C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Transmisson Conversion

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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 05:42 AM
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Default Transmisson Conversion

So I bought my 1984 corvette a few months ago and I love it but i know I would be so much more sastisfied if it were a manual. What are some good websites were I could find a transmission conversion from auto to manual? And how much does a transmission swap usually run?Thank you for your time.
Travis
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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 09:42 AM
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I've often asked myself the same question w/ my 87, and I posted alot about it some time ago. The overall answers were the same - "It's not worth it." Aperently you'd be better off selling it and buying another one that is manual. The logic is that: Automatics are worth more than manuals, It's a lot of work and all the money and time you spend into the car is just throwing it down the drain. My thought was sell my good working auto trans for the price of a manual and then the conversion would just be my time, which I am willing to sacrafice. But they said that If I was going to put that much time into it the only reason I would hold onto the car was to put a 6 speed trans instead of the 4+3.

Though I don't like it, I see there logic and the more I look at it, I could sell and put the money I would have spent into extra parts into a little better shape vette that is manual.
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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 10:30 AM
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http://www.keislerauto.com/

Been considering doing the conversion myself.
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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 10:33 AM
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This is a good source of info on a swap to a manual.

http://members.cisdi.com/~anesthes/f-car-t5/

Seems like T5 would be a good choice, you don't have a zillion hp and the car is not worth a million bucks. I agree that you will probably hurt the cars value, but an 84 isn't especially valuable anyway, so I don't think it hurts that much. A T5 swap can be done cheap and you can probably sell the auto trans to recoup some of your costs.
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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 10:39 AM
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Originally Posted by skybolt31
This is a good source of info on a swap to a manual.

http://members.cisdi.com/~anesthes/f-car-t5/

Seems like T5 would be a good choice, you don't have a zillion hp and the car is not worth a million bucks. I agree that you will probably hurt the cars value, but an 84 isn't especially valuable anyway, so I don't think it hurts that much. A T5 swap can be done cheap and you can probably sell the auto trans to recoup some of your costs.
If he wants a ZF6 I wrote this one up too:

http://members.cisdi.com/~anesthes/zf6/

And if he wants a TKO, LD85 recently did a swap and has been very pleased with it.

Are you a flight instructor by any chance?

-- Joe
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 09:40 AM
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Default TKO swap

Originally Posted by anesthes
If he wants a ZF6 I wrote this one up too:

http://members.cisdi.com/~anesthes/zf6/

And if he wants a TKO, LD85 recently did a swap and has been very pleased with it.

Are you a flight instructor by any chance?

-- Joe
We sell a very nice complete TKO swap for the 4+3. There is minimal cutting and the shifter position, electronic speedometer and torque arm all stay as stock. When complete it appears that nothing has been done to the car, but man does it improve performance! We're offering free shipping to forum members right now if anyone would like to take a look. Kits ship complete in 24-hours and we offer a 12-Month Warranty on all parts along with our 24/7 Customer First Tech Line. Let me know if there are questions. AP
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 10:05 AM
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There are threads all over for this swap. The general consensus for someone in your position would be to sell it and buy a manual car. You will lose less money by doing that. If you are like me and enjoy working on it as a hobby I would say go for it
It is YOUR money and YOUR car though so if you do it....

rock on with yo bad self
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by anesthes
Are you a flight instructor by any chance?

-- Joe
No, I am just a private pilot, I do it for fun. Are you thinking of learning?
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by American Powertrain
We sell a very nice complete TKO swap for the 4+3. There is minimal cutting and the shifter position, electronic speedometer and torque arm all stay as stock. When complete it appears that nothing has been done to the car, but man does it improve performance! We're offering free shipping to forum members right now if anyone would like to take a look. Kits ship complete in 24-hours and we offer a 12-Month Warranty on all parts along with our 24/7 Customer First Tech Line. Let me know if there are questions. AP
Assuming you guys have the special shifter adapter, the TKO swap is usually a nice kit. The problem is usually the price. Not many people can justify spending $5,000+ on a transmission for a car that is worth $4,000 to begin with, and only worth $5500 combined with the new parts.

However, for someone who doesn't care about resale value, the TKO setups are very nice. It's up to what the end user wants to pay vs what he thinks it's worth.. I have 21,000 into my car and it's worth.....?...

-- Joe
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by skybolt31
No, I am just a private pilot, I do it for fun. Are you thinking of learning?
I started to 10 years ago. I want to get back into it. At the time is was about $3500 to do the whole thing. I bet that has since doubled

I think the company I was going to before has since closed (eagle east aviation). I think this spring I'm going to look into it again.

-- Joe
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 05:56 PM
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I think about it also!! NUT hte reality of it , right now you are better off selling or trading for a stick !! there is not too much value in v8's let alone a seasonal car!
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Old Nov 22, 2008 | 05:13 AM
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I'm just about to do this so I will let you know how I get on!

I might have just found a problem though - will I be able to use a 1992 pedal set on a 1985 car? I'm coming from an auto.... I assumed that I would if I swapped all of them, in the write up it looks as if I need the correct ones for my year - can anyone confirm?
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Old Nov 22, 2008 | 11:28 AM
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what do you mean "seasonal" car?
you just live in the wrong place.
Here out west, corvettes are a 365 day daily driver.

I don't fly, I fix em.............

Last edited by coupeguy2001; Nov 22, 2008 at 11:31 AM.
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Old Nov 23, 2008 | 06:19 PM
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Originally Posted by dan_t
I might have just found a problem though - will I be able to use a 1992 pedal set on a 1985 car? I'm coming from an auto.... I assumed that I would if I swapped all of them, in the write up it looks as if I need the correct ones for my year - can anyone confirm?

I dont mean to hijack this thread but can anyone answer this??
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Old Nov 23, 2008 | 10:18 PM
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Originally Posted by dan_t
will I be able to use a 1992 pedal set on a 1985 car? I'm coming from an auto.... I assumed that I would if I swapped all of them, in the write up it looks as if I need the correct ones for my year - can anyone confirm?
What I know ;
in the earlier cars the clutch pedal is a complete seperate bolt in unit that you would add to your car rather than replacing all the pedals.I assume the pedal assembly has to match the master cyl selected
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Old Nov 24, 2008 | 05:02 AM
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everything is out of a donor 1992 car, inc pedals and cylinders... starting to worry now...
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Old Nov 24, 2008 | 09:38 AM
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I think the later years for the newer dash - the top of the clutch pedal mounts differently. The top bolts are VERY important and are the only thing keeping the pedal from coming through the fiberglass firewall. So I think it's 84-89, 90-96.

-- Joe
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