Well here is a build thread, I figured I would share my project with everyone. I had asked a few times on here is it was possible to swap a series 2 motor in a series 1 car, and was told it could be done but no one really could tell me more. So I am going to attempt it anyways because I could not find a suitable motor/tranny for my 93 Bonneville.

My car is a 93 SSE, I have been still trying to figure out the difference between mine and a SSEI, as I have compared them side by side and have all the same options. Mine has everything you could get, and a few extras like heated seats. I have owned it for about 2 years, bought it with 160K and now roughly has 190K. It has developed problems that have been progressively been getting worse, but I love the car so I want to fix it. Shortly after buying it I found the supercharger had been gutted, I was told the release valve was stuck, so didn't think much of it at the time. Other problems are both exhaust manifolds are cracked, timing cover is cracked and leaks about a quart of oil a week, motor runs great, but stumbles when cold and gets poor milage. Then we go on to the tranny that likes to shift hard and causes the worst vibration, cause is bad output shaft bearings and differential bearings. SO as you can see my drivetrain is long past shot.

I searched for a new motor and tranny for about 6 months and found nothing worth using. I came apon a 97 SSEI at a salvage sale and for $600 it was mine. Had around 125K on it and was fairly nice other than the hard left front hit. Motor was undamaged but airbox was obliterated. Spent a few hours tinkering and it fired right up and sounded great, took her around the block and it shifted perfect and had tons of power. I was very happy with my investment, as the car has tons of other parts I can use, it was also fully loaded with every option, and very nice condition.

I am doing a full swap basically. Swap the whole cradle in first and go from there. As there are many differences between a 93 and a 97, they both have the exact same body, interior and dash setup. So I am swapping everything, dash, wireharness, steering column, everything. In the end I should have a 97 in a 93 body. This may sound like a lot of work, but it seams simple to me. I am used to putting L67'* and v8'* in fiero'*, v8'* in porsches, and v8'* in rx7'*.

My bonneville


The donor


93 motor


97 motor


Motor Out


Whats left


Only took me about 2 hours to pull the cradle from the wrecked bonneville, the sawzall helped a little too.

Will you do my car next?

x2
mine might be a little more tricky

WOW. That thing took a HIT! and you were able to DRIVE it like that? DAANG.

What a swap that'll be. Keep the pics coming!

I'm sure it did

Any plans on replacing gaskets and what not before it goes into your SSE?

Good work keep the pics coming!

Ed

Someone told you plenty more. If you chose not to search on the information you were given...the only one to blame is the guy in the mirror every morning.

You didn't really follow up. How can you expect us to list out everything you will need to do when most that ask questions like yours don't follow through. That would be a lot of work each time for an end result of someone not doing it.

I'm glad you did it, because overall...it'* pretty easy.

I hadn't really thought about it, The new motor is pretty clean other than being dirty from dust and what now. I plan on power washing it first before installing. since the motor wasn't leaking anything before I might just leave it alone. My goal is to have it on the road as fast as possible and I just don't have the time or extra money to re gasket everything. I'll check it over throughly, just to make sure before installation though.

Ya I may be going a tad bit overkill on the swap, but my idea is to make the 93 a 97, I am doing a full interior swap too, as I like the dark grey leather better. I am adding the adjustable suspension from the 97, and a few other things. Gutting it and swapping the harness isn't much of a big deal.

I will have updates this weekend, the car and new cradle is comming to work with my on Saturday as I am a mechanic at a car dealer and my boss said I could use the 2 post lift to do the cradle swap. I only have a 4 post lift in my garage, and couldn't really think of a better idea to swap them in my garage.

Mike

So this means you will have....tan colored interior pieces up for sale soon, eh?

Interesting

I would strongly advise you NOT to move the adjustable suspension over.

The difference in handling is very subtle, the system is problematic, and it is also VERY expensive to repair.

You can get much better performance and handling out of traditional components. Don't waste your time.

I would strongly encourage you to change the LIM gaskets now. That engine had DEXcool in it, and very likely has degraded plastic LIM gaskets. It can be done now for cheap and easy, or it can cost you a motor later.

If the CCR struts aka adjustable suspension is in good shape, I would recommend fulfilling your desire. Like others I disagree with WillWren about the suspension. It would appear his car that had it was not at the same level others of us have experienced.

We've also found and proven that Dex does not degrade the gaskets. Heat does. Either way the gaskets should be changed to the aluminum framed ones if they have over 100K on them.