LZ9 engine swap help

[Jets303]

Looking very clean Mike!

[☠Murcie-Me β˜]

Last week I was also in Las Vegas and picked up and OEM knockoff of the LP670SV rear bumper. I have wanted to complete the changeover for years now, but building the rear bumper from scratch and making a finished piece would have taken me almost 3 weeks, so I never had that kind of time to do it. When I saw they had this piece at a shop in Las Vegas for just 2K, it was a no brainer lol.

[☠Murcie-Me β˜]

Ive also been working on the exhaust headers, which has been a real PITA.
Keeping all the tubes the same length and having to fit them in the confined space of the Fiero engine compartment (especially the rear side of the engine where it sits against the trunk wall) has been a challenge. I had to temporarily mount the engine to the 4T60 trans to make sure I was staying clear of that as well. The rear of the engine piping is done now, I just have to finish welding up all the seams. I couldnt imagine trying to do this with the engine in the car, there would be no room to work at all. The front of the engine should be a lot easier, since I have over twice the room between the engine and the cabin firewall to fit additional piping.
The header is a stepped design, starting out at each cylinder with 1.5" tubing. After 18" from the valve, it steps up to 1.625" and then travels another 18" to a 3 into 1 full merge connector. It then steps up to 1.75" and goes another 18" to a Y pipe, where it meets up with the piping from the other side of the engine. The 1.75" piping coming off the Y connector travels all the way to the rear of the car, where it megaphones up to 2.5" in the last 1 foot of piping.

[☠Murcie-Me β˜]

I havent posted any updates for a while, I've been busy trying to finish up several other projects so I can get back on mine.
I finished Ricos car, but its coming back this week for me to paint the wheels and fix his drivers side door hinge lol.
I got a lot done on the engine, its all reassembled now and I've been making custom parts to overcome some design issues. I wanted to use my Fiero alternator since I have a brand new one, but the stock Fiero upper alternator mount doesnt fit on the LZ9 engine. Also. the mounting holes in the end of the head are used for the mounting the stock coolant manifold, which was not going to work for my installation anyway.
I came up with a plate that would mount on the stock coolant manifold bolt locations, but welded on a 1.5" aluminum tube for a coolant hose to clamp onto. I them welded up a aluminum tube that would tie the two together, then branch off to a fill cap and thermostat housing. I also ran a hose from the thermostat housing back to the heater return port on the water pump. This way coolant is always passing by the thermostat to open it once it gets up to operating temperature.
I incorporated a mounting point for the upper bolt on the alternator on the coolant flange, and built a lower swing mount for the bottom. I also added a reinforcement brace to the upper mount just to make it more secure.

[☠Murcie-Me β˜]

Yes, I added flanges to the fenders so now it's a removable bumper.
The rain let up a little this morning so that gave me time to sand out the clear and buff itout, and also attach the spoiler to the bottom of the bumper.
Tomorrow I'll install the headlights and grilles and be done.

[Jets303]

Looking good, did you flange the bumper on the fenders?

[☠Murcie-Me β˜]

Got everything sprayed today, hopefully tomorrow I can sand and buff it all out.
Now that his car is done, I can get back on the LZ9 engine. I have everything to put it back together, all new gaskets, new timing cover and water pump, new pulleys and harmonic balancer, and a new alternator.

[☠Murcie-Me β˜]

My good friend Rico brought his car over yesterday for me to swap out his front bumper for my 670SV style bumper. This is the same bumper that Bill (Simple Man) has on his build.
I thought it was going to be a simple changeover, basically cut the Murcielago bumper off (original G28 body), add flanges to the fenders and then bolt my bumper on.
His hood was actually a different curvature than the top edge of my bumper, so instead of reshaping his whole hood i cut away his bumper leaving the top 2 inches and then glassed my bumper onto that edge.
Tomorrow I will start filling and sanding and hopefully get a coat of PCL on it in the afternoon.

[VF1Skullangel]

engine is all torn down for inspection and everything looks in excellent shape. I took the heads off after these pictures were taken to inspect the cylinder walls and valves. Now to clean everything and start reassembly!

This is going to be great. I know of a guy who did this swap on his Fiero and he's by far the fastest out there as far as Fiero's go. He put a Turbo on it and he's making great power. Now with yours I'm sure just having the exhaust sound better than the stock 2.8 would be more than enough for most people.

[VF1Skullangel]

This is awesome!

Glad to see you're still at it. The 3900 is a great engine! Probably the best modern swap out there for anything Fiero

Thanks buddy! I'm glad to see you're still around here!
I've been doing a lot of researching, studying, and even taking some online classes about sound dynamics. For many many years people have been trying to get their builds to sound like a Lamborghini, even with engine swaps, 180 degree headers and so on. I have heard many people on these forums say its impossible because of "dual plane VS. flat plane" engines, lower reciprocating mass, shorter stroke, valve size and so on.
I have said all along it has very little to do with the engine, and everything to do with manipulating and multiplying the sound pulses, eliminating some and amplifying others.
I have chose this engine because I believe it will be the easiest to accomplish a high "F1" exhaust note from. Although the sound can be replicated by any engine (4 cylinder minimum), this engine will do it easily/cheaply and also yield more H.P. than most other 6 cylinder swap options.
You're gonna have to come out and do another video when its done lol!

I know if there's anyone who can accomplish that F1 sound out of a V6 it will be you. I have been planning a Trip back to cali, Right now I'm basically disabled from Cancer but it's only a bump in the road. 

That car has come such a long way since the last time I saw it in person. It reminds me of my buddies Murcielago SV he sold a few years ago. Artvandelay is his name on IG but he had a purple SV like yours but his was a manual. Crazy car but same color wrap and all. Ill have to try and dig out some pics and post em.

Unless you're on IG?

OMG i'm sorry to hear that but yes, it is just a bump in the road. I know 3 other people going through the same thing right now, all with excellent results so far so hang in there and NEVER stop fighting, you will win.
Yes my IG is 1mikechase.

Ill Try to feature you on an IG post. Many people for years have been asking about your car and I have even had a couple of people ask me to put me in touch with you so they can buy your car.

I still have your number ill have to shoot ya a text sometime.

[☠Murcie-Me β˜]

engine is all torn down for inspection and everything looks in excellent shape. I took the heads off after these pictures were taken to inspect the cylinder walls and valves. Now to clean everything and start reassembly!

[☠Murcie-Me β˜]

I also started milling the adapter plate for the LZ4 intake to accept the LS throttle body. I don't like the adapter plates that are available, they do not line up correctly and are ported to allow function of the LS IAC valve, which is not compatible with the Megasquirt ECU. Since I am using a different IAC valve that is compatible, I need an adapter that doesn't have that port.

[☠Murcie-Me β˜]

So look what arrived today!!!! Now to strip the whole thing down for cleaning, new cam and head gaskets, injector's and so on!

[☠Murcie-Me β˜]

This is awesome!

Glad to see you're still at it. The 3900 is a great engine! Probably the best modern swap out there for anything Fiero

Thanks buddy! I'm glad to see you're still around here!
I've been doing a lot of researching, studying, and even taking some online classes about sound dynamics. For many many years people have been trying to get their builds to sound like a Lamborghini, even with engine swaps, 180 degree headers and so on. I have heard many people on these forums say its impossible because of "dual plane VS. flat plane" engines, lower reciprocating mass, shorter stroke, valve size and so on.
I have said all along it has very little to do with the engine, and everything to do with manipulating and multiplying the sound pulses, eliminating some and amplifying others.
I have chose this engine because I believe it will be the easiest to accomplish a high "F1" exhaust note from. Although the sound can be replicated by any engine (4 cylinder minimum), this engine will do it easily/cheaply and also yield more H.P. than most other 6 cylinder swap options.
You're gonna have to come out and do another video when its done lol!

I know if there's anyone who can accomplish that F1 sound out of a V6 it will be you. I have been planning a Trip back to cali, Right now I'm basically disabled from Cancer but it's only a bump in the road. 

That car has come such a long way since the last time I saw it in person. It reminds me of my buddies Murcielago SV he sold a few years ago. Artvandelay is his name on IG but he had a purple SV like yours but his was a manual. Crazy car but same color wrap and all. Ill have to try and dig out some pics and post em.

Unless you're on IG?

OMG i'm sorry to hear that but yes, it is just a bump in the road. I know 3 other people going through the same thing right now, all with excellent results so far so hang in there and NEVER stop fighting, you will win.
Yes my IG is 1mikechase.

[VF1Skullangel]

This is awesome!

Glad to see you're still at it. The 3900 is a great engine! Probably the best modern swap out there for anything Fiero

Thanks buddy! I'm glad to see you're still around here!
I've been doing a lot of researching, studying, and even taking some online classes about sound dynamics. For many many years people have been trying to get their builds to sound like a Lamborghini, even with engine swaps, 180 degree headers and so on. I have heard many people on these forums say its impossible because of "dual plane VS. flat plane" engines, lower reciprocating mass, shorter stroke, valve size and so on.
I have said all along it has very little to do with the engine, and everything to do with manipulating and multiplying the sound pulses, eliminating some and amplifying others.
I have chose this engine because I believe it will be the easiest to accomplish a high "F1" exhaust note from. Although the sound can be replicated by any engine (4 cylinder minimum), this engine will do it easily/cheaply and also yield more H.P. than most other 6 cylinder swap options.
You're gonna have to come out and do another video when its done lol!

I know if there's anyone who can accomplish that F1 sound out of a V6 it will be you. I have been planning a Trip back to cali, Right now I'm basically disabled from Cancer but it's only a bump in the road. 

That car has come such a long way since the last time I saw it in person. It reminds me of my buddies Murcielago SV he sold a few years ago. Artvandelay is his name on IG but he had a purple SV like yours but his was a manual. Crazy car but same color wrap and all. Ill have to try and dig out some pics and post em.

Unless you're on IG?