Hi all,

I'm thinking about converting my car to manual. to all those in the know, what would I need and how would I go about it. might seem like a stupid question, I have an idea of what's involved etc, but I just want to make sure I have all the bases covered.

Thanks,
-Ian

hi there, you are best off getting a manual donor car or have a checklist of what you need.

Here's a list

Gearbox
clutch slave cylinder and metal hose
clutch master cylinder
brake pedal
clutch pedal
manual gear shifter and cables
manual box engine mount
clutch and pressure plate
manual water pipe that runs under the intake manifold
Manual cv drive shafts.
then you need to isolate the park and reverse wires. (for starting and reverse lights)
and flywheel...

if theres anything else i have forgot someone will put it in..

i have done a manual conversion and also split the box from the engine as well..

I have a conversion set for a v6 though..

cheers dean

hi there, you are best off getting a manual donor car or have a checklist of what you need.

Here's a list

Gearbox
clutch slave cylinder and metal hose
clutch master cylinder
brake pedal
clutch pedal
manual gear shifter and cables
manual box engine mount
clutch and pressure plate
manual water pipe that runs under the intake manifold
Manual cv drive shafts.
then you need to isolate the park and reverse wires. (for starting and reverse lights)
and flywheel...

if theres anything else i have forgot someone will put it in..

i have done a manual conversion and also split the box from the engine as well..

I have a conversion set for a v6 though..

cheers dean

Hey man, when i rang up a CV Joint shop and asked for Manual driveshafts he said they were the same as the auto (V6 for V6 though)
Not sure if this is different with the 4cyl's though

Also, whats this water pipe you talk of? Like whats it connected to?

to clarify

the water pipe is different for the V6 auto to manual conversion
the pipe is bent to make way for the gear change cables

the Intrim shafts are different for the 4cyl and V6
and are needed for automatic to manual conversion

Okay, cool. I'm serious about trying a conversion, what would I have to do once I got all the bits. Any cutting of firewall? I've been told its necessary. Quick run-down on how I would go about it before I start looking for kits/donor cars.

Okay, cool. I'm serious about trying a conversion, what would I have to do once I got all the bits. Any cutting of firewall? I've been told its necessary. Quick run-down on how I would go about it before I start looking for kits/donor cars.

Dude i have all the parts on my (well grandparents) garage floor and looks easy as to put in.
(I say easy but I'm sure it wont be:P)
Looks like some holes need to be drilled for the selector cables, master cylinder, and clutch pedal, everything else should bolt in AFAIK

']Dude i have all the parts on my (well grandparents) garage floor and looks easy as to put in.
(I say easy but I'm sure it wont be:P)
Looks like some holes need to be drilled for the selector cables, master cylinder, and clutch pedal, everything else should bolt in AFAIK

Sorry for all the noob questions, I just want to have a clear idea of what i'm getting myself into before buying all the parts and finding out its too dificult. I suppose the engine has to come out? Also, How much would I bee looking at to get everything together seeing as I'd probably be doing the conversion myself (with dad), I wont have to worry about labour costs etc. Also, approx time it'd take for it all to come out and get back in going at a medium pace.

hi there i did a manual conversion recently only took me 2days and that was will some stuffing around with driveshafts not fitting. Manual shafts are thinner than auto. Don't listen when people say you need to get an electrician or yourself to fiddle with the wires for the inhibator switch. All you do is just take the switch off the autobox and plug it back into the wiring. Car stills then thinks its in neutral and you won't have any problems.

i'm going to be doing a similar project myself soon.

Project : ELITE, is set to begin in a month or so when my exams are all done.

I'll be buying a TR Elite with an auto trans and blown engine (4 cyl) for about $300 as-is

the project will consist of some work on my engine (4 cyl, out of exec), like vlave stem seals, maybe new rings, sort out these ticking lifters, oil / coolant change, new filters (except for air), and generally cleaning things up.

My old (exec) engine and 5sp box will be transplanted into the elite along with some other bits n pieces.

i'd also like to have a go at polishing some parts if i get time; water pump, alternator, intake manifold/plenum, maybe rocker cover as well. or i might paint some ****.


i'll take photos and do a write up when i'm finished. hopefully this all goes smoothly, i have about a month to get it all done, with the major work (engine transplanting, etc.) being done on weekends.

any advice you all can give me on this?

-do i use the CV's from manual or auto (4cyl)?
-how exactly to i rig up the park/neutral wires and make sure the reverse lights work?
-is it simple to get the cruise control working with the other engine going in?
-do i need to cut/drill anything to fit the clutch/brake pedals or do they just bolt up?
-anything i should know about the exec. or the elite before i start this?
-anything you might expect to cause a problem?

thanks.

and sorry for hijacking this topic, might help the other guys with thier conversions though.

-do i use the CV's from manual or auto (4cyl)?
-how exactly to i rig up the park/neutral wires and make sure the reverse lights work?
-is it simple to get the cruise control working with the other engine going in?
-do i need to cut/drill anything to fit the clutch/brake pedals or do they just bolt up?
-anything i should know about the exec. or the elite before i start this?
-anything you might expect to cause a problem?

These answers are just from what I understand...

1) you have to use manual CV's, as they're a smalller diameter.
2) Dont' know- I'm going to have a look at the wiring diagram today to find out
3) Cruise control on the magna is a simple setup, it's possible to connect the cruise to your other engine especially as it's a 4cyl.
4) Yes, a hole needs to be drilled for the clutch cable, however I'm not sure where to drill it. I'll be going to the wreckers when I get my gearbox to check exactly how it's layed out.
5) No not really, unlike falcons, the climate control can still work if it's a manual.
6) I'm going to be checking if the ETACS system is compatible with manual as I think it's the only difference between the Exec and Elite in terms of technology.

on the TR you only have to drill holes for the clutch master cylinder

the manual cables go throught the same hole as the automatic cables

clutch pedal just bolts in on a TR

ian man, no point in doing a conversion, sell your car to the wreckers and give me your interior!!!

ian man, no point in doing a conversion, sell your car to the wreckers and give me your interior!!!

ROFL!!! yeah I was thinking about it,but then, I was thinking, what wreckers will take care of my baby? lol. Dad's choice to keep the car, so essaentially, I can;t argue, seeing as he bought the thing for me. lol. Might as well make the most of what I've got aye. haha. Plus, now i've got one less reason to get rid of it; I'm loving the new engine, goes alot better than before, just needs the manual to open it up and she'll be sweet. lol.

ROFL!!! yeah I was thinking about it,but then, I was thinking, what wreckers will take care of my baby? lol. Dad's choice to keep the car, so essaentially, I can;t argue, seeing as he bought the thing for me. lol. Might as well make the most of what I've got aye. haha. Plus, now i've got one less reason to get rid of it; I'm loving the new engine, goes alot better than before, just needs the manual to open it up and she'll be sweet. lol.

I've found the manual 4cyl to be on parish with a V6 Auto, so if you do get it done she will go so much better :D

']I've found the manual 4cyl to be on parish with a V6 Auto, so if you do get it done she will go so much better :D

i've noticed a huge difference just with the new engine matched to a slipping, dying automatic gearbox. I can imagine what it'd go like with a decent manual on it. The reason I say the GB is dying is because last night I was coming home from work and after turning a corner and accelerating, from 1-2 it completely lost it. as though i'd clicked it into neutral. I reved it a little, again, slipping completely up to 3000rpm...then BANG! jolts into second and goes its merry way...the slippage lasted honestly, 2 or 3 seconds (fairly long time for a gearbox to slip if you ask me)

Ok, my last exam for this semester is tomorrow (physics).

Then i'll hang around in melb and work for a few more days before leaving next weekend.
I can't wait to get my hands on this car, im really looking foward to this project.

The only issues i really have left are the park/neutral wires, and other things like cruise/climate control.

can anyone tell me how to hook up the cruise control?
and how will it work with the manual gearbox, i understand that with an auto it should turn off when you hit the brakes. but can i make it shut off when i press the clutch pedal in as well? will i have to rig up a switch to the clutch pedal so it knows or is there some way i'm supposed to do it?

can anyone tell me how to hook up the cruise control?
and how will it work with the manual gearbox, i understand that with an auto it should turn off when you hit the brakes. but can i make it shut off when i press the clutch pedal in as well? will i have to rig up a switch to the clutch pedal so it knows or is there some way i'm supposed to do it?

My guess is that, unless you're on cruise from takeoff (impossible- only lets you take it up from 40 km/h) you wont be using the clutch with it on. Generally, Cruise is used on highways and such where downshifting or shifting in general really isnt needed.

You need it on the clutch pedal to ensure that you do not accidently down shift and forget to take it off.....

On the other hand, if the cruise detects a sharp increase in revs, it will generally turn off the cruise.

All you do is tell the cruise module that the car is in drive, this can be acheived by using the clutch pedal switch as a neutral switch so in other words the clutch has to be depressed to start the car, the clutch pedal released to use the cruise.

You also need a dual point brake light switch, which if you already have cruise it has.

i've noticed a huge difference just with the new engine matched to a slipping, dying automatic gearbox. I can imagine what it'd go like with a decent manual on it. The reason I say the GB is dying is because last night I was coming home from work and after turning a corner and accelerating, from 1-2 it completely lost it. as though i'd clicked it into neutral. I reved it a little, again, slipping completely up to 3000rpm...then BANG! jolts into second and goes its merry way...the slippage lasted honestly, 2 or 3 seconds (fairly long time for a gearbox to slip if you ask me)
Check your trans fluid... If that happened going around a corner chances are it starved itself of fluid.

Check your trans fluid... If that happened going around a corner chances are it starved itself of fluid.
:stoopid:
Our TR did that a couple of times, low on fluid.

At least then you won't go disengaging gears when driving until you get the 5 speed in :P

Check your trans fluid... If that happened going around a corner chances are it starved itself of fluid.

GB was freshly filled as it was like, three days after putting the new engine in. we completely drained the transmission and put full new fluid in it. I don't think it wasthat.