1997 engine into a 1996 Cavalier - Maintenance and Repair Forum

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1997 engine into a 1996 Cavalier
Friday, April 20, 2012 1:59 PM
i just bought a 1996 Cavalier 2.2L with the 4 speed tranny, i also have a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire with the same engine and tranny which i am planning to scrap, but would like to save the engine/tranny as a spare. i am ready to pull it out this weekend, but i am wondering if all the wires and sensors are the same between the two engines, can the 97 engine run off the computer that is in the 1996 cavalier.?

Re: 1997 engine into a 1996 Cavalier
Saturday, April 21, 2012 8:01 PM
Good question, hopefully someone knows,
but you know there are lots of other good spare parts too, the fuel pump (maybe the whole tank too)
the tank with pump start around two to three $hundred, and up to four hundred or more just for the pump.
The wheels should be the same, maybe the brakes, rotors, spindles and bearings too, etc.
Re: 1997 engine into a 1996 Cavalier
Sunday, April 29, 2012 10:05 AM
i just did this, it was hell too. make sure you check the crank sensor, the 96 used a 3 wire sensor and the 97 had a 2 wire. take a wire bruch or as we did, sand paper wrapped on a drill bit and clean the hole the sensor goes in. the 2 wire one is a bit tighter, but will fit if cleaned out well. Make sure the trannys are the same, eitehr a 4 or 3 speed. that will make a difference. Other than that i found no differences. PM me for more, we can swap numbers if you need


Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")
Re: 1997 engine into a 1996 Cavalier
Sunday, April 29, 2012 10:07 AM
i want to clarify, it was hell for us, other wise it is damn simple. If i knew this basic thing off the get go if would have been done months ago


Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")
Re: 1997 engine into a 1996 Cavalier
Sunday, May 06, 2012 12:12 PM
The oil pressure sensor is 1 wire on the 1997, and 3 wires on the 1996, pretty easy to swap. The ICM needs to be swapped, as 1997, and 1996 is different(not sure if the coils are different, i swapped them as well just in case). Also, on the left side of the motor, where the EGR valve is, the 1997 has a rubber hose going from the overflow, over by there. The 1996 didnt. Just did this motor swap 1 week ago. Except i put a 1996 motor in a 1997. But it's running good now! The CKP should slide right out on the 1996, it did for me. But on the 1997, the end busted off on me. CKP for 1996 is alot more expensive than for the 1997. Hope this helps. As long as you swap those sensors when they are out of the car, it should be a smooth swap


"If I'm not back in 5 minutes...just wait longer"
Re: 1997 engine into a 1996 Cavalier
Sunday, May 06, 2012 8:01 PM
sounds like a pain in the ass, i thought all 96-99 were the same? I put a 01 in my 96 cavalier, and it qas about 99% bolt on (minus crank sensor hole, and exhaust manifold, and EGR)
Re: 1997 engine into a 1996 Cavalier
Monday, May 07, 2012 4:01 AM
You will have to keep the ICM from the 96 and put it on the 97 engine when you install into the car. Otherwise it won't start. The connections are all the same, but for some reason they're different, and not compatible.

Other than that, should just drop right in and go.





i find it amusing that SHOoff has nothing better to do but follow me around & be an unhelpful dick in even cross-forum. - Jon Mick
Re: 1997 engine into a 1996 Cavalier
Wednesday, May 09, 2012 9:15 PM
98 was first year for the redesign of the 2.2 chevy engines(non-ecotec)

97 older is same old style


97 older is the flat ribbed cam cover


98 up are the smooth aluminum colored cam cover


new different manifolds and other parts






-96 cavalier 2.2 auto 143k miles
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