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Manual Trans Swap into a 95' 3.4 Cutlass


WhiteOut

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Okay, my car has been officially retired to the garage for the winter, the perfect time to start doing those performance add ons. So here's my question:

 

I've got a 95' Cutlass Supreme with the 3.4 V6, obviously its an automatic at this point. I just had the transmission rebuilt earlier this summer, and I've got a potential buyer willing to pay $1500 for my automatic since his went out earlier this week. I've located a 92' Lumina Z34 with a Getrag 5 speed Transmission (not sure if its 282 or 284 at this point) with only 45k miles on it. The car is pretty much totalled from the drivers seat back (its a shame really the car was damn near perfect before the accident) but the front is intact and in beautiful condition, my neighbor said I could have the car for $500 since thats what a junkyard would give him to take it off of his hands.

 

 

So here's the problem, I know that 95's weren't ever equipped with a manual transmission and due to the yearly changing specs of the LQ1 I somehow doubt a direct transplant of the ECM is going to work in allowing the use of this transmission in my car. And that usually means a custom programmed ECM if I'm not mistaken. But again another problem arises, I've got a 95', which could mean I've got the dreaded OBD1.5. Is there anyway to tell for sure? My car's emission sticker says its OBD1 compliant, I have an ALDL connector under the dash, and my car has a very early build date for its year (September of 94'). I've done a fair amount of research on this site and others and there's plenty of info on how to do the swap available, but none of thats going to do me any good if I'm not able to make the transmission play nicely with the engine.

 

I'd really like to make this work since I've got the potential to make money off of the swap or at least break even if I end up having to rebuild the transmission. And if at all possible I'd really like to avoid having to transplant the engine as well since that will create inumerable headaches in getting all of the car's other systems to mesh.

 

Any advice would be great!

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[Yoda] Ooh, the all powerful tranny swap... yes... yes... it's becoming more clear. [/Yoda] First, the Z34's tranny is the Getrag 284, geared correctly for the power-band of the LQ1. With you having the Hybrid OBDI (aka OBD1.5), there could / will be some powertrain issues if the auto tranny is pulled. It's a possible swap, but it's gonna take some minor fabication, programing, and engineering to make it work.

 

Honeslty, I would search the forum on DOHC manual transmission swaps. There's been some great discussions by some of the best who have gotten started or completed such projects. Best of luck and let us know on your continuing progress.

 

- Erik

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It is possible, I just did it.

http://www.brian89gp.com/5spd/index.htm

 

To tell which OBD version you have look at the ECM. The OBD1 has an access panel on the bottom side with 4 screws holding it on and a blue MEMCAL under that cover.

 

You are getting the whole car correct? What you need to do is take the entire engine wiring harness from it and use it in your car, it will be much less painfull and frustrating then trying to get the 95 MAF ECM to run correctly. There are a couple wires that need switched on the bulkhead connector but thats it. You will end up not using a couple sensors and your gas milage may drop 1-2mpg.

 

Compared to a swap to a 91-93 car it is basically the same, the only differences being:

-the shifter, it will bolt down and fit in the center console but a custom boot will be needed

-the clutch pedal, the 94+ does not have a pedal mount

-the firewall plate, the 94+ will angle the master clyinder at an upward angle and make the hose to the transmission too short. You might consider swapping over the parts car plate

 

I did mine in 7 days, 2 of which was re-welding my entire turbo downpipe (which you don't have to worry about).

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Whiteout, if you decide to not go through with the swap, I'd be willing to give you $1000 for that car (depending on your location). You buy it for $500, and make $500 if you were to sell it to me. :) Think about it.

 

 

Cutlassdude, are you blind? :lol:

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Thanks guys. I'm not so much worried about being able to make the swap as much as I'm worried about getting the ECM to control everything correctly once its all in there. I've got a great refference in that I'm getting a complete parts car, its just the electronics that I'm worried about. I guess the smart thing to do would be to pick up the serivce manuals for both the Lumina and my Cutlass so that I can compare wiring between the two. The ECM stilll scares me though.

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