S-10 Forum banner

88' fiero ignition/ecu swap?

4K views 9 replies 4 participants last post by  lesterl  
#1 ·
ive been doing some research on the 2.5l in all of it versions, there are several.
Here are some general VIN notes regarding the various 2.5 liter motors:


Vin V 1977-1980 Carb non cross-flow head (intake & exhaust manifold on same side)
Vin 1 1978-1979 Carb non cross-flow head
Vin 9 1979 Carb non cross-flow head
Vin F 1980-1983 Carb export only
Vin 5 1982-1983 Carb cross-flow heads from 1982 on
Vin 2 1982-1986 TBI Thrust brg length 1.009, Head bolt spacing 3.75
Vin R 1982-1992 TBI FWD/RWD/Fiero Thrust brg length 1.009, Head bolt spacing 3.75
Vin U 1985-1991 TBI N-car FWD Only Thrust brg length 0.940, Head bolt spacing 3.67
Vin E 1985-1991 TBI S-10, Astro Van Thrust brg length 1.009, Head bolt spacing 3.75
Vin A 1991-1993 TBI S-10 Thrust brg length 1.009, Head bolt spacing 3.75

i was wondering if anyone knows if the parts for the fiero are compatable w/ the vin E and/or A?
if its possible to take the distributerless ignition of the 87-88 fiero and adapt it to the s10? do i need the ecu from the fiero?​
 
#2 ·
Sounds like an interesting idea as the dist is a PITA to get to on these. I unfortunately dont know, might check out the fierro forum, EDDIE?
 
#3 ·
i did some more reseacrh on how the distributerless ignition works
ur gonna need the crank outa the fiero, its got a positioning sensor u need, im bettin ur gonna need the ecu and all that, and there's probly more im missing(coils and so on).
i wouldnt want the block outa fiero as it's not as strong as the vin E and A motors are(The S-10 truck block is good because it has solid main webs like the SD block. It is cast from average grade iron though, where as, the SD block uses 40,000 psi high nickel iron.). but i think theres enough in common that this would work...
now the only thing is, is it feesable? is it worth doing if u can? i know that if u wanted to do an ecu tune that there are a few available for the fiero.
i guess it depends on how available the parts are and if the parts are swapable.
 
#5 ·
Fab---

This change-over can be done. Like you said, you would need the DIS engined crankshaft, because it has the reluctor wheel on it, that triggers the DIS.

And the brainbox and wiring harness and coil packs, but what sours me on it is the fact that you gain very little.

The really big downer is that you are stuck with fixed timing. At least with the OE S10's distributor, you can advance the static timing to, say, 9 or 10* and maybe pick up a little performance using Premium gas. A freshly remanned distributor costs between $125 to $155, and will last another 100K miles, easy.

I am pretty sure that my truck has the original cap, rotor, and ignition module in it, with 192K miles, still works..:D
 
#6 ·
Fab---

This change-over can be done. Like you said, you would need the DIS engined crankshaft, because it has the reluctor wheel on it, that triggers the DIS.

And the brainbox and wiring harness and coil packs, but what sours me on it is the fact that you gain very little.

The really big downer is that you are stuck with fixed timing. At least with the OE S10's distributor, you can advance the static timing to, say, 9 or 10* and maybe pick up a little performance using Premium gas. A freshly remanned distributor costs between $125 to $155, and will last another 100K miles, easy.

I am pretty sure that my truck has the original cap, rotor, and ignition module in it, with 192K miles, still works..:D
i thought it would work, but it seems like theres alot a work if you werent in the process of rebuilding the engine in the first place. very true point w/ the timing on the dist. altho w/ the ecu tuning options available for the fiero's ecu gains can be made there, lets all face the facts that your not gonna get alot of performance outa the duke anyways. if you want power swap in something else, anything else lol.
 
#7 ·
You could get an external pickup coil and a pulley with the 24x teeth on it I believe.
 
#9 ·
i realize that it wount gain much if any power, but how about drivablity?
do u think that it would run a lil better?(throttle response?)
ignition upgrades on a stock vehicle usually doesnt gain much hp, but the throttle response is usually a bit better, maybe even a few more mpg's.
 
#10 ·
If you wanted to, get an aftermarket ECU, i.e. MegaSquirt. You can drill some holes and have some injector bungs TIGged into place for 4 injectors, an external pickup coil on the front of the engine and a high pressure fuel pump and regulator, a port and polish (maybe someone brave to enlarge the intake ports on the head slightly), you might have a real snappy lil 4 banger, I rebuilt the 2.5 in mine and it had gobs of torque (way more than any of the other 4 cyl S10's I ever had). Good luck.