Engine cradle swap; tranny swap

[MikeNW]

I'm bored so I think I'll make a trip to local Pull A Part.

I checked the swap sticky... Seems that engine cradles 93 and up will interchange.
Are coupes and sedans and wagons the same? (I have a '97 SL)

also, will look for a spare tranny- Mine is a SOHC 5 speed 1997, where is the identifying mark on the tranny? I understand that there are different manual trannies.

Thanks!

[PurdueGuy]

Originally Posted by MikeNW

I'm bored so I think I'll make a trip to local Pull A Part.

I checked the swap sticky... Seems that engine cradles 93 and up will interchange.
Are coupes and sedans and wagons the same? (I have a '97 SL)

also, will look for a spare tranny- Mine is a SOHC 5 speed 1997, where is the identifying mark on the tranny? I understand that there are different manual trannies.

Thanks!

Yes, within the same year the cradles are the same across all models. I can't speak to the years that interchange, but I know most do.

There are 2 stamps on the upper bellhousing of the transmission. One is pretty deep, and easy to find, but won't tell you if it's an MP2 or MP3. The one that will is a much more subtle stamp that you won't be able to see if the trans is dirty, and you'll have a hard time spotting when it's clean. A long aphanumeric will start with MP2 or MP3. Simplest way to know which it is, though, is that SOHC's came with MP2s, DOHC's came with MP3's. Unless someone has swapped the trans of course.

[Low Saturn]

Originally Posted by MikeNW

I checked the swap sticky... Seems that engine cradles 93 and up will interchange.
Are coupes and sedans and wagons the same? (I have a '97 SL)

1994 and up. Dont get a 1991-1993.

Sedan, wagon, coupe, SOHC, DOHC, auto, and manual cradles are all the same.

1991, the mount provisions are different. 1992/1993 puts the radiator in a diffrent position. You could use a 92/93 cradle. If you buy a 91-93 radiator.

[MikeNW]

10-4
thanks a ton!

[driveitforlife]

Originally Posted by Low Saturn

1994 and up. Dont get a 1991-1993.

Sedan, wagon, coupe, SOHC, DOHC, auto, and manual cradles are all the same.

1991, the mount provisions are different. 1992/1993 puts the radiator in a diffrent position. You could use a 92/93 cradle. If you buy a 91-93 radiator.

So, may I replace the bent cradle on my 1993 SL1 with a cradle from a 1991 SL1? Or do the different mount provisions you mention above rule out a good fit? Thank you.

Driveitforlife
1993 SL1 267K. Rusting but running.

[caveeagle]

Originally Posted by driveitforlife

So, may I replace the bent cradle on my 1993 SL1 with a cradle from a 1991 SL1? Or do the different mount provisions you mention above rule out a good fit? Thank you.

Driveitforlife
1993 SL1 267K. Rusting but running.

You should be able to use any 91-93. The radiator mounts are different on the early cars. I do remember a thread here where somebody was able to make a later cradle fit (KingRex??). But your better off just getting an early rust free cradle.

[cityhawk]

Originally Posted by caveeagle

You should be able to use any 91-93. The radiator mounts are different on the early cars. I do remember a thread here where somebody was able to make a later cradle fit (KingRex??). But your better off just getting an early rust free cradle.

That was probably me. I have a 1994+ (unsure of year) cradle in my 1993 SW2. I had to bend the upper radiator mounts to get the radiator to fit, though a later model radiator isn't a bad idea if you're swapping cradles.

The larger issue is the fact that in 1992-3 cars have the upper transaxle mount attach to a bracket on the subframe and 1994+ cars have this mount attach to the side of the space frame. So a 1994+ cradle lacks this bracket. I was able to purchase a bracket new, though if your bracket on the old subframe is still in good shape, perhaps you can salvage it and drill the holes in the new subframe to mount it. This would be much easier to do while the new subframe is out of the car, rather than when it is in the car, like when I did it.

This picture from the FSM shows the bracket on the subframe so you can see what I'm talking about:


This post shows a picture of the bracket I purchased. I got it from GMParts4u.com from their "vintage" collection.