Drivetrain swap! 97 - 99

[Shiftx450]

technically yes but wiring changes will need to be made. and if the 99 had the auto4wd tcase your are looking at major electrical work to make that happens. some on the tranny, some on the engine and lots on the tcase system.

legally it may not be allowed to backtrack the classification engine and emmisions system in your location.

can you at least keep the tcase if auto4wd and just move the tranny/engine block that way there is a minimal of rework involved if hardly any and the pcm would not have so much rework either.

btw you have not actually specified what tcases were in yours and the donor truck. it would help.

I did specify - the 97 red 2dr is the donor truck, the 99 black 4dr is my baby I'm trying to fix.

The auto 4wd makes no difference to me, but I am now thinking of using the transfer case from the 99 just to not have so much bs.

I really want to use this transmission and motor as it's been freshly built.

They are both 4L60E transmissions, you can see where it says that on the second one half way down the housing. The first one is a singe piece or one piece case as they call it, the second one shown is a removeable bell housing. That probably has a 300mm input shaft and convertor, that is the more desirable piece but if that's the one slipping no matter.

I don't know about later model transfer cases to go and open my mouth here, someone else can help you there.

---------- Post added at 02:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:30 PM ----------

After thought: there were changes with the cooling lines around the same time as when the one piece case gave way to the newer "LS" style. When you look at those two cooling line hookups on the tranny they are in different positions, I bet the line feeding and returning is a different thread ... carry on.

Not sure if you're seeing the pics backwards or not seeing my full posts.. But I did identify already that the second one is a 4l60e as its stamped on the side of the trans. And after further research the other is as well, it has stamped on it M30. Whats with that?

The cooling lines are in the same location on both trans's.

The top trans photo is from the 97 and it has the removable cast bell housing plate underneath.

The lower trans photo is a one piece and had some stupid flat piece of metal blocking the flywheel bolts.

---------- Post added at 04:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:44 PM ----------

Also, what about my trans symptoms form the 99? Is the torque converter supposed to be dry and sound like something is loose inside when shook?

---------- Post added at 04:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:45 PM ----------

can you at least keep the tcase if auto4wd and just move the tranny/engine block that way there is a minimal of rework involved if hardly any and the pcm would not have so much rework either.

QUOTE]

I am leaning towards this real hard.

Can you elaborate on the 'just move the tranny/engine block' part?

---------- Post added at 05:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:53 PM ----------

I misunderstood at first. I see what youre talking about with the removable bell housing and what not. I thought it was being referenced at the torque converter cover plate.

 

[SunlitComet]

i mention the tcase id tags cause while auto4wd was the norm in 98-and newer it was still possible to get the non auto or floor shifter. but get the id tag info from both tcases just in case. just move the tranny/engine block as in retain the tcase for reuse but let me know the id tags first. m30 is the rpo code for the 4l60e tranny. L31 is for the vortec 350 if you ever run into that term. the tcase will be np1 for the eshift non-auto nv-243. np8 for the auto4wd case nv-246. and was fluid leaking out anywhere in on the tranny when you found this issue?

 

[retorq]

Not sure if you're seeing the pics backwards or not seeing my full posts.. But I did identify already that the second one is a 4l60e as its stamped on the side of the trans. And after further research the other is as well, it has stamped on it M30. Whats with that?

The cooling lines are in the same location on both trans's.

The top trans photo is from the 97 and it has the removable cast bell housing plate underneath.

The lower trans photo is a one piece and had some stupid flat piece of metal blocking the flywheel bolts.

Also, what about my trans symptoms form the 99? Is the torque converter supposed to be dry and sound like something is loose inside when shook?

M30 was the code for those ... The angle of the lines is different which leads me to believe you need to double check them.

If the torque convertor is dry and you shake it, you will hear the plates and bearing move around.

 

[Shiftx450]

Update pics!

---------- Post added at 09:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 PM ----------

Ok I will take them pics of the tags tomorrow as I'm done for the night.

Took 22 hours to dismantle the first truck, only 8 to do the second which includes tagging all connections.

I might actually get good at this! ha.

Quick question: Is the motor from the 97 a non-Vortec?

So I think here's my plan of attack:

Clean up and Use good motor from 97. Intake, throttle body, everything. But gonna take my plug wires, coil, and distributor-rotor-cap from the blown motor as they're fairly new. Drop in motor. Connect everything I can.

Mount trans from the 97. Has identical electrical connectors, but the oil lines are slightly angled as you guys said. The ones from the 99 come off straight. Hoping a tubing bender will take care of this..? Trans itself measures 2 inches shorter, but with the other piece bolted to the tail - the overall lengths are the same. Just hoping the splines are the same so I can bolt the autoTcase from the 99 to the 97 trans.

Should it bolt to my existing block and flywheel? Looks real similar..

Or do I need to swap flywheels?

Transfer case: gonna try and use my 99 autoTcase to the 97 trans..

What you guys think?

 

[SunlitComet]

i would take the 97 flywheel/ flexplate and move it too since there is a difference in bell housing and converter likely. just better that way. otherwise it should bolt on as the tcase. dont forgot about swamping the oil pressure switch between the two just in case it was changed from 97-98. the was a wiring change that removed fuel pump control off the switch and entirely to the pcm. as a result the switch design is likely changed. will look a tech data later but other wise so far you are good to go. let me know of any data you need. and if you have done the engine dizzy install before swap it before you put it in so you can get the CAM_RETARD setting dean on the first time. would avoid needing a scanner later.

 

[Shiftx450]

i would take the 97 flywheel/ flexplate and move it too since there is a difference in bell housing and converter likely. just better that way. otherwise it should bolt on as the tcase. dont forgot about swamping the oil pressure switch between the two just in case it was changed from 97-98. the was a wiring change that removed fuel pump control off the switch and entirely to the pcm. as a result the switch design is likely changed. will look a tech data later but other wise so far you are good to go. let me know of any data you need. and if you have done the engine dizzy install before swap it before you put it in so you can get the CAM_RETARD setting dean on the first time. would avoid needing a scanner later.

Oh dear, you're losing me.

So you're saying.. which way to move the 97 flywheel/flexplate?

I'm keeping the 97 motor. 97 trans. 99 tCase. All gonna go into the 99.

Oil pressure switch I will look into, gotta figure out what and where it is first!

Can you further elaborate on the fuel pump thing? I thought it was electronic all the way on both trucks.. Not sure what switch you speak of.

And what the hell is the engine dizzy install?

Oh, and which ECM do you recommend with my intended setup of the 97 motor, 97 trans, 99 tCase??

Just want to throw in a huge Thank You for everyones input so far.

My first time doing this!

 

[retorq]

If you are keeping the 97 motor and 97 trans keep the 97 flywheel and 97 convertor. You will want to keep those 3 together, trans, convertor and flywheel.

97 was a Vortec engine with Vortec heads, there should be a saw tooth pattern on the end of the head if you can see it behind all that bracketry.

If you pulled the distributor from the "new" engine before removing it, then you will have to reset it and it has to be within 2 degrees or you get a code that is somewhat hard to remove.

 

[Shiftx450]

Was just gonna find TDC and reset it.

 

[inthechateau]

X450, I'm watching your post with interest as I amy end up using 96 donor truck for engine on my 99 project. Would be a nice write up to recap all the changes you did to make your swap work.

I just did my 99 heads and intake gaskets on the 99. One cylinder was kind of questionable, but will run it till it quits. Good luck.

 

[SunlitComet]

and oil pressure switch is at top center of cylinder block just behind lower intake manifold. move the one from thee 99 and put it on the 97 block. you will retain the 99 pcm. stick with that and what retorq clarified and you will go from there.