Awd auto/ 5sp swap

the gish · Aug 31, 2007

Hi I have a few questions
1. I want a 1g awd and have found two that will work
A. 1990 eclipse GSX 140k miles fresh rebuild on 5 spd trans and transfer case.
B. 1991 talon awd fresh ams rebuilt motor but it has a auto trans.
both are the same price but the talon is a little more modified and appears to be in a little better shape so thats the one I'm leaning towards but I can't make up my mind. Opinions?
2. Heres the thing I would go insane if I had to drive a auto for very long so I would want to swap it out but I would also want to get a new engine in the Eclipse if I bought it so theres a few things I need to know.
A. What parts will I need (will the drive shafts fit will I need a different transfer case or a different ecu) to swap the auto to a 5 spd?
B. Which will be more costly a trans swap or a new motor?
I tried for like 3 hrs. searching for a answer to my questions and couldn't find what I needed
so if I'm just looking in the wrong places show me were to look please.

hopwoodp · Aug 31, 2007

the gish said:
Hi I have a few questions
1. I want a 1g awd and have found two that will work
A. 1990 eclipse GSX 140k miles fresh rebuild on 5 spd trans and transfer case.
B. 1991 talon awd fresh ams rebuilt motor but it has a auto trans.
both are the same price but the talon is a little more modified and appears to be in a little better shape so thats the one I'm leaning towards but I can't make up my mind. Opinions?
2. Heres the thing I would go insane if I had to drive a auto for very long so I would want to swap it out but I would also want to get a new engine in the Eclipse if I bought it so theres a few things I need to know.
A. What parts will I need (will the drive shafts fit will I need a different transfer case or a different ecu) to swap the auto to a 5 spd?
B. Which will be more costly a trans swap or a new motor?
I tried for like 3 hrs. searching for a answer to my questions and couldn't find what I needed
so if I'm just looking in the wrong places show me were to look please.

If you want a manual transmission setup the, get one that is like that from the beginning. It is a real hassle to do the swap. I know a few people that have done it but, they really knew what they were doing and spent a lot of money doing it.

If the motor craps out, just get a rebuilt one, it is better and cheaper that way.

the gish · Aug 31, 2007

Man I was afraid you'd say that. So would It still be cheaper if I could get a trans and clutch for like 750 dollars than to just rebuild a motor.

hopwoodp · Aug 31, 2007

the gish said:
Man I was afraid you'd say that. So would It still be cheaper if I could get a trans and clutch for like 750 dollars than to just rebuild a motor.

Doing the swap isn't as easy as it may sound. There is alot of custom work involved. Get yourself another motor if you feel like you need it or rebuild the one you have. Believe me, it is much better like I said earlier.

talonDSMerr · Aug 31, 2007

im gonna try to do the same swap for my 91 talon awd. from what i hear its very time consuming but not the hardest thing to do. if you decide to do the swap, you would need a new transfer case and rear differential among the other stuff. ive made sort of a list of what i need to buy and the price comes to about $1200 but that includes some new stuff like a stage 3 clutch kit and flywheel. hope this helped and good luck with your decision!

hopwoodp · Aug 31, 2007

talonDSMerr said:
im gonna try to do the same swap for my 91 talon awd. from what i hear its very time consuming but not the hardest thing to do. if you decide to do the swap, you would need a new transfer case and rear differential among the other stuff. ive made sort of a list of what i need to buy and the price comes to about $1200 but that includes some new stuff like a stage 3 clutch kit and flywheel. hope this helped and good luck with your decision!

You are right about what you said. But, you need to remember that not everyone has good enough mechanical experience or the confidence to do this kind of job on their car. If he had someone that did this kind of swap before with him then it would be a different story.

Thats why I say get a manual transmission car from the beginning. Get that one then, get a new engine or rebuild the one you got.

silver eclipse · Aug 31, 2007

I did the trans swap in my FWD 2g. Its easier in a 2g than a 1g. It wasnt to hard, but I highly recommend just getting a standard trans and building a motor for it. Much easier and the same money would build a nice engine.
-Chad

talonDSMerr · Aug 31, 2007

im going to need some help with my transmission swap too, im not the most experienced mechanic myself. but i see this as a challenge and a way to make the car my own through sweat and hard work.

i guess the decision boils down to whether or not you see the swap as a challenge or just an obstacle.

silver eclipse · Sep 10, 2007

To me it definatly was not the hardest thing to do. The only cutting I had was three holes in the fire wall to mount the clutch master to the pedal. A good dremel will make short work of that. Only took me about an hour including smoothing out the edges. I suggest removing the driver seat to make it easier to get in there and do everything.

But I do believe you have to drop the steering column on a 1g

Loewen21 · Sep 10, 2007

Just wondering for a swap like this if the axles from an auto 91 will work on a manual of the same year?? or if they need different front axles.

91talon27 · Sep 10, 2007

I would get the 5 speed car and if the motor fails build it. Ieouldn't personally want to do a auto to 5 speed swap.

silver eclipse · Sep 18, 2007

91talon27 said:
I would get the 5 speed car and if the motor fails build it. Ieouldn't personally want to do a auto to 5 speed swap.

I agree

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Awd auto/ 5sp swap

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