Trans swap, 96 sse into a 1994 ssei
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95elite
- SLE Member

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Trans swap, 96 sse into a 1994 ssei
Ok, heres the skinny...I stumbled across a SUPER CLEAN, LOW mileage, good running 94 ssei, no rot, bonnie thats needing a transmission..I have a 96 sse with a good tranny..from what I THINK I know, the trans' are the same minus some heavy duty components, correct? Would it feasible to swap these out?
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94SilverSSEi
- Certified Bonneville Nut

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94 SSEi - Location: Racine, Wisconsin
Re: Trans swap, 96 sse into a 1994 ssei
One big difference would be OBD 1.5 to OBD2. Not sure on the specifics though...
Clay
1997.2 40th SLE-138k
1968 Bonneville 400ci w/TH-400-40k
1999 GMC Suburban SLT-191k
2005 Escalade 253k-GINA
1997.2 40th SLE-138k
1968 Bonneville 400ci w/TH-400-40k
1999 GMC Suburban SLT-191k
2005 Escalade 253k-GINA
nos4blood70 wrote:Literally, cars are drugs.
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95elite
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- Year and Trim: 96 sse, 95 regency elite L67
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Re: Trans swap, 96 sse into a 1994 ssei
I figured that would be the biggest obstacle..too bad, would've enjoyed making this project work..the guy is gonna part it out unless someone buys it whole..
- WhiteArrow3800
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2001 Bonneville SSEi
2009 Pontiac G8 GT - Location: Williamsburg, Va
Re: Trans swap, 96 sse into a 1994 ssei
I swapped a '96 LeSabre trans into my '93 SSE. I had to swap the '93 internal wire harness and I believe the Neutral Safety Switch over to the '96 trans for it to work.
I'm not 100% sure the '94 would be just as simple but that's what you'd be looking at having to do.
I'm not 100% sure the '94 would be just as simple but that's what you'd be looking at having to do.

'93 SSE "Guinevere" RIP 1993 - 2019
'01 SSEi "Chloe" Mods: Intense FWI | GenV | WBS Intercooled | 3.2 MPS | 1.9 YT Rockers | SSAC Headers | N* TB | TEP Trans | 3.29 FDR | Torsen LSD
DTM Tuned | Dual AeroForce | Solid Mounts | 255 Walbro Pump | Fuel Logs | GXP STB & Sway Bars | CSS Lowering Springs | GXP Brakes | Disabled DRL
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Achievements: Guinevere - 264k mi | 16.27 @ 84.10mph | March '11 COTM :: Chloe - 223k mi | 13.85 @ 102mph | January '09 COTM :: Abigail - 192k mi | 12.85 @ 112mph
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RogueSSEi
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Re: Trans swap, 96 sse into a 1994 ssei
I would still get it, and look at the difference, maybe try and make your own wire harness from OBD2-to-OBD1, I wouldn't let it pass by though.
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94SilverSSEi
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94 SSEi - Location: Racine, Wisconsin
Re: Trans swap, 96 sse into a 1994 ssei
RogueSSEi wrote:I would still get it, and look at the difference, maybe try and make your own wire harness from OBD2-to-OBD1, I wouldn't let it pass by though.
x2. If it cleans, even if the other tranny doesn't work. I'd buy it and hold out for the right tranny.
Clay
1997.2 40th SLE-138k
1968 Bonneville 400ci w/TH-400-40k
1999 GMC Suburban SLT-191k
2005 Escalade 253k-GINA
1997.2 40th SLE-138k
1968 Bonneville 400ci w/TH-400-40k
1999 GMC Suburban SLT-191k
2005 Escalade 253k-GINA
nos4blood70 wrote:Literally, cars are drugs.
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Jrs3800
- Retired Admin/Techinfo Admin

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Re: Trans swap, 96 sse into a 1994 ssei
There will be some minor problems here....
The 94-95 SSEi didn't really have an HD trans per say, as in the Diff was not an HD... There was no true HD diff for the Bonneville till 1996 SC...
Now is this 96 SSE and NA or is it supercharged?
For all intent purposes, the wiring harness between the two transmissions is the same... It would be a plug and play...
Now being that you want to swap this into a 94, the PCM is too stupid to know there is a real difference between a 2.97 and a 3.06....
Now if you installed the 3.06 in the 94 SSEi, it by all rights would work, but you may hit the fuel cut off with the lower gear ratio, this is a very bad thing in a supercharged car and can cause damage to the pistons( fry them ) due to the fuel cut off...
Its not soo much about shift speed as it is shift RPM's.... It will shift at a max set of RPM's, if it passes the max RPM's you will hit the fuel cut off...
If you are mechanically inclined( very mechanically inclined ) you could swap out the drive and driven from the 94 trans and the diff from the 94 trans into the 96 trans and have a functional unit...
The difference between 2.97 and 3.06 is quite slim, if you were to use a 3.06 I would at the least raise the fuel cut off...
Let us know exactly what you have going on first.... Don't jump into anything.... Keep asking questions...
The 94-95 SSEi didn't really have an HD trans per say, as in the Diff was not an HD... There was no true HD diff for the Bonneville till 1996 SC...
Now is this 96 SSE and NA or is it supercharged?
For all intent purposes, the wiring harness between the two transmissions is the same... It would be a plug and play...
Now being that you want to swap this into a 94, the PCM is too stupid to know there is a real difference between a 2.97 and a 3.06....
Now if you installed the 3.06 in the 94 SSEi, it by all rights would work, but you may hit the fuel cut off with the lower gear ratio, this is a very bad thing in a supercharged car and can cause damage to the pistons( fry them ) due to the fuel cut off...
Its not soo much about shift speed as it is shift RPM's.... It will shift at a max set of RPM's, if it passes the max RPM's you will hit the fuel cut off...
If you are mechanically inclined( very mechanically inclined ) you could swap out the drive and driven from the 94 trans and the diff from the 94 trans into the 96 trans and have a functional unit...
The difference between 2.97 and 3.06 is quite slim, if you were to use a 3.06 I would at the least raise the fuel cut off...
Let us know exactly what you have going on first.... Don't jump into anything.... Keep asking questions...
Last edited by Jrs3800 on Sat May 19, 2012 11:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
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95elite
- SLE Member

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Re: Trans swap, 96 sse into a 1994 ssei
The sse is N/A.. I'm fairly competent at turning a wrench, but Im definitely considering getting help from some locals, who are more knowledgeable then me. I think the hassle would be worth it tho, I'm limited by time, and space unfortunately, so hoping it's not too major of a project
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Jrs3800
- Retired Admin/Techinfo Admin

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Re: Trans swap, 96 sse into a 1994 ssei
It'll be a PITA... But it can be done... If you swap the drive and driven gears you will need a side pan cover gasket, if you are careful you can reuse the valve body gasket... If it tears it will have to be replaced...
If you simply use the 3.06 trans as is, I do recommend that you have a chip burned with a slightly higher fuel cut off...
Like I said tho, the difference between 3.06 and 2.97 is slim... we are talking a 60-70 Rpm difference at 70 Mph...
If you use the 3.06 I would say stay away from one wheel wonders...
Also the 96 3.06 Diff uses a 30 count VSS Reluctor where the 94 uses a 31 count... So at 60 you may be doing 61-62 Mph actual....
Just going to depend what direction you want to go in...
If you simply use the 3.06 trans as is, I do recommend that you have a chip burned with a slightly higher fuel cut off...
Like I said tho, the difference between 3.06 and 2.97 is slim... we are talking a 60-70 Rpm difference at 70 Mph...
If you use the 3.06 I would say stay away from one wheel wonders...
Also the 96 3.06 Diff uses a 30 count VSS Reluctor where the 94 uses a 31 count... So at 60 you may be doing 61-62 Mph actual....
Just going to depend what direction you want to go in...

