Can you replace your soon-to-break autotragic transmission with a manual trans?

[zambonicheeks]

My automatic transmission (about 130K on it) light came on, followed by some strange transmission activity, and the fluids are fine... This can only mean one thing: inevitable failure. I know the typical thing to do is to rebuild, but could you find a manual trans and then put that in instead? My main thought is that there wouldn't be room for a clutch petal. This is probably an absurd question, but that's what forums are for. Thanks!

 

[tweety2300]

It's possible you'll have to get everything for the manual swap which would be

Ecu
Trans
Flywheel
Clutch kit
Pedal assembly
Master cylinder
Clutch master cylinder
Slave cylinder
Clutch lines
Shifter
Shifter linkages

I may have missed some but you get the idea,

 

[slipkornvayne]

its honestly easier to buy a parts car

 

[LinuxRacr]

We had someone local do this a few years ago. Look for posts from member gimpo2.

 

[Justin2129]

It's possible you'll have to get everything for the manual swap which would be

Ecu
Trans
Flywheel
Clutch kit
Pedal assembly
Master cylinder
Clutch master cylinder
Slave cylinder
Clutch lines
Shifter
Shifter linkages

I may have missed some but you get the idea,

i have most, if not all of these things left over from the parts car i bought last year. PM me if you're interested

 

[Silverfox]

I was just thinking to post this question, I am thinking this may be an option for me at a later date as I am very happy with the solid condition of my car (no chassis rust what so ever) and would prefer to have a manual when the performance starts to get higher in the car.

 

[Silverfox]

We had someone local do this a few years ago. Look for posts from member gimpo2.

I found all his posts and nothing on the swap, also checked mp5jeff and also nothing as he was another listed as to have the info. I am actually thinking to put my car up for sale and get a manual before getting to involved with my future plans for the car, problem is I am very happy with the condition of my car as it was rust proofed every year since new and not a spot of rust anywhere under the car. Yes the rear quarters are starting to show signs of future attention but that is nothing compared to main chassis root. If this is a worth while swap idea then I will see about doing it in the future but if it is a nutty job that is way to much headache then I may look to do as stated with a sell and replace.

 

[Silverfox]

a great site,many useful information!

True but I can't find the info for this swap

 

[slipkornvayne]

your swap should be easy. its not very hard to do just start gathering parts. i was lucky and bought a parts car. but i still upgraded stuff in the process clutch flywheel short shifter and such

 

[zambonicheeks]

I'm just sticking with the automatic, it ended up being fine, and the light was on due to a leaky air boot. I would have to agree with the people that say they'd rather just sell and buy a car with a manual. Lame, I know...

 

[ihone]

I did this swap - although: Mine was a KL swapped ATX>MTX version.

If I was a bettin' man - All I needed was:

mtx
pressureplate
clutch ass'y
hydraulic line
clutch pedal assembly
clutch master cyl

Brake fluid reservoir has a port that's plugged in the atx p5's. just take that little hose/plug/thing off and connect the clutch master cylinder line to it.

Altogether, the swap took a weekend. Pulling the old atx, taking off the flexplate, running the hydraulic line, installing the pedal, installing the pressure plate, then the clutch assembly (don't forget the centering tool....saved the day), then lastly bolting up the trans bellhousing bolts.

It was a learning experience, for sure. I learned that these cars aren't hard to do anything with - granted you have the tools and the patience.

 

[slipkornvayne]

this^ granted you have to do more wiring

prob is the tiptronic version doesnt have the plugs on the dash harness for the clutch pedal. so you have to figure out how to jump the nuetral safety switch. and you need a manual ecu. and obviously the shift linkage, axles starter, starter harness, engine harness etc. its not to hard but it isnt as easy as it sounds

 

[tweety2300]

The axles are different?

 

[slipkornvayne]

honestly im not sure but i think they are. i had a parts car and my axles were completely shot so i used the ones from there

 

[Stickman]

i have most, if not all of these things left over from the parts car i bought last year. PM me if you're interested

Minus the motor!

 

[ihone]

To add info I didn't think about from before:

Axles - they are different. The Autos are 26spline if I'm not mistaken and the manual is a 28 spline.

Shift Linkage - just find an old P5/Protege' and grab the linkage and hardware. It installs in 10 minutes and you'll have it all done with little effort.

Clutch pedal - again, source this from your parts car. it's got a nut on top that's vertically mounted, and 2 points of contact on the firewall - one from the inside/out and the other from the outside/in (found it was best to do this with a helping hand in order to center the pushrod for the master cylinder and hold it in place while I got the inside nut tightened up first.)

Wiring: You'll have the Transmission plug in the engine bay unplugged, because there's no plug for it to connect to on the MTX. There are 2 large pins that allow you to send the start signal to the starter - for testing purposes - take some wire or something large-gauge enough to carry the current - and short them together. This (from my experience) bypasses the clutch safety switch, and the neutral safety switch. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ENSURE THE CAR IS OUT OF GEAR AND THE P.BRAKE IS SET!!!!! This is by no means a permanent solution for this, but it will allow you to test what you've done. After you've tested the conenctions and made sure the car starts - then you can cut those wires from that plug and join them together properly with solder, shrinkwrap, and secure them somewhere. There are also a few other wires there that will need to be connected (Reverse lights, NSS).

I still ran the ATX ECU on my car with the MTX. I did have a CE light, but I could at least drive it with the ATX ECU.

This is just what's coming to mind.

 

[tweety2300]

I'll add some

If you have abs speedo gear isn't an issue but if you don't have abs you'll need to make sure the donor car doesn't as it won't have the speedo gear

 

[ihone]

The speedo gear issue is something I'm facing right now - as my G25M-R MTX (from a 1994 Probe GT) doesn't have the correct speedo gear for my ATX Protege5's speedo.

Still researching how to get the speedo working, but it's still painful.......ha!