sunfire engine swap

[pjrainmaker]

Like most Sunfire owners, I like driving my little 5-speed go-cart but need more power!!!
I want to swap out the underpowered 2.2L out of my '95 SE and put a completely different motor in. I was thinking either a 2.4L or an older Quad-4 HO. Or even a performance crate motor.
Question;
what motors share similiar mounting locations and would mount to the tranny? Or where could I look to find this info?

[-Josh-]

I'm sure if the supercharged 3800 V6 can fit in an older Cavalier, it might be able to fit in your Sunfire. It has 240 HP stock, you should look into that.

[MaximusGTR]

I'd be scared to race you if you got that done, until then Forced Induction on mine

[pjrainmaker]

I've thought about putting in a sc 3800 eversince I saw a barretta with one in it. The only thing is that a) I don't want to get rid of the 5 speed and GM will NEVER make on for that motor, and b) that involves a little more modification than what I was planning.
I haven't abandoned the idea yet if someone who has done it already wouldn't mind sharing the steps that they went through.
Right now, I'm leaning more towards taking a complete 3.1 assembly out of an early 90's sunbird, engine, 5-speed tranny, drive shafts, engine cradle, suspension, and completely replacing it into my sunfire. Of course the motor will be modified before install, I'm thinking forged pistons/rods, cam and head jobs, possibly supercharger, and prepped for mild NOS. The upper strut mounts should bolt right up into the Sunfire strut towers. Then you just have to mount the sunBIRD ECM under the hood so the motor will function accordingly. There are perf. chip companies that will program the ECM according to what you've done to your motor. To avoid troubling with hooking up stock gauges, I was planning on getting the A-pillar cluster offered at RK Sport. AND since the Sunfire has a separate BCM, I won't have to worry about combining the sunBIRD ECM to the rest of the car to make it work.
The result should be a '95 Sunfire with a 240 (that's with mods) hp V6 that doesn't require massive mods, but also provides me with the 5-speed fun. Not to mention that the torque from the 3.1 will be more controllable than that from the sc 3800.
The power sttering is up to you. You can either change the rack along with the rest of the system or just run new lines to run to the 3.1 ps pump.
Wheel bolt pattern stays the same and I'm pretty sure wheel base stays the same as well. Also, you don't have to change the radiator.
What you WILL have to reconfigure is the fuel lines and tranny line or just the mounting (your choice)

[-Josh-]

If i recall right, GM made a 5 speed Grand Prix GT, which has 200 HP. You could also look into that. I don't think that i would go with rebuilding a sunbird engine, if your going to do that you might as well rebuild the engine you already have in your car, it would save a little money. But try looking into the GT model engine.

JJ

[Scott 02]

Im sure a supercharged 3800 V6 can fit in an older Cavalier, it might be able to fit in your Sunfire. It has 240 HP stock, you should look into that.

Wow, just a warning, you will be putting alot of time and effort doing that. I don't think i would go there at all and hurt your car and the value of it. A sunfire is a nice little sports car. I makes a great car for the first time drivers and for the people who want the sporty look. If i were you...i wouldn't wast my money and time doing that kind of upgrade. Sell the Sunfire and buy something with more "umph" and then do the mods.

[MaximusGTR]

Originally posted by Scott 02


Wow, just a warning, you will be putting alot of time and effort doing that. I don't think i would go there at all and hurt your car and the value of it. A sunfire is a nice little sports car. I makes a great car for the first time drivers and for the people who want the sporty look. If i were you...i wouldn't wast my money and time doing that kind of upgrade. Sell the Sunfire and buy something with more "umph" and then do the mods.

I totally agree, You could get another car with what you'd be paying for that. Too much $$$$ unless you have it like that of course

[Scott 02]

Right, I just couldn't see doing that kind of a swap with a sunfire. Don't mess it up pjrainmaker, and i hope that your haven't done it all ready.

[brianteel]

That motor swap is donable. People have done it in a cavilier berretta grand prix cutlass fiero and the list goes on. I have been collecting all the information i can find and posting on my site www.l67swap.com . there is one person working on a sunfire swap right now. fell free to check out the site and join the forum

[fieroturbo]

Hey, go to exploitedracing.com

TONS of performance stuff for the 2.2. Turbo kits, cylinder heads, forged internals, drivetrain upgrades, fuel system upgrades, exhaust and intake stuff, name it.

Also try mantapart.com

[erifnuS]

Originally Posted by Scott 02

Sell the Sunfire and buy something with more "umph" and then do the mods.

Yes.. Get a Fiero!!
Still a Pontiac too!
And YES, there are 10 sec. Fiero's with the 3800SC!!
www.fiero.nl

[fieroturbo]

Actually, there's ten second Fiero's with the 2.5 Iron Duke too.

10.2 sec 1.4 mile on about 375HP (actually, it may have been 275).

[pyromaster1]

Originally Posted by Z28Josh

If i recall right, GM made a 5 speed Grand Prix GT, which has 200 HP. You could also look into that. I don't think that i would go with rebuilding a sunbird engine, if your going to do that you might as well rebuild the engine you already have in your car, it would save a little money. But try looking into the GT model engine.

JJ

hey can u tell me where to look to find that gt engine. i am looking to do an engine swap on my sunfire too. thanks.

[hotbug1776]

the 200 hp GT was with a 2.3L HO I believe. since the HO was rated at 180HP for a year or two. the W41 2.3L was a 190hp 4cyl.

To do the swap you will need a new computer and a new harness if you go with a quad, possibly the same with the 2.4tc. also a new Transmission as the 2.2 used a different tranny (IIRC). and new motor mounts. as the quad/TC mounts different than the other motor. to do the 3800, you need to cut a lot of metal and shoe horn it in. then everything is custom from there, wires comp, exhaust, motor mounts, subframe. quite a task and a lot of $$$. some on the ORG have done it, search there for more info.

I am getting (at tax time) a 300+CHP 2.6L quad 4 (custom) to put in my 95 Sunfire GT. since I already have a quad, the swap will be a pretty simple task. not a drop in, but not too bad. even with that, a whole suspension upgrade will be required, not to make it a better driving car, but to handle that much HP safely. BTW the initial estimate is 300+chp, I will most likely have around 325WHP totally N/A. the motor will also handle boost with ease.

[2000 SunFire GT-S]

Originally Posted by pjrainmaker

Like most Sunfire owners, I like driving my little 5-speed go-cart but need more power!!!
I want to swap out the underpowered 2.2L out of my '95 SE and put a completely different motor in. I was thinking either a 2.4L or an older Quad-4 HO. Or even a performance crate motor.
Question;
what motors share similiar mounting locations and would mount to the tranny? Or where could I look to find this info?

well the 3400 v6(160hp) ,2.2 ecotec(145hp), 2.4 ecotec(175hp)and the,2.0 supercharged ecotec(205hp) will just drop right in.and I think these three engines will fit too the 3.9 v6,3.5 v6,and 3.6 v6 but i'm not sure