Changing from auto to manual will not be the smartest ( or cheapest) project you ever fund! Do yourself a favor, TRADE CARS.
Converting From Auto to Manual
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 82
Likes: 3
From: Phoenix
Converting From Auto to Manual
Well, I think I'm ready to make it happen. I really don't want to deal with the a4 any longer. So I was hoping for some help. Has anyone actually done this themselves? I was looking for someone that maybe could give me a list of all the parts I will need, so I can start trying to get my hands on all of them, and maybe this winter have everyting so I will have a few months to do the swap. I hope this makes sense....Thank you in advance for all the help.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 30
From: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Major parts costs - tranny, bell housing, clutch, flywheel, pedals, shifter mechanism and braces, wiring, many small yet to be determined but costly parts and a computer reflash. Not to mention the cost of labor to have everything replaced. Do your self a big favor and just swap cars. You will be much happier in the end and your pocket book will be much thicker going this way.
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Brett Foote
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 1
From: Chesterfield MO
Sell it or just trade it.....Somewhere out in the fruited plain is an individual with a late 90s C5 who is sick of shifting and would love an a4. Invest the spring and summer placing some WTT ads on neighboring city's CL and on this forum.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 140
From: Weatherford, TX
On the used market, you can find reasonable priced parts available from someone who converted the other way. I happen to know a guy with Z06 parts sitting around in WA...
I got an auto conversion and very happy with the results. Mine was done at a shop (Turbo Tech in Tacoma) that managed the project. Alot of details that I'm glad to pay and have done properly. Get a quote and it may not be as scary as you think, when you factor in the trade or resale of your old parts. I'll throw out a ballpark of 6-7K.
Main items:
trans ($1-2K)
bellhousing (125)
clutch (500-1K)
torque tube (500)
wiring harness (125)
shifter and boot (100)
pedal assembly (100)
clutch reservoir, master/slave/clutch lines (200)
tuning & labor (wag 2500)
happiness driving after the project = priceless
I got an auto conversion and very happy with the results. Mine was done at a shop (Turbo Tech in Tacoma) that managed the project. Alot of details that I'm glad to pay and have done properly. Get a quote and it may not be as scary as you think, when you factor in the trade or resale of your old parts. I'll throw out a ballpark of 6-7K.
Main items:
trans ($1-2K)
bellhousing (125)
clutch (500-1K)
torque tube (500)
wiring harness (125)
shifter and boot (100)
pedal assembly (100)
clutch reservoir, master/slave/clutch lines (200)
tuning & labor (wag 2500)
happiness driving after the project = priceless
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay FL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
On the used market, you can find reasonable priced parts available from someone who converted the other way. I happen to know a guy with Z06 parts sitting around in WA...
I got an auto conversion and very happy with the results. Mine was done at a shop (Turbo Tech in Tacoma) that managed the project. Alot of details that I'm glad to pay and have done properly. Get a quote and it may not be as scary as you think, when you factor in the trade or resale of your old parts. I'll throw out a ballpark of 6-7K.
Main items:
trans ($1-2K)
bellhousing (125)
clutch (500-1K)
torque tube (500)
wiring harness (125)
shifter and boot (100)
pedal assembly (100)
clutch reservoir, master/slave/clutch lines (200)
tuning & labor (wag 2500)
happiness driving after the project = priceless
I got an auto conversion and very happy with the results. Mine was done at a shop (Turbo Tech in Tacoma) that managed the project. Alot of details that I'm glad to pay and have done properly. Get a quote and it may not be as scary as you think, when you factor in the trade or resale of your old parts. I'll throw out a ballpark of 6-7K.
Main items:
trans ($1-2K)
bellhousing (125)
clutch (500-1K)
torque tube (500)
wiring harness (125)
shifter and boot (100)
pedal assembly (100)
clutch reservoir, master/slave/clutch lines (200)
tuning & labor (wag 2500)
happiness driving after the project = priceless
Add a rear end too. I looked at doing this also the last time my tranny went out. The best way to do this would be buy a wrecked Zo6. And work with a shop like RPM to get all the big parts rebuilt. Then sell what is left of the Z. When I get my new garage built in a few years I might just try this.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 140
From: Weatherford, TX
Add a rear end too. I looked at doing this also the last time my tranny went out. The best way to do this would be buy a wrecked Zo6. And work with a shop like RPM to get all the big parts rebuilt. Then sell what is left of the Z. When I get my new garage built in a few years I might just try this.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 0
From: Palm Bay FL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 82
Likes: 3
From: Phoenix
Wow, thank you for all of the responses...first thing though is there is no way I'm selling the car. It has a lot of sentimental value that just can't be replaced. I know that it's not going to be the easiest project to undertake, but I know it can be done. And as far as a new rear end, I already have the 3.42, and I don't plan on sticking with the stock gear ratios in the manual trans. The only other option I can think of, however, would be some kind 6 speed auto, but from everything that I have read, that's not realistic. But if you guys (and gals) have any other options, I'd be glad to hear them. The end goal honestly is just to have more than 4 gears to work with. Thank you all again!!!
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 632
Likes: 6
From: St. Louis Missouri
Wow, thank you for all of the responses...first thing though is there is no way I'm selling the car. It has a lot of sentimental value that just can't be replaced. I know that it's not going to be the easiest project to undertake, but I know it can be done. And as far as a new rear end, I already have the 3.42, and I don't plan on sticking with the stock gear ratios in the manual trans. The only other option I can think of, however, would be some kind 6 speed auto, but from everything that I have read, that's not realistic. But if you guys (and gals) have any other options, I'd be glad to hear them. The end goal honestly is just to have more than 4 gears to work with. Thank you all again!!!
