Before I get started, Dave you may like to have some input on this because i'll no doubt be asking your opinnion/advice before I proceed with either of these options anyway. :-)

I'm currently considering my "expensive" future moding options, and with the ammount of work i've allready done to my car (cosmetics wise) I've realised that I don't really want to sell her (ever) but at the same time it'd be nice to have a manual transmission, turbo or perhaps both at some stage!

What do you guys then reckon I should do given this situation, fork out for an automatic ---> manual transmission conversion (with heavy duty clutch & short shifter) first then go the turbo option or stay with the auto and go turbo?

All serious thoughts, feedback & ideas welcome!

at the end of the day it boils down to how much $$ you got and also if the parts are available for the manual conversion.

how badly do you want a manual? obviously not that bad since ur already driving a auto...

autos hold alot more boost apparently then manuals!

m8,i'd go the turbo 1st,then if or when u kill the autobox ,transplant a manual box? ;) 8)

Well I always liked the sound of twin sequential turbo's, similar to the setup that they use in the Subaru Liberty B4s (supposidly reduces the noticable feel/effect of any turbo lag)...but if someone could make that idea work effectively/properly with two turbos and a Magna Auto box on board then that'd be ok, Dave? :D

Well I always liked the sound of twin sequential turbo's, similar to the setup that they use in the Subaru Liberty B4s (supposidly reduces the noticable feel/effect of any turbo lag)...but if someone could make that idea work with two small turbos and a Magna Auto box on board then that'd be ok, Dave? :D

Well, if you tried this, I hope you get it right. The B4 auto was slower than the tiptronic AWD Magna. Had a massive gape between the two turbos. I personally wouldn't use the B4 as an example of anything good. I think it's a bit of a lemon.

with 2 small turbos theyl wear out...you may loose your lag but your top end power will b robed!

and then its twice the price!

use one big unit...should be able to tune out some lag n get a massive top end!

I'd go manual conversion...but that's coz I hate autos lol.

Also you have to think about insurance too, insurance on a turbo is much higher, I dunno your age...but if you're under 25...it's going to be hellishly high.

I'd go manual conversion...but that's coz I hate autos lol.

Also you have to think about insurance too, insurance on a turbo is much higher, I dunno your age...but if you're under 25...it's going to be hellishly high.

A very good point you have there, given that I allready pay some $1800 for insurance as is.

hmmm....I wonder how costly it would be to do the conversion though, might hunt around for a price on a recon box or similar as opposed to a brand new one which would be nastly expensive no doubt!

RPM in S.A have made a TF Magna with a single large turbo something like 400+hp and it has the 4spd auto box. At the moment the turbo is fine they tell me but the auto box is needing strengthning and is not letting them get all power to wheels (150kw/wheels at the moment) but they reackon thats only a few hundred bucks to do and they feel they can unlock most of that nice high HP figure - being worked on now :D . I spoke to guy last week, he's happy to talk about it. even suggested he login here to talk about it.

Interesting... though i'd prefer to see what Dave & RPW can come up with after they get a suitable auto test platform to fit their stage 1 turbo kit to...nothing like backing the mob in your own backyard, and i've not got any reason to doubt their ability to do a good job.

Just look at Dave's TT Magna! :D

RPM in S.A have made a TF Magna with a single large turbo something like 400+hp and it has the 4spd auto box. At the moment the turbo is fine they tell me but the auto box is needing strengthning and is not letting them get all power to wheels (150kw/wheels at the moment) but they reackon thats only a few hundred bucks to do and they feel they can unlock most of that nice high HP figure - being worked on now :D . I spoke to guy last week, he's happy to talk about it. even suggested he login here to talk about it.


1. i think you will find it is a TH magna
2. he only has 125 at the wheels for the time being
3. rpm didnt do much of the install at all.


this is what i was told from the owner himself....

RPM in S.A have made a TF Magna with a single large turbo something like 400+hp and it has the 4spd auto box. At the moment the turbo is fine they tell me but the auto box is needing strengthning and is not letting them get all power to wheels (150kw/wheels at the moment) but they reackon thats only a few hundred bucks to do and they feel they can unlock most of that nice high HP figure - being worked on now :D . I spoke to guy last week, he's happy to talk about it. even suggested he login here to talk about it.
We met the guy with the car on the weekend (there are pictures on this forum, topic was turbo magna in south australia) and the only thing that RPM did for this car was the fuel pump.

Jazmac (or something along those lines) did the tuning for the system and installation of the microtech unit to control fuel and ignition.

Next level engineering did all the piping work (and beautiful piping work at that!)

Actually - Here are the links to the pictures again.

http://users.bigpond.com/aaron.ball/001.jpg
http://users.bigpond.com/aaron.ball/002.jpg
http://users.bigpond.com/aaron.ball/003.jpg
http://users.bigpond.com/aaron.ball/004.jpg

If you are thinking of going turbo and you like the idea of twin turbo then yes go for teh twin turbo package now on low boost 7 psi which is around 240kw at the flywheel with stock computer, greddy etc.

Then when your auto does blow, then upgrade to a manuel conversion.

For the interest, garret GT-25 turbo's are not small and nasty so they won't wear out prematurely, provide superior throttle response to a single turbo system but being ball bearing units, will also have a very strong top end comparable to a single turbo.

Don't get mislead by the magazines that replace twin system with singles, unless you are talking very large boost in excess of 17 psi the twin system is a superior setup for throttle reponse etc. The two smaller turbo's are rated at 200hp each so that is equiv of a 400hp single turbo but with better throttle response.

Also check out a new photo of our system and you can see how much easier it is to work around than a single large turbo on top of the engine.

Our single kit is going to virtually be half of this using the rear turbo only and removing the front turbo intercooler and air intake pipe.

That is what I would do anyway

I must say, the RPW setup is really neat. I can't even see where the turbos are, all i see are pipes.

Dave, would I come and see you about both a manual conversion & turbo if I decided to go down that path?

Or is transmission work not one of RPW's specialties?

The manuel transmission conversion we could do no drama's just no idea on price until we actually did it.

The turbo conversion we can definitly do

Thanks Dave,
After speaking to the guys @ Mitsu today i'm considering the manual conversion more strongly now.

Apparently the genuine mitsu cruise control is no longer available as an after sale accessory, meaning i'd have to use a 3rd-party product which would likely not work with the VR-X steering wheel i had hoped to get next pay day.

Cost asside for a moment, how hard would it be for you guys to obtain a suitable manual box & other necessary parts for the conversion?

Probably not that hard just have to look around some wreckers but with our contacts in teh eastern states adn cheap freight to WA, we would be able to source one quite easily I imagine.

I have a cruise control unit from a 93 diamante, it'd be the same as a cruise unit from a TR/TS Magna

I dunno if you can use it though.

Probably not that hard just have to look around some wreckers but with our contacts in teh eastern states adn cheap freight to WA, we would be able to source one quite easily I imagine.

Ok Dave, whilst we're still talking hypotheticals should I expect change out of $5000 for other mods if I was looking at:

- Manual Conversion (reconditioning plus any strengthining as required)
- Stage 2 Clutch Kit
- Short shifter

The idea is that I'd also be wanting to get atleast a K&N Panel Filter, New Parabolics & VR-X Style Leather Steering wheel out of this cash also.

...I sure hope so anyway! :shock: But please do tell me if you think i'm being unrealistic here cos I really have no idea how much the manual box will cost!

I think you would be pretty safe working on that budget - its not a hard job to do very easy in fact but just getting all the little things that hold everything together

Mitsiman said
I think you would be pretty safe working on that budget - its not a hard job to do very easy in fact but just getting all the little things that hold everything together.

Have you looked at whats involved in changing the ECU and control harness as I'd really like to know if this has been done.

akko, what did mitsu say about the conversion from an electrical point of view. I have been researching this for a while and on the TH and later the wiring to the ECU is not interchangeable between Auto and Manual.
Do you have different info.

I would really aprecciate any feedback.

Think I'll leave those questions for Dave to answer... :D

Its not that hard - we just need to lie to the computer and either make it think the auto trans is still there or remove the auto trans wires, get a stock Magna manuel ECU and splice it into the origonal harness removing the components related to the auto transmisison.

If all else fails - Haltech

Dave, you sounds quietly confident that it won't be a problem...

Though I must ask has RPW or anyone else in WA for that matter performed this type of conversion before on a Magna?

...I'd hate to be the first and for things to go horribly wrong!

Don't get me wrong though Dave, i'm deffinately a believer. I mean who wouldn't be after seeing your TT, but I dont want to be going into this with my eyes only half open...it's an expensive exercise as is, yet alone if anything goes wrong and one doesn't have an unlimited bank balance after all. (Pitty I know, but not everyones a millionaire).

Ta.

Very true and I would before taking a job like this, be doing more research first as the last thing I want is a pile of wires in front of me, a gearbox in a car and no go.