Even if its not 3.23 gears like if you buy the one off a l67 which is 2.73 or something you can buy a swap kit resonable. so if you buy a cheap tranny, rebuild kit, and a gear swap I think you can run any. I think you can run any regardless but might have some "extra" parts. If you want a manual 5 speed I saw a getrag 284 for sale for 900. but the conversion is difficult. He is selling the whole kit for a grandprix for $4000. a stand alone tranny for 900. The getrag 5 speed is good for like 500 ft lbs torque or something stupid like that.

Holden intake, triple disc 5-speed swap

 

Non-HD tranny's actually have a 3.29 fdr and HD tranny's have a 2.92 fdr.

Regardless, if you only want a tranny that will last a year, then find one from a junked 03+ Monte/Impala. It should be easy to find and you'll spend MUCH less then $1000 (if you do the swap yourself). If you're planning on buying a newer Monte later, then don't worry about upgrading this tranny.

 

One of the biggest differences (why you want an 03+ tranny) is the 4th gear shaft has heat treated splines so they don't file down and result in no 4th gear.

But like Zipper said, if you're going to sell it in the near future, why waste the money.

 

Exactly!! lol

Thanks for the info man but I'm just going to go with a $400-600 junkyard trans Lol

Yea I'm just getting a regular ole tranny haha :p
I would love to swap it my self and save the $$ but I wouldn't know how or where to start. I know I have to separate the cradle from the body but wouldn't I need a lift? Lol or do I just lift my monte really high, unbolt and lower the cradle low enough to get the trans out? Lol

Ahh soo if u get an 02 or lower the splines are prone to failure of the 4th gear?
Yea I really wanna upgrade to a low mileage 7th gen
I don't wanna run into any more problems with this monte in the future its getting close to 170k miles

 

You can do it the old fashioned way. chain your engine to your braces unbolt the trany and wires ect., hang a pully on a strong tree and lift the front off your monte up. Red neck ingenuity at its finest. takes two guys tho. one to hold the car up one to brace the car and pull tranny out. I say have someone else do it. It is a pain not worth the money you save

 

yea I'm just going to have Someone do it for me lol
I don't wanna damage my monte either :p

 

That is great info... I am always worried about 4th gear when I really wind her up... Now we all know, 03 and up with 3.23 gears and your good to go ... Thanks,

 

You want an 03+ because not just the spline is different, there are some different electronics and your PCM won't talk properly to anything that is older than a 2003.

The same goes for people who have an 02 and below. You can't just pick up an 03 transmission and put it in for the hardened spline, your PCM will be confused.

 

Thanks for mentionimg that Chibi. I didn't include that in my first post since Frank has an 03 already. But, for everyone with a 2000-2002, yes you need a tranny from those years and you'd have to have TEP or similar heat treat that spline for you.

 

quick question some one might not have asked? why would you want to sell your monte and start again from scratch? just wanted to ask the body looks good and fix the trans and it will run great. i would do that but i just wanted to ask unless there is a hidden prob i would understand