Meangreen_217

I got a 1979 corvette with a pretty new motor. I love the car but its automatic and I was wondering how much it would cost to put a manual transmission in. (Just a ball park figure) and also how many speed transmission should I put in it? Thanks

MIKE80

I went from a 4 speed to a T56 6 speed. It was not that easy and took a couple months to complete. If you do not mind doing some mods to your tunnel and are mechanically inclined, go with a 6 speed. You can by used if you want to save money, I did. The cost for me was about $2500 for everything, but after I sold the old parts I didn't need anymore the cost dropped to about $1200. Keisler sells a direct bolt-in 5 speed with no modifications needed which is much easier to install, but will cost more. You can also buy a T56 Magnum 6 speed new and go that route, new with mods to the tunnel. Figure out what your budget is and go from there. It's not worth going to a 4 speed unless you can get everything for dirt cheap.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...gs-list-7.html

drwet

I am working on assembling the parts to install a TKO-500 in my '79. Several companies offer complete kits which run $5-6000. I figure by assembling my own parts I can get that down to about $4000. About $2500 of that is a new transmission. If you can come up with a used one, you could shave a lot more off that.

Meangreen_217

Alright thanks, just kinda checking out my options. I appreciate your time.

texas jim

Why not go w/ a really good automatic overdrive trans? F/ the money, you can come out way ahead of the price f/ going standard, not to mention it's a ton of work. Don't get me wrong, when I was coming up in cars, I wouldn't have had anything but a 4 speed, and they were even faster back then at the drag strip. But now days w/ the strong automatics and being able to get big shifts manually out of them, IMO the automatic is the way to go.
*However, if you're a "hope-to-die" standard shift guy, there's no way anyone could talk you into an automatic, and I respect that.

jb78L-82

I agree with everyone's sentiments on this issue. I have an original 78 L-82 4 speed with 66,000 miles with 3.70 gears and would love to convert my 4 speed to a 5/6 speed but just can't bring myself to spend $4,000-5,000 for the conversion on a car that I hardly drive (500-750 miles per year). I had been contemplating a 5/6 speed for years and finally just gave up on the idea and bought a new 2010 Z06 in 2010-cyber gray
Currently have a head issue I am contending with on the L-82 so there goes those dollars. Want to keep it fairly original so will probably have the 882 heads rebuilt/cleaned up and a new hydraulic cam (lunati split duration) BUT i digress. Love the 78!! even after all these years!!