ok so last night i blew my tranny in my 97. So I decided I am fed up with this @!#$ty engine and am gonna swap in an ecotec. Now I have researched and know the best way is to get a Cavy/Sunfire that was smashed in the rear and swap absolutly evertthing over. My question is this...what problems am i gonna run into. I ha ve heard that the wiring isn't all that easy. And what about motor mounts? To me the bottom one looks like its the same but the top isn't so how hard is it to make a new one and I also heard the transmission mount isn't in quite the same place. So how hard are these things to remedy just so we know what we're getting into. The mechanic where I work said he'd do it but I kinda wanna have a battle plan or sorts and not too many surprises lol. So if anyone that has done this swap could give me this info I would greatly appreciate it. This is just gonna be a basic swap...no turbo, or header or anything of that sort at this time...just get it in and running.
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ok thats swapping it into a 2000-2002 style cavy...says the tranny from that style will bolt right to the motor...not so with the 97 trannys I believe...which doesn't even matter cause mine is blown...so are the tranny mounts the same for ecotec and my car?...but what I have read of your post has been helpful so far thanks!
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The lower motor mount is the same, the upper from your 2.2OHV to the Ecotec is different (just use the Ecotec mount. In regards to the tranny mounts, and tranny (you need a Ecotec Tranny, so forget your blown tranny). Your front mount can be used, but a new hole will need to be drilled. Your rear mount will need to be cut off and a Getrag (the tranny you will need to use) mount will need to be welded in. You can buy this mount from GM for about $25, or cut it out of the donor car. As for running into problems, well if you have everything needed, it is just stripping and swapping over. Depending on if this is a side job, or a daily job will depend on how long it takes. We did one (but went from a auto to a manual car) in basicly 4 and half days, but that was weekend work. You will need to pull everything out of the interior of the car, the AC system will need to be swapped as well. Also the car you get (if you get one) does not have to be a rearended car only. Yes it is the safest route. We have done 2 of these swaps (working on the 3), and all 3 cars have been front end wrecks. The last one did have the tranny mounts on the tranny broken off. If you can inspect the car before buying it just make sure the good parts (motor, tranny, wiring), is ok.
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