R&R 1995 Bonneville Trans?

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Blown&Injected

Active Member
Joined
May 31, 2001
Messages
3,721
So how hard is this job? I have NO PROBLEM doing the trans in the GN but never messed with a FWD car.

Any ideas on where I might get a replacement trans and converter for it?

TIA
 
It should just drop out after removing the cradle. It is more parts than the trans in a TB. I rebuilt the trans in my 03 regal and it took a total of two days + rebuild time. You could just pull it and drop it off at a trans shop for a rebuild if you're unsure about rebuilding it yourself. Mine ran just under $300 for all the parts without replacing the converter. I mainly wanted to replace the OD shaft with a hardened one and install a shift kit. It ended up that I put new clutches and steels in it too. I knew the shaft was a weak point so I replaced it before it failed. I rigged up some 2X4s and 44s to hold the engine in place.
 
Memory is getting foggy since the R&R days, but I think the mid 90's full size boats had a split frame that allowed you to take out the LF corner, leaving the steering rack and sway bar in place. You will still have to support the engine though. you can build a fixture to cross the shock towers and extend out to the rad. support to hold it using chains on the factory support loops. Truth be told the FWD GM 4t60E was one of my favorite R&R jobs, don't really know why though. The uninitiated will cuss it, but when you're used to working on northstars and dakotas, that job is like being on vacation. I could try to think my way through the job and spell it out with bolt sizes if you wish.

Truthfully your best bet is to have it rebuilt at your local reputable trans shop.

Just a wild guess......no reverse??

bob
 
Not sure I want to try it myself - the R&R part or the rebuild part.

The best trans I ever had in my GN is the one I built myself - first and only trans rebuild I ever did.

The FWD trans looks like some strangeness. If it is about the same amount of work as doing the trans in a GN, I would do it in a second - just that I do not know what it's like.

Maybe some tips as to what needs to come out and off the car - what does not have to me messed with - can it be done from the top side or does the suspension, frame or what ever needs to come out.

Bolt by bolt would be above and beyond the call to TB.C duty, but if one could even come close to that would be about the best I could hope for as far as getting an idea as to what needs to be done to get it out.

Thanks
 
No, it's not as easy as your GN.

You will have to fabricate an engine support, and remove one corner of the subframe, which takes the left lower control arm with it. both lower ball joints will have to be popped loose, and the sway bar end link will have to come off the drivers side. On a 95 from the north you may as well sawzall that off and get a new one because it will be rusted in place. you can leave the axle shafts in the wheel hubs and work around them. Getting all the bolts started back in the subframe without cross threading them is a bitch. It's a lot tighter work area than your GN was, and there's more bolts. The pan has a funky shape that won't sit on a floor jack very well and it has a goofy center of gravity that will make lining the bellhousing up a royal pain in the ass. there's a hidden bellhousing bolt on the backside that will take a really long extension and maybe some swivel action to get out. That extension will likely pass right next to the oil PSI switch which will snap off if you even look at it funny, so unscrew it first and plug the hole. I can get you pretty close on a step by step bolt by bolt procedure if you decide to tackle it. PM me. It's been a year and a half since the last time I did one but before that I did one every couple weeks on average for six years. We charged about $250 for the R&R out here in the sticks so if you don't have a complete arsenal of tools at your disposal you may want to skip it. As far as transmission installs go, the GN is a 1.5 on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the easiest. the bonneville is a 4 with the right tools, and a 7 without. Hope this helps.

bob
 
THANK YOU!

I think I will take it to a local shop - too much stuff going on with this thing.

In the GN, a 4 foot etention and a wobble socket and the tricky part becomes easy - this FWD job sounds like a case of removing the car from the trans not pulling the trans from the car!

Will be worth it if the car holds together for another year.

Thanks again for the insight in to this job.
 
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