I am considering a 3800 na or sc to swap into my 87 GT. Can I use my getrag, or do I need to get a 4t65x?

Your getrag will work just fine

Search bro, everything you could wanna know is here

need is not really the best way to ask this question...

You might WANT to do a 4t65e, for strength and gas mileage reasons.. but you dont need to, the getrag is doable with a modded camaro flywheel.

You can use your 5 speed... but consideration to your driving style should really dictate which tranny you use. The Fiero manual gearboxes are the weakest link in any engine upgrade, and will fail if you drive it harder than normal. The 3800 auto will hold up to more abuse without failing as a manual will. The auto is also faster for all intents and purposes in the quarter mile.

As much as I have enjoyed shifting cars in the past all those cars had pretty well matched engines and transmissions. The 3800 SC especially needs that 4t65E HD tranny if you want "worry free" driving. With a newer getrag or proper rebuilt getrag you might be okay with the 3800 NA but again if you are going to drive agressively it could still be a problem. My 3800 SC has the 4t65 E HD and I do love it. Punch it anytime, worry free power.

thanks for all the info, I am trying to get out of this as cheap as I can. I don't drive hard and will be using this as my daily driver. As long as the Getrag will work I will use it for now. I plan one day to give this car to my son who is 14 right now, maybe use the auto then. How much work is involved in going from a stick to auto, as far as pedal removal, cables, pcm, etc?

its not so much about the removing, its the adding.

You NEED:

shifter/cable
trans cooler lines/cooler (can be done a few ways... recommended is to use a stock radiator/custom lines)

You might want:

Auto column, and ignition switch with lockout.
Auto shifter surround.
The part of the "transmission side" of the selector cable that holds it to the trans, so you can easily mod a shift link onto your new auto.

Bonus is, you could most likely get 300-500 for your getrag stuff, OR MORE!

right on, thanks for the help guys, getrag it is for now and maybe auto later.

I was looking at this swap transmission wise for my future swap, what is the difference between the manual column and the auto that it needs to be changed?

I don't drive my car hard and I've put over 130,000 miles on my SC3800 with a Fiero 5 sp getrag.

I ran my 3800SC with the 5 speed a couple years, Am in process of putting in the 4T65E HD right now becuse the gear ratio of the manual was terrible and the trans quit working. It was just a clutch issue, not internal, but I didn't even feel it was worth fixing. 1st and 2nd on the 5 speed are almost worthless.

[This message has been edited by Mike Gonzalez (edited 10-20-2008).]

As stated in several replies on this post, you choice of trans should be dictated by your driving style. However, if you are not going to use the horsepower then why have it?
My driving style is aggressive, on the back roads or even on an expressway approach. I'm at WOT frequently and in 2009 I will be drag racing at the local 1/4 mile dragstrip. If I had a Getrag it would last about two weeks.
If you consider that a powertrain should be viewed as a working assembly, then it makes sense to go with the transmisson that was designed by GM to be a part of it but if you just like shifting then no amount of logic will change your mind.

------------------
87GT - 3800SC Series III engine, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
87GT - 3.4L Turbocharged engine, modified TH125H
" I'M ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

Maybe i got a special one. I have yet to break my getrag. I have beat on it for almost 5K and it has yet to fail and I mean beat on it constantly. Broke about 6 or 7 coolant lines. Only problem is the cradle. Sent the rear tranny mount through it. I may have actually bent a PR mount also.

Getrags can handle it if you dont drag race or constantly do burn outs. I am actually surprised with how strong it has been so far.

Ryan

Depends on what sort of power your making. A tune that makes power all over, could spell death for a trans that is golden on a mail order pcm.

if your looking for something that you are going to want to beat on at the track dont go getrag, find an auto or a 6 speed out of a g6

Don't get me wrong, I like to beat people of a line once in awhile at a light for fun. I don't drag race however. I drive a firetruck for a living, (19 years and counting) and I get tired of being the slow one off the line sometimes. So, when I leave work, I take my turn. That being said, my old 2.8 is burning alot of oil, and I rather not put a stock one back in its place for the same money i could get a used 3800 for. That was the reason for the original question if the getrag would hold up or not. I'm sure that once my son gets ahold of this car, the getrag wont last a week. Then it will be time to trade it out.