IN SEARCH OF: Cobalt SS or Saturn Ion Redline Donor (LSJ). - See Details Here

Project: Resurrected Heart

The Mission: A Modern Pulse for a Classic Chassis

The goal of Project Resurrected Heart is simple but ambitious: to replace the aging, heavy, and obsolete 2.8L L44 V6 with a modern, lightweight, and supercharged 2.0L LSJ Ecotec. We aren't just looking for more power—we are looking for a complete mechanical rebirth.

The Evolution: Iron to Aluminum

The most significant impact of this resurrection isn't just the supercharger whine; it’s the massive improvement in the power-to-weight ratio. By moving to an all-aluminum platform, we are drastically changing the handling characteristics of the 1988 chassis.

Spec Factory Baseline (L44 V6) The Resurrection (LSJ Supercharged)

Engine Weight (Dry) ~478 lbs ~300 lbs

Weight Savings -- -178 lbs

Induction Naturally Aspirated Eaton M62 Supercharger

Horsepower 135 hp 205 hp (Stock Pulley)

Torque 170 lb-ft 200 lb-ft (Stock Pulley)

Technical Note: Shedding 178 lbs from the rear of a mid-engine car is the single most effective
"handling mod" possible. It lowers the polar moment of inertia, making the car more agile, more predictable, and significantly better under braking.

Current Phase: Procurement & Logistics

The Search for the Donor

We aren't just looking for an engine; we’re looking for a complete donor vehicle (either a Cobalt SS or Saturn Ion Redline). Sourcing a full donor allows us to harvest the Heart (the LSJ), the Gears (a heavy-duty transmission), and the Nervous System (the wiring and ECU) all at once.

The Engine (The Heart): A GM 2.0L LSJ. We are looking for a healthy unit that can serve as a reliable baseline before we begin the tuning process in the Lab.
The Transmission (The Backbone): While the factory Fiero Getrag 282 is iconic, it isn’t built for the torque of a modified, supercharged Ecotec. We are sourcing a modern heavy-duty manual (such as the F23 or F35) to ensure the power actually makes it to the pavement without shearing gears.
The Documentation: Every donor vehicle has a story. Part of our "Resurrection" mission is documenting the teardown and the process of reclaiming these high-performance parts.

The Technical Path: Why We’re Swapping the Gears

A major part of our Precision pillar is anticipating failure before it happens.

Feature The Factory Getrag 282 The Heavy-Duty Upgrade (Donor)

Max Torque Rating ~200 lb-ft (Limit of safety) 250+ lb-ft (Built for boost)

Parts Availability Rare / NLA Components Modern & Highly Supported

Gear Ratios Optimized for the V6 Optimized for high-revving 4-cylinders

Integrity Level "Fingers Crossed" Shop Standard

Integration Checklist: Phase 1

[ ] Identify Donor: Scouring local auctions and marketplaces for a suitable LSJ-powered vehicle.
[ ] Transmission Selection: Finalizing the choice between the F23 (known for durability) and the F35 (Cobalt SS standard).
[ ] Donor Teardown: Extraction of the powertrain, harness, and critical sensors.
[ ] "The Lab" Mapping: Beginning the digital pin-out of the donor harness to see how it will talk to the Fiero chassis.