6 speed conversions
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,121
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
6 speed conversions
Ok I was at Carlisle today and saw a 6 speed set up out of a C4 that said to convert your auto to manual. Now you got a Trans, bell housing, clutch/brake pedal assembly, and a shifter. Now beside the console cover and hole in the floor pan, fly wheel, clutch, and the wiring harness what else do you need to have to do this? I was told about the wiring harness but wasn’t told exactly how to rewire it. Is this a simple weekend project if you have all the parts there? 
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,212
Likes: 10
From: Sun City West Az
Add: driveline yoke, slave, clutch master cylinder, metal tubing and patience. Also, may need a Dana 44 to stand up if your going to "drive" it. If you stay with the Dana 36 and now running 2:59 in your A4...You'll need lower gears to take good advantage of 6th gear. Just some things off the top of my head. I'm sure I forgot a few things.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 875
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From: Louisville KY
Originally Posted by Casethecorvetteman
much easier to trade the car for a factory 6 speed manual. It wont be worth the sweat of your ***** after you do a change like that.
Oh hell yes on that one... but it can be done, just like you could put a ZF 6 speed in your car if you REALLY want to. 
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 2
From: Douglasville GA
Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
Ok I was at Carlisle today and saw a 6 speed set up out of a C4 that said to convert your auto to manual. Now you got a Trans, bell housing, clutch/brake pedal assembly, and a shifter. Now beside the console cover and hole in the floor pan, fly wheel, clutch, and the wiring harness what else do you need to have to do this? I was told about the wiring harness but wasn’t told exactly how to rewire it. Is this a simple weekend project if you have all the parts there?
Been there, done that, love the 6 speed. Honestly it is not that hard of a project for someone with decent mechanical skills. The wiring is not that hard either, and yes, it can be done in a weekend - if you are good.
I would say the absolute hardest part is the clutch pedal mount under the dash, and getting the clutch master all together. Some say that GM built Corvettes starting at two different places (not St Louis and Bowling Green), but at the clutch pedal mount and the heater core (depending on which you are working on), then assembled the car around those two places.
Wiring - two things mainly, wiring up the reverse lights, and the clutch interconnect (makes you have clutch pedal pressed or no start). Study the wiring diagram and it is not that hard.
Tom Melton
82 CE
86 Z51 Coupe with ZF6 and Dana 44
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 65
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Originally Posted by tommelton
Been there, done that, love the 6 speed. Honestly it is not that hard of a project for someone with decent mechanical skills. The wiring is not that hard either, and yes, it can be done in a weekend - if you are good.
I would say the absolute hardest part is the clutch pedal mount under the dash, and getting the clutch master all together. Some say that GM built Corvettes starting at two different places (not St Louis and Bowling Green), but at the clutch pedal mount and the heater core (depending on which you are working on), then assembled the car around those two places.
Wiring - two things mainly, wiring up the reverse lights, and the clutch interconnect (makes you have clutch pedal pressed or no start). Study the wiring diagram and it is not that hard.
Tom Melton
82 CE
86 Z51 Coupe with ZF6 and Dana 44
I would say the absolute hardest part is the clutch pedal mount under the dash, and getting the clutch master all together. Some say that GM built Corvettes starting at two different places (not St Louis and Bowling Green), but at the clutch pedal mount and the heater core (depending on which you are working on), then assembled the car around those two places.
Wiring - two things mainly, wiring up the reverse lights, and the clutch interconnect (makes you have clutch pedal pressed or no start). Study the wiring diagram and it is not that hard.
Tom Melton
82 CE
86 Z51 Coupe with ZF6 and Dana 44
Yeah... You have kind of made a good point here, on an 86 i spose it wouldnt be all that much work if you have EVERYTHING you need right there, if its a 94 or later its not going to be much fun though. But can you really justify the expenditure or all these parts when you could probably buy a factory 6 speed for alot less with trade in. What kind of car is this for by the way?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 2
From: Douglasville GA
Originally Posted by Casethecorvetteman
But can you really justify the expenditure or all these parts when you could probably buy a factory 6 speed for alot less with trade in. What kind of car is this for by the way?
-Tom
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,397
Likes: 0
From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Originally Posted by tommelton
Been there, done that, love the 6 speed. Honestly it is not that hard of a project for someone with decent mechanical skills. The wiring is not that hard either, and yes, it can be done in a weekend - if you are good.
Wiring - two things mainly, wiring up the reverse lights, and the clutch interconnect (makes you have clutch pedal pressed or no start). Study the wiring diagram and it is not that hard.
Tom Melton
82 CE
86 Z51 Coupe with ZF6 and Dana 44
Wiring - two things mainly, wiring up the reverse lights, and the clutch interconnect (makes you have clutch pedal pressed or no start). Study the wiring diagram and it is not that hard.
Tom Melton
82 CE
86 Z51 Coupe with ZF6 and Dana 44
Couldn’t have said it better myself. This is not a difficult project if you have some basic mechanical skill, and is easily done in a weekend. 
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,121
Likes: 9,429
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by Casethecorvetteman
But can you really justify the expenditure or all these parts when you could probably buy a factory 6 speed for alot less with trade in. What kind of car is this for by the way?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
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From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Originally Posted by tommelton
For me it was easy justification - the car to be converted had the complete suspension already done for track usage, the 700R4 was the weak link. Replace the weak link and move on. Simple.
-Tom
-Tom
Arrrr yeah, very easy indeed.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 2
From: Douglasville GA
Originally Posted by Casethecorvetteman
Arrrr yeah, very easy indeed.
As a matter of fact, I can now have the tranny and bellhousing on the floor of the garage about 90 minutes after parking the car in the garage. It is only, what, 32 bolts, shift **** and retainer and 2 wiring harness connections...
-Tom
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,212
Likes: 10
From: Sun City West Az
Originally Posted by tommelton
With all the parts and having studied the parts manual fully, seriously, not that bad.
As a matter of fact, I can now have the tranny and bellhousing on the floor of the garage about 90 minutes after parking the car in the garage. It is only, what, 32 bolts, shift **** and retainer and 2 wiring harness connections...
-Tom
As a matter of fact, I can now have the tranny and bellhousing on the floor of the garage about 90 minutes after parking the car in the garage. It is only, what, 32 bolts, shift **** and retainer and 2 wiring harness connections...
-Tom
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 65
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Originally Posted by ittlfly
You may be right. However, Murphy (of Murphy's Law) lives in my garage. So for a 90 minute job I allow at least 2 days. Like replacing my antenna motor. Should be a couple hour job? Yeah right! I can't even imagine a conversion swap. Crap, we would be playing Christmas carrolls before it would be back together again...if I was lucky.
Did you get your ex mrs to give you a hand on that job???
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,898
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
I wish somebody with an 91 A4 would trade me for my 91 6 speed. I'm just not crazy about the manual tranny. I gotta shift an 18 speed 10 hours a day...I don't feel like shifting my personal car. I must be getting lazy in my old age. 
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,212
Likes: 10
From: Sun City West Az
Originally Posted by Casethecorvetteman
Did you get your ex mrs to give you a hand on that job???
Last edited by ittlfly; Aug 30, 2005 at 09:33 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
It's not too bad IMO. I put a ZF6 in an 88 Monte Carlo, along with the LT1 from a 95 vette.
Take your time, don't plan on it being done in a weekend, and have patience with the pedals. I did the ZF6 swap in a weekend, but I had a lift, 2 cases of beer, and 2 buddies.
Take your time, don't plan on it being done in a weekend, and have patience with the pedals. I did the ZF6 swap in a weekend, but I had a lift, 2 cases of beer, and 2 buddies.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,397
Likes: 0
From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Funny everyone is mention the pedals are the most difficult part, I actually found the pedals to be the simplest of all the chores.
Get yourself a roto-zip as well. It makes quick work of cutting fiberglass
Get yourself a roto-zip as well. It makes quick work of cutting fiberglass