Converting Auto to Manual
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: Central New Hampshire
Converting Auto to Manual
Please forgive me if this has been beat to death, maybe I'm not good at wording my searches, but I could not find anything helpful.
I was wondering if it's possible to convert an Automatic into a Manual.
A friend of mine said he had looked into it for his car and it was going to cost around 1,500. Not sure I trust his information as I feel like something of that nature would cost more.
Is this something that can actually be done?
Is it possible to install a Manaul Tran in an Automatic, I understand you'd need a clutch and shifter so this is why 1,500 sounded cheap to me.
I was wondering if it's possible to convert an Automatic into a Manual.
A friend of mine said he had looked into it for his car and it was going to cost around 1,500. Not sure I trust his information as I feel like something of that nature would cost more.
Is this something that can actually be done?
Is it possible to install a Manaul Tran in an Automatic, I understand you'd need a clutch and shifter so this is why 1,500 sounded cheap to me.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I have done it many times and many here have done this swap. You can do it for 1500 or probably cheaper or you can go and put in a 5 speed and get one of the kits form vendors here and spend 4K + for the swap. The. Most difficult part is the pedal swap. Other than that not a problem.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: Central New Hampshire
I have done it many times and many here have done this swap. You can do it for 1500 or probably cheaper or you can go and put in a 5 speed and get one of the kits form vendors here and spend 4K + for the swap. The. Most difficult part is the pedal swap. Other than that not a problem.
I don't know how this works, it was the first time I had heard of it.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
It depends on what transmission you use what parts yo ucan source yourself and how much of the work you can do for yourself. I do all my own work and have a lift to do it. Use the search function on the forum there are many posts about this.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 576
Likes: 3
The info is here but scattered all over the place.
Some real good info if you can find it.
I'm planning on a manual conversion also.
I've bought a T45 out of a '97 Ford Mustang GT, stronger then the T5 but only built for 4(?) years.
Keisler sells a complete conversion set using a T45 but is very expensive in my book.
Some real good info if you can find it.
I'm planning on a manual conversion also.
I've bought a T45 out of a '97 Ford Mustang GT, stronger then the T5 but only built for 4(?) years.
Keisler sells a complete conversion set using a T45 but is very expensive in my book.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: Central New Hampshire
The info is here but scattered all over the place.
Some real good info if you can find it.
I'm planning on a manual conversion also.
I've bought a T45 out of a '97 Ford Mustang GT, stronger then the T5 but only built for 4(?) years.
Keisler sells a complete conversion set using a T45 but is very expensive in my book.
Some real good info if you can find it.
I'm planning on a manual conversion also.
I've bought a T45 out of a '97 Ford Mustang GT, stronger then the T5 but only built for 4(?) years.
Keisler sells a complete conversion set using a T45 but is very expensive in my book.
Yea I ended up comming across a thread that had a link to installing the TKO-500 kit, when googling it most things that popped up were for Mustangs, didn't know they'd fit, but I revised the search adding Corvette to the end, and wala. Doesn't seem to unreasonable for the TKO-500 assuming you install it yourself. I don't know how much it'd be to have someone install it.
Do conversions last as long as actual Manual Transmissions? Do they break easier or anything, or is there really no difference?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 576
Likes: 3
Well as usual it looks like I took the difficult route.
There is quite a bit of info out there for swapping a T5 onto a SBC.
Since the T5 also came in Camaro's there is a SBC bell housing available.
I haven't looked hard enough for the T45 yet.
The TKO-500/600 simply mean they are aftermarket retrofit transmissions.
Expensive kits if you ask me.
Why would a properly installed conversion not last as long as a factory manual installation?
There is quite a bit of info out there for swapping a T5 onto a SBC.
Since the T5 also came in Camaro's there is a SBC bell housing available.
I haven't looked hard enough for the T45 yet.
The TKO-500/600 simply mean they are aftermarket retrofit transmissions.
Expensive kits if you ask me.
Why would a properly installed conversion not last as long as a factory manual installation?
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Be careful swapping a Ford trans into the Vettes. The ones in the kits have been converted to fit the GM cars but if you take it out of a Ford you will have to deal with adapter. Plates and probably a few other issues. If you are skilled at this no problem if you have never done this you may run into install problems along the way.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: Central New Hampshire
Oh. Well honestly I'm not big on Ford, so I don't see myself putting a Ford Tranny into a Corvette. Any other suggestions other then the TKO-500? I don't know of any others, options are always good 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
Actually it wouln't be putting a "Ford tranny into a Chevy" per se...T5's are Borg-Warner transmissions. You can pretty easily swap a Muncie or Borg-Warner T10 into any C3 Vette as everything pretty much bolts right up, but you'll only have 4 gears and no overdrive. As for 5 speeds, the T5 is relatively inexpensive depending on exactly which one you get, but you're gonna have to scrounge most of the parts yourself. The Keistler kits come with all the parts you need to do the swap and they're all new, and the T56 is stronger than any T5 you'll get from Craigslist, but that kit costs upwards of $4000. As a point of comparison I swapped a Muncie M20 into my '70 with a lot of new parts (clutch, shifter,linkage parts, etc.). I didn't visit one junkyard and the whole job was about $2000. PM me with your email address and I'll send you a complete parts list and a narrative of the 4-speed swap
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 262
Likes: 1
From: Central New Hampshire
Apparently I don't have the slightest clue how this works. Because I was under the impression you got the kit and it turned your auto into a manual.. But for 4k at least that's what kiesler wanted. How much harder would it be to just buy a manual tran and install it? I can't imagine it costing 4k as you can get trans for 1-2k in itself.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
Really not meaning to be a smart ax. But if someone's offering a kit with everthing in it, times money, and think it's just worth the extra cash. Been this route on other projects before, and nothing worse than missing a few pieces with the car in the air on a Sunday afternoon. The real star of these TKO kits is the 0.70 highway cruising od though.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,169
Likes: 2
From: Cemetery of a town Montana
Most everything you need to change to a 4 speed has been listed this week on C3 parts for sale section.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...-assembly.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...t-10-4spd.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...-assembly.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...t-10-4spd.html
Last edited by UberLegend; Jul 31, 2011 at 07:09 PM.
