Auto to Manual Tranny Swap

[jaypropah]

Hi, I own a 91 Eclipse GSX, and I was wondering if it was worth it to convert the car from Auto to manual, my friends have told me to just sell the car and get a stick, but the car rii now is in excellent condition, becuz since it was bought, it was just used to drive my mom to work which was basically across the street from my house, so what are your guys's thoughts? i have about $5k-$10k budget

 

[91 GSX]

I too, have an auto 91 GSX. I'm also on your side, I wish to swap to a manual tranny. They are much more fun to drive, and have a lower gear ratio (quicker take off). As for doing a tranny swap or just buying a different car, I am going to do the tranny swap as soon as I get $$$! You live in Cali, so I'm guessing you have many large junkyards nearby to acquire neccesary parts, or the many dsmtuners members on here from your area. If you get a Hayne's repair manual, have common sense, and the tools and place to do it, do it. Do a search for parts needed for swap. You will need tranny, transfercase, and rear differential ( I think 92-94's have the good 4bolt rears, 3 bolts are still fairly tough). Double check, but I think we have 23 spline cv shafts, and only certain year 1G's have the same amount of splines ( xfer case and rear end will need to have same spline count to match drive shafts and hubs). You will also need clutch and brake petal assemblies along with fluid resevoirs, and a shifter. Should be able to get parts for around $750. Might even be able to find a parts car with bad/no motor or wrecked. People on here sell tranny's for $250-350, xfer's low as 100, same for rear ends. If you have 5 grand to spend, I'd get parts and install yourself or even pay someone 500-1000 to install major components, I've heard mounting and installing clutch assembly's a b!tch, but you'll quit crying when you take it for a drive. Then you'll have plenty of money left over to get a DSM link for your ecu if it's an eprom, which could very well be. My auto 91 gsx has one. The number's on case are MD165531, check yours. Just do it and put the extra $4000 into your ride since it is in great shape you say, good luck

 

[91 GSX]

hey, me again. Just noticed you said your budget was $5000 to $10000, not just 5. WTF I'd still say swap transmissions to a manual. Then you can still afford to get Dsmlinked ecu(500 bones), and even make you motor a 2.4 stroker(3 to 8 grand, 5 to 8 hundred horse). I think you should have the good 6 bolt motor. If I only had 10 grand! My route would be, motor, suspension/brakes, body(prefer sleeper look, with weight reduction) By the way, if your interested in performance 5 speeds, check out Shep racing, or Buscher racing.

 

[Lordpaxin]

Ive done it,

its not that hard.

if you can follow instructions, and use hand tools, you should be fine.

www.vfaq.com
look under transmission and read the faq

 

[staticbrainwash]

Good link but doesn't help us awd guys. I'm thinking about doing this too since it doesn't look like tcugo is showing it's head again for quite a while.

I just need a concise list of the parts needed. Because i know rear's can't be retained, but what about TC's.

 

[Lordpaxin]

Rear's have different ratio.
and TC has different bolt pattern.

the ONLY difference when doing a 5speed swap on auto to manual is the transfer case, and the fact that your parts are comming from a awd, or a fwd car.

How can it not help the awd guys out?
5speed swap was the First thing i did 3 years ago when nothing more than changin oil under my belt.

I printed out that vfaq. and it tells you what your looking for, once you see it the lightbulb goes on.

I did a 5speed swap / jdm swap same time,

All the Inside stuff, and all the Firewall cutting, all the pedal install, the wire harness modification. its the same between the 2. you just have to have all the awd 5speed parts .