Will 97 LeSabre Tranny go into 96 Bonneville-HELP!

[94SilverSSEi]

I have what I believe to be a 4T60E tranny put of a 97 Lesabre and I can't seem to sell it the best offer I've had was $175 but the guy backed out because he said he could get a better one for cheaper. So now I found a 1996 Bonneville with a bad tranny and am wondering if these would work. I have a hoist and engine jack and stand. How much work is it to swap the tranny harder or easier than doing the engine because I just did the engine.

[ChilinMichael]

Uhh...4t60 in 97? Bonneville in 96 went to 4T65 IIRC, would be completely different.

[94SilverSSEi]

I dont know this is just what I was told. All I need to know is if I can take the 97 Lesabre tranny and put it in the 96 bonneville that's it. Thanks

[agrazela]

1996 H-body was still 4T60E
http://www.gmtuners.com/transmission/index.htm
http://home.att.net/~subzero350/1996_4T60-E.pdf
http://home.att.net/~subzero350/1997-99_4T60-E.pdf

Is the 1997 trans a 3.06 or a 2.86? Is the 1996 Bonne a 3.05 or a 2.86 (or a supercharged with 2.93)?

[94SilverSSEi]

the bonneville is not supercharged but how do I tell what gear ratio each one is

[agrazela]

Since the bonne is not supercharged, you should be able to drop the 1997 LeSabre trans into the 1996 Bonneville, needing no more than a halfaxle swap (if you need even that).

On the 1997 trans tag, look for the code:
7ACW is 3.06
7ASW is 2.86

For the 1996 Bonneville, get the gearing code from the RPO code sticker (should be on the underside of the spare tire cover in the trunk:
F17 is 2.84
FW2 is 3.06

In reality, it doesn't matter if the 1996 car is 2.84 or 3.06; if the 1997 trans is 3.06, it should drop right in, as all these use the same older-style, 4T60E "coarse" toothed diffy/internal gear and matching passenger side half axle.

On the other hand, if the trans is 2.86, it uses the newer-style "fine-pitch" diffy/internal gear (that carried over to 4T65E), which I believe means you'd either have to get a 1997/98+ passenger's side halfaxle for it (maybe you have it?) or swap over the internal ring gear, diffy, etc. from the 1996 trans (complete trans disassembly required).

In any case, you can find a way to get the 1997 trans into the 1996 car, and the 1996 car's PCM won't care which FDR you are (since all but the s/c trans are 35/35 drive/driven sprockets).

[94SilverSSEi]

Would this be harder to do than the engine because the engine was a PITA. I have heard you can just drop the subframe and just go through the bottom wouldn't this be a lot easier. I have a lift at my disposle too.
ANy ideas of how to do this would be great.
Thanks

[agrazela]

I've also heard you can support the engine and drop the subframe to get the trans out, but personally I'd pull the engine and trans together--especially if this is a car you don't already know well; it will give you a chance to get a real good look at the steering rack, all the lines, hoses, wiring, etc. in the engine bay, clean up the bay, as well as swap in new mounts if needed.

[94SilverSSEi]

I really don't wanna pull the motor because that was a real pain swapping it out last time

[alec_b]

Do it through the bottom, it's way easier. You need to support the engine from the top and drop the front and left side of the subframe. It comes out in two pieces. After that it's real easy, but you need a super (6ft+) long extension for one of the bell housing bolts, which i'm sure you already know because you've done an engine before.

But like I said, if you're just doing the trans, do it from the bottom. You can still get a good look at the rack and lines and all that jazz.

[putertopia]

x2 on just dropping subframe. This is how I did it on my gf's father's Pontiac Montana and the second time we did it (first trans was shot), we did it in under 4 hours. Now the first time expect to take a whole day if you're not very mechanically inclined. I think we got it done after 7 hours the first time, after fiddling with the steering shaft and the lack of a prybar made the axles slightly harder to get out of the trans.

[Merrillspontiac]

why don't you just buy a car with a good motor and trans?

[94SilverSSEi]

why don't you just buy a car with a good motor and trans?

Because I can't seem to find a buyer for the transmission I have for sale so I was seeing how hard it would be to just put it in another car and make some money off the deal