all gone, got rid of the car and all the engine stuff....

Ignition coils?

   I want to run LS coils on my 3800, this seems to be more difficult than I had thought. On Pennock's Fiero Forum I had asked the question if it was possible or if it had been done. The responses I received ranged from helpful to chastising. You think I was asking them to help me drown puppies. One of the posts on Pennock's forum gave me this link PCM hacking forums. Very neat module, last post in the thread was on 9/4/2013, so it's kinda dead. This module converts the 12v signal that drives the stock coils to a +5v to drive the LS coils, I don't know if it drives them in pairs or individually.
   So it seems that I'm on my own to research this aspect of the project.This is a major fork in the road due to the fact that I have a complete wiring harness for a 2001 Buick Park Avenue Ultra, but no ECM, I could get an OE ECM and be on my way. A little web search for the OE ECM for my engine results in ECM prices from $110 with a $85 core for a cardone (junk) part to $669 with a $120 core for an ACDelco. Both are remanufactured. I could go to a junkyard, but who knows what quality I'll get. But I want to run the LS coils and not the coil pack. So I have to find a system that will run the coil setup I want. I know the LS coils need +5v to trigger, so the search for a workable setup starts.....
   First stop- 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora 3.5. I printed out the ECM connector pin out pages for this ECM and the 3.8 ECM, they are almost identical. I need to figure out what signal the 3.5 ECM would send to the coils, +12v, +5v or ground. I think it's +5v due to the fact that the circuit is described the same as the LS circuit, but that bit of info that would make me sure is missing, weird how wiring diagram information varies from car to car and year to year, you think GM would be more consistent.
   Next I checked out the Trailblazer with the 4.2 inline 6, it uses totally different ECM connectors, but it uses individual coils, but unfortunately Alldata says that it triggers the coils with a ground signal not +5v. Maybe I could make a small converter module? And I don't know if that ECM is custom programmable.
   Next up 2001 Saturn LW300 with the 3.0 v6 (junk engine). Again this ECM uses grounds to trigger the coils, but the ECM is super small. And again is it programmable?
   Number 4 possibility is the 2005 Buick Rendezvous with the 3.6 v6. The schematics for the coils looks very similar to the LS diagrams, but again with the programming.
   Lastly I think I could use a LS ECM, like a 2004 GTO with the 5.7 LS, the LS ECMs are supposed to be the most easily programmable. I don't know if it can be programmed for a v6 though.
 
   If I could get some of my questions answered on the above problems I might be able to formulate a plan. But I'm not sure which sites to ask, Pennock's Forum seems to be more based in stock swaps and rebuilding. PCM hacking forum is kinds over my head, thoses guys are so deep into the electronics I need a translator.
   So all this leads me back to the MS3xtra. From Diyautotune it will cost around $670. A little steep for my taste, but open programming, and it will run pretty much any engine combination I put in the Fiero.

Super new direction!

Yes I changed the title again, but for a "super" good reason. I have a 3800 s/c engine, technically it's a series 2 L67. It's out of a 2001 Buick Park Avenue Ultra. A local dealer screwed up a oil change and caused a rod knock, so my shop (me actually) installed a used motor. I got the used motor for $125 core charge. My plans are to do this on as tight of a budget as possible, I'm trying to build a daily driver not a show car.

Super charger was removed and put up on a shelf to keep it safe while I worked on other stuff.

Water cooled drive belt tensioner, kidding, unused heater passages and alternator mount visable.

Top view of tensioner and alternator mount.

Tensioner after cutting off un-needed coolant passages.

I removed the plastic coolant elbows, tapped both holes in lower intake manifold and timing cover. Hole in lower intake will have fitting installed for heater flow, hole in timing cover is plugged.

SQUIRREL!!!!

     So I went back to the Squirrel Performance Turbo Calculator and retried their program, I typed in my desired specs, (my specs). (change liters to CID and back to liters if lower data doesn't show) And the best map I saw was the GT2860R-2 or  GT2860RS. I know the world will say there is no way I can get 215hp out an Iron Duke. But that's what the program says at 10psi. And 187hp at 7psi. I'm happy with that.
     My plans include a real ecm not the OEM calculator the Fiero came with, so I'll have full timing control using one or even two knock sensors, the OEM ecm uses none. The OEM timing curve does not vary, it's set and does not change based on load, if it was programed for 20 degrees it will set the timing at 20 degrees. Where I might only need 15 degrees at the same time with a turbo.
     Using the Desktop Dyno 2000 program and entering specs from Amotion Cams, I get a max HP of 144hp at 4500 rpm. Using the old school "turbos ad 45% hp" that gives me 208hp. 144hp will still be fun, but if the stars and planets align 200hp will be even better.

Back to the project.......

     I'm back to thinking about turbo-ing the 2.5. I started redoing/ rechecking my previous research, found out that the 6.25 length con rods i wanted are no longer made, but on the bright side the 6.125 rods will work and are available in singles, so i don't need to buy 8 to get 4. I'm exploring the possibility of aluminum rods, some do come in 6.2 length, but pistons are harder to match to that length.
     Big news though Megasquirt has released the MS3pro

     Looks like and features resemble the sequencer they had promised a while back. Actually it's probably more powerful and feature packed than I need, but if I later change to a V-6 or V-8 I won't need to buy another ECM. Unfortunately it costs $1199 from Diyautotune.com. Ouch. But it's preassembled and already loaded with software. 

     A cheaper alternative is the Megasquirt 3 with ms3x expansion for only $645 plus cables (another $85 or so). And it could still run a V-6 or V-8 with the LSx series coils I want to use. They have even cheaper models, but they won't run the coils I want.

     I'm still researching the connecting rods, ICON 735 pistons should work with the 6.125 rods to give me a compression ratio around 8.18:1. I've found others but this combo is available so this might be the way I go.

     Garrett's website says that a GT2252 turbo will be perfect for my setup. Garret says it's good for 150 - 260hp on a 1.7 to 2.5l engine. I'm not going to go crazy with boost, around 7psi tops, if that only gives me 175, then I'll be sastisfied. I'd like to hit 200hp. Base hp for the Fiero is around 90hp so a good cam and a turbo could get me to 180. If I can find studs and a MLS head gasket I might go higher with boost, maybe 12psi max. I know this engine isn't a Honda H22, so I don't want to blow it up. Since I haven't had any luck with the head studs yet (ARP makes 1/2" studs but my engine is metric) I'm not going to pursue the high boost.

     I am planning on using an intercooler, probably a small one under the driver's side vent panel, and fiberglass snorkel over the roof. i looked into a water to air intercooler and the second radiator & water pump would take up too much space. I want to find or make scoops like theses.

Unfortunately this is the best picture I can find right now.

 I also want to get side scoops to let more air in. 

And a deck lid scoop to let the hot air out.

Although not that gawdy.

Lost another engine...

So the junkyard wouldn't come down on the price on the 3400. It had a cracked starter mounting pad, so who other than a wierdo like me would want it? My boss and I got tired of looking at the motor so we sent it back. I also got very distracted by a motorcycle, so my attention has slipped away from the fiero.