Generally speaking. Haven't tried side by side myself, but I'm a believer that with the LN3, the 2.97 FDR would be a bit quicker than the 3.33.

Not really, so long as you are not exceeding the rev limit on the 3800. The motor should be able to run at the rev limit for an indefinate amount of time without doing any harm to the motor (That'* the whole purpose of a rev limit.)

Now, joining back to your problem from a few days ago: Because the Cutlass transmission was set up for a motor with a higher rev limit, it probably is still trying to use the 3.1L Cutlass setup to do it'* shifts. This is where it get'* sticky, since you have jumped off the normal diagnostic charts into a whole new realm. (Ain't part swappin fun!!!)

I would venture a guess at this point that the governor in the transmission is what is causing the higher than normal rpm up-shifts. The governor uses the vehicle speed (it'* gear driven off the output shaft) vs. line pressure modulated by the Thottle Valve and vac operated modulator. Problem is, it doesn't "know" the rev limits on the motor driving the input shaft. It was calibrated for the 3.1L motor and the Cutlass weight. What you might need is a governor calibrated for the Bonneville'* weight and the 3800 motor.

Good news is the governor is easy to get to. It'* on the top of the transmission right where the passenger side axle exits the case. You don't have to dissassemble the transmission to make a change to it'* springs and weights.

Bill: Thanks for posting the link to the drive ratios. Made lights go off...I'm not used to having *all* the gears inside the transmission case. Just takes some getting used to. At least I dug up the build sheet for the '90 and looked at the codes for mine: F17 - 2.84 final with a 1:1 chain...so I keep my eyes peeled for an FW2 code in the junkyards (for the 3.06 final)

Thank you, thank you! Do you think I can just take the governor from the oem tranny and put them in the olds' tranny I have in the bonne now? Or should I try getting a new one from somewhere. (tranny parts warehouse or junkyard)

Thanks to all for all the info I will try to get all this down to carry with me to junk yards around here. When I call some of these guys will they understand all of what I am describing with the drive ratio or RPO or do I ask for the right years and just go hunting myself?

thanks again, a hunting i will go, a hunting i will go

Might be a bit of a let down. In person I'm pretty much a cross of Pittsburgh Iron-City swilling mill-hunky and West Virginia hick. (Even made moonshine once in my misguided youth on the farm.)

Spidey: You sound like you are on a roll now. If you've picked a tranny shop to rebuild your existing one, talk to them about the governor on your existing transmission. They may be able to reach into the magic parts bin and pull out a good choice of weights and springs to fix the problem without you having to go junkyarding.

There'* no harm in plopping the governor from the original Bonneville into the Cutlass transmission. It may work right, it might not, but the attempt costs you nothing but a little time to try it.

tanks dude!