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03-12-2011
Hey, new to the forum and i was wondering if i should top swap my 97 Grand Prix GT. I have been researching the option of doing a top swap for a while but i'm not sure if it's worth my time, seeing as the car has 150k on original engine and trans. So i'm wondering if i should do it and if i do what i would have to do to the bottom end and the trans to keep the car running reliably.
03-12-2011
no, you should not.
Ur car has the not so good 4t60e vacuum trans that will blow up if any power is added to the car. 98+ cars got the 4t65e.
03-12-2011
if i were to get a 4t65e or 4t65e-HD trans and i went ahead with a top swap how would the bottom end bear seeing as it has 150k on it?
03-12-2011
Bottom should be fine. Top Swap will beat a Standard S/C engine any day. I'm quoting Blue I think. Checkout Safely Modding Your 3800 Powered Car!! On here.
The search button is your friend
03-12-2011
I think you also need to consider adding headers with your top swap. It will knock a lot with the stock exhaust.
03-13-2011
does anyone know if i grab a 4t65e trans is it as simple as just putting it or will i need other things to go with it?
03-13-2011
someone correct me if im wrong but i believe there are a couple of adapters for some sensors that need to be purchased
03-13-2011
1 u just need the gtp map pigtail
edit: just for engine didnt see trans questions
03-18-2011
So which do you guys think would be better (or cheaper)?
Replacing trans and going with a top swap or replacing the trans and dropping in a GTP engine?
By the way i think my a/c compressor is just about shot and if i top swap i may as well replace that too.
03-18-2011
Yank your transmission out...spray it with brake clean and sell it off to someone on CL would be my best guess...keep your bottom end if its in good running order...toss a cam or rockers in it if its out of the car...would make life really easy there...also, yes on the headers...I wouldn't NOT run headers with a motor utilizing higher compression and boost. Start with a 3.8" factory sized S/C pulley and work your way down from there...but most of the time a top swapped, header'd car will run great with just a stock pulley...in fact a stock pullied TS'd car will run what a 3.4" setup GTP would be running...about low 14's/high 13's if the tune is good and driver mod is there. When you source a transmission...if funds allow it...get a good condition N/A transmission from 98-02...since it has the same 3.29 gearing as your current trans does...then if you care to...swap the differential from a GTP transmission...not required, just something nice to have since it is stronger.
03-18-2011
transmission wise what should i be looking for mileage wise to keep the car safe and reliable?
03-18-2011
would the trans just drop in or do i need anything else to make it work?
if i buy a top swap kit from ed containing:
heads
valve covers
lower intake manifold
injectors
fuel rail
supercharger
TB (no maf)
vac lines
idler pullies
brackets
balancer
what else do i need and about how much will gaskets run me?
Last edited by hockey101; 03-18-2011 at 04:20 PM.
03-21-2011
couple of hundred in material (gaskets and rtv)
you basically need all the top end gaskets of the motor
03-22-2011
Youll need belts obviously, and you need an L67 map sensor, with the extension probably. Id suggest the top swap hardware kit from WBody store, it looks like it has more parts than zzp for the same price.
But in reality, sell your car and buy a GTP. a LOT less hassle and cheaper.
______________________SMGPFC #99_______________________
03-22-2011
YES...
03-22-2011
The only thing I have against buying a different GP is mine was bought new by my dad in 97 and it was always garage kept and maintained.
My GP got all new struts and springs last year and all of the common problems have been fixed/replaced.
So buying a new GP would be kinda stupid in my opinion because i know for a fact that mine is currently problem free and i wouldn't even be able to sell mine for what its worth and buying someone elses i would probably have to replace everything i already fixed on mine, so it would cost me more money.
03-22-2011
do a whole motor swap. top swapping is overrated and you cant run super small pulleys and be k00.
03-22-2011
L67 + turbo for more win.
03-23-2011
So i think i'm just gonna swap the whole engine, along with the trans.
If i want to get a smaller pulley in the future what else should i do while i have the engine out of the car?
oh and what kind of headers and downpipe should i get?
03-23-2011
speed daddy hearers are by far the cheapest, and they do work with little to no modification. i ran them fine for 8 months or so. i dont know if " the header and manifold thread has been updated since, but recently "the W body store" has come out with some good looking and fairly inexpensive headers.
some stickies for you....
http://www.grandprixforums.net/safel...car-17482.html
http://www.grandprixforums.net/heade...ead-25922.html
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