I'm considering buying an '86 Cutlass 442. It's in great shape and the price is right, but the previous owner replaced the transmission with a three-speed, as he'd intended to race it.

It seems to me that if I drive this thing at highway speeds for very long, I'm going to do some serious damage. So I've been trying to price replacement 4-speed transmissions online, but can't really find anything.

Can someone please point me in the right direction, and give me a ballpark estimate as to how much I should expect to pay to have it replaced? I don't have the skills or equipment.

Thanks!

 

After a couple of hours of searching (these answers are more elusive than they should be), it seems that most transmissions of that approximate vintage go for $11-13K + 4-7 hours' labor, but I still haven't actually found an '86. I wonder how long I can drive it 75 MPH in third gear. ;-)

 

I have a '72 Olds 350 and a '75 TH350 (3 speed automatic) trans in my '81 Cutlass. I drive it on the highway @ 70 all the time. Get about 20+ MPG. Same MPG I would with my S-10 with a 4 speed automatic.

Just hook it up as directed and have a good trans cooler you can go all day and not worry. I have a deeper trans oil pan (extra quart), B&M shift kit and I use the trans cooler in the GM 3 core radiator I have in the car. No problems and I have been running this Cutlass since 1988.

 

The difference is that 442 has a 3.73 gear and your 81 Cutlass most likely came with a 2.28, or even a 2.14 gear. He needs that overdrive to get the revs down at highway speeds.

You're not going to hurt anything buy driving at 75 mph, but you'll sure use a lot of fuel.

 

Thanks to you both for your responses.

 

Thanks svnt442. I keep forgetting about the rear gears between the two.
Checking my rear gear and replacing is on my to-do list but not very high.
I enjoy the car now and the highway MPG is great going from show to show or the soda shoppes. I just look nice and neat in a big old Brougham cooshy seat. LOL