Kinda a general question...

[KlingonFiero]

Howdy all!

I am getting very close to getting my Fiero on the road!

I started off with a 1984 SE (4-Cyl/4-Speed) and quickly pulled the engine out, in favor of a 3.1.

The 3.1 is from a Lumina - it was converted over to the Fiero Iron heads and dizzy, i converted it back

I also had a '94 4T60-E that I put in - have a bad-knee, cannot do the constant shifting anymore

So, to sum up:

1984 Fiero with a 1991 Chevy DIS 3.1, with a 1994 Oldsmobile 4T60-E and a total re-wire job from bumper to bumper!

I got it running tonight and WOW, I am in love with this thing - sounds like a beast!

The relatively short dual exhaust (from a 1987 Fiero GT ) makes it sound Freakin Fantastic!

My wife complained that I was rattling the windows (and that was at an idle!)

So, anyways...

I am working on the coolant fill procedure - a not fun task in the Fiero...

The engine died on me, twice...
This is while it was idling.

It kinda sounded like it wasn't getting enough air...

Now, with the original Fiero ECM, if you had the battery disconnected for for than a few minutes, it would reset. This meant that the engine would run kinda funny, till you had actually driven it over a certain speed for a certain length of time.

Does the same happen with a 1994 Buick ECM??? It is the 16149396 ECM.

Thanks for letting me blabber

[Superdave]

yah, sounds like it's trying to re-learn the idle.. what engine was on that 1994 Buick ECM? If it's a 3100 it's tuned for larger injectors, you should swap those into the 3.1 to get it to run right. It'll run the engine excessively lean if it's calibrated for 19# injectors and you are using the stock gen2 16.5#'s

[bszopi]

The 9396 ECM is still a PROM-based ECM, used on the 3.4DOHC engines with the 4T60E, and for the last year or so (started in 93) of the 3.1L with the 4T60E. Its basically a 7727 ECM with extra RAM for the tranny controls.

With that said - Yes, you will need to do an idle relearn procedure (http://www.60degreev6.com/showthread.php?t=25023).

[KlingonFiero]

yah, sounds like it's trying to re-learn the idle.. what engine was on that 1994 Buick ECM? If it's a 3100 it's tuned for larger injectors, you should swap those into the 3.1 to get it to run right. It'll run the engine excessively lean if it's calibrated for 19# injectors and you are using the stock gen2 16.5#'s

The actual ECM came from a 3.4 DOHC - the chip is from a Buick Regal; 3.1V6 with the 4T60-E.

[KlingonFiero]

The 9396 ECM is still a PROM-based ECM, used on the 3.4DOHC engines with the 4T60E, and for the last year or so (started in 93) of the 3.1L with the 4T60E. Its basically a 7727 ECM with extra RAM for the tranny controls.

With that said - Yes, you will need to do an idle relearn procedure (http://www.60degreev6.com/showthread.php?t=25023).

Thanks a lot for the link...

I will get that procedure done and get back to you all...

[Superdave]

The 9396 ECM is still a PROM-based ECM, used on the 3.4DOHC engines with the 4T60E, and for the last year or so (started in 93) of the 3.1L with the 4T60E. Its basically a 7727 ECM with extra RAM for the tranny controls.

With that said - Yes, you will need to do an idle relearn procedure (http://www.60degreev6.com/showthread.php?t=25023).

Sweet, good to know!

[KlingonFiero]

Well, i did the "Idle relearn" - no go... She still randomly dies.

Here is what I found, so far:

At an idle - Fuel pressure is about 37-38 PSI

When you hit the gas pedal (in neutral), fuel pressure drops down to as low as 25 PSI.

I pulled the hose off of the TB and applied a slight vacuum (while engine was idling) - Fuel pressure dropped down to about 30 (vacuum was applied via mouth )

So, i am thinking Fuel pump... What do you all think?

P.S. - I did detect an extrememly slight fuel smell from the FPR vacuum line - almost like a residuel smell - not like the FPR is bad and letting fuel bleed through...

[KlingonFiero]

So, i am thinking Fuel pump... What do you all think?

anybody???

[IsaacHayes]

Yeah sounds like the pump can't keep up? Try a fuel filter first though. As far as the FPR fuel smell, not sure I have a thread open with the same question now. What year chip from that buick regal are you running? If 94 then is it from a 3100 engine? If so it's looking for a 24x spark and cam sensor as well and that could be giving you issues...

[KlingonFiero]

It's got a brand new fuel filter and the tank and lines were blown out before I put them in the car...

I went ahead and just got a 1991 Corvette (350ci engine) Fuel pump, 50psi at 27gph
(part# is EP-376) Cost only $45 shipped!!! Gotta love Ebay.


Should be here by Friday, I hope. I am just itching to drive this car!
I "drove" it about 10 feet last-night, felt good to have her moving under her own power again...

Forgot to add: the Chip is from a 93 - 3.1v6 with the 4T60-E.

[IsaacHayes]

Ok as long as the chip wasn't powering a 3100 you're good to go on that note. Fuel pump sounds like the culprit. Keep us updated.

[KlingonFiero]

Keep us updated.

Will Do!!!

[KlingonFiero]

Well, I let her run for a bit today - still doing the coolant fill.

I checked the vacuum line to the FPR - it now absolutely reeks of fuel - I think that I actually may have gotten liquid fuel out of it

So, since I already ordered the Fuel pump - I will probably go ahead and swap it out (mainly as a form of basic insurance, rather than any other real reason).

My question now is this: I cannot really see it, but is the FPR on the 3.1 like the FPR on the Fiero 2.8 Fuel rail? Can I steal the one of the old Fiero Fuel rail or ???

Edit: Never mind - I finally was able to get a look at it Definitely NOT like the Fiero's FPR...


Thanks!!!

P.S. : at an idle, how long should a completely cold engine take to warm up enough for the Thermostat to open ( I do not have the guages installed quite yet...)?
TIA!

[KlingonFiero]

It takes about 20 minutes for a cold engine to idle it's way up to a temp high enough to open the thermostat - in 70 degree weather

That is also when you find that one of your caps has a small hole in it and sprays the engine bay with bright green coolant!
Oh well, better now than when I am ten miles down the road.


And, I picked up a FPR today... How is it that a Fuel pump is $45 and a FPR is $100!!!

Just seems weird to me

Well, I will let you all know on Saturday or Sunday how it goes...

And, Just how "mean" should a stock 3.1 sound with a Fiero exhaust system on it?
I mean this thing sounds like a over cammed 350SBC !!! (or is it just the idle being funny due to lack of proper fuel flow/pressure? )

[IsaacHayes]

Probably will smooth out once you get fuel sorted out, but the mfpi motors (and the 2.8 fiero) sound more rumbly than the newer SFI motors (3x00). Make sure the spark plug wires are routed right too.