Can you Change and Auto to a Six Speed in 1985 c4, Is the wiring there ao do you have to change the harness and computrer?

 

with the wiring in your 1985, it would be a very simple conversion. If you look at your wiring harness for both manual and automatic there are very few differences. If you pm me your email I can send you a complete 1985 diagram set.

For example, I have a 96 manual trans dash running my auto 96 drivetrain in my 86.

 

It is NOT simple, the A4's do not have the same types of peddles and from what I have seen, very few people have tried this conversion. Search the archives and you will find a lot more info.

 

Anything can be done
There have been a couple of swaps but the general consensus is that with the cost and work associated with a conversion unless you have done a ton of work to the car already you are better off selling it and buying a manual car.
With that said, it is your car so don't let anyone tell you what you can or cannot mod on it

Heck...there were some here that thought a big block swap was difficult

 

Wow, I like the big Block in there, Any way its not about cost, I have all the time in the world. ( not Money, So buying another car is not an option. Its just getting correct info to make the switch. I bought the car for 3500.00 so Investing some money has to be a goal to make it correct anyway.

 

Like I stated, do a search. There is a ton of info on doing the switch, I do know you will have to find another car with a manual, to do the swap and you will have to weld it into place. It is going to be costly, but you can offset some of the cost by selling the a4.

 

It's simple. Not as simple as doing it in an fbody (did a ton of those before my auto to ZF6) but it's still straightforward.

http://members.cisdi.com/~anesthes/projects/stick-swap/

Of course, I am assuming the OP is capable of wrenching.

-- Joe

 

Thanks Joe, And I are mechnick, Sounds like work but a Great Way to learn... This great Info.

 

Finding the parts may also prove to de difficult depending on how much you get from a donor. I bought a transmission bellhousing clutch slave and master and shifter as a package deal. I was missing a flywheel (en route) clutch and disc (got mine from ebay) and a bunch of small parts. I learned that the dust cover on the bellhousing is no longer available from GM (my used one is enroute). I was also missing the bellows and boot on the shifter (that costs about $100 from the ZF Doc). The ball stud for the late model ZF (95 & 96 blue tag) is also not available and mine is broken. Another $60 for a NOS one.

I have about $1200 into parts now and I've been thrifty. Mine is for a 6 speed swap into my V8 Vega but the collecting of parts for the swap will be the same for you. I recommend that you collect up all the parts first BEFORE you change transmissions as your parts list may lead you into all kinds of searches. I got some good deals too (from members of the Forum) as I paid $450 for the trans bellhousing and clutch linkage parts and $50 for a dual mass flywheel. It defineitely won't be as inexpensive as buying a 6 speed car from the get go, but it has been done and if you are determined definitely do the recommended searches. Good luck, you will learn alot about the quirks of the ZF 6 speed.

Larry

 

Yes, you can.......been there and done that..........don't have to change the harness/computer.........don't do the work myself, so I can't give you all of the details.....but do a search the information is out there......one of the members on here posted all of the parts and details before and should be out there if you do a search....

 

My swap ended up costing me around $1800. used ZF6, shifter, bell housing, pedals. New pivot fork, new flywheel, new clutch kit, new starter, new hydraulic hose, new master, new slave.

-- Joe

 

If you can afford some downtime for your car to sit in the garage and you like turning your own wrenches, then go for it.

 

Yep the brake pedal (narrower) will have to change as well as adding the clutch pedal. Getting underneath the dash is by far the most difficult part.

The only "special" item will be the 2pc rear seal flywheel for the ZF6. Several places sell these including McCleod.

my swap was about 1600 shich included the tranny (all was on special).

The second most difficuly thing, behind getting under the dash, is finding a working set of master/slave cylinder. Even coming striaght from the dealer I had issues with the slave.

 

Thanks Guys For all of the Info, sounds like finding a donor car will be the best way to go, If i can tell from the answers here, I would guess about 2 grand for the swap, if i can find the parts. I does kinda make me wonder if with all the labor involved. will it be worth the outcome. My main goal is to drop in the 406 CI, i was thinking that a 6 speed would provide greater driveability than the auto.

 

Here are some photos of a 6-speed swap in an 88 http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1867316

 

As mentioned the hardest part was putting the pedals in, but after doing it a few times I figured out the best and fastest way to do it. (outlined in article). I can get the clutch pedal out in 30 mins now

A donor car would be great. Just wait til somebody is parting a ZF car and buy everything. You'll need a different flywheel for the 406, but that shouldn't be a problem. I'm running a singlemass in mine with an unsprung hub. Sounds like rocks in a clothes dryer at idle, but, whatever.

-- Joe

 

Well actually no. The Auto will be easier to drive. Consider adding a manual valve shift (manual shifting), good stall torque converter, and additional tranny cooling.

I had race shop give me a bad rebuild on my auto and the ZF6 was the best option. I will tell you that a good auto well beat a zf6 for everything except a road race and mileage.