Dont mean to sound like a double post but I am new to this site, so here is my question which maybe can get answered. Tried for a answer on third gen with little response. I am now the proud owner of three cavalier coups a 96 stick with lots of bells and whistles that runs but needs a clutch, a 97 auto with a bad motor ready to throw a rod, and a 99 stick that my son flipped 4 weeks after he got it trying to Tokyo Drift curves and rolled a tire off the rim. I got the 97 for cheap the body is good and want to put the 99 eng in it. I know the intake system changed in 98 is there a way to do this swap, I am not illiterate, I run and program nc machines for a living. I built my first motor at the age of 15. I normally do VW's but work on everything, which gets me the nickname dad the fix it man. Please let me know I have the complete 99 car still.
dad the fix it man
Between your posts on the Third Gen forum and this one, looks like you've decided to put the '99 engine in the '97 rather than the '96. It was suggested that since you had all the donor cars, just use the parts from the '99. That's what I'd do. No, the ECM isn't plug and play and you'll have to change the harnesses. I wouldn't switch heads, retrofit the EGR or any of that. The late '99 has the revised injectors and most of the final updates done on the LD9 and you'd be better off leaving it as is. You said the '99 is a stick and the '97 is an auto, but didn't say if you were going to keep the auto in the '97. You'll have the usual added complexity if you change the transmission. I'm old and this all sounds like a lot of work to me now. I enjoyed it way more when I was a teenager, but GM didn't even assign letters to their platforms back then. (Don't even think they called them "platforms" then.) - Mark
Mark thank you for replying. I really would like to use this 99 eng in the 97 with the automatic trans. Do you know how much of the wiring harness needs to be changed? Just on engine compartment side or will it be a major task. Will the ecm from the 99 work with the automatic trans? I am old too but have a anxious teenage driver who really wants wheels again who will have to do the wrench work before he gets another one to drive on a regular basis. How much trouble would it be to change it to stick if needed.
dad the fix it man
Oh crap, I forgot about the stick in the '99 and the ECM issues with the auto. If you want to use the parts you have, go ahead and swap the engine and trans from the '99. Switching to the stick is a lot of work, but you have the parts and it has been often done. Yes, you'll need to swap the harness from the inside as well and even the cluster, shifter, pedals, etc.. It's the details that will take the time and I'm sure your son will think twice before risking rolling this car once it's done. Good luck. - Mark
Hey Mark what do you think about this I put the ecm and the 99 in the 96 and then take the 96 and move it to the 97? The 96 is stick with cruise the 99 was stick without cruise do you think I could get by without having to change the inside wiring and dash since it was already set up for stick?
dad the fix it man
Your original post says the 96 just needs a clutch. That would be easiest, of course. The 99 to 96 should be next do-able since they're both stick, but you're entering into cross-year transplants that have lots of possible differences and I'm not sure of them all. I know the ECM's changed in the early years of the third gen car. I'd give you a hand if I was closer (and younger). - Mark
That's what I thought Mark, appreciate the offer of assistance. I will keep you posted on what I end up doing, today we are going to pull the trans on the 96 and see what is all wrong. Will then pull the engine out of the 97 and crack the bottom end and look and see how bad it is. I am also going to see about a possible exchange of the 99 for 97 from the salvage yard.
Have a good day.
Steve
dad the fix it man
