously has room for more, being that it’s a Small Block V8 and all.
The Fiero is currently listed at a price of $13,500, and for that, the would-be buyer gets a lot of car, though would you pay over thirteen grand for this?
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a Corvette Z06 and 2024 Silverado. Details here.
Sponsored Links
You can build one for much less. Good Fiero’s with low miles are cheap and it is not that expensive or hard to install a small block.
Besides if you are going to do one you would want to use a LS based engine as the aluminum block and head will keep the car much better balanced. The cast iron cars can be very tail heavy and have a lot of drop throttle oversteer.
There are a lot of SBC, Northstar and 3800 SC cars out there. I have several friends who have done the swaps. The one I have not driven or been in yet is the Turbo Ecotec Swap. These are recent and only a few have been done. With V8 power and half the weight I find it interesting if the underhood head can be controlled. Past turbo Fiero’s can have high oil temps that hurt engine and electronics life.
It is interesting to se what some have done with these cars now that you can buy clean ones cheap.
By the way GM did install a V8 in one back in the 80’s but politics being what they were back then it did little than make some laps at the AZ test ground before it disappeared to the dust bins of GM little known history.
They also fitted some with Quad 4 engines, 60 degree 3.1 Turbo [still in the GM collection] and a DOHC V6 [Also still in the GM collection in the 1990 prototype].
Pontiac had plans but Chevy and the Corvette team shut them down on several fronts.
I have been involved with the Fiero from the start and have been lucky to meet and know many of the people behind the car. I hope someday someone will publish the entire story and the truth of all that went on. So much is not known publically about this car. Its history is a good snap shot of what was wrong within GM and what help lead to their down fall as well as the loss of Pontiac.
I have seen two with transplanted LS4s. Those were impressive cars.
As someone who is currently in the middle of the 3800 SC swap in an 86 SE Fiero,
this is cool but only 355hp?
If you’re gonna go v-8 I would think tune it to over 400.
In the Metro Detroit area, there’s a Fiero with over 700hp, thanks to an LS2 swap, E85, and a turbo the size of a small dog. Is that enough motivation to go big or go home? haha
The Fiero is my forbidden love.
I love it for how different it was, and for what a simple swap can do to it..
…and if I got one, I would get me killed in some horrible accident; I know it would.
I use my little 85 base Fiero as a winter beater. The 4 cylinder engine is a dog, but I really like driving it. I’ve been slowly getting the cob webs off of it lately, for the long winter coming. It starts up in the coldest weather, and gets me where I’m going. After this car dies, (or I do), I won’t forget all of the memorable moments with it, because it has something, that the majority of cars don’t… personality.
As a Fiero owner for over 12 years, I currently am driving Fiero #2, a 3800SC swap. The small block in the Fiero has been around since the cars were introduced. It makes for a very fun vehicle and if the owner spends a little $$ the suspension can be upgraded to make it a fantastic true GT. It handles great with the low center of gravity, it is mid engine, best set for a sports car and it is quite light. The steel structure that the panels bolt on to is very strong. I have talked with Fiero engineers about the car and the first they say is how strong the structure is. Try one sometime. It will surprise you. May be even get you hooked. As they say in the Fiero community “it is a disease”
I’ve recently bought an ’86 fiero that my father and I are fixing up for my youngest daughter for when she turns 16. I’ve always admired their potential. Digging into the nuts and bolts, I can see a few of the places where GM hamstrung the little car. But, it’s been fun working on it. Right now the plan it to see how well the 2.8L and 4-sp do. If it’s not very reliable, then we may do a 3800 swap, but nothing crazy performance-wise.
I’ve seen one 3800 swap in particular where they pulled the supercharger and turboed it instead. That thing was pulling 9.8 sec. 1/4 times!
V8 in a Fiero. That’s epic. I’ve always loved Fieros. I almost bought one but someone beat me to it. Still love my 01 Grand Prix GT though.
Having owned and played with Fiero’s for 30 years I have seen all the good and bad with these cars.
Back in the day when I bought mine new I was a celebrity and then I was the guy scorned for owning the Fiero. Today it is getting back to Oh that’s cool you own a Fiero.
The owners too are all over the place where some think they own a Veryron while most understand that while it is a fun car it has it’s issues too.
I have mine done up with the Herb Adams VSE suspension kit that makes the car more neutral and less bump steer. While it is much better now like an 88 Fiero it is still far from todays standards in handling. You can go fast but you have to work for it where in my daily driver I can take the same roads as fast but with little effort.
Rust today is claiming many of these cars. Under the skin the steel space frame is rotting away on many. I have seen some cars that are just flat scary that they are still on the road. If anyone is interested in these cars the first thing to do is pull down the carpet in the trunk on the sides and see if there are any holes. If there are walk away as there are many other cars in much better shape around.
As in for crash standards. These cars were the best in the 80’s but again by todays standards they would have issues. There is a nasty issue if it in the side they can break in half just behind the seats.
Now in mine I hit a van in min at just over 40 MPH in the side and drove mine home. It tore up the body but it did not break the radiator. Now I have rebuilt mine and today I show it nationally and have taken top awards at many Pontiac shows including the Pontiac Nationals the largest Pontiac show in the world.
I enjoy showing mine as it is not just another Firebird or GTO. Many people come by and tell of owning one or always wanting to own one.
The bottom line is the Fiero is much like a British sports car where it is not the fastest or best handling car in the world with some rust issue. But on a warm summer evening with the T tops out it is a lot of fun for little money.
Note I have the T tops installed in mine along with some other rare parts I purchased in the 80’s.
I may never get rich off this car but it was my first car I ever owned and we have been through a lot. It is one I will always find a place for it in my Garage.
If anyone wants to buy one look for an 88 with the new suspension. Parts are a little more difficult to find but they handle better. Also get a low mileage car. So many people buy a cheap car in need of work and spend more on it over time than a good low mileage car would cost. Many people bought these as a 3rd car or put them away thinking they were going to shoot up in value. But today they are selling them off or much less than $10,000 with 25,000 miles and in very good condition.
Beware of modified cars. Most are built to a good standard but others are a mess. Do not buy someone’s mess as if you take the time a well modified car with documentation of what was done can be found. It is worth a little more for a quality modified car.
This one here looks ok compare to some. But you can fine many for the same or less with a LS engine and fuel injection with No need for the backward scoop on the deck lid.
I would really like to talk to you about my Enterra. I was looking to do a northstar conversion but like the new turbo ideas too. [email protected] or 12086025086. Thanks David
I’ve had a Fiero since 1987, this is my 350 V8 swap 1987 notchie. Love this car.
https://youtu.be/LqhneVrCoaM
Yep. love the quirky… my current project is a 1970 Gremlin with a Mopar 360 V8 swap.
It’s almost road worthy now, with a Wilwood disc brake conversion, rebuilt tranny with a shift kit installed, Holley 600 ccm 4 brl carb, and 268 H10 cam, 8.8 mustang rear end with 348:1 gears. Still needs new wheels and all the cosmetics, but it’s getting there.
https://youtu.be/hICEmdd-H4w
Did an LS1 swap several years ago. An 88 GT with T Tops. That car bordered on being scary to drive. The one time I took it to the drag strip I snapped a half shaft. Had a custom piece made by The Drive Shaft Shop in GA. Never did get it out to the track again. I couldn’t afford another one of those half shafts. But I’m older and wiser now. And engine technology has come SOOO far. I’d like to build another GT. But this time I would use a four cylinder, turbo, LNF from GM. That’s what’s in my 88 Saturn Red Sky with the automatic. It’s been lightly tuned and a bigger intake installed with high flow cat. It’s my daily driver. At 75 YO I think I’m having a late mid life crisis. But if my old body will allow it I’m ready for another adventure.