Well, back to the drawing board...no rebuild for me since I actually OWE Mr. Sam this year. And since I am in the market for a house, I am REALLY on a budget.

SO, time to re-evaluate Jinxs current situation. The trans will not hold together for work commuting...in fact I guess it maybe has a few miles left in it before all goes dark. Yes, I have posted this before, and yes I know it needs rebuilding or replacement....but since rebuilding, at this point in time, is out of the question...it'* gonna have to be swapped.

I contacted Ed Morad to see if he has any -60 HDs on the shelf and if he could get me a good price. But in case that falls through, here is my plan of attack: Swap in a non-hd -60 from either a 95 or 96 3800, and use the diff and housing that I have now. Yes, I know the electronics are different and will require re-pinning of the harness, and the gearing will be off, but other than that what other issues will I be facing should I go this route?

Also, keep in mind I am going used because sometime in Jinxs future it is going to get the L67 S2 and there is little point in investing so much money in the drivetrain just to get yanked out and shelved in a year or so.

The 94 and newer 60'* have a true thermocouple in the valvebody to report an actual analog temperature back to the PCM. The 92/93 do not have this. They have a thermal switch to tell the PCM what it needs to know.

You'll need parts from BOTH the new and the old trans to make up for this, or you'll need a new PCM.

I have the thermoswitch elements in the spare case I bought off of ebay, so no worries in that department. Good call on that Mr. Wren

I found what I think would be a suitable interim transmission on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-BO...spagenameZWD1V

I am hoping that with the lower gear ratio, coupled with the fact that 95 and newer 60 non-HDs should be upgraded to handle the higher torque of the S2, and the existing HD diff, should help it last a year or so (or maybe longer). While the "new" trans is in, the "old" one will be rebuilt at my leisure and either used as a spare (in case my Frankenmotor does last longer than expected) or sold (if I go to the S2 L67 side).

In any event, money (or lack of) and lack of availability is the reason to go this route in this point of time. Though it may not be *correct* in some peoples eyes, I am trying to go the *most correct possible* way of making it work, if that makes any sense.

Your shift points are going to be fooked with that trans. Not to mention your speedo error.

The car will actually perform like dog meat since it'll be shifting at the wrong rpm'*. I think you'll regret it.

yes the PCM wont be happy

although you could get a custom burn.....Maybe GM tuners will do different shift points, and a different gear ratio?

...now this brings me to this question:

Is the shifting controled by the PROM or by the PCM? If it'* by PROM, then a custom chip would be needed (as Bill pointed out) and after making a few mods to the engine would probably be needed anyways to get the full benefit.

If by the PCM, then this idea is boned.

EDIT - Could I swap the final drive ratio to make the trans more agreeable to the PROM/PCM?

the Trans info is in the EPROM

So, if I am understanding this correctly...IF GM Tuners (Sinister) can program new shift points for the 97 transmission, along with my new values for engine parameters, AND refit the 97 trans with the HD diff and thermoswitch, AND leave the 3.06 ratio intact, it should work.

Going that route, it is still cheaper than an all-out rebuild of what I have...IF it will work.

Brad...what is your price range for a used Trans?

Since I am in cost-savings mode....for the trans itself, up to maybe 400. But you have seen the yards and cars around here, and there ain't much to work with in the supercharged field, hence having to yet again piece something together. I lucked out on the motor, but I doubt I will be able to score a trans in good shape in this area.