6th Gen ('00-'05): LS > SS Transmission Swap (URGENT)
#1
LS > SS Transmission Swap (URGENT)
Hi,
Recently I've purchased a 2003 Monte Carlo LS. After a hundred issues with it, it finally blew a head gasket and I don't have the money to repair it.
So the question is, if I were to buy a 2001 Monte Carlo SS, could I put my 2003 LS transmission into the 2001 SS?
I'd be doing this because the 2001 SS needs a transmission and I have a 2003 LS transmission on hand.
Please respond as quickly as possible or give your input and credentials please. I don't want to make a bad purchase here.
Thank You!
~Alex
Recently I've purchased a 2003 Monte Carlo LS. After a hundred issues with it, it finally blew a head gasket and I don't have the money to repair it.
So the question is, if I were to buy a 2001 Monte Carlo SS, could I put my 2003 LS transmission into the 2001 SS?
I'd be doing this because the 2001 SS needs a transmission and I have a 2003 LS transmission on hand.
Please respond as quickly as possible or give your input and credentials please. I don't want to make a bad purchase here.
Thank You!
~Alex
#3
Sounds very plausible... Does anyone else have any input or know of any easier way?
And the reason that I can't just replace the head gasket is because the head gasket blew due to over heating obviously. To repair the head gasket even myself would be $400 minimum. With repairing that, I'd still need to discover and fix the overheating problem. While discovering the overheating problem, it is pretty possible that I could end up blowing the head gasket again, or not find the problem at all. I might end up spending more money trying to fix the 03 LS with no success. (Money is very limited here) Also, I got an offer to buy the 01 SS for about $600 due to the transmission problem, so that could very well be the better option depending on what the process is to make that transmission transfer.
And the reason that I can't just replace the head gasket is because the head gasket blew due to over heating obviously. To repair the head gasket even myself would be $400 minimum. With repairing that, I'd still need to discover and fix the overheating problem. While discovering the overheating problem, it is pretty possible that I could end up blowing the head gasket again, or not find the problem at all. I might end up spending more money trying to fix the 03 LS with no success. (Money is very limited here) Also, I got an offer to buy the 01 SS for about $600 due to the transmission problem, so that could very well be the better option depending on what the process is to make that transmission transfer.
#4
Easier way is get a replacement LS transmission, but you also need to do the head gaskets? You could do a 3800/4t65e swap.
Or get the other car, put a tranny in it, and hope it runs well.
Or get the other car, put a tranny in it, and hope it runs well.
#5
My thoughts would be to price a transaxle for the '01 from a wrecking yard. Buy the '01, sell the '03 whole or part it out to recoup the cost of the transaxle and hopefully put a couple of bucks back in your pocket.
#6
Well my LS transmission is fine, so I wouldn't need one. It's the 01 SS transmission that needs a replacement. And the 03 LS is the one with the head gasket issue. So your suggesting that I buy the 01 SS and put the engine in my 03 LS? Then would keeping the LS transmission work?
#7
Sorry, I've just gotten into cars and all this handy work this year so I'm not sure bout everything. I looked it up and some people say a transaxle is the same thing as a transmission, other people so it's different. Could you explain it please? Sorry for the inconvenience...
But your saying, buying the 01 SS and getting a new transaxle for it, would fix the transmission problem?
I probably sound like an idiot, but we all gotta learn one day. Haha.
But your saying, buying the 01 SS and getting a new transaxle for it, would fix the transmission problem?
I probably sound like an idiot, but we all gotta learn one day. Haha.
#8
Your overheating issue came from a blown head gasket or warped head. Either way ditch the 3.4 IMO. Either go to the junk yard and buy a 3800 with a trans and install into your LS Monte or buy the ss Monte and buy a trans for it. Part your LS Monte out or try and sale whole to recoupe some cost.
If it were me I would ditch the LS completely and buy the ss and put a trans in it. Not the LS trans a good junk yard trans that is the correct trans for the car.
If it were me I would ditch the LS completely and buy the ss and put a trans in it. Not the LS trans a good junk yard trans that is the correct trans for the car.
#9
Thank you, those are some pretty good ideas. Question though, if I were to put the 3800 in my LS, the only parts that I would need to buy are the Engine obviously, and the transmission? Or are there some other expenses I'd need to look at?
#10
Engine, trans, computer, and wiring harness for sure. I think you will need motor mounts, exhaust, coils but not sure. There maybe more also I don't know for sure I never did the swap.
What it comes down to is what car has better paint, rust free, interior and then fix the one that is in best shape is what I recommend doing.
What it comes down to is what car has better paint, rust free, interior and then fix the one that is in best shape is what I recommend doing.