I'm curious...

Anyone have any thoughts on swapping in a SOHC manual tranny into my SL2? The line of thought being that I can get one for cheap and drop my highway RPMs via the different OD ratio. Therefore giving better mpg, well, in theory.

Personally I think I'm crazy.

 

It will work, the MPG difference wont be that much. Some have even swapped in the fifth gear from the MP2 transmission into the MP3 transmission.

Also keep in mind that the cruise control will most likely will not function afterward.

 

ok so it is possible to switch sohc and dohc trans??? i called two of my local saturn dealers and one told me it should bolt up but would be a different gear ratio, and the other told me that it would not bolt up at all.... i have a sohc but its alot easier to find a dohc manual trans... and one dealer told me the dohc trans was more durable.... idk

right now i just need a new motor.... i found out the piston rod stud broke on the #2 piston where the rod connects to the crank shaft. it finnaly gave and the rod shot a huge hole in the side of the motor.... but funny thing is i was still able to drive it on 3 cylinders... untill all the oil spewed out and it locked up a block from my house... lol

what about putting a dohc in my sl1 with my sl1 tranny?? since i know the trans is good and i JUST bought it like 2 months ago!?!?

 

Yes, if its a manual. No if its an automatic.

This is true.

That person is an idiot.

That person is also an idiot. The only difference between the two transmissions is a couple gears sizes.


You could do that, but you wont be utilizing all the power of the DOHC engine.

 

well basically my biggest question is, will the twin cam just bolt right up and work?? or do i have to change anything like the ecm?? i know that with hondas the ecm is spacific to the motor so when you change a motor you have to change those too.

the only reason i am asking is because in my area twin cams are much easier to find, and since i just got the trans i wanted to just use it instead of buying a new one... but if i can find a single cam then im just going to use it.

(edit and i dont have to worry about the cruise, my car is compleetly standard other than the a/c. lolEdited by: 95_sl1

 

If you want to drop a twincam in your car, you''ll need:

- A complete 1993-1998 DOHC engine. (1993-1994 will require and EGR adaptor plate)(1996-1998 will require the drilling and taping of a hole for the second temperature sensor) Nerither of wich are a big deal.

-If the engine you pick up doesnt have everything, you''ll also need 1991-1998 DOHC A/C brackets, 1991-1998 DOHC powersteering bracket, 1991-1998 DOHC exhaust manifold and downpipe.

-1995 DOHC manual PCM from a 1995 SL2, SW2 or SC2 with similar options as your car. (Cruise control, A/C, ABS, or tracion control)

-1995 DOHC instrument cluster.

-I''d suggest picking up the correct transmission as well. Especially if its already attached to the engine you''re picking up.

 

well i was at the junk yard yesterday picking up some tires and i looked and there where only 2 twin cams there and they where both automatics and torn apart, but there where 6 or 7 single cams and like 3 of them whre manual. what i want to know is what should i look for to make sure im getting a good motor??

 

Look for a car that is at the junkyard because of a collision. Its a pretty good indication that the car was drivable. If the car has no damage and is sitting in a junkyard, chances are that it has engine or tranny problems.

 

i know that much.. thats where i got my transmition is from another 95 sl1 with lower milage than mine that was rearended pretty bad and had a progressive insurance claim sticker on it. well i have been to both of the junk yards that i go to now and the only single cams there that sill have a motor are wrecked. no i take that back, there was one single cam there wrecked, but it was an automatic. and i noticed they dont eschange motors if they are not good.... so maybe i should take a battery along with me and see if i can get it to run...