What is involved in switching over from automatic to manual?

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slowman

slowman

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Madison, WI
I'm interested in buying an '89 Corolla, $750, 110,000 miles... but the only problem is that it is an autotragic. I can't stand automatics, and would really like to know if it is feasible to switch over to manual. It's not a POS, I can tell. I used to have a gold '90, and it was a good car. I'm familiar with the noises they make and the nuances of the car, and as far as I can tell it is solid.

If anybody knows how it would work on this car specifically, input would be appreciated. What parts would need to be purchased with it to make it work? And if anybody knows approximately how much this would cost when all the parts are figured in, that would be cool. Keep in mind I probably do this myself with a Chilton manual (I'm a very mechanical person).

Thanks
 
You would need to go to a wrecker and get all the parts.

You will need

Manual Trans (duh)
Clutch
flywheel
complete linkage and shifter assembly
Cluch pedal assembly
clutch master/slave and lines assembly if hydraulic (cable if not)
Driveshafts may not be interchangable? probably would be though.
Probably more I havent thought of.

Youll need to plug up the factory transmission cooling lines. Best to find a car the same model but complete in a wrecker so you can take exactly what you need.
 
It would probably be easier and cheaper just to find another one that actually has a manual transmission ...
 
You're likely to spend $750 converting a $750 car, unless you are friendly with a U-pull yard guy.

ViperGTSR01 has given a pretty good list. You'll also need the brake pedal, because it's narrower... and in '89, you may need the steering column. Around the mid-'80s, American-sold cars with manual transmissions started having an interlock switch that wouldn't let you turn the key to the 'remove' position until you pushed it (usually a little button on the coulmn; if you drive a manual it's such a habit you don't even notice it). There may be more.

For a classic I was planning on turning into my project car, I'd consider it. For an '89 Corolla beater, I think I'd pass on the car and find one with a stick.
 
Duke
also need the brake pedal, because it's narrower....
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Ah yes I knew I would forget something. I have seen people cut their pedal down and fit a manual rubber boot over the top of it before.
 
There may be some electronics stuff that needs to be changed, I know my similarly year'd MR2's ECU is marked M/T.

Personally I'd keep looking for one that already has a manual, it'd probably be less time and money than swapping the auto out. I mean, you know when you are halfway through the swap a really nice M/T one is going to pop up for sale :)
 
Duke
Around the mid-'80s, American-sold cars with manual transmissions started having an interlock switch that wouldn't let you turn the key to the 'remove' position until you pushed it (usually a little button on the coulmn; if you drive a manual it's such a habit you don't even notice it).
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Unless yours is ****ed up, like mine. :grumpy: (The Ranger's switch suddenly turned very fussy a couple years ago.)
 
retsmah
Personally I'd keep looking for one that already has a manual, it'd probably be less time and money than swapping the auto out. I mean, you know when you are halfway through the swap a really nice M/T one is going to pop up for sale :)
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^^^Such is life... :sly:

Sounds like too much of a PITA to switch over transmissions, even though I do have a friend that runs a junkyard. I know he has a '90 Corolla with a manual, because that's my old Corolla that blew two con-rods. :sly:. I would probably just get a straight trade, I give him the auto, he gives me the manual. But I don't feel like doing the work, and I don't want to pay to have it done to a $750 beater. Thanks for you help though guys!

I'm going to continue my search. I found an '87 MR2, N/A, red, 5spd, sunroof for $1,200. I'm calling the guy tomorrow to find out more about it.

Also found a '90 Prelude Si with the 4WS :D for $1,000. I might check that out as well. You gotta be careful with bargain basement sporty cars... they're probably bargain basement for a reason. But probably still worth checking out anyway. ;)
 
I have done this conversion on many vehicles and also the opposite conversion.
Looks like Duke and VIPERGTSR01 pretty much nailed everything I was going to say.
The only thing I see that they missed is the crossmember.Most autos to manual cars need crossmember modification or replacement. Also instead of replacing the driveshaft just replace the yolk that enters the rear of the transmission. Very easy to do and that usually only costs about $40 for a new yolk replacement. You will probably have to cut a larger hole in your floor board and make room for any of the new linkage attachments in the trans tunnel so nothing binds up. I hope you have some car mechanical backround otherwise your gonna be in for more than you can handly by yourself.
How much are you really willing to put into this car??? Like they said you will have anywhere between $750 and $1000 and thats if you get everything yourself. Good luck and keep us updated. Oh yeah you will also need a shifter unless your tranny comes with it already. If its in a junkyard the shifter will probably be already gone.
Like you said in post 9 it is a pain to do all this and your better off getting a different car with the tranny you want.
 
CAMAROBOY69
The only thing I see that they missed is the crossmember.Most autos to manual cars need crossmember modification or replacement. Also instead of replacing the driveshaft just replace the yolk that enters the rear of the transmission. Very easy to do and that usually only costs about $40 for a new yolk replacement. You will probably have to cut a larger hole in your floor board and make room for any of the new linkage attachments in the trans tunnel so nothing binds up. I hope you have some car mechanical backround otherwise your gonna be in for more than you can handly by yourself.
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The 89 Corolla was FWD so the crossmember/driveshaft is not an issue...but I suppose he might need new/modified tranny mounts.
 
Excellent point. I am sooo used to working on Front engine Rear wheel drive cars and trucks and your right, its just the tranny mounts on that car. Thats easier. But more than likely he is not going to do this conversion. We helped him realize its not worth it. 👍
 
I'm going over tonight, and I might buy it. I just need a beater to get back and forth to/from work. I really would have preferred manual, but I can deal with it for awhile. (until I can afford the Miata I want ;)).

It's going for $750, but I'm going to try to talk him down, and point out what, if anything is wrong. He doesn't seem like a car guy so I can probably make anything wrong sound like more of a PITA than it really is. :sly:
 
How much work is involved in replacing an engine in an AW11 MR2? The one I mentioned above needs an engine. It's burning oil, and he expects it to die. I can probably get it for $500. Is the work involved worth it? I'm a pretty mechanical person, and even if I have problems, I can talk to my dad about it. He has restored about 10 cars, and is a great mechanic. We have and engine hoist and all the necessary equipment.

Worth it?
 
slowman
How much work is involved in replacing an engine in an AW11 MR2? The one I mentioned above needs an engine. It's burning oil, and he expects it to die. I can probably get it for $500. Is the work involved worth it? I'm a pretty mechanical person, and even if I have problems, I can talk to my dad about it. He has restored about 10 cars, and is a great mechanic. We have and engine hoist and all the necessary equipment.

Worth it?
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See the other MR2 thread for my thoughts on how hard it is to replace an MR2 engine... it would definitley be more straightforward than a transmission swap. I'd go for it for $500 :)
 
Update: I'm not buying that MR2. It's too much work that I don't feel like doing or paying to have done. I forgot about that MR2 when a mechanic friend of mine offered me his BMW 325e for $800. How could I resist? :)

If it works out and I pick it up (tomorrow), pictures will be up soon in a new thread. 👍
 
the 325e is the dog of the bmw stable.

high efficiency, "high torque," low revving engine. good for fuel economy.

has all the other BMW goodies though. just dont expect to win many drag or other races with that drivetrain unless its some kind of fuel economy challenge :)

and you still might lose that depending in what youre up against.
 
Yeah, I realize that its the dog of the BMW stable... but its not unheard of for those engines to last around 300,000 miles... that is if they timing chain, water pump, etc were properly taken care of religiously. And this car has all the service records. It has been in for all its factory tune-ups, and I believe just recently it had its timing chain, tensioner, etc all adjusted. It burns not one drop of oil.

Im more interested in fuel economy anyway, I don't need to be participating in drag races. That's what caused me to lose my licence in the first place :sly:. I wouldn't mind eventually doing something about the diesel-like 5000 rpm redline though... :crazy:
 
A mate of mine got his R32 Skyline GTS-t converted to manual for about $1,800NZ. I think it was all done in one day too, :cool:
 
Its pretty easy and common conversion on R32 Skylines.
 
I'm picking the BMW up today, and he'll take $200 off the $800 originally if I gave him the tires back that are on it. They are brand new, but I want something more sporty than what's on it. :)

I haven't had a car that I could call mine in over a year! Just a few more hours... just a few more hours...

It's a dog, but its still a BMW... I already feel like a prick. :sly:


You guys are lucky in Australia and NZ. Skyline. You have any idea how much somebody would pay for that thing here in the US if you were to sell that Mustang-man. You find some riceboy somewhere whose parents have enoug money, and I wouldn't be surprised if you could pull $30,000 USD (about 50K AUS) out of it. People where I live are nuts for those things. GT-R or not... Automatic or not... Doesn't matter. :)

I've been looking at prices for R32 GTS-T or GTS-4 coupes... and it would actually be semi-affordable to bring one over. And it would be only the second Skyline in Wisconsin. There's a black R33 GT-R up in northern Wisconsin.
 
Mate, honest to god - if someone came up to me tomorrow and offered me one million dollars (or more) for my GTS-4, i'd refuse it. This car is priceless to me and i'm never going to sell it.

I can understand what you mean though. :)
 
I haven't posted lately... because I've been driving my new car :)

The thing might be the slowest three series they made, but its got torque like a diesel, and it goes fast enough to make it fun on a country road. Still a great, rewarding drive. I've surprised a few civics and a 3.8 Buick LeSabre. Good enough for me.

Thing looks like an 80's Nissan Sentra 2-dr, but handles like a Miata. The more power you feed into a corner, the more it just keeps on turning. I love this car :D.

I need new windshield wiper motors, and need to fix the (apparantly common) idle problem that the 2.7 ETA engine had. (idles a little high)

Pictures soon in a new thread.


I remember it being red, but its black. The paint is a little sunfaded, but a wax took care of that somewhat. It's been taken care of pretty nicely, but it has 160,000 miles on the clock. But it runs damn decent for the mileage. I changed the spark plugs and gapped them to factory spec, ran a bottle of fuel injector cleaner through it, changed the oil, and put a new air filter in it... it purrs now. :)
 

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