Thread: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation?

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  1. #1 '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
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    Lots of great info here. Thanks to BillBoost37, as your "How to remove a transmission" post gave me the 100% confidence to jump in and replace my first FWD transmission. After I read your post, I bought the trans and am awaiting delivery.

    Backstory is that my son's 2004 Grand Prix GT1 had a recent trans failure (~99k original miles). While driving, he lost all power with the trans. Had the car towed home and after it sat for a few hours, we were able to drive it into the garage. Decided to see if a trans filter/fluid change would help things. Pulled the pan and there was a ton of grey sludge on the magnet and in the pan. Cleaned everything off, installed new pan and refilled the fluids. With all the sludge, I figure something, somewhere got plugged. After we did the filter/fluid, he was able to drive the car, but we still wanted to have it checked by a local shop. They diagnosed it as having lost 3rd gear. Quoted $2700 to remove, rebuild and reinstall. If I removed and reinstalled, only $1800 to rebuild. Needless to say, that spurred me to decide to pull the trans and find a donor.

    I bought an '04 Grand Prix trans from eBay. No idea of mileage, but the case was clean and painted as well as the torque converter. No leaks. Guy from the yard could not give specifics on mileage, but recalled testing the trans in the car and indicated no issues. Only paid $215 for the trans plus shipping, so I am getting off cheap right now. Just looking for something to get through the next few years if possible.

    So now to the real purpose of this post: What recommendations are there on some components I should be replacing before I install the donor transmission? I see lots of stuff about the TransGo shift kit, but thought there were also some shift solenoids or something I should also be addressing. Any recommendations?

    Looking forward to any feedback you might have.

    Regards,
    John
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  2. #2 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    if your just stock id add a shift kit and be done with it.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  3. #3 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    GTX Level Member Travisgt2's Avatar
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    If there's future plans to start a serious build start with a 04 comp g trans I'd say
    04 GT2: 180 t-stat, cold air intake, reptile tune, plog, hv3, gt1 cam, 90#springs, new push rods, new lifters, port polished heads, lim, uim and tb, 06 Impala brakes and steel brake lines. Cosmetic: black roof rails, under glow, Pontiac ground light, blue hud dic radio controls and cluster. To come custom hood.
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  4. #4 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    Turbo is the way to go. REDCRAPGP's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Travisgt2 View Post
    If there's future plans to start a serious build start with a 04 comp g trans I'd say
    Why in the hell would u recommend that


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Squirrels are my engine. I need a Ford Regal
    04 Comp G.
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  5. #5 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Travisgt2 View Post
    If there's future plans to start a serious build start with a 04 comp g trans I'd say

    it only works in a real comp g is the point. they are hard enough to find when you really need one too.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  6. #6 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    Turbo is the way to go. REDCRAPGP's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ScottyDoggs View Post
    it only works in a real comp g is the point. they are hard enough to find when you really need one too.
    This, Goodluck finding one in the JY.

    Just stop Travis unless you know what your talking about.


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    04 Comp G.
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  7. #7 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    Solving problems BrandonHall10's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ScottyDoggs View Post
    if your just stock id add a shift kit and be done with it.
    x2.

    Maybe if you want to be proactive, do both axle seals. If you want to be super proactive, do the torque converter seal and TCC o-ring. I wouldn't even bother pulling the side cover though.

    Shift kit, filter, fluid, maybe some seals... Toss it in.
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  8. #8 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    GTX Level Member Travisgt2's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ScottyDoggs View Post
    it only works in a real comp g is the point. they are hard enough to find when you really need one too.
    Why do they only work in another comp g why can't you take the pcm and transfer it all to another of the same year?
    04 GT2: 180 t-stat, cold air intake, reptile tune, plog, hv3, gt1 cam, 90#springs, new push rods, new lifters, port polished heads, lim, uim and tb, 06 Impala brakes and steel brake lines. Cosmetic: black roof rails, under glow, Pontiac ground light, blue hud dic radio controls and cluster. To come custom hood.
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  9. #9 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    paddle shiftier's. valve body and so on. you need all the cars wires harness, not worth it, and once again,,,,go find one, good luck.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  10. #10 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    GTX Level Member Travisgt2's Avatar
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    My bad. I do know where an 04 comp g trans sits though there's one at pick n pull in kcmo
    04 GT2: 180 t-stat, cold air intake, reptile tune, plog, hv3, gt1 cam, 90#springs, new push rods, new lifters, port polished heads, lim, uim and tb, 06 Impala brakes and steel brake lines. Cosmetic: black roof rails, under glow, Pontiac ground light, blue hud dic radio controls and cluster. To come custom hood.
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  11. #11 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    thats one, but for real, they're hard to come by.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  12. #12 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    Donating Users GoldGTP's Avatar
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    Just for personal clarity, are all the 4T65-E HDs interchangeable? (ie '04+ works in 97-03)?
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  13. #13 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GoldGTP View Post
    Just for personal clarity, are all the 4T65-E HDs interchangeable? (ie '04+ works in 97-03)?

    no.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  14. #14 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    Turbo is the way to go. BillBoost37's Avatar
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    While doing a fresh filter and shift kit, I'd add on a diff lube tube retainer.
    http://www.sonnax.com/parts/2534-dif...e-retainer-kit

    Unless the seals look bad, I wouldn't touch them.. that's part laziness and a big part of experience. Don't drive up your costs unless you feel you need to. Also Walmart Dex 6 works just as good as Delco Dex 6, so there's another possible savings. .. A dry trans/converter takes 13 quarts.

    Once it's in the car with some in the converter, I'd drop in 6-8 quarts and fire it up.. check the level and fill while running until it's at a good level. Go through the gears in the garage and check it again.
    I drink..so consider that when reading my posts.

    2010 Audi A6 Dual IC's
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  15. #15 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
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    Hmm, maybe I asked the wrong question...

    The more I research, the more confused I am about the '03 tranny...

    I remember when I replaced my solenoids and broke my wire harness, I had to find a "different" style harness...For some reason mine was a 19 Pin compared to 14 or 16 pin...

    Are the bell housings the same?

    Are the trans mounts in the same location across the board?

    If I wanted to find a "donor" to rebuild or send to TEP, I would need to find an '03, correct?

    I see the difference about the diff also (HD)...

    I see that the VB, CP, line fittings, and check balls are all a little different, but other than that, what makes the '03 so unique?

    Sorry to thread jack!
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  16. #16 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    its the same but the shiftier pnp deal changed from external to internal, ( where the cable hooks up tot he tranny) tranny line fittings changed over the years too.

    the how to swap it from one to the other. http://www.grandprixforums.net/threa...a-transmission

    04 just not gonna swap into a 97-03, different vb iirc. electronics are not he same.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  17. #17 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
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    Well, made a weekend of it and got the trans swapped out. It took me MUCH longer that I ever expected to get the swap done. I think some of that is because this was the first one I was doing and wanted to take my time to ensure everything was done right AND safely. Spent the money to buy the engine support, which gave me more confidence than rigging a 4x4 across the engine bay. Had some issues securing it. Could only find 3 lifting lugs on the engine, but that was fine. We did fully remove the sub-frame, which necessitated removing all the underside front plastic. I thought the subframe was only aluminum, but we were not 100% sure and couldn't confirm the weight. Used alot of caution when removing. Turns out it probbaly only weighed about 80 pounds, so alot of concern for nothing. The engine to trans bracket was a PITA to get out and the one bolt that is buried about 18" back was actually loose when I went to remove it. Had issues removing some front suspension on the driver side. Could not get the tie rod joint to pop out of the knuckle. Ended up unthreading it from the tie rod. The torx bolts for the lower control arm were a little bit of a struggle as well. Overall, it took about 8 hours to get the car jacked up, engine supported, suspension torn down, subframe removed and transmission removed.

    Once we had it out, I replaced the Torque converter seal as well as the EPC, TCC, (2) shift solenoids and the manifold pressure switch. Also has to pull the wiring harness from the original trans and put it into the donor trans. Plug on the donor trans was damaged. Replaced the side cover gasket and the inner seal. Probably abou

    Took another 12 hours or so to get the trans back in, subframe installed, axles installed, suspension reconnected, fluid/filter change, remove jack & engine support. To my delight, there were no extra nuts or bolts left over. Road test went well so we are considering the transplant was a success! We did notice a rotational noise coming from the front driver side that changed with the speed of the car. Car is not pulling when driving or braking. I suspect it might be related to the drivers side hub.

    The only issue is an ABS & Traction light that came on after my son drove it to work on Monday. It came on right before he parked the car. After turning the car off, the warning lights go off and do not return until he has driven the car a bit. I suspect this might be a worn front bearing. Will need to investigate later this week when time allows.
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  18. #18 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
    GTX Level Member Travisgt2's Avatar
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    What did you do with the old trans from it?
    04 GT2: 180 t-stat, cold air intake, reptile tune, plog, hv3, gt1 cam, 90#springs, new push rods, new lifters, port polished heads, lim, uim and tb, 06 Impala brakes and steel brake lines. Cosmetic: black roof rails, under glow, Pontiac ground light, blue hud dic radio controls and cluster. To come custom hood.
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  19. #19 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
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    Just broke it down bye talk type and scrapped it. We broke the side cover after removing it because a bolt was stuck. Had to get the side cover off in order to grab the wiring harness.
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  20. #20 Re: '04 Trans Swap - What parts should I replace on donor trans before installation? 
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scottydoggs View Post
    its the same but the shiftier pnp deal changed from external to internal, ( where the cable hooks up tot he tranny) tranny line fittings changed over the years too.

    the how to swap it from one to the other. http://www.grandprixforums.net/threa...a-transmission

    04 just not gonna swap into a 97-03, different vb iirc. electronics are not he same.
    Will 05+ work in an 04? Otherwise my options are rather limited! (Got told by boneyard 04 works only with 04)

    2004 Grand Prix GT2-clone A.K.A. the "Cybercar;" Galaxy Silver; 146K miles; RETROFITS: leather-wrapped steering wheel (w/audio controls) & shift knob; trip computer; map lights & dual lighted vanity visors; heated (?) leather seats w/ 10-way power driver's seat; ​HUD conversion
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