We’ve got a crazy custom Pontiac Fiero that will make all those fake Ferrari conversions look boring. It’s a fully customized 1986 Fiero that’s been chopped into a convertible, painted bright yellow, and had a big-block Chevy engine stuffed under the hood.
It’s no secret that the Pontiac Fiero was GM’s first mid-engined sports car, several decades ahead of the C8 Corvette. However, company bosses wanted this to be a cheaply developed and fuel-efficient commuter, so it never achieved its full potential.
One area where the Fiero fell short is the size of the engine, starting off in 1984 with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder. The “Iron Duke” was reportedly capable of 50 miles per gallon, but it only produced about 90 horsepower. Later on, they brought a V6 Fiero out, but that wasn’t exactly a powerhouse either.
Because the Fiero is such a cult car now, many owners have found ways to swap in all kinds of modern engines, racing from Chevy small-block V8s to Cadillac Northstar engines. The 3.4-liter from the 1990s Firebird is also a popular swap, and one shop even managed to install a Z06 Corvette motor.
However, this next build takes things to another level by putting the V8 at the front. ScottieDTV was at an open-house event held by Nichols Paint and Fab, where he spotted this monstrosity. Its owner is a retired electrician and hot rodder, who decided to swap a 427 motor under the hood of his second Fiero.
Custom yellow paint, silver leather interior
It’s shocking to see that 427 Chevy big-block motor coming out through a hole in the hood. The name “Ratero” is an indication of what this motor is exactly. From 1965 until 1976, Chevy buyers had the option to buy a Detroit V8 big-block nicknamed the Chevy Mark IV, better known as the “Rat,” although this came in various other sizes: 396, 402, and the King of the V8s, the LS6 454 cubic-inch.
Of course, that doesn’t tell us the power of the engine. It can be an awesome 427 Tri-Power from a 69 Corvette or it can be something that started off with about 200 horsepower. But that doesn’t really matter, since this thing appears to be built like a dragster, based on the size of the carburetors and high-flow fuel system.
The switch from mid- to front-engined probably required months of chassis fabrication. Not only is the big-block V8 snugly mounted next to the firewall, but has also been chopped to make it a convertible. A custom frame has been installed underneath the bodywork to increase rigidity and make sure the Fiero can handle many times its original power.
A GM TH350 automatic sends power to a 10-bolt positronic rear end, presumably also a GM part. It’s amazing that this thing exists and yet nobody has ever filmed it before. Speaking of which, the one other Fiero of this shocking caliber was also filmed by ScottieDTV about a decade ago and has a supercharged V8 mounted like in a supercar. Check it out below.
