Is it possible to change from manual to auto?

[Sacred]

I know it may sound like a stupid question, but is it possible to change my transmission from a Automatic to a manual, and what are the costs?

I'm not really thinking about doing it but I just want to know if it actually IS possible and how much its would cost....


Thanks for any help.

 

[JRS]

Possible, but likely to take so much work and cost enough to make doing it more expensive than just changing cars.

 

[DaveyD]

It is possible, but it totally depends on the car on how easy it would be, and if the equivilant automatic gearbox versions fit the same engines etc. Though it'll take a bit of work, and would be a lot easier to just sell the car and buy the automatic version instead.

 

[Morba]

topic - manual to auto
first post - auto to manual

which are you planning?

some cars are very easy, ive heard a lot of 200sx auto drivers do the change to manual

 

[The_Dark_Side]

easily done in that it's a simple job of swapping components.
however it is a big job make no mistake and you're never sure exactly how many components are unique to the auto version and this could cause you teething problems.
personally, unless the vehicle is something very special, i'd give the same advice i always give.
sell and buy the vehicle you want.
it's almost always a lot cheaper than trying to alter what you've already got.

 

[Jonny69]

On a classic car it is quite a simple job, just go and get the 'box and other gubbins from the other type of car and drop it straight in. On a modern car you're probably looking at 5 times the components, lots of stripping down and a hell of a lot of work...

 

[austinpowers]

I've converted an auto Rover 827 to a manual.

It wasn't that hard, but i had access to a 4 post ramp so helped a lot, you'll need a complete donor car to swap over gear linkage, box, then you have to work out how to wire the reverse lights up.

It's worth it if there aren't that many good manual versions around and you have a nice auto.

 

[Sacred]

Lol sorry about the original post title being different from the post.....


To clear things up, I have an automatic celica (g7) and was asking about the cost of changing the transmission to a manual. The reason I ask is that there is a big difference in pulling power between the 190 manual and the 190 automatic I 've been told.


The reason I wouldnt want to sell and buy would be because I've had a few bits put into my car - tints, nice dvd headunit, cerwin vega sub and alpine amp, new alloys and trd body kit (came with the car).

I just don't want to have to 'start over' with a new car so was wondering about the transmission change.

I mean, I'm not THAT serious but if it is possible within a certain budget I would perhaps consider it, especially since I'm considering supercharging the car at some point too....But as I say, just wanted ideas from people....

 

[Fulcrum]

It would still be easier to swap everything you've listed, over to the new car then change the old one to a manual. I wouldnt bother unless I was really excellent at mechanics and got a kick out of messing about with my car like that, unforuntately Iam only very good at taking things to bits (permanently)

 

[The_Dark_Side]

It would still be easier to swap everything you've listed, over to the new car then change the old one to a manual. I wouldnt bother unless I was really excellent at mechanics and got a kick out of messing about with my car like that, unforuntately Iam only very good at taking things to bits (permanently)

exactly.
take all the fancy bits off the car and replace them with standard items.
buy new vehicle with a transmission you prefer then re-fit said parts.
cheaper by a long way in both hours and pounds.

 

[Sacred]

By using tiptronic shifting to simulate a manual, could I not shift the car a little faster than the ECU timings? Making it at least a little closer to a manual??

 

[The_Dark_Side]

By using tiptronic shifting to simulate a manual, could I not shift the car a little faster than the ECU timings? Making it at least a little closer to a manual??

possibly, but whether it'd be fast enough for you is a different question, you could find yourself in a situation where you've thrown a lot of money at the car and it's still not what you want it to be.

 

[Sacred]

No, I mean, I already have tiptronic shifting. But I just don't use it atm.

 

[The_Dark_Side]

No, I mean, I already have tiptronic shifting. But I just don't use it atm.

i know, i meant you may be able to speed up the changes, but whether it'd be quick enough for you is another matter.
your money, your call my friend.
if it were mine i'd sell and find another manual version.

 

[Dr Who]

Yes its possible, you will need a pedal box, flywheel, clutch and gearbox from the Manual..

The bonuses are that the auto usually has better ratio diff, and better brakes...

 

[Sacred]

What do you think a total cost would be?

 

[Fulcrum]

Dealership cost - 5k

DIY cost - 0

You could buy and sell everything and even make a profit but obviously thats not including the cost of your own time and effort. I think automatics are more popular brand new and less popular second hand so you might run into some problem with supply and demand

 

[Clarkey]

its a popular mod on 300zx's, looking at around £1500 for a full conversion.

 

[The_Dark_Side]

anyone that's changed a pedal box before would rather not do one again.

 

[Mickey_D]

On a FWD car, it is a right PITA, to the point of redifining PITA.

The throttle linkage is different, you end up having to do body work to put the new shifter in and rework the pedal mounting assembly, the engine management computer won't know what to do as it no longer has the proper input from the transmission as far as speed, torque, etc. The cooling system is different (autobox uses the engine's radiator for cooling), the differential will be much different, and most likely the exhaust will need to be moved to accomodate the different bell housing and transmission casing shapes.

It is a total engine-out transformation that will leave you without the car for SEVERAL weekends (if you do it yourself, which is the only option to make it financially worthwhile), and requires many tools that are specific to the job.

On a RWD car, it is only marginally easier due to the fact that it is not so much of an engine-out operation. But that's where the "easier" bit ends.

It's not so much of just a matter of swapping out the transmissions. The engine has to come out so that a new flywheel can be mounted and balanced (auto's don't so much use a flywheel as they have the torque converter for that, so thier "flywheel" is just a thin metal plate), the harmonic balancer can be removed from the front of the crank and the proper pulley installed, the throttle linkage modified, the cooling system swapped out with the proper one, the wiring harness and respective computers changed out, the extra hole drilled in the firewall for the clutch cable (OMG if it's a hydraulic clutch, even MORE problems), the transmission shifter hole made to fit correctly, the differential swapped out for the correct one, and the new exhaust put in. Then it's a matter of squeezing the engine back in and chasing down all the new faults (which there will be many).

If it was a classic car that ran on a carb, it almost IS a direct swap out. Pull the engine, change the flywheel (to hel with it as far as the harmonic balancer goes, leave it there), install the clutch lever and cable, sawz-all the shifter hole, drop the whole assembly back in and fire her up.

But I don't imagine your pride and joy is a 1984 or older Celica, is it? If not, then it is easier in time, money, effort, and all around hassle to change cars rather than transmissions. Even WITH all your new kit.