Tranny Swap

[cape_breton_ga]

I Have an '03 Grand AM SE, with the Auto Trans. I was just wondering if it would be much to change to a Manual Trans, I really miss having the 5spd and if doesn't entail too much of a cost I would like to swap mine out for the manual, Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Ralph]

We'll just to give you an idea unless you find a really cheap parts car it cost me about 1300 for all the parts hunting them down took like 8 months. When swapping it in don't expect everything direct bolt on. Personally I advise finding a 5-speed grand am I bought mine and dropped in a engine with 40 more hp for less then all those parts cost.

[Blackhawk]

Shouldn't be too bad, find an Ecotec with the 5 speed in a yard or something.

[sudden_impulse]

^ like he said, you have an engine that was made to have a manual in this car, just find a donor car with the 5-speed in a junkyard, pull all the parts (not sure what they are, get the whole car if it's cheap enough) and bolt it up. Or, just live with your automatic, because you'll have to remove the engine completely and tear apart your console to get it to work.

[Ralph]

once again there will be minor welding required for a mount I believe. Just because the motor has a tranny that was paired with it doesn't mean the chassis will bolt right on as well. You need to talk to 2K SE who did the swap on a 5-th gen 2.4 I believe he is still the only one and the Twin Cam and the Ecotec are very similar.

[Blackhawk]

If he found a donor with a blown engine couldn't he just use the subframe off the junked car? Assuming he finds a GA with the 2.2 5-speed of course.

[Ralph]

its not just the subframe there is a side tranny mount that needs to be welded

[Blackhawk]

Gotcha. I like the old days (yes I know I'm 18, but I know the old cars) where almost anything fit in everything and didn't take 70+ hours of wiring.

[GregFarz78]

Yea its not direct bolt in you think it should be but its not. I'm not sure but you probably need the ecu from a 5spd too

[2K SE]

If you can, find a donor car. If you want to do this it is pretty much plug and play.
I used alot of the parts from the donor to make it way easier. The subframe swap eliminates any welding. The PCM out of the donor works but your PCM can be flashed for the 5 speed. After you find a donor you will also need a things like new clutch and new flywheel bolts. I would also check the condition of the wear out parts like the master cylinder and slave.
There is another member gathering parts now, daytona-turbo, so you will not be the only one trying this.
If I can be of any more help please ask.

[token]

If you can, find a donor car. If you want to do this it is pretty much plug and play.
I used alot of the parts from the donor to make it way easier. The subframe swap eliminates any welding. The PCM out of the donor works but your PCM can be flashed for the 5 speed. After you find a donor you will also need a things like new clutch and new flywheel bolts. I would also check the condition of the wear out parts like the master cylinder and slave.
There is another member gathering parts now, daytona-turbo, so you will not be the only one trying this.
If I can be of any more help please ask.

I want to do the same thing to my 01 GE SE, but it was 110 000KM and I am wondering if it is even worth just for the sake of driving standard, still debating

[2K SE]

I did mine at 84000 miles when the tranny started to slip. The way I see it is I have too much money invested to even worry about how long the motor lasts. Just gonna swap it out and rebuild when the time comes.

[token]

I did mine at 84000 miles when the tranny started to slip. The way I see it is I have too much money invested to even worry about how long the motor lasts. Just gonna swap it out and rebuild when the time comes.

I guess that is true, the 2.4 is prolly a dime a dozen.

[daytona_turbo]

I did mine at 84000 miles when the tranny started to slip. The way I see it is I have too much money invested to even worry about how long the motor lasts. Just gonna swap it out and rebuild when the time comes.

im at 93,000 and it is starting to slip as well, lit the trany swapping begin!!!

[daytona_turbo]

If you can, find a donor car. If you want to do this it is pretty much plug and play.
I used alot of the parts from the donor to make it way easier. The subframe swap eliminates any welding. The PCM out of the donor works but your PCM can be flashed for the 5 speed. After you find a donor you will also need a things like new clutch and new flywheel bolts. I would also check the condition of the wear out parts like the master cylinder and slave.
There is another member gathering parts now, daytona-turbo, so you will not be the only one trying this.
If I can be of any more help please ask.

the 5spd has dif mounds than the auto? where is the mount at for the 5spd?

[2K SE]

The upper mount stays. The other 3 are on the tranny and none from the auto will work. Buy all 3 and fill the front and rear with window weld. (you don't need to do that last step but you will thank me if you do.)

[daytona_turbo]

The upper mount stays. The other 3 are on the tranny and none from the auto will work. Buy all 3 and fill the front and rear with window weld. (you don't need to do that last step but you will thank me if you do.)


now do you need the sub frame from the stick or will the sub frame from the auto work, i havent seen the munual subframe but im just wondering what the diff is.

[Blackhawk]

Should just be mounts that are different. The sub frame from the auto should work but will most likely involve more work getting the mounts straight and all.

[2K SE]

The subframes ARE different. You will need to do some cutting and welding to make the auto frame work. I found it way easier to get the frame from the donor. Plug and play FTW. If you can measure and weld it should be OK to reuse your auto frame.

[Blackhawk]

Though it is porbably a better investment to get the manual subframe if possible, like 2K said. Depending on the yard it won't cost too much more to take that with the engine.

[daytona_turbo]

yea ill do anything to make the swap go smoother... now i just have to find the donor car lol. 2k you said to fill the mounts with "window weld" what is that kinda like j b weld??

[2K SE]

It's a glue for the windows. It is urathane that will get pretty rigid but not rock hard. Almost as good as poly mounts but cheaper and my wheel hop is GONE. Trust me, it's a good mod. And one more thing. If you can swing it buy a Team Green LSD insert (200 bux I think) for your differential before the install. Always hated one wheel burnouts. Don't have to worry about that anymore either. :D I sure wish I had someone around with this advise when I did the swap.

[daytona_turbo]

It's a glue for the windows. It is urathane that will get pretty rigid but not rock hard. Almost as good as poly mounts but cheaper and my wheel hop is GONE. Trust me, it's a good mod. And one more thing. If you can swing it buy a Team Green LSD insert (200 bux I think) for your differential before the install. Always hated one wheel burnouts. Don't have to worry about that anymore either. :D I sure wish I had someone around with this advise when I did the swap.


oh ok that sounds like a good idea. do you have a web site for the LSD lol yea one wheel burnouts suck. and it is very nice to have someone to talk to and to give insite about the swap.

[2K SE]

Sorry, no website I know of but you need to log on to jbody.org and search for Team Green LSD. Might even be a group buy going on now.