Auto to Manual Transmission Swap
 

Before anybody says just sell my car and buy a manual... I am not going to sell my car... lol

I plan on doing a transmission swap from Automatic to Manual in the distant distant future... when my engine dies and i am financially stable in my life to where i can turn my car thats currently a DD into a weekend car.

I havent had any luck as to seeing any posts on the forums saying it has been done... Only the bashing of don't waste your money and just sell your auto for a manual... blah blah blah lol

so has anyone on here done a auto to manual swap successfully with the all the electrical components functioning as intended?

Any obstacles you ran into, things you woulda done different?

Thanks,

Mike

I think I would research the reasons why people say to just sell and buy a car with a auto if I was you......may be good reason.


22R

I am still waiting to come across someone who have done it.

Can it be done - Yes, but will require new ECU, wiring, modification to tunnel and lots of headache.

I think it would be easier to put some other motor and transmission all together after you have blown ur current motor like 2jz with V160 trans, or some V8 power plant with

It would be helpful to define your far into the future goals and logic behind keeping the car versus trading for the manual.

If you are planning to swap to a 86 manual then you will likely need the transmission, drive shaft, ECU and pedal system to start.

I'm pretty sure the final drive is probably different, so you might need the manual's final drive or the full differential, that is, if the differential housing is different in how it connects to the driveshaft. The wiring harness might need to be swapped or modified, but there is a chance the manual transmission simply lacks a few plugs that the auto requires, so you could leave those plugs hanging. I'm sure the transmission mounts are different, and there is a chance the bolting locations are different, so there might be some drilling and tapping to be done or custom mounts to be made. The transmission for the auto is likely larger than the manual, so you wouldn't need to hammer the tunnel, but you might need to modify the tunnel to accept and mount the shifter assembly.

Then you would need to tackle the pedal assembly. You will need to get the manual 86's clutch pedal assembly. A clutch safety switch is a good consideration, but is not required. It is also not required that you use power assistance for your clutch pedal, but if you find you do want to avoid a leg workout with each track day event then you will need to add the clutch's hydraulic system to the car.

Lastly, and what is the most difficult part of this install, is the decision of which aftermarket shift knob to buy.

Pat Cyr has done it.

The basic formula is to take a wrecked MT car, basically strip it, and put everything but the engine into your AT car.

Well, Mike, let's hope you come to your senses before that time comes ....... here, let me get you started ........:slap:

:D

PS - I once helped a friend swap an AT for a MT in a 1956 Chevy ...... the process was sort of like @Cole mentioned above ...... :bonk:


humfrz

Guaranteed it'll be way cheaper to sell the auto and buy a manual vs swapping it. If you're really lucky finding parts and do all the work yourself it might not be much more expensive, if you're paying a shop to do it it'll be A LOT more expensive.

There's a lot of wiring differences, a lot of parts needed and a lot of time to take it apart and put it all back together.

I was considering doing this too because I dont want to sell my car (first car, good memories). I honestly dont mind swapping it, just hesitant because I havent a successful swap and I have no idea what needs to be done in order to do so. But sometimes I like my auto so idkkkk

Have you considered just replacing your engine (when it dies) with a rebuilt motor, keeping the auto, and then just buy a second twin with a manual transmission?

Basically spend a little money to keep the auto up to dependable DD condition, don't buy another car for DD duty, and then use that money for your manual twin car.

By the time your engine dies you could get a manual car for cheap.

Well let's just go with the price list on what you'll need.
Pedals, tranny, manual ecu, linkage, shifter, clutch and flywheel, drive shaft maybe?
Now add on top of that repair cost on the rebuilt/new engine when you decide to do it.

When you add it up your better off just buying a manual car.

Another great reason WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A MANUAL.

:slap: ......... you needed that!

This ain't one of those situations where all you need is an a-dapter kit ..... ;)


humfrz

Your paddle shifters and your Sport button will stop working.

Sure, I get that but regardless of what happens to the car the memories will remain. I think it would be better, nicer, more positive to have good memories of your first car rather than the bad memory of how much time, effort and cash you wasted on a pointless exercise.