The new life of the formula fastback

[GTRS Fiero]

What is the deal with the bellhousing & FDR?

[NoMad]

The F23 with the 60* housing has an undesirable FDR for a fiero in general and more so for a rev happy one like the LQ1. By using the FDR from a later ecotec F23 you end up with a taller gear that is much closer the getrag in character and much better cruising MPG.

Not sure if I will go with the quaife limited slip when I do it. Like this project needed another $1k+ part...

[mweldon]

You won't need the quaife at all if you have adequate/proportionate width tires in the rear with an NA LQ1. 

Forced induction LQ1.... then you might start thinking of one...

[Raydar]

I've got a relatively low mile F23 that came in the package with my LQ1(s). I believe that I will use it as is. Since even the stock LQ1 has a redline above 7K, it would seem that it would not blow through 1st gear that quickly. Of course I could be wrong. We shall see.
Also, IIRC, it seems like top gear RPM at a given speed is slightly less than the Fiero Getrag.
(Edit - If it's the 3.84, it's within 10-15 RPM of the Fiero Getrag.  http://www.fieroinfo.com/speedcalc.html )

I thought about finding an Ecotec version, and swapping the clutch housing, but using that one also requires shortening the input shaft by ~3/8". It also provides several mounting challenges, if I've understood correctly.

Steve

[NoMad]

Marc: Ya, but if it is in there I don't have to worry about it when the turbo gets added down the road. I figure if I am pulling it apart to do the FD than an all at once would be smarter than cracking the cases again in 5000 miles or so.

Raydar: like above, I figure if I am cracking the cases to make the swap shortening the input shaft while it is apart isn't the end of the world. Any of the local shops should be able to handle it quick and cheap enough if I can't do it myself.

[Fierofool]

Zach, there's a speed shop here in town that may be able to do it.  The owner is also a Fiero owner.  Shop name is Eagle Automotive on Atlanta Hwy. 

[mweldon]

Is this him?
Eagle Automotive Machine
1240 Atlanta Hwy # C, Auburn, GA 30011

If so, cool...too bad he's in BFE compared to Marietta...

You can shorten the input shaft rather easily... Justin Bart did it by taping the input shaft to where it needed to be ground down to then hooked a high torque drill with hex bit into the exposed intermediate shaft once the seal is removed from inside the bellhousing and using the drill to rotate the input shaft at a good speed.  Then used an angle grinder to grind down to the tape.  Redneck engineering at its best but worked like a charm...  It's in his F23 thread on pennocks but the photobucket images might be snafu'd...

http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/121743-2.html

[Fierofool]

Yes, Mark.  That's the place.  It's very convenient for Zach.  Just 15 miles. 

[NoMad]

Saw the redneck engineering solution and had been thinking of something similar even before. Have done similar things in the past.

[GTRS Fiero]

I used a bandsaw that holds the item in a vise, and just gravity-cuts with the blade on an arm.

[NoMad]

Cutting short is easy but I would also have to turn it down.

[NoMad]

Well the upper intake and cam carrier covers went to powder this morning and I picked up my F23 (the 2.2L cavalier one with correct bellhousing) which is on the bench for some cleaning and paint. Lower intake and heads are up for port and polish next then a general go over on the short block to be sure nothing ill happened in storage.

Going to order my clutch in the next day or two once I am able to determine what I am going with that will hold under the turbo and be streetable.

[NoMad]

Got to porting the lower intake manifold tonight. Only about 20% done though.

Also got my wideband O2 controller finally as well as the rod end seals for the rear suspension upgrade part 2.

Thinking about going with a bully stage 3+ but want to talk to them first. Heard very good things though.

Out of curiosity, are people enjoying the updates/still caring about what happens with the car?

[GTRS Fiero]

I am.  Some of the stuff is foreign to me, but will surely be helpful to others, in the future.  It is enjoyable to read about all the stuff you're doing.  It gives me new ideas, as well as encourages me to press on, with my own Fiero.

It would seem to be important that we share our enthusiasm for our carsb if we can't find interesting things to share about them, no one will.  This also shows life in the club.  When I don't hear about updates, I ask.

Of course, that's just me.

[Fierofool]

I am glad that the car didn't go to someone who would just beat it to death and then dispose of it.  Very interested in seeing the finished product.  Throw in a few pictures now and then.