I have a 2000 Olds Silhouette van that is in very good shape inside. Was driving home from work and the trans stop working. Won't go into reverse or drive. I believe its the TCC solenoid or the torque converter is just gone. Makes a noise when you start it up and the fluid level on the trans dipstick is very high. Mileage is 204,000 I've tried to sell it just the way it is broke. But no luck on some one wanting a van for $1000. I've even went as low at $800.

Point being this is my chance to make this a hotrod sleeper van. Thought about first upgrading it with a engine/trans swap and hop up the 3400. Then I read about upgrading it to a 3500 engine would be a better selection over the 3400. Then there could be the option of a 3800 engine swap which would take more work. Or go on the wild side and do a Caddy V8 swap. Problem is getting the ECM tuned.

Then I thought about doing the first rear wheel conversion. Do a front Camaro clip swap with a Jaguar rear end. Know that would be wild. I want something really mean sounding, major loop idle. Something that will get people looking for a street machine, but over look the van. Because how many vans are out there with * 270/110 cam in it...lol. Drop the hammer and the jaws drops. I saw an Pontiac Azteck done the same way. Was awesome car.
So what do you grear heads think?

changing it to rear drive would be very fab intensive. you would have to get a whole wrecked fbody, cut the frames out of both and weld in new structure. and then mod your interior because just the back of the engine would probably come to the back of the dash let alone the trans. vans are also flat in the back and all that would have to made into a pro street type tunnel.

as i said in your other thread your best bet is a turbo 3500, and see what they do with the grandams and g6s to keep that trans alive and you have to do it. the pcm is fairly simple you get HPT and you can make changes to the pcm any way you like

Check the flexplate. No drive, reverse and a high fluid level indicates separation between the engine and trans.

Wouldn't a bad torque converter do the same thing if it went bad? Having the high fluid level.

It depends. There is a shaft that runs from inside the TQ to the oil pump in the trans. Never seen one break yet, never seen a TQ fail either. But its a simple check of popping off the starter bellhousing cover and inspecting the flexplate. A lot cheaper too.

Thanks for the info. I'll check it out. I am assuming You have to remove the starter. Part that stinks is the van is outside and it has turned cold down here in the South. Raining too. When the weather clears I'll get to it.

No, starter does not need to be removed. It'* just a little plastic cover held in by a couple of 10mm screws. Might already be gone. Some people like me don't reinstall them.

Mike, I would think you would have a heck of A noise before that flexplate completely broke.......

That high level is suspicious......check the level with the engine off.......start vehicle and see if the fluid level drops.....if it does, then the pump is turning, and thus the flex plate is intact.....

If that level drops, has the vehicle been scanned for transmission codes?

More likely, you drop the pan and find metal......like from a reverse drum carrier....

fluid level stays the same. It does give a check engine light of code of TCC open circuit. It makes a high wine sound like its out of fluid. Wonder if the oil pump shaft broke off.