Auto to 5-speed swap?

ray101 · 02-09-2012, 09:22 AM

Ok hello i am new on here and kinda still new in the dsm world, but i just wanted to get some advice. I just recently purchased a 1998 eclipse gsx automatic. I been reseaching on google and on here on dsm tuners on how to change auto into five speed transmission and so far what i came up with is (basically) a butt load of modding with the reverse light and the cruise control switch. i was thinking about just buying a jdm motor and tranny that comes with ecu and wire harness and just getting rid of my motor and tranny i have in there now and just worrying about the pedal assembly....... but i am still seaching at the moment before i jump into everything so if you have some advice that would help me i would greatly be in needed.

fosforito95 · 02-09-2012, 09:27 AM

welcome to the forums and i think if you can afford a motor and tranny with the ecu harness then that would be the easiest route to go but you will have to spend some money for it

lumberjackracing · 02-09-2012, 09:37 AM

I swapped my 1g from auto to manual and it wasn't bad at all but I had a parts car also. Have you looked into just building an auto a lot of people have been going that direction. I left everything intact in my car so I can easily switch back because a nicely built auto is great for the track.

ray101 · 02-09-2012, 09:39 AM

Ok Cool thank you. I found a price for motor and tranny and harness for $2100

Yeaaaaaa but i really dont admire automatic transmissions.

wranglerunner22 · 02-09-2012, 09:43 AM

Personally I would just sport the auto untill somthing breaks. aquire the parts in the mean time. It can give you the time to be well prepped for the swap.

21_Eclipse · 02-09-2012, 10:22 AM

Im wit you and that one RAY101 i dont care too much about autos ### 5speed is just so much fun how can you not get one. Maybe im a little excited about it atill is ### im new to stick i only have 8 months driving stick. but it seems like an auto has less problems to deal with than a stick would so if you want a good daily while having a little fast fun auto is the way. Just my thoughts but if you can get the money to swap it with out it killing you i say go for it. Again just my thoughts.

fosforito95 · 02-09-2012, 11:03 AM

^^^^ I agree with him

Force Fed 4g63 · 02-09-2012, 11:15 AM

5 speed is great fun and all but if it's a DD and you have a commute in traffic it gets old real quick. Plus if you ever want to take it to the track the auto will be way moar better.

ray101 · 02-09-2012, 11:36 AM

Well i dont plan on taking it to the track anytime soon....... I just figured that a 5 speed will be more like me. Often all the time when i am driving my wifes car i catch myself all the time trying to push down the clutch until i relize there is no clutch lol

I just dont wanna buy the motor and tranny then i still have problems, you know? i am still seaching on how to do the swap but i cant find a thread at all that they start with a new motor. All the ones i have seen mod the auto motor with a 5 speed tranny.

lumberjackracing · 02-09-2012, 12:12 PM

For 2100 I would just try and buy a wrecked or a cheap parts car that way you know you have everything you would need.

96awd16g · 02-09-2012, 01:45 PM

I was going to swap my car, well that was intentions when I bought it. Today I unplugged tcu and wired up 3 switches, 1 to each shift solenoid and 1 to the torque converter solenoid. OH BOY! I love it and im sticking with the auto until its toast then who knows.

Much firmer (if not hard), quicker shifts, and torque converter control does wonders for the feel of a car. Well and the ability to hold a gear.

Alex7747 · 02-09-2012, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ray101

Well i dont plan on taking it to the track anytime soon....... I just figured that a 5 speed will be more like me. Often all the time when i am driving my wifes car i catch myself all the time trying to push down the clutch until i relize there is no clutch lol

I just dont wanna buy the motor and tranny then i still have problems, you know? i am still seaching on how to do the swap but i cant find a thread at all that they start with a new motor. All the ones i have seen mod the auto motor with a 5 speed tranny.

why do you want to start with a new motor? They're the same thing.. Maybe I'm just not understanding your question?

For the five speed swap:
1. You'll need the 5 speed tranny and matching t-case.
2. The rear diff from a 5 speed
3. Im not sure about the ecu but i would get a 5 speed ecu as well.
4. And all the shifting linkage that comes on the manuals.

Good luck OP.

FLASH1970 · 02-09-2012, 02:23 PM

Autos can go faster for cheaper and stay together a lot longer. You should be able to get the TCU reprogrammed or get a shift box or due the blue wire mod so mess around with shift points, line pressure for shifting... Maybe look into a ratchet shifter for the auto too. Also, you have a 98 so look into the "Ceddymods" on this site for tuning. Also, you once again have a 98 so you have the revised split thrust bearing in your engine. Why would you want to swap it out? Especially if there's nothing wrong with it...

Why not just buy a 5 speed? There are a bunch of write ups on this site is your set on doing the swap.

honda_burner · 02-09-2012, 02:46 PM

this comes up atleast once a week. jeezus

ray101 · 02-09-2012, 06:18 PM

ok thank all of you for your input and suggestions. What i figured was that the motors where diff from standard to auto i was comparing other cars i worked on before. sorry for the confusion, and the t-case and differentail i have now would not work on a 5 speed tranny. I know the shaft are all the same ,but i also thought the t-case and differential were the same too. Sorry for the same question somebody already asked before but like i said i am kinda new to dsm's and if im going to do a job i would like to get it right.

Gostlrs · 02-09-2012, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ray101

Ok hello i am new on here and kinda still new in the dsm world, but i just wanted to get some advice. I just recently purchased a 1998 eclipse gsx automatic. I been reseaching on google and on here on dsm tuners on how to change auto into five speed transmission and so far what i came up with is (basically) a butt load of modding with the reverse light and the cruise control switch. i was thinking about just buying a jdm motor and tranny that comes with ecu and wire harness and just getting rid of my motor and tranny i have in there now and just worrying about the pedal assembly....... but i am still seaching at the moment before i jump into everything so if you have some advice that would help me i would greatly be in needed.

Just find someone who wants to swap with you. I have seen several post with people looking for Auto AWD set ups...Then both parties will be happy & no cash spent!

As far as Auto Vs 5 Speed in a GSX.....I would take the Auto every time..For daily use & track. Break less....holds more power stock..consistent track times...no miss shifts...

Straycat · 02-10-2012, 07:41 AM

I thought about doing a tranny swap myself, being this is the first DSM auto I have owned, but after replacing the end clutches ( was easy and actually kind of fun to do) I'm beginning to get the benefits of it. 5 Speeds are fun, I love the feeling of being in complete control of how the car moves, but with this auto you just push the pedal and WOOOSHHH off you go. Plus, I learned what you guys meant about not losing boost, that in and of itself is pretty freakin sweet. One of my co-workers has a boosted miata, and we got out on hwy120 and were side by siding the cars and every time he had to shift he lost 10 feet from me. I use to knock the auto too, but the hands on experience and what everyone has said about them on here being true and feeling it first hand, I retract any prior statements I may have made about them.

ray101 · 02-10-2012, 09:24 AM

Ok thank you once again for your help.

hotrodssnova · 02-10-2012, 09:46 AM

Traffic in Houston sucks! I have a manual that I was going to swap into my car, but after driving in this traffic, forget it!

ray101 · 02-10-2012, 10:18 AM

i feel you on the traffic. Not one day passes by where traffic is no horrible.....

MrNeedles · 02-12-2012, 12:47 AM

Just stay auto. Once you start doing some mods like full line pressure and building a shitload of hp, you'll love it. Stick is fun as hell but the swap work may cause some reliability issues for daily driving. My manual to auto swapped 2g runs perfectly fine though.

ray101 · 02-12-2012, 09:21 AM

Ok cool thanx for all of your inputs. I just might stay auto then. But what are some good mods for auto.

91stocker · 02-12-2012, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ray101

Ok cool thanx for all of your inputs. I just might stay auto then. But what are some good mods for auto.

The roadsurge box gives you control over your shifts and 100% line pressure.
RoadSurge Shift box - Manual Shifter

You can have you tcu "tuned" at foreign muscle to whatever set up you have on the car. Shifts points, line pressure, etc. And they have a slick way of turning the power setting on your eco/pwr button into a sort of race mode.
Foreign Muscle

Then you have the basic auto trans upgrades, stall, shift kit, etc.
Mitsubishi DSM Hyundai Auto Trans Parts

or

Kiggly Racing - kigglyracing.com

Both are very well respected in the dsm community.

Edit: I've heard of people setting up a paddle shift set up using the road surge box. I've never seen it done personally, but i guess it can be done.

ray101 · 02-16-2012, 10:50 AM

WOW! i did not know they made this stuff for an automatic.

Skorcher · 02-16-2012, 11:01 AM

Was wanting to buy a new GSX but they were all automatic and was wanting to doa swap my self, but from the looks of it, I guess I'm going to just try to get an auto an have some fun with it

jrohner · 02-16-2012, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wranglerunner22

Personally I would just sport the auto untill somthing breaks. aquire the parts in the mean time. It can give you the time to be well prepped for the swap.

The 5 speeds are the weak link of the entire car, the auto should last a long time unless you use the wrong tranny fluid or something. I know I'm getting tired of breaking these crappy 5 speeds.

ray101 · 02-16-2012, 01:59 PM

I just would like to say thank you to all of yall for helping me out and saving me tons of money. This is the best and helpful forum i have been on in awhile. I came on to this website eager to do a 5 speed swap cause i thought auto was trash,but it seem that auto is better and the best in this car. So thanx once again for all your input and helping go the right way. Future mods i am considering after i fix the cars regular maintence problems are,

1.megan racing

or apexi gt spec downpipe with apexi 3 inch catback exhaust

2. hks bov- recirulate

3.triple pillar gauge pod, boost gauge, wideband,oil pressure

4.manual boost controller

5.b&m short shifter

6.fmic

7.megan 02 sensor housing- Im not sure bout this.

8.walbro 190 fuel pump or 255 depends on price. I dont wanna get a afpr

9.turbo upgrade big t28

10.palm logger-maybe

11. 660 injectors