32v northstar question

[Luminaz4Life]

i was told a northstar 32v v8 will drop in a lumina or bonnevile with almost no mods?!,it sounds too good to be true,so can someone please tell me if this guy was lying or not?

[sharkey]

im not sure on this, but im sure it would require custom mounts, the 4t80e tranny, computer, axles, possible even hubs, rad, and lots of other things.

[Rhedalert]

Maybe a Bonne, but it will not fit in a Lumina. There just is not enough room.

[dohcfiend]

i have seen one in a gran prix. but i don't know about it dropping in. i am pretty sure it will require modifications.

[ProjectMM]

i don't know about the mods, but the new GXP bonivlle will have the north star motor in it!

[bluebomber]

How can it go in with "No Mods" if you have to switch from a front wheel drivetrain to a rear wheel drivetrain. That alone is plenty of "Mods", unless you could find a way to mount it to a 4T60, LOL!

[Gemmer]

How can it go in with "No Mods" if you have to switch from a front wheel drivetrain to a rear wheel drivetrain. That alone is plenty of "Mods", unless you could find a way to mount it to a 4T60, LOL!

4t80 is a transaxle

[v6h.o.]

How can it go in with "No Mods" if you have to switch from a front wheel drivetrain to a rear wheel drivetrain. That alone is plenty of "Mods", unless you could find a way to mount it to a 4T60, LOL!

even though there was no mention of switching to RWD. for a RWD setup the 4cyl, and V6 4L60E's will bolt up to the northstar, but will require cutting and notching the bellhousing for the starter nose...


but the Northstar is FWD (in everything previous to the XLR, and SRX)and uses the 4T80E transaxle.

as to if it will fit? hard to say. yes they are in the new bonneville GXP's. we have a few here at the dealership.

[pocket-rocket]

A little decoding on the tranny model numbers GM has set.

4T60E- First number designates 4 gears (3 + overdrive) IIRC. T means transverse layout (FWD, like GP's, Luminas, Cuttys), 60, don't remember, and the E designates it's electronically controled by the ECM.
4L60E- all the same as the 4t, but the L means longitudnal (RWD) like in Firebirds, Camaro and a few other RWD cars).

[bszopi]

60 has to do with the torque rating of the tranny. Its not really significant to a specific value, but the higher the number, the higher the capacity..

45 -- low
60 -- med
80 -- high

[brian89gp]

The N* won't fit in a first gen w-body, unless you want to move the firewall back a few inches and find some place else to put the radiator. I hear that it will barely squeeze into a 2nd gen though.