Can a '99 DOHC engine go into a '01 SL2 car?

[hawaiiianstylel]

Hi! First time for me to work on a front wheel drive vehicle.

I looked long and hard at the tech section and the how-to library and got a lot of good info. However, these two questions remain:


1) I have a 2001 SL2 with a hydro-locked Twin Cam/DOHC motor. The only used engine I can find on the island is a 1999 DOHC.
Will it fit?

I imagine some emission and fuel items may be different but I am hoping they can be swapped.

2) As the trans is automatic and engine is seized, I don't think I can access all four of the bolts holding the torque convertor to the block.
If I must pull the engine and trans together, should I take it out the top or drop the cradle?
I do have a host w leveler and enough floor jacks, etc.

I looked long and hard at the tech section and the how-to library and got a lot of good info. However, these two questions remain....


Great forum and kudos to all who run it and participate!!

[samsr]

will it fit, Yes. Make sure you transfer ALL of the sensors and such from the 2001 to the 99 engine. You will have to relocate the knock sensor though. I used the hole on the opposite side of the engine that is supposed to hold the block heater in place. I also made a heat shield so that the sensor would not get cooked while being that close to the exhaust.

[hawaiiianstylel]

Aloha and thanks, samsr! I appreciate your advice and will carefully swap out the sensors and accessories.

[BarnOwl]

The bolts for the torque converter to the flexplate are accessed through the inspection plate. Take off the aluminum stiffener and the 8 mm bolts on the inspection plate and turn the engine to bring each of them into place and unbolt them.

If you really mean the transmission to block, I can tell you right now that the top bolts and the front bottom bolt are easy to get to from the top. The back bottom bolt must be done from underneath the car. If you don't think you can get at it, you don't have any business trying to pull the engine because there are 3 bolts on the intermediate shaft that have to come out back there too.

[hawaiiianstylel]

Thanks Barnowl...but the engine is seized...will not turn at all even with a breaker bar and cheater pipe on the crankshaft pulley nut.

So I surmised that I will not be able to access one or more of the torque convertor to flywheel bolts and will have to yank the motor and trans out together.

Shall I go up and out or drop the cradle?

[samsr]

you can either drop the cradle or remove them as a unit from the top. Whichever is easiest for you. Dont forget to drain both units befor you pull them. When you remove the engine from the transmission you are going to lose the oil from the torque converter also. This could be a mess situation. Just be ready for it. Good luck with the project.

[ssicarman]

Originally Posted by hawaiiianstylel

Thanks Barnowl...but the engine is seized...will not turn at all even with a breaker bar and cheater pipe on the crankshaft pulley nut.

So I surmised that I will not be able to access one or more of the torque convertor to flywheel bolts and will have to yank the motor and trans out together.

Shall I go up and out or drop the cradle?

Take the engine and trans out the top. The front of the engine will need to be tilted up higher than the trans so your leveler will be needed. Taking the crank pulley off will make life easier.

On the engine make sure that the two engines are the same in appearance. If your 99 does not have the black plastic intake then you may run problems. The intakes are very different between the plastic and the aluminum one. you may be able to mount the plastic one on the 99 if it has an aluminum intake. It may just be a matter of removing some of the studs. Look into that bebore you install the engine back into the car.