Hi,
I've been searching for a c3 vette for a months now, and I finally think I might have found the perfect one for me. However, there is one little hiccup: it has an automatic transmission. I want an 4-speed manual. Is it possible to convert my transmission to a 4spd? If so, how much would it cost? This is assuming I get a shop to do it.

Thanks!

 

Yes it's possible. Many have done it. I think most that have done it prefer 5 speed. I dont know the cost though. Use the search...there have been a few threads on this that may lead you to your answer

 

I have actually done many of these. Some with the kits from forum vendors here converting to 5 speeds. I have done some to 4 speeds. You just need to gather all the parts. The cost is how resourceful you are at getting the parts. The labor if you have someone do it is not cheap as it takes some hours to do it and do it right. The pedal box changeover is time consuming. A very rough estimate on labor is around 1K to do it. Some more some less. With old cars you never know what you are going to run into. There is no flat rate for this job. It usually gets charged on whatever hours it takes to do the job.

 

Hey, so I just found out that I apparently suck at searching these forums, so if someone could post links with prices in them that would be great.

Thanks for the info, do you know the approximate range of getting the parts? Just so I can kinda generally know what I might be getting myself into. So $1k + ???

 

If you are putting out the dollars to change it really makes no sense not to go ahead and go with a 5 sp and improve your mileage as well as wear and tear on your engine. Buying a 4sp might save you a few bucks but not much and you'll have to track down all the parts from the pedals to the transmission through used parts. If you buy the conversion, you can get everything in a kit new.

Here are a couple of threads to get you started.


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...am-change.html

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...to-manual.html

 

I have written a brief narrative of the job along with a complete parts list. If you'd like it PM me with your email address and I'll send it to you

 

I honestly NEED..(not want) to go the other way...from a 4 speed to an automatic...because of medical problems with my legs... I wish you were local swap parts or just swap entire cars....

Seriously I purchased an automatic 88 35th anniv coupe last December just so I could have at least one Corvette that I could safely drive...my other 5 Corvettes all have manual trannies and while I can manage to drive them I just do not trust myself to do so in traffic..

Look around maybe you can get lucky and find someone like me...

64 72 and 98 Convertibles
76 79 and 88 (35th ANC) Coupes...

 

Just keep looking . . there isn't a shortage of 4 speed cars . . it seems to me that the cost to convert an automatic car to manual would be considerable- even as a DIY project when there are so many other cars around.

Even if you had a specific color/interior preference- just be patient; there are a lot of cars going on the market so people don't have to store them for the winter . .

Just my .02 - - -your car - - - your call.

 

Just finished gathering the parts (98% complete- do you ever really get to 100%?) , mostly used parts & have spent ~$1850.00.on an original 1980's 4 speed equipment. Plan to do the job myself over the winter months so there will be no labor charge. One shop that had parts wanted to do the labor and offered it at $1200.
I would say $3k with labor is about what you could expect, give / take 10-15%.....
Good luck. Just like most other things in life, the journey is most of the fun. Finding the parts is/were part of the hunt and the fun for me.

 

Have had a personal choice of colors with a 4 speed as a search for about 3-4 years now. 80 or 81 model, 4 speed red/oyster with low miles (under 60k) and under $10k including shipping fees. Just ain't gonna happen. If you aren't so **** in your search then there will be more cars to choose from.....Monthly I have a chance to pick up a 4 speed under 100k miles and under $10k, but their condition is usually just short of "salvage".... In my opinion. ALL of the 4 speed owners consider them as SUPER RARE (they are not) and expect high dollar even from junk. Good luck in YOUR search.

 

I have written a brief narrative of the job along with a complete parts list. If you'd like it PM me with your email address and I'll send it to you

 

I have everything but the pedals out of a 73 that I sold. The pedals went with the chassis and body. I would like $1,200 for it all. It is a rebuilt 73 M21 with about 20 miles on it. A new flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing. I have the z-bar set-up and it has a brand new Hurst shifter on it. I also have the M21 out of my 72 with a factory shifter on it. I have a couple drive shafts.

I swapped out a 700R4 for a T5 a few years ago with a friend, Terry. He did some research and found out that all you need for the clutch pedal is the $12 pedal. The automatic assembly has a spacer in it where the clutch pedal goes. Just remove the spacer and add the clutch pedal. You have to trim the brake pad, but that saves you a bunch of money on finding the assembly.

We spent a weekend on it, but he has a lift and we are sorta handy with the tools. Our hardest part was the transmisison mount, which you won't have trouble with, since you are swapping a GM for a GM.

I put a TREMEC TKO600 in my 72. The transmisison was $3,500.00 for the kit, and it took a weekend. I had to cut my crossmember and make it removable, becasue the manual cars do not have a removable crossmember. The auto cars do, and it is much easoer to do a swap on them.The 5-speed is great, but will take a couple hundred thousand miles to payback on mileage savings. It sure saves on the ear drums at 80 MPH, though. Side pies are killer loud at 4,500 RPM

 

Here are your parts cars right here.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...1-05-11-a.html