Author Topic: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?  (Read 29966 times)

Offline ragtopdodge

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2012 - 06:43:35 PM »
Might be just cheaper to find a clean e-body that already is a factory 3-speed or 4-speed manual.
'70 318-auto Chally 'vert
'71 383-auto 'Cuda 'vert (sold)
06 300c SRT8
04 2500 QCLB 4x4 HO




Offline IroquoisPliskin

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #16 on: April 28, 2012 - 04:05:05 PM »
Of course I will preferably purchase a manual car, but now I know I can alternatively try it with an auto, if I find a nice one.


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Offline IroquoisPliskin

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #17 on: July 28, 2012 - 07:15:23 AM »
Hello guys! I have another question considering the conversion. Is it much more complicated to convert from column shifted car than from floor shifted? Or maybe there is no big difference?


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Offline 7071 challenger

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #18 on: July 28, 2012 - 09:45:59 AM »
Hello guys! I have another question considering the conversion. Is it much more complicated to convert from column shifted car than from floor shifted? Or maybe there is no big difference?
Easier if you already have a floor shift for one reason: The steering column. If you already have a floor shift car, you don't have to swap/modify the column. As far as the floor hump, it's pretty much the same. The brackets for the console are different from auto to manual, (only the front bracket is different).  Another thing that has not been discuss is the electrical. There is a few holes to drill in the firewall. two holes for the pedals bracket, (very close to the brake booster). Another hole for the safety switch clutch wire and a fourth one for the reverse light wire. The harness that goes to the transmission is different from auto to manual, so will have to found that, (available in reproduction, not very expensive, around $20). You will also need the reverse-light inside the car, (you will have to drill a hole in your dash, between the ash tray and glove box door), to install the light, and you will need the wire that run from the light through the firewall, to your transmission harness. Last but not least, you will need the safety switch the bolts to your clutch pedal. That switch is getting hard to find and quite expensive, (we' re talking $200-250). The purpose of the switch is a safety device that doesn' t allow the starter to engage if you don' t depress the clutch pedal. The safety switch wire goes from the switch pedal, through the firewall, to the starter relay. Here is a very popular picture, so you'll know where to drill the holes I' m talking about. Hope that helps.

Robert

Offline Sleepychallenger

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #19 on: July 29, 2012 - 12:52:35 AM »
I want to say when we did mine we did have to drill two holes for the pedal bracket on the firewall but I may be mistaken. It's been a while took me and Alan about a day or just over. It wasn't hard and had the time of my life hanging out with him there!

Offline IroquoisPliskin

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #20 on: July 29, 2012 - 11:35:56 AM »
OK! As far as I understand correctly the only difference, when converting a column shifted car instead of a floor shifted, is that I need to replace or modify the column. Is this modification complicated? Or is it just easier to find a column replacement from a floor shifted or a manual car?


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Offline 7071 challenger

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #21 on: July 29, 2012 - 12:27:37 PM »
OK! As far as I understand correctly the only difference, when converting a column shifted car instead of a floor shifted, is that I need to replace or modify the column. Is this modification complicated? Or is it just easier to find a column replacement from a floor shifted or a manual car?
I never modified a column shifted to a non-column shifted. My recommendation would be to buy a non-column shifted from any mopar from 1970 to 1974. The difference is the lenght of the inner shaft( from model to model, or body to body, (A-B-C-E). What you would have to do is, swap your 'Cuda inner shaft into the other column. If you're buying a 'Cuda, you have 90% chances to have a floor shifted car, so the column would already be ok. 1970 columns are different then 1971-1974 columns. The 1971-1974 have a little lever to turn the key in the ''lock'' position. The 1970 have a linkage between the column and transmission, so that the car has to be in ''park'' (automatic) or ''reverse'' (manual), to turn the ignition key to the ''lock" position. You can put a 1971-1974 column in a 1970 car without any problem, and vice-versa.

Robert

Offline V02Barracuda

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #22 on: July 30, 2012 - 02:20:41 PM »
I was in the same boat in 2006.  I found a 70 Barracuda (cloned into a Cuda) right around the corner from my father's house but it was a 318 w/ a 904 trans.  Car was super clean and very inexpensive.  I really wanted a stick car but I wasn't going to let the auto trans stand in my way of buying this car.

In '08, I dropped $4,600.00 at Keisler for a 5-speed conversion.  Honestly, I was scared to tackle this job on my garage floor.  To my surprise, it was VERY easy to do.  It was a lot of labor, don't get me wrong, but nothing about this project broke my stones.  A hydraulic clutch and 5th gear makes for some very nice cruisin'.

I would do it all over again without any hesitation. 

Offline IroquoisPliskin

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #23 on: July 30, 2012 - 07:58:17 PM »
Thanks for these encouraging words!


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Offline 73restomod

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #24 on: August 02, 2012 - 01:00:03 AM »
I have a good deal of experience in swapping autos to manual. I've done a factory 4 spd. swap in a 72 chally back in 2000. Swapped an NV4500 into my 87 Dodge W-150 in 2007. Having a factory service manual is a must (formats not important). The rest is mostly plane jane wrenching.  You will have to some metal work to install the hump, and clear the rods. Do use the new hump as a template. Make the initial cut small, and take it out the edges of the hump gradually for a nice pro-look. Also when cutting the floorpan around the edges of the cross-member, I would recommend seam welding it so the edges won't separate later on. If the car has a 727 no drive-shaft mods should be necessary.  With a 904 you may have to swap the slip yoke, or even get a new shaft. As far as the column shift, the rod end at the end of the column would interfere with the Z-Bar linkage. You'll need to swap it, or go with a hydraulic unit.

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« Last Edit: August 03, 2012 - 01:45:44 AM by 73restomod »

Offline IroquoisPliskin

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #25 on: January 05, 2013 - 08:17:56 PM »
Hello guys! As I'm still thinking about a conversion from auto to manual I requested a quote for a conversion kit from Keisler and from Hurst Drivelines. The prices seem comparable in both cases, however Hurst's offer is slightly lower and the delivery conditions are more attractive. It seems that Keisler's kit contains everything what is needed to complete the conversion and the Hurst's kit is missing some parts (e.g. pedal assembly). I want to ask if somone of you has experience with one or both of those providers. I have read in another thread that Keisler have some problems to keep their own delivery schedule. On the other hand Hurst  seem to have everything in stock but I'm not quite sure what parts I will need in addition to their kit. If someone successfuly used Hurst's kit, please tell me what else will be required and where to get it.
Thanks!


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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #26 on: January 05, 2013 - 08:29:12 PM »
Talk to Big Blue 73 / Tony he is a member here & should be able to set you up .
 I would never deal with Keisler lies & problems are consistant .

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Offline Sleepychallenger

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #27 on: January 30, 2013 - 09:55:29 AM »
Me and MOPARAL did this mod with jack stands in his garage. Took a whole weekend but was well worth it. We didnt weld in the hump but that was my choice for ease of access if I ever need to take it out.

Offline IroquoisPliskin

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #28 on: January 30, 2013 - 10:26:11 AM »
And how have you connected the hump to the body instead? Is it bolt in in your case? I presume you haven't just left a big hole in your floor:)


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Offline Sleepychallenger

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Re: Auto to manual conversion: how difficult?
« Reply #29 on: January 30, 2013 - 10:54:36 AM »
Sheet metal screws and seam sealer  :bigsmile: