There is a 96 SSEi on ebay with a bad motor. The 96 has the 4T60 right? So if I were to take it out and put in my 97 motor and 4t65 and use my pcm and harness, would everything be peachy? Would there be a connection problem to the cluster or anything else? How about tranny mount?

you could just swap the motor and leave everything else to make it easier

Either like Pat said, you could switch just the motor, and it would be easiest. Or... You could swap the motor, harness, PCM, and tranny from the 97 to the 96. I have put a 97 PCM and Tranny into my 96 with no problems. The only thing I am not sure of is the gauge cluster, I still have an SE cluster with a L67 motor.

I suppose I could swap my cluster if I had to. But you say the PCM connected to your cluster fine? I am assuming there is a connection where the harness goes into the cabin, or the cabin harness connects to the PCM.

I wish that auction wasn't ending so soon. I'd like a couple days to look into this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ponti...QQcmdZViewItem

If you stick with the 4T60 and plan on modding you will need a trans cooler. The 4T65 in the 97+ does not need one because they are not prone to overheating like the 60.

The cluster may work fine, but that is the only thing I don't know for sure. My car runs fine with the setup you are talking about though. The engine harness hooks up to the firewall on the passenger side (which is the same place the cabin harness connects).

the 96 came with a factory cooler

I'd swap it right over. Motor and trans in one piece, with the wiring harness still on it. Plug and play. Keep the SE cluster or change it out for the SSEi cluster. Your choice.

what is wrong with your '97 for you to want to take the engine out and put it in a older model?

That is what I was hoping to hear Boosty. I know the 96 PCM is a little different than 97, so I wanted to make sure the 97 harness and PCM would plug in to the rest of the 96 and function.

I wish that auction wasn't ending today. I'd really rather call the guy and maybe find someone to go take a look at it before I bought it. Even if I got it for $600 it would still be worth it in parts, but I certainly wouldn't want to end up with a second car to part out. It doesn't look bad, but I would hate to find a bunch of rust or something. Too bad its not a little bit closer to me. The thing is even the same color exterior and interior as my 97.

BonnevilleLErocks, I would say my alignment is "a little off" in the 97 but that would only be the beginning of it. Last year I spun off the road into a guard rail. The car needs more work done to it than it is worth. Lots of metal replaced and the body straitened, front window, drivers side suspension, etc.