Changing Transmissions 1979 automatic
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 92
Likes: 14
From: Lafayette Indiana
Changing Transmissions 1979 automatic
I have a 1979 l82 3 speed automatic and I was looking to swap it to a manual instead does anyone have any suggestions as to where to get a swapping kit to make that change as well as what transmission would be a good swap. I'm limited to a budget of 5 grand. thank you. On a side note, I'm switching the transmission because It won't switch gears. It is stuck in park and I think it might be the shift control cable but I'm unsure. The rubber cover is ripped however it still moves when I switch from park to reverse etc...
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
Look at Silver Sport Transmission for a complete kit. There was a thread recently on the new TKX transmission, which might keep you under budget, if you DIY the pedals, though a McLeod clutch might still push you over $5K installed.
Last edited by Bikespace; Jan 6, 2021 at 02:13 AM.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
I have said this many times before but if you do not have an idea of the work involved here........sell the car and buy a 4 speed 79' Vette.
Nobody makes a "kit" with every single piece you need. The 5 speed conversion is a serious chunk of change.....about 50% of what a nice 79' commands.....THEN, you have to tear the dash out and swap the pedals.
At 50 years old.....I will not attempt this job anymore.....it require basically stripping the drivers side of the interior out. Putting the trans in is the easy part.
I will say that if you do decide to do it......the 5 speed is a game changer......but it comes at a heavy price.......how much do you want to do?
Jebby
Nobody makes a "kit" with every single piece you need. The 5 speed conversion is a serious chunk of change.....about 50% of what a nice 79' commands.....THEN, you have to tear the dash out and swap the pedals.
At 50 years old.....I will not attempt this job anymore.....it require basically stripping the drivers side of the interior out. Putting the trans in is the easy part.
I will say that if you do decide to do it......the 5 speed is a game changer......but it comes at a heavy price.......how much do you want to do?
Jebby
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,025
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
I had my cable stretch and stop going into park.. and then snap last summer... It was a $40 job that took under an hour to replace with the biggest part of the job removing the center counsel in case your wondering.
I plan on swapping my th400 auto with another 200r4 auto with OD.. My uncle has the 4 speed in his 76 and offered to swap it for my th400 setup but after looking at what was involved I honestly believe swapping cars would have been more feasable and its not something I wanted to do.
I plan on swapping my th400 auto with another 200r4 auto with OD.. My uncle has the 4 speed in his 76 and offered to swap it for my th400 setup but after looking at what was involved I honestly believe swapping cars would have been more feasable and its not something I wanted to do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
Did an auto conversion on my 77, If you're on a budget the world class T5 transmission is the answer for your 79. Yes it's a lot of work.
It's not exactly a bolt in kit, a few mods have to be made, but probably the least expensive route. As mentioned above, use the forums search function and a ton of info
can be found.
I couldn't do it now....... there's just not enough advil available for me to ever swap the pedals again.
It's not exactly a bolt in kit, a few mods have to be made, but probably the least expensive route. As mentioned above, use the forums search function and a ton of info
can be found.
I couldn't do it now....... there's just not enough advil available for me to ever swap the pedals again.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 92
Likes: 14
From: Lafayette Indiana
I have said this many times before but if you do not have an idea of the work involved here........sell the car and buy a 4 speed 79' Vette.
Nobody makes a "kit" with every single piece you need. The 5 speed conversion is a serious chunk of change.....about 50% of what a nice 79' commands.....THEN, you have to tear the dash out and swap the pedals.
At 50 years old.....I will not attempt this job anymore.....it require basically stripping the drivers side of the interior out. Putting the trans in is the easy part.
I will say that if you do decide to do it......the 5 speed is a game changer......but it comes at a heavy price.......how much do you want to do?
Jebby
Nobody makes a "kit" with every single piece you need. The 5 speed conversion is a serious chunk of change.....about 50% of what a nice 79' commands.....THEN, you have to tear the dash out and swap the pedals.
At 50 years old.....I will not attempt this job anymore.....it require basically stripping the drivers side of the interior out. Putting the trans in is the easy part.
I will say that if you do decide to do it......the 5 speed is a game changer......but it comes at a heavy price.......how much do you want to do?
Jebby
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,216
Likes: 1,671
From: Long Island
Silver Sport makes a conversion kit that includes everything you need . Any parts you don't want to source they have in stock.
Call and talk to them..
Call and talk to them..
Last edited by BLUE1972; Jan 6, 2021 at 09:59 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
I did this swap on my '79 in 2014 (at the age of 56, Jebby 
). I scrounged all the parts myself and used a TKO 600. At the time it cost me about $5000 which was a saving of about $200 over the cost of a kit. Hardly worth it to my mind. About half of that was the transmission. If you were willing to use a 4 speed instead of a 5 speed, you might be able to save about $1000. As for the work involved, it is not a small project. I did it over a winter. If you have a comfortable place to work and you're not in a hurry, it is doable. Do a search on this forum - there are plenty of threads on the subject, a couple with a lot of useful detail.
). I scrounged all the parts myself and used a TKO 600. At the time it cost me about $5000 which was a saving of about $200 over the cost of a kit. Hardly worth it to my mind. About half of that was the transmission. If you were willing to use a 4 speed instead of a 5 speed, you might be able to save about $1000. As for the work involved, it is not a small project. I did it over a winter. If you have a comfortable place to work and you're not in a hurry, it is doable. Do a search on this forum - there are plenty of threads on the subject, a couple with a lot of useful detail.