I want to supercharge my 97 SSE, at the moment I'm researching what it would take to complete this project. This seemed like a good place to get feedback from others. Any ideas/suggestion/concerns? Any help is appreciated.

Welcome

The link below (taken from our techinfo section) will answer many of your questions about adding an SC to your engine.

http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... =44&t=1687

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Owner / Admin

1995 SSEi / 2002 SSEi / 2001 Sierra C3 DENALI

Heads from SC motor (all the blocks are the came so all the heads can be interchanged)
Head Bolts, can be OEM replacements or Studs, up to you(Stock are Torque to Yield(one time use)
Thread Sealer (the head bolts go into the coolant jacket, and if they aren't sealed, they will weap coolant out)
Head Gaskets
Rocker bolts, Same reason as the head bolts
Valve Cover Gaskets
Harmonic Balancer From the SC motor
Tensioner for SC belt (Get H-body one, GPs and Regals are W-body and have a different setup)
Idler for Sc belt These require bolts that aren't on the L26/L36
Lower Intake Manifold from the SC motor(The bolts are the same, so you can use your old LIM bolts if needed)
Lower intake Manifold Gaskets(the Aluminum ones are the Best)
Fuel Rail(you need the one that matches your fuel system, 97-03 gets the standard rail, while 04+ needs the return-less)
Fuel Injectors Are not a requirement, but you should run the SC injectors or better flowing units
Injector connectors may be required on some years
Supercharger
Supercharger Gasket(If you use a Gen III M90 you need O-rings as well)
Supercharger Belt
Throttle Body from SC motor(This isn't required but recommended)
Throttle Body Gasket
Colder Thermostat I Recommend 180*, but that is all personal preference
1 Step Cooler Spark PlugsUsually recommended for the Top Swap
Fluids Oil(a change needs to be done after Swap and before engine is started) Coolant(you will loose a good amount doing the Swap
Oil FilterFor above change
Tuned PCM Stock Gt settings are way too aggressive for a SC application
Exhaust Manifold Gaskets (optional)


This is a basic list I used when I did my top swap that I think I copied from some GP forum and I amended the SC tensioner part because Bonnevilles have a different one than GPs. If you look up GP club forums there are many who top swap and maybe some who have a setup for sale. I bought *dang* near the entire kit from a local GP club member for about $400. It's also a good idea to replace the fuel line retainers, or whatever it's called, where the fuel line connects to the fuel rail. L36 have this elbow type connector and in order to get them onto the L67 rails you need to kinda twist and bend it, which will work, but sometimes that stress causes fuel to leak and that could end in a catastrophic fire

And you still lack the stronger pistons, rods, and wrist pins.

Want it to last? Swap in the entire drivetrain. You get the stronger transmission to go with it.

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Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers

Agreed, it will be way easier to pull the motor and swap out all the electronics than to build an engine to required specs.

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1995 Jeep Cherokee Country- 200,XXX miles and running strong. 4.0L paired with a 5 speed manual. 4.5" long arm lift with 32" tires and regeared to make up for power. Best of all, shes a fire engine red!

2000 Bonneville SSEi- 145,XXX miles, bonestock for the time (don't hold your breath, it might be a long while)

Typos courtesy of LG Optimus G- yes, I do most of my trolling with my phone. Don't judge me.

Or find a similar 97 SSEi and sell yours.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Easiest way!! Less headaches!! Seriously!

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Selling your 97 and buying an SSEi will also get you all the other bells, whistles, and goodies.

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Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers

Although seeing as he has an SSE, he could potentially have everything else....

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

if your car is all good and your happy with it, top swaps are pretty common. doing a engine/trans swap out of a ssei would be the best option if you want to keep your car. if you do a swap using a Series II locate a 97-99 SSEI harness and you should be able to basically plug and play the harness.

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Shane "RedZMonte"
2004 Z16 Z06: Virgin
2000 SSEi: Kenwood DDX512, 3.25" MPS, ZZP DP, PLog, Puck Mount, NGK TR7's, DHP Tuned
1995 Monte Z34: T04e "60" turbo, 42.5# injectors, Borla Catback, OBDII swap, DHP Tuned, Much more...

The wiring harness only needed the MAP sensor re-wired (very simple too) when I top swapped. I'm pretty sure everything else is the same except for the boost by-pass which isn't really necessary. Some say the by-pass is for noise reduction and keeps the blower from getting hotter and it supposedly helps with mileage but I still get ~30 mpg on the highway and SC noise is awesome .


From everything I've read the HD version of the transmission only has a few differences basically all involving the differential and passenger side axle. As long as you aren't spinning like a madman and all-out launching at every stop the non-HD will hold up just as well. I've put a bit of hurtin on mine so far with no troubles. I still plan on hitting up a junkyard for an HD one to rebuild but I plan on taking it easy until I do that. As far as I look at it transmissions serve two purposes in life, to make the car go and to blow up. If a car has any significant power adder it WILL blow transmissions assuming you actually take advantage of said power adder.



I'd say if you don't plan on doing the wrenching yourself go find an SSEi and sell your car but if you plan on doing the work yourself tossing in a L67/tranny combo or top swapping aren't bad ideas at all assuming you can find a local tuner. The Grand Prix clubs are an excellent source for tuners and performance discussions.

Everybody talks about what it might be need it, but anybody done it. I'm actually thinking about doing just that. I have a wrecked 1996 SSEi and I want to buy a 1997 SSE and swap the engine transmission, PCM and wires, but I want to make sure that it is actually doable, that I'm not going to encounter a wiring problem with the PCM or other, or something else.

If someone was done it, please post a reply.

Thank you.

Several people have done it.

Wiring harness, PCM, axles, trans, and engine. That's what you need. You will need a factory service manual along with that list.

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Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers

Do you know anybody in Utah that have done it?
I have a 1996 SSEi that is crashed, but the engine is intact. So I'm thinking about buying this 1997 SSE that is the same color inside and outside. You are right guys, it is easier just to buy another SSEi, but this color is very rare. Is that green that change tones with the light, and the interior is green as well (see my pictures)

I already modified the engine on my 1997 SSEi, so I'm not scared of doing the swap myself, but I want to make sure that I'm not going to encounter a mayor compatibly problem, and that at the end it is going to work the way that it should.

I swapped an L67/trans into my '86 Buick. I didn't have any major compatability problems. You are taking a H-body engine/trans and swapping it into another H-body car. It will work after the swap if it worked before the swap. Have the chassis service manuals ready for both cars and understand that there may be some wiring differences and some parts differences.
Easiest way is to do as willwren said.

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Boost addict


The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67

Thank you all for your input. I realize modifying my engine will be a difficult task but I think I would prefer to go that route.

I spoke with a local mechanic that has worked on my car before, he mentioned changing upper and lower intakes and the computer chip as well.

I think this route is cheaper than replacing the whole engine and I believe I can achieve greater results than the Supercharger SSEi engine.

You would have to replace everything from the heads up, not just the LIM, and the Supercharger will become your upper plenum.

It's not that much cheaper to top-swap, once you figure in that you can get a good condition used Series II Supercharged for around $600 or the stronger Series III for around a grand, and you'll spend around a grand on gaskets and parts and still have the weaker bottom end and wiring issues to figure out, plus more work if you do it in the car, versus doing an engine swap.

There's no chip to replace, you will have to have your PCM custom-flashed with a .bin similar to the 96 SSEi to accomodate the 4T60E trans and the Series II supercharged. A 97 SSEi would've had the 4T65E-HD and the S2, only the 96's had the S2 and 4T60E-HD.

Please, don't listen to your local mechanic who obviously has never done this before. He may have good intentions, he just doesn't know the ins and outs of the different engines. Listen to us, we know these engines inside and out, and don't get paid to do this. We're here to help you, not to profit off of you.

[off-topic]


Unless you by-passed the BCA and propped the by-pass closed, it still opens the valve during light-throttle and cruising, you just don't have PCM control of the bypass for KR, while in reverse, etc. [/off-topic]

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Your mechanic is a bit off base. The cheapest and easiest option is a full swap. The point about the generation of your transmission is a key point.

_________________

Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers

what do you think the cost of swapping the engines would run me?

Less than modifying the existing. And then you can pick your PCM. You'll need trans out of a supercharged car, preferably the same donor as the engine. Engine, trans, PCM, wiring harness, axles, etc.

At that point though, you should just sell your SSE and buy an SSEi.

_________________

Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers