We felt the same way...! I am the Roadster driver and I would fall back a ways so that there would be a big enough space between the pace car and us so I could wind it up a bit!
I drove the Illinois Speedway track in Joliet and felt like I would fall off the banking at pace car speeds.
So I would fall back and accelerate into the corners and it wasn't as bad at speeds above 100 mph!
That was one of the "Most Sanitary" installations of a SBC I've seen in a Fiero... Sorry we couldn't wind them out that day but it was fun blocking you with my roadster!!!! Hahaha... !
I have a 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT with a 4 speed stick coupled to a 350 Vette motor, TPI setup and custom cam and my front end does not rise like that. Are the 4 cylinder springs and shocks unmodified unlike the 6 cylinder cars, more prone to float. I have a GT with the old 6 cylinder removed. My V8 Fiero's front end goes up and down a little under really hard acceleration.... Just a point of fact.
Two factors are involved with the rise of the nose that you see. One is just an optical illusion. With the camera hard mounted toward the rear looking right over the horizon of the dash, any movement is amplified. Looks cool , but is not as dramatic as it looks. The second is that a couple of weeks after this run I found the right rear suspension spring was broken. I've since replaced it. I suspect that a repeat run would show even less lift. Good eye on the observation.
My V8 Pontiac Fiero GT was done with a Gary Zumalt kit. A man from Canada did it and he really did it right. She has a 1990 Corvette 350 with aluminum heads, a TPI setup and is chipped. The cam was specially ground and is an ISKY.
I would imagine that your Fiero really goes with that 350 corvette engine. Mines a little more "old school" with an LM1 engine although I did go with TPI. (I don't have the patients for a carburetor any more . ) The LMI makes it throaty though.
Car looks and runs great. I like the way the nose comes up when you get on that V8. I could tell you were itching to go around that guy in front of you every time he slowed down in a turn. You should bring it out to Track Day at the Fiero 25th Anniversary in Pontiac this summer. They let you run full out.
Thanks Woodsman. I'm not going to make Track Day. Its mid-week and I have to work (Bummer!). I am going to try to hit the Road America track up here in Wisconsin this summer however. They have a four mile road race course that you can drive your street car on between races. It still has a pace car but it is suppose to be quicker than the Milwaukee Mile run. If it turns out cool, I'll post another cockpit cam video. See if you can get some video at the 25th Anniversary show if you're going.
Thanks. I've had this car as a daily driver for 13 years and restored it on the appearance side a few years back. I've always wanted to drop a V-8 in it. The old "iron duke" 4-cylindar finally died so I had V-8 Archie, Inc. do the swap for me. (They are only 60 miles from my house.) I couldn't have been happier with the quality of the work and the performance is tremendous. I wasn't trying to create a race car, so I put a "mild" 350 LM-1 in, but it sure gives you a kick in the pants.
The cost for a V8 swap all depends on what you want (a super hot 300+ HP monster or something basic like mine); whether you do it yourself (with a kit) or have someone like Archie do it for you; whether you already have an engine, are going to rebuild an engine, or are going to buy a new crate engine; and so on. I would recommend dropping Archie an e-mail and tell him what you have in mind. Just google "V8 Archie." He can give you a quote on any of the above.
very nice.
meathead66 2 years ago
Wish those other guys would have gotten out of your way. Id like to seen you open it up. Awsome
mercjeff 2 years ago
We felt the same way...! I am the Roadster driver and I would fall back a ways so that there would be a big enough space between the pace car and us so I could wind it up a bit!
I drove the Illinois Speedway track in Joliet and felt like I would fall off the banking at pace car speeds.
So I would fall back and accelerate into the corners and it wasn't as bad at speeds above 100 mph!
Cheers!
Mccabone 2 years ago
wish i coulda heard it from behind it on the track.
spydermonkey 2 years ago
Hi Bil
That was one of the "Most Sanitary" installations of a SBC I've seen in a Fiero... Sorry we couldn't wind them out that day but it was fun blocking you with my roadster!!!! Hahaha... !
Mccabone 2 years ago
haha i love the sound and how you can see the front end lift on that when you get on it 5 stars
tropicjester12 3 years ago
I have a 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT with a 4 speed stick coupled to a 350 Vette motor, TPI setup and custom cam and my front end does not rise like that. Are the 4 cylinder springs and shocks unmodified unlike the 6 cylinder cars, more prone to float. I have a GT with the old 6 cylinder removed. My V8 Fiero's front end goes up and down a little under really hard acceleration.... Just a point of fact.
xoobis 3 years ago
Two factors are involved with the rise of the nose that you see. One is just an optical illusion. With the camera hard mounted toward the rear looking right over the horizon of the dash, any movement is amplified. Looks cool , but is not as dramatic as it looks. The second is that a couple of weeks after this run I found the right rear suspension spring was broken. I've since replaced it. I suspect that a repeat run would show even less lift. Good eye on the observation.
GoGetter1856 3 years ago
My V8 Pontiac Fiero GT was done with a Gary Zumalt kit. A man from Canada did it and he really did it right. She has a 1990 Corvette 350 with aluminum heads, a TPI setup and is chipped. The cam was specially ground and is an ISKY.
xoobis 3 years ago
I would imagine that your Fiero really goes with that 350 corvette engine. Mines a little more "old school" with an LM1 engine although I did go with TPI. (I don't have the patients for a carburetor any more . ) The LMI makes it throaty though.
GoGetter1856 3 years ago
Saw it at the Dells Run, beautiful Fiero!
jonrev 3 years ago
Car looks and runs great. I like the way the nose comes up when you get on that V8. I could tell you were itching to go around that guy in front of you every time he slowed down in a turn. You should bring it out to Track Day at the Fiero 25th Anniversary in Pontiac this summer. They let you run full out.
woodsman1770 3 years ago
Thanks Woodsman. I'm not going to make Track Day. Its mid-week and I have to work (Bummer!). I am going to try to hit the Road America track up here in Wisconsin this summer however. They have a four mile road race course that you can drive your street car on between races. It still has a pace car but it is suppose to be quicker than the Milwaukee Mile run. If it turns out cool, I'll post another cockpit cam video. See if you can get some video at the 25th Anniversary show if you're going.
GoGetter1856 3 years ago
Thanks. I've had this car as a daily driver for 13 years and restored it on the appearance side a few years back. I've always wanted to drop a V-8 in it. The old "iron duke" 4-cylindar finally died so I had V-8 Archie, Inc. do the swap for me. (They are only 60 miles from my house.) I couldn't have been happier with the quality of the work and the performance is tremendous. I wasn't trying to create a race car, so I put a "mild" 350 LM-1 in, but it sure gives you a kick in the pants.
GoGetter1856 3 years ago
how much was the archie swap altogether? ive really been thinking about getting a fiero and doing a swap on it as a project myself.
sikantwixxsted 3 years ago
The cost for a V8 swap all depends on what you want (a super hot 300+ HP monster or something basic like mine); whether you do it yourself (with a kit) or have someone like Archie do it for you; whether you already have an engine, are going to rebuild an engine, or are going to buy a new crate engine; and so on. I would recommend dropping Archie an e-mail and tell him what you have in mind. Just google "V8 Archie." He can give you a quote on any of the above.
GoGetter1856 3 years ago
Cool car!!! I would not have thought you could stuff a V8 into such a small car. The power to weight ratio must be awesome.
doc1066 3 years ago
Nice, I wish I would have known about this hehe. Coulda brought one of my cars down.
snowblindburd 3 years ago