Oldest known version of this page was edited on 2007-03-31 21:13:18 by ImCensored1 [Creation]
This was written up by James Cahill

After several weeks of collecting parts and making sure everything would work together, its finally done.

This is a semi How-To specifically for this swap. If you don't know how to swap a transmission, read one of the many How-Tos already written on it.

Parts needed-
Transmission and all related 5 spd parts (obviously)
Intermediate shaft and housing (found on 89 Beretta 2.8s and some Cavaliers, but I'm not exactly sure which ones)(you could probably use the one without the housing, but it will take more fabrication to get it to work correctly)
V6 axles
NVGT550 dogbone mount bracket

1- remove all the automatic parts (trans, shifter, cables, torque converter, flexplate, supports, etc)

2- bolt on the 2.2 flywheel. Be sure to use the correct bolts for this. The flywheel to crank bolts are a dealer only item (#476576). This is the difference between the two (the flexplate bolt is on the left)-



3- the input shaft diameter and spline count is the same for the 2.2 and 3.1 (1" 14 spline) so you can use the 2.2 clutch with no problems. Be sure to use the correct bolts here also. I would have ordered them pressure plate bolts from the dealer, but it would have taken over a week to get them, so I picked up some grade 10.9 M8x1.25x16mm bolts instead. Don't use a non-hardened bolt for this application.

4- since the NVGT550 is set up for the intermediate shaft that doesn't have the housing, I needed to drill and tap the three holes for the housing to bolt up-


5- in order for the top of the transmission to clear the bottom of the EGR, you need to cut off the tab above the top right bolt hole. This pic isn't the best, but its the top left hole here. You can kind of see the tab sticking up



6- the upper trans mount bracket used on the auto trans is no where near the right shape to use on the NVGT550. The factory 3.1 upper bracket may work just fine, but since I had the time, I built one myself-

First, I cut away the lower portion of it-


And then I modified the other little bracket to clear the upper piece (this pic is of the finished mod)-


Then I welded in two new plates to bolt to the lower little bracket (again, finished pics)-




7- its easiest to do the wiring with no transmission in the car, so-
(A)- on the transmission position switch, cut off the connector, connect the purple and yellow wires together (these are for the starting circuit)
(B)- leave the black and orange wires cut and wrap the ends in electrical tape. They are reference wires for the ECM to control EGR, etc and if they are connected to ground (in park and neutral) then some engine functions will not work.
(C)- you will need to source a GM style connector end to match the back up light switch on the transmission, I had some lying around and found one that worked. This hooks to the two left over wires
(D)- you need to move the VSS connector about 12" back in the harness to where the bellhousing will be since the auto trans VSS is at the end and the NVGT550 is in the bellhousing. The connector is the same.

8- install the transmission and intermediate shaft-


9- now comes the fun part, building the support bracket. Here is a pic of the stock 2.2 auto support bracket-




You will need to extend the side closest to the block to line up with the lower hole on the shaft housing and cut back the bracket to clear the end of the shaft housing. The length of the housing is the same as the auto trans, so you won't need to do anything but move the mounting holes. This is why its much easier to use the intermediate shaft with the housing instead of the one with the support bearing. It gives you something to work with right from the start.-




10- install the V6 axles. They are a direct bolt in. The auto axles are not the right length.




11- install the rest of the 5 spd parts (shifter, cables, pedals, etc). Some things I found out when doing this part-
(A)- you can use the firewall template provided here in the sticky, but you really don't need to. All the hole locations are already on the firewall (ignore the hole already there, it was for something I took out, I forget what)-


This is what it should look like when you're done-


I also installed the custom short shifter∞ I built. I still haven't installed the cables, but when I do (early next week) I will post the throw difference in the short shifter thread (as promised). I also have to install the flywheel cover and dogbone mount too.