Yes I've actually put a 4t65e with a supercharged 3800 series 2 into a fiero gt. I've done lots of mechanical work. this is my first transmission in a o5 Bonneville though. like anything else, there is always a first time for anything and there is nothing wrong with researching the work before diving into it.

I'm not sure why i would flush the coolant system however. there is nothing wrong with the cooling system. I do not reuse the old fluids.

the transmission is from a salvage yard yes. 60k miles on it. I will put a new filter and such in it. I'm not going to rebuild it in fear of it being bad though. If i wanted to do that I would have just rebuilt the one i have.

replacing the fluid? seriously? why would anyone ever reuse the old trans fluid?

your going to be doing it again in a few months. all used transmissions go bad soon, they dont like sitting around. the only way i would do that is if i was selling it. you can get it rebuilt for 1k, i had mine done at a trans shop kinda out in the middle of nowhere. he said he does at least one of those a week. thats taking him the whole car i didnt have to do a thing

Seriously? First off, if you have an engine hoist, you can pull both the engine and trans out at the same time through the top. Seriously, I suggest you do it this way. You don't want to screw around with rotted frame/body bolts. Once the engine is out REPLACE THE REAR MAIN SEAL.

Their is no problem with reusing coolant. If its clean, and no evidence of sludge build up, then reuse it. We do it in the big truck world all the time. I even do it at home.

Caveat emptor comes to mind. I seriously suggest you rebuild this trans before going through all the work of putting it in and then finding out you have a bad solenoid.

I am sorry, I meant to say, flush the transmission cooling lines to the radiator...you want the transmission fluid out of the lines and out of the radiator.....GM has a special tool for this...in fact, when a SRTA is installed, they have to get a code out of the machine, to prove that the lines and radiator were flushed, or the new SRTA will not be warrantied...

With the tranny out of the vehicle, it'* fairly simple to pull that side cover on the replacement tranny, and replace that valve body and all the solenoids.....at least, that'* what I would do....

As for fluid, I have seen guys install junkyard trannies.......and not remove the torque converter and empty it before installing.......

Mike, If I got a lift, I'm just dropping that cradle, and then just dropping the tranny.....why mess with removing the engine? Lot of extra work.....

well it should be interesting... yes after thinking about the cooling, I figured out you meant the trans cooler in the radiator and i have the flush kit for it. on the 1993 Bonneville i had, I did take the engine and trans out from the top and was no issues with it. was pretty easy that way, not having to unhook the rack and pinion, the cradle, struts and such. although the 93 was a work car and i wasnt afraid of scratching it up or dinging things around. My 2005 though is like new all around. been all repainted and clear coated, everything underneath is undercoated and oiled to keep the salt from the Pa weather off of it. I understand about trannies that sit and gum up, stick and such as well. I've been fortunate in the other cars that i've replaced , I have had great luck with them going in and working like they should. The transmission arrived at the garage today, looks pretty clean. tomorrow i'm getting the seals, gasket and filter for it. prolly will be a week before i start to tear the car down though.

looks dont mean anything, the 4l65s specifically have a bunch of issues from the factory and never make it past 100 to 150k, so chances of finding one that is any better than the one you have is very unlikely. in fact out of the half dozen that me and my family had i can only think of one that made it longer, which is my old monte. because i flushed the fluid and filter like 3 times in its life. im sure no one else does that. i convinced every one but my aunt to just get it rebuilt. they put two used ones in before just trading it in. the ones that get rebuilt by someone who knows what they are doing will last another 150k happily.

I was speaking for most people that don't have a lift. If you raise the car, drop the sub-frame with engine and trans in it, you still have to support one or the other than take one or the other off. Dropping sub-frame isn't exactly easy for driveway mechanics without the proper stands etc. And you still have to do most of the disconnecting and bolt removal either way. That'* why I say remove them both at the same time.

Your not even going to pull the side pan and replace the common failure solenoids?

just a update, transmission was put in on the 25th, took 2 of us about 9 hours. transmission shifts like new, very smooth, very happy with it. I did not replace the solenoids. new seals, new filter, new oil. almost a month now with 0 issues.

Thanks for posting you got the trans replaced and you 're running down the road again in style!
That must have been 9 hours of hard work! Congrats!