Has anyone swapped out an auto transmission for a manual recently?
About how much does that operation cost?
I assume I can't get it covered under my health insurance.

 

Many have done the auto to manual conversion. Many have done a manual to automatic conversion. Search this forum and you will find many posts of the topic.

The cost of the conversion will vary significantly - if you do all the work yourself and find reasonably priced good used parts the cost will all be in the parts you select. If you farm it all out and buy, say a Tremec TKX 5 speed, you’re going to be in the $6500-$7500 range.

Keep in mind you should know what rear end ratio you have as you may want to change that, based on what you have now.

 

Thanks, I may not have used the right search terms but my initial search didn't bring up any results.
I was pretty confident that it had been discussed here before though.

 

I have not done this, but I followed many discussions when I had my auto.
it seems one of the biggest issues is mounting the z-bar for the clutch to the frame under the master cylinder area. Depending on the year, the frame needs to be reinforced and everything welded, I think.
Also - if you have headers, they may not clear.

You need to modify the hole in the tunnel which requires some fiberglass work - not a huge deal, but it is part of it.

Of course, your steering column has to be dropped to get that clutch bracket in place.

Quite a challenging project, but having had both auto and manuals, definitely worth it if you want that clutch.

I ended up selling my 82 for other reasons and later, when shopping again, I only shopped factory manual trans cars.

 

Google C3 auto to manual conversion. Lots of infor.

 

So very many have done this! Check out Zip Corvette. They have a kit that has everything except the transmission itself.
This is a big job, don't get me wrong.
But, it's certainly doable and most certainly worth the effort.
also keep in mind most automatic cars came with stupid tall gears in the rear end. So your looking at a diff rebuild as well.

 

The search feature on this site is broken. But YouTube works! Lots of videos there to give you an idea.

 

I am from the sell your car and buy a manual trans Vette crowd......you have to really like that car and really want a manual to swap it out......lot of stuff to buy and a lot of stuff to modify.....plus just hours of work......not for me.

Jebby

 

I get it, but it almost feels like the way to go in some situations. So far every C3 that I've found is just ONE point off from being the perfect car.
Throwing a specific year out the window it's either a. Wrong color ($15 - $20k to correct well), b. Not a convertible (can't fix), or c. auto transmission ($8 to $10k to swap??).

It appears from the data I've gathered so far that trans is the least expensive thing to change to make it what I want.

 

GM didn't sell any 5 or 6 speed manual C3s, so if that's what you want, you'll need to make it yourself, or buy someone else's restomod, anyway. I think your math is correct that the transmission is far cheaper to fix than paint or body. Though there may be an active convertible conversion on the Forum.

Why does it seem that there are there so many more automatic C3s for sale? Because folks who buy, or make, manual C3s, keep them! Or they sell quickly when they do pop up.

 

I was in a similar situation with a 82CE. After researching the auto to manual swap, I sold the 82 CE and purchased a 1975 original 4-spd car. Then I swapped the T-10 4-spd which has external shift linkage for a WC T-5 from a 1991 Pontiac Trans Am V-8 car which has internal shift rail. Pretty straight forward bolt in using same flywheel, clutch,pp, and bell housing. Shorter drive shaft and front yoke change for the WC T-5 along with tunnel shifter hole mod and trans mount mod on cross member. If you swap your car to manual, you start with a bolt in cross member, which is nice, but need pedals and clutch safety switch install. You may consider a hydraulic clutch and slave to avoid z-bar mount.

 

A well-documented conversion. https://corvettec3.ca/tko.htm

 

I've done it. Under ideal conditions it's an easy task. But those ideal conditions include no dash and a gutted interior. Otherwise, it's no simple task. Seats come out. Steering col. needs removed and console also. Brake booster and master cylinder removed. Some wiring needs done. Some tunnel work as mentioned above. I would start out by looking at ebay & craigslist for guys selling "conversion kits" from parted out Corvettes. Make sure everything is included and trans is the one you want and is good working. That rarely happens though. The Z bar frame mount needs welded so factor that in. Using the stock shifter will require holes accurately drilled and tapped on the crossmember if you didn't get one with your 'kit'. There is a guy in Washington that usually always has a conversion kit on CL. He gets $2500-3K for them and that is all used parts. You'll want a new pressure plate, disc & throwout bearing. Is the used starter you are getting any good? Expenses start getting to the point that the new kits from vendors that have a 5 or 6 speed become a better option. All said, it's not cheap to convert and why many just sell the car and find a manual trans car.

 

I swapped out the automatic in my '79 about ten years ago. Installed a Tremec TKO-600 in its place. Best thing I ever did. Whether you should undertake this project depends on your mechanical skills and the facility available to you to work in. It is definitely not a weekend project. I did mine over the winter, which was more time than absolutely necessary, but nice because I didn't stress when I needed something I didn't have. Start by doing your research until you are sure you know exactly what you need and how to do it. (You don't and you don't.) Then gather all the parts you can think of. You will still run into issues that need to be resolved. If you are working to a schedule, it will be no fun.
The instrument cluster, seats, and steering column all need to come out, but none of that is a big deal. Modifications to the tunnel are minimal and depend on which transmission you select. For the TKO-600 all that was required was to move the hole for the shifter. I just cut everything back and rivetted in a new piece of sheet metal. The Z-bar is not that big a deal. Your car will not have the necessary bracket on the frame, but they are available in both bolt-on and weld-on versions. Unfortunately the ones that are available are to put it mildly, junk. Basically tinfoil. I bought a bolt on version and used it as a pattern to make one out of real metal. There is also the hydraulic clutch option which would be nice, but I didnt want to get too far from the factory setup as it is well proven to work.
There are lots more issues, but these are some of the high points.
If you have average or better mechanical abilities, this swap is very doable. Just don't be in a hurry, or get frustrated by the inevitable unexpected challenges.

 

I completely agree. Cost & conversion is a Huge negative. Plus it kills any originality, but I am sure U are not concerned. If I did do it then a 5 or 6 speed would be Mandatory.

 

I’m in the middle of swapping my TH400 to a manual TKO600 five speed.
First contact Silver Sport Transmissions and talk with one of the sales representatives.
There is their standard kit that includes every single piece and part you need to complete the conversion.
They will give you a written quote and you can decide if it is worth the investment.
There are also many performance upgrades to their standard kit, that you may want to look into, depending on what your future engine performance plans are.
Another important item is to choose the right manual transmission for your needs.
6 speeds are really a waste and pay attention to the gearing of the transmission, especially first gear and fifth gear ratios.
I’m installing a 496 big block so many upgrades were required for the drive train.
I ordered my kit with all the performance upgrades and everything was top quality so I needed nothing.
Next, look at the instructions from start to finish and determine if you are up to the task.
I am no professional mechanic and I can say it was easy, but I had lots and lots of questions for my friends here on the forum and they got me through the installation.
If you just want to do it because you want a manual, then either buy a manual C3 or do the conversion and don’t worry about the cost.

 

How attached to the car are you? If you don't yet consider it equal to a family member, you might be better served to work a swap with someone else who would rather have an automatic car. If you have any large car shows/cruise-ins in your area, ask around with folks who have a car like you want. Or you could just sell yours and buy another. Swapping from auto to manual is not a simple task. And it will definitely affect resale when that time comes.

 

Oh, I didn't buy one. This was a thought exercise to see how practical it would be...
Looks like not so practical, unless you're oozing money.

 

I thought it would be cheaper to buy a second C3 with a manual. Turns out, that is not the case either.

 

I bought my manual Vette thinking I'd swap it to auto. After driving it, I'd never consider an auto. Start with a stick car. Swap in an O.D.