Thread: Will the engine cradle out of a 97-03 work in a 04+

Well got all new motor mounts in both sides top and bottom of my 05 gtp and noticed the motor is sitting over about a inch or two, to far. Took a closer look at the cradle and it's bent and warped. The passenger side cv axle is pretty much sitting on top of the cradle. I already have had the car on a frame rack and all the fenders and hood line up fine. So it has to be the cradle. Will a 97-03 work? It's hard to find any 04+ parts cars around here. Thinking of going ahead and getting headers and maybe a cam since I'm gonna have to pull the motor anyway.

Yup

Ok so the cradles are exactly the same?

Well it's the same engine, and it's still a W-body. All of the mounts should be in the same location since they're both 3800s. It should all mount up right.

The 04 plus engine side mount is about an inch taller than the 97-03

Monte carlo's and impala's came with AL subframes aswell, look for them.

You don't have to pull the engine to swap the subframe just fyi.

Just make sure the engine is secure, unbolt everything, swap...done. Just don't forget to re-bolt up the mounts lol.

Yeah... what Slick said. I didn't pull anything when I did mine.

I would use something like a 4x4 that will sit on the inside of the fenders wrap a chain around it and bolt it to the engine using the 2 hoist points.

ill post this right from one of bill threads. he hung my engine the same way when he did my tranny.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

The 04 plus engine side mount is about an inch taller than the 97-03

I thought they was the same. When I ordered them it said it was for all the years.