Fiero turbo with an interesting story

[pinetopbilld]

Hello fellows. Hope you have a couple of minutes to read an interesting story and maybe help me out. I am a school teacher and have always been a Ford guy, but last year my wife and I took a troubled teenager into our home in hopes of helping him. He and his family just couldn't get along any more. Long story short, we were able to get this kid through high school and he even got accepted into the University of Cincinatti Fine Arts program and just completed his first semester. He and his family are now doing much better. His father was so appreciative that he decided to give me a little something. He told me that he could have given me money, but he said that he wanted to show me how much this meant to him to get his son back. He gave me a cherry 1988 Fiero GT 2.8 v6 5 speed with 72,000 miles. The car is now put away for the winter, but driving it this past summer and fall I have absolutely fell in love with this car. I never thought I would have anything other than a Ford but this thing is awesome, but now I want more power. I have done a lot of searching and reading on this site and realize that I am probably not on the best forum for this car but maybe you can help me to get where I need to be. I want to turbo the 2.8. Never done a turbo and don't know a lot about them. Not looking to win any drag races, I just want some more power without gaining a lot of weight and upsetting the handling. Estimated cost, horsepower, options, etc... Any help would be appreciated. What are some good Fiero forums?

[pontiacjeff]

You and your wife are kind people... good things come to those who are good to others. What a gift! Anyone can throw cash around... but it is a gift, however small or large, that really shows one's appreciation. He gave up what was probably very dear to him... for something even more dear, the return of his son!

Kind of reminds me of the parable of The Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32.

As for the turbocharging, I have turbo'ed a couple Fieros and many other GM cars, so if you need info on that, I can help. As for Fieros, check out www.fiero.nl That's the big Fiero Forum.

The one thing to remember about turbocharging is you can never have too much fuel to meet the demands of a boosted engine. There are some who try to cheat and use stock injectors and fuel pump with a pressure rising fuel management unit (FMU), but it's like putting a tiny, kids' Scooby-Doo bandaid on a gaping flesh-wound. (good analogy?) Larger injectors, upgraded 255lph forced-induction fuel pump (Walbro, Holley, others), and an aftermarket engine management system or custom chip tuning, are all necessary.

As far as the turbo, for a street car, keep it small and enjoy the added torque. If you go too big, it'll be a PITA to drive, real laggy, then uncontrollable wheel spin as the turbo boosts up. A 2.8 will react well to a GT28R (expensive) or T3-stage III .48a/r turbine comined with a T04E 50-or 54-trim compressor. Either turbo is good for 250 crank HP on 8-10psi boost.

You need to use an intercooler for more than 10psi boost.

It will be fun to drive and very reliable if you keep it simple. Let me know if you have any other questions or need any tech help.

tech@engineered.net

[carbon]

Pennocks Fiero Forum

The turbo 2.8 has been done before and there are other options to consider as well...

Welcome to the addiction.

[pinetopbilld]

Thanks pontiacjeff. I didn't know how to react the day that he gave me the car. I tried to refuse because I knew how much the car must have meant to him, but he would not take no for an answer. We still stay in touch and I keep him updated on how the car is doing.

As far as my turbo application, are there kits available or is this something that I am going to have to do a lot of fabrication. If fabrication is the case that would be fine because I am in the process of building a new garage and it's time for me to start taking on more complex projects anyway. I am totally excited! The area that I live has beautiful mountain roads that I can't wait to turn loose a turboed Fiero on.

[carbon]

Design1 V6 Fiero Kit

This is the only currently supported kit that I know of... not sure of reputation but a search on Pennock's will probably get you some idea... most of the other turbo applications that I have read about have been DIY type setups.

Although it looks like PontiacJeff has a pretty good handle on what it will take to get it done as well...

Good luck

[fivepointhustla]

KFG is back now. Forgot the site but it is easy to find

[Guest]

It will cost quite a bit. Gt28R is too small in my opinion. Cost will be around $3-3500 depending on the parts you use

www.realfierotech.com is anotehr fiero site.

[pinetopbilld]

I read somewhere that you could use the turbo from the 2.3 liter Fords, like the Turbocoupes and Mustang SVO. I could probably find one these fairly cheap if this is true, but if it doesnt work that well I don't want to sacrifice.

You are right though. I am finding out that this is going to be very expensive. I am still wanting to move forward, I just think it might be better to start putting this thing together piece by piece instead of all at once.

[ForcedFirebird]

I read somewhere that you could use the turbo from the 2.3 liter Fords, like the Turbocoupes and Mustang SVO. I could probably find one these fairly cheap if this is true, but if it doesnt work that well I don't want to sacrifice.

You are right though. I am finding out that this is going to be very expensive. I am still wanting to move forward, I just think it might be better to start putting this thing together piece by piece instead of all at once.

If you do most of the work yourself and fabricate your own stuff, you'll save quite a bit of money. I've got about a $1000 invested for my turbo project (parts only). I used a lot of budget parts, there's a link in my signature for more details.
.
BTW, I think it is fabulous that you helped that boy out. My little brother could've used someone to help him like that. This year will be 5yrs since his passing because of drugs. I would trade all five of my vehicles to have him back.
You deserved the car and would like to see how you do with your project!
.
EDIT: The 2.3 turbo might be too small, my friend just put one on a 2.8 Firebird and didn't work that great. I have a pair of Garrett t25's that work nice for your project. They are in need of a rebuild and could give you a super deal on them.

[pinetopbilld]

Sorry to hear about your little brother. I had a younger brother to pass away too. This Halloween coming will be four years. He fell asleep driving home from work and hit a tree about five minutes from our parents house where he still lived.

Just got off the phone with the young man that stayed with us. Told him about the turbo and he said that he is going to call and tell his dad.

pontiacjeff mentioned a couple of turbos that i could safely run about 8-10 pounds of boost making about 250 horsepower. Could I do this with the turbos that you have? If so, how about the rebuild, is it something else that I can do or will I have to have it done? Sorry about all the questions, but there is no way I can afford this unless I do a lot of the work myself. And I will be honest, I will probably have to ask you guys a lot more questions to do it. I want to do it right. This is too nice of a car and means too much to me for me to mess it up. Hope yall don't mind.

[ForcedFirebird]

Yes they would work fine. The rebuild is fairly simple, costing around $100 each for the rebuild kits. There are a couple of hairline cracks near the wastegate port that can be easily welded (cast iron). They came out of a Nissan 300ZXtt. They are Garrett M25 (T-25) with an A/R of .48 and .63 turbines. Here's where I posted pics and more info...
http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/power-adder/402615-need-help-getting-map.html

[stuffy236]

well since you have a 88, why not swap in a 3.4 DOHC? Its a direct swap for the 88s and would just need some wiring and some basic maintenance. If you just want a little more kick, then this is probably the way to go. Why turbo the motor when you can have the same relative power (if not more with basic mods) with near OEM reliability. The 3400 is also a good replacement (again, nearly bolt in) for the 2.8. Same BASIC engine with more displacement. Just my $0.02

[Joseph Upson]

You have a cherry 88 5 spd to start with. TAKE YOUR TIME and decide what you want to do, by no means embark on a swap/mod that will require you to butcher the car in anyway, or change the handling characteristics that you have fallen in love with.

I'm going to give you what is probably the best advice of all being the builder of many modified Fieros including a turbo 1.8L, 2.8L, 3100 and 3.4L and a naturally aspirated TPI 350 5 spd. Leave that car alone and buy a second Fiero (they can be had cheap) to hack up.

That car is worth a lot in many ways, and is about to be 20 yrs old with well under 100K on it. Save it as an original low mileage symbolic virgin, drive it on occassion to special meets and with your wife on special occassions.

Otherwise join the mania on Pennock's forum where the car has been done "Every whichah way". I'm currently working on a 3500 6 spd twin turbo swap and I can tell you if you like the car now you might get into a lot of trouble with a turbo, it's very hard to keep your foot out of that kind of power surge. This forum and Pennock's are perfect for what you want to do.

[pinetopbilld]

Thanks Joseph. You are right. I can find another Fiero to play with. After I think about it for a little bit, it would be kind of crazy to cut that car up. I actually looked at it today and it has exactly 72,400 miles on it, with all the records. Thanks again for the insight.

[ForcedFirebird]

Thanks Joseph. You are right. I can find another Fiero to play with. After I think about it for a little bit, it would be kind of crazy to cut that car up. I actually looked at it today and it has exactly 72,400 miles on it, with all the records. Thanks again for the insight.

I know what you mean, my 'Bird has 80k and is also cherry. I even still have the window sticker (cost $14,477.00 new in 1990). If you want to keep the car close to origional, take the advice of stuffy236 and just put in another 60 degree in it's place that has a few more ponies.