I'm am looking at swaping a 02 northstar v8 in a TJ. The problem I'm running into is info. I know that I will need a 60 degree gm tranny, but which one. The second problem is the ECM. I have read that there are some problems with removing the FWD tranny. I guess ECM needs to see info coming from the tranny. Not exactly sure way. That being said any help would be appreated.

why do you want to do this? Got the engine for free?

60* Transmission info and lots of it: (folow the links listed in the tread too).

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=713103&highligh

- Lee

No, I currently am running a TPI 350 in my cj that I was going to swap over, but I can get my hands on the motor complete with O.E harness and computer for reasonable. I was looking for something differant to build in this project.

Thanks Lee for the info. That is head spinning. I have a 2.5L tranny. I also have a 4.7 dodge tranny, but that doesn't have a bell housing that unbolts. I am also taking the axles and transfer out off my CJ(dana 300 with 4:1 and the axles are 60 front and 14 bolt out back both narrowed so keeping them would be nice) I also have a new 700r4 in the box, but I really would like to go stick.

If I read right the AX-5 would bolt to the AX-15 and then I could bolt the 300 to that. If that is true whats your thought on strength to hold up to the 4.9L
Thanks again for the insite.
Chris

Otter Whaley has a one in his TJ buggy. He runs a 904 from a 2.8L cherokee. He runs a D300 behind it. You will have to get the ecu flashed. Bad ass powerplant!

Good to know about reflashing the ECM. The 904 is a good option, but was hoping for a stick. I run a auto know and was looking for a change.
Thanks for the info.

Cool swap.
I've known a couple guys that put them in Fieros. All I'll say is Cadillac don't fuck around.

I just thought I would share a professional opinion on these engines. First of they do make good power. Obviously they are a killer design and they weigh very little. I could see those traits as being very desireable. But I would like to say that in the automotive repair industry they are pretty much considered junk. Commonly refered to as the "Death star." They are not known for their longevity. At my shop we have a couple of old ladies driving them around. One car has gone through 3 motors in 80 thousand miles. The other car has had headgaskets replaced twice and the engine replaced once in 60 thousand miles. Your vehicle may only be a trail rig, that won't see many miles, and will probably be fine in that sense. I just thought I would tell of my experience with these engines.

The 904 is a good option, but was hoping for a stick. I run a auto know and was looking for a change.
Thanks for the info.

Did you look at that link I posted? Between it and the links in it, pretty much all you ever wanted to know about 60 degree transmissions is provided.

Here (http://www.jeeps-offroad.com/showthread.php?t=4740) is one of the more detailed links from that thread.

That should sure get the ball rolling. If you're going manual, figuring out the throw out bearing and clutch should be fun, but I'm sure it's doable.

- Lee

I just thought I would share a professional opinion on these engines. First of they do make good power. Obviously they are a killer design and they weigh very little. I could see those traits as being very desireable. But I would like to say that in the automotive repair industry they are pretty much considered junk. Commonly refered to as the "Death star." They are not known for their longevity. At my shop we have a couple of old ladies driving them around. One car has gone through 3 motors in 80 thousand miles. The other car has had headgaskets replaced twice and the engine replaced once in 60 thousand miles. Your vehicle may only be a trail rig, that won't see many miles, and will probably be fine in that sense. I just thought I would tell of my experience with these engines.

They are a hot rod motor, and the little old ladies run them so easy that they gunk up with carbon.

They are a hot rod motor, and the little old ladies run them so easy that they gunk up with carbon.
:laughing:so you are saying carbon causes head gasket and bearing failure???:laughing::rolleyes:

Bansheestu thanks for the insight, but like any motor out there. their are good ones and bad ones. You could say the same thing about any gm v8 when they had all those head gasket problems caused by dextron coolant. Same manufacturer. But that being said I will look further look into any inherent problem. Thanks
Bigdaddylee82 I did look threw all those posts, but my concern is strength. It seems that all the trannys, are out of 4 or 6 cylinder engines. Will they hold up to the v8? I did see on AA that thier AX15 will hold up to 300hp. I have now read it three time and every time I find some new info I had missed before. As for the flywheel and cluthplate. That will suck, but I think the gain will be worth it. Thanks again for the help.

:laughing:so you are saying carbon causes head gasket and bearing failure???:laughing::rolleyes:

No. Never did. I did say that they had carbon buildup problems that caused the motors to run very poorly.

The nv3550 is much stronger than the AX-15 and will bolt to the same bellhousing, they are rated for 300ftlbs of torque and that is said to be underrated.

The nv3550 is much stronger than the AX-15 and will bolt to the same bellhousing, they are rated for 300ftlbs of torque and that is said to be underrated.

I agree the 3550 would be a good choice, stronger than the AX-15 just a little noisier.

I don't think I can use the NV3550. It has the large bell housing. If there is a 3550 that has a bellhousing that is removable please correct me.
I hope I'm wrong as that would be a nice tranny

Don't forget ridiculous oil consumption, considered "normal" by general motors. On the plus side, you can find those motors all over the place used and abused. You'll love nuances like water pump placement and plain "making it work"

I know this swap will probably suck. Besides the tranny, flywheel and pressure plate being a obstical . Yes I still have the waterpumop being at the back of the motor, the starter being on top of the motor, the intake facing the firewall and many more that I have not thought about. I still think this would be a good swap. Good horsepower per cubic inch, light weight and just differant. I maybe making a huge mastake not just installing my TPI, but I would like see where this goes.

The 3500 and 3550 trannies are basically the same, the difference being the 3500 has a removable bellhousing, the 3550 does not. Both are considered better than a ax15.

I'm not sure about the 2000-up northstars but the earlier ones had the 90 degree bellhousing so finding a bolt-in manual tranny should not be that hard. Although the dexton coolant might have been a problem in a few northstars; what actually happens to most of them is that the head bolts pull the treads in the block- fix by drilling and tapping for steel inserts- Cadillac has part numbers for the inserts as well as a part number for a insert install kit (High dollar!). Yes, I have seen motors with as little as 23,000 blow the head gaskets- usually the head closest to the cowl but other than the heads I have seen plenty of motors with 200+ (local taxi service) and no other issues.

If no one has mentioned them chrfab.com has most all of your answers, they use these in alot of sand-buggies. I was going to use one in a streetrod project, but too many problems, like even if you get the transmisson from a 4.3 v6 s10 which fits it won't be strong enough. It can be upgraded to work but cost a couple thousand. I went with a LS6 which is not nearly as wide, and makes more power.

:laughing:I can't help but think that in reading this entire post, being "different" just doesn't seem worth it. Maybe you could be really "different" and power your rig with an outboard boat motor. Richard Simmons is definately "different" does that mean he is super cool??

The 3500 and 3550 trannies are basically the same, the difference being the 3500 has a removable bellhousing, the 3550 does not. Both are considered better than a ax15.


Wrong, the 3550 does have a removable bellhousing.

We've been running the north star in our sand buggies for years now. Also been using the short star.

They are a hot rod motor, and the little old ladies run them so easy that they gunk up with carbon.
I second that. The "senior driving characteristics" is a killer for these motors. Stop-and-go/on-and-off, rarely reaching operating temperature, never wide open throttle, etc.

A shop foreman that I know has a couple of clients with 250K+ miles Cadillac Sevilles, only thing that has needed repair are the wheel bearings. The funny thing is this other guy, who babies his Eldorado, barely 40K miles; yet he has gone through several water pumps, serpentine belts, pulleys, yadda, yadda.

Also, I believe Otter's TJ has a Shortstar (the acquainted V6?), but I do recall seeing a Campbell buggy that had a Northstar.

Otter does have the V8, RobK has the shortstar in his TJ. Both jeeps run like raped apes.

nice swap. otters kicks ass. alot of work to get it in, but all aluminum 300 hp and replacement engines are cheap once you have it in

After alot of looking around I have given up on this swap. I wasn't worried about the motor. It was the tranny that cancerned me, plus useing a 9 or so inch clutch. Thanks for all the help.

how about using it in a transverse buggy setup? I only ask b/c i have a a wrecked 99 and was really wanting to do it. also i would like to know what a 32 valve v-8 sounds like w/o 6 mufflers on it:p but seriously, pros/cons to using the fwd tranny for a buggy?!?

I've been working on these at the Cadillac dealer since they were 2 years old .And resealed 100's and fixed head gaskets on 80 or 90 of 'em.They are the most bitch'en 4 valve motor to date for simplicitys sake .
Yes they leak from the factory ,till fixed properly at the dealer level.And the wearing parts , guess what , "wear".but for 4.6 liters on 1992 tech , there bitch'en.

All transverse northstars have the 60 degree bellhousing .Good news is , V-8 guts go right into a 6o degree 700r4 case ,except torque conv.

The intake mani also switches 180 degrees with the p/s pump relocated , so it points forward.

The typical swap would use a 93 Cad ecm ,as it is pretty stupid .This said , I'd pass on it too for a LS motor for ease of install.

also i would like to know what a 32 valve v-8 sounds like w/o 6 mufflers on it:p

Absolutely bitchin! :smokin: