282 reliability versus 4T60e

[pshojo]

I am junking out my rusting black sedan and moving my 3800 to a rust free body and taking best of both cutlass into one. I'm not using my 3:43 trans anymore, delays going into gear and only get 18/19 mpg in town and 24-27 mpg highway.

 

Reason #1- have a baby coming in sept and want dependable vehicle and Bonus- if I can optimize gas mileage as driver and vehicle we'd take on trips...

 

option of trans.

1. 1996 3:05 FDR trans with 65k miles, 4t60e

2. 1988, 282 with all needed parts, except clutch

 

How dependable are the 282 trans? What upgrades should I do to trans? Anyone use these with 3.5/3.8 engines that can tell me experience.

 

Or If I use the 3:05 trans (already spare n selected for gas mileage), what would you recommend me doing before I install?

 

Of course #1 goal is dependability, then Improved gas mileage.

 

suggestions on which? Thoughts?

Edited March 12, 2015 by pshojo

[55trucker]

The 282 is a stout trans, I (we've) put them behind 350 LT1 engines that we've dropped into Fiero's, as long as one doesn't go crazy & load up the bottom end the casing will hold up & the axleshafts don't break, the clutch can be a weak spot as well depending on what you have in front of it, if you're planning on just a regular N/A L36 3800 then a regular clutch should hold up, if you've an L67 then a stronger clutch would be needed.

 

What year of vehicle are you planning this for? Pulling a 4T60E from an OBDII car & installing a manual trans will see the need for a reprogram of the ECM to eliminate the *auto* trans config. If you drop this into an OBDI car you'll need to replace the eeprom with a custom tuned chip for the same reasons and some custom work to both wiring harnesses will be needed.

 

Which 282 do you have? I'm assuming that it is an MG2, the Fiero casing makes use of an external clutch fork arm whereas the FWD trans uses an internal arm, the FWD casing is a better casing to use, overall this swap is a little more than just a drop-in and go.

Edited March 12, 2015 by 55trucker

[pshojo]

This is good info.

1. Trans is Wbody , 1988

2. Running 3800 series 3 with 1.9 rockers, SC TB,

3. Car is 1995... However with my swap had Miltzy set up 1997 GP PCM.

4. Harness is modified, came out of a 1996regal to run my current 4t60e

 

how else does this change?

1. Any issues with still having cruise control?

[55trucker]

The cruise should not be an issue, it is still commanded by the ECM, but the TCC lockup control has to be removed as it is unlocked every time you step on the brake pedal ( goes back to eliminating everything related to the auto trans),

 

when you say your harness IS modified....it's an OBDII harness currently in an OBD 1.5 still controlling an auto, so it would still need modification for the manual trans operation,

 

L67 OBDII with manual trans is a common install into Fiero's, perhaps Robert (here) can help you with the reprogramming of the ECM, if not I'm sure that you can get help over at Pennocks Fiero forum pointing you to where you can get the ECM done for your project.

[pshojo]

Another option is just

swap manual 282 and go to LX9 (3.5), who has done this? What has mileage have you gotten?

 

with 282 and 3.8, what is gear ratio? Trying to think if I would get better gas mileage?

[19Cutlass94]

If your after gas mileage, I'd look into a 6spd swap. That extra gear can come in handy.

 

I can tell you that with my 284, my cammed 3400 ( was kinda sorta tuned at the time ) I got 28mpg turning almost 2400-2500 on the highway. 282 would do much better.

[pshojo]

I am going for gas mileage and dependability. I'm also concerned with this because the typical highways I travel to see family has recently raised speed limit to 70&75 mph. So my 3:43 trans with 3.8 gets 24-26mpg, where I used to get 26-28 mpg. And To spend more money and time I really would like to see a gain.

 

I don't know how much F40 swap would run? Anyone have ideas?

Edited March 19, 2015 by pshojo

[Addicted To Boost]

The F40 swap is far from a bolt-in and go affair. I believe it involves cutting and modifying the frame cradle, if I remember correctly.

[pshojo]

As much as I would love f40, I'm going to need to stick with what I can get, 4t60e or 282. & 3.8l- Maybe 3400 & 3500 are possible if I can find good one in junk yard. I am going to be pulling the dash for HUD install.

[pshojo]

By the way, was the 3400 pretty easy bolt in option with 282? How do you like your can? Would you do anything different?

[19Cutlass94]

The 3400 is basically a direct bolt in for the 282/284. If your wanting better mileage, manual over auto any day of the week. As long as you can properly drive a manual.

[pshojo]

Properly driving a manual is no problem, i can drive like an old man when i want to.

 

Think the 282 will give better gas mileage with the 3.8 than with 3:06 auto trans?

 

Will the 282 bolt pretty much up to the 3500 too?

 

By the way i Love the color of your Cutty

[Addicted To Boost]

Depends what kind of driving you do. If it is mixed or city, the 282 will net better mileage. If it is primarily highway, the taller overdrive gear and FDR will likely boost the highway mileage more. For what it's worth, I averaged 29 MPG in my 06 GTP with mostly highway driving with the L32 and 2.93 gears.

[pshojo]

I would say just for daily driving, I do 80% in town. Wonder if I could get average with 3.8. I would think similar to your 3.9, but I don't have 6th gear...

[Addicted To Boost]

When I did mostly city driving with my 04 GP Comp G, (L32 and 3.29s), I averaged between 22-26 mpg. These cars are pretty heavy, so mileage will suffer during city driving.

[l67ss]

As much as I would love f40, I'm going to need to stick with what I can get, 4t60e or 282. & 3.8l- Maybe 3400 & 3500 are possible if I can find good one in junk yard. I am going to be pulling the dash for HUD install.

 

why would you need the whole dash?

[Psych0matt]

because if it's cut in half it'll look bad

[l67ss]

lol