Converting an auto to a manual

#1

New here so please be nice.
First off, yes I searched. I’ve seen some good potential spec e30’s online, and at some local shops with automatic transmissions. Should it be a deal killer if the car is otherwise clean? What should I expect to pay to do the conversion, and are there any major obstacles? Thanks for any help, and if there are some old threads on here about this, as I’m sure there are, please post a link. Thanks,
Rob

Edit: I did find some threads, but still having a little trouble getting a clear answer to my questions.

#2

The cost of the conversion to a manual depends on whether you do the job yourself or have a shop do it and whether you source the parts individually or buy a 5 speed conversion kit. If you buy a kit it will have everything thats needed and usually be a mix of new and used parts. Wear items will be new (master, slave, clutch, transmission mounts, shifter bushings, etc). One source of a kit is Euro Depo and was $1200 a couple of year ago. I’d guess on about 8 hours of shop time at whatever the local rate is.

One good thing about converting an auto is that the engine has probably spent little time in the high end of the rpm band. If a lower mileage engine that hasn’t been abused, it should make a pretty good Spec E30.

#3

It is not difficult. You will be better served purchasing two cars. The parts kit for the conversion is ~$1200 if I remember correctly.

The real question is, where do you live.

For this job you either need a big pocketbook or a mentor that can help you through the project.

RP

#4

Thanks to both of you for the info. I do have a "mentor"of sorts, but 8+ hours free labor (or careful instruction) is pushing the limits of our relationship, plus I don’t think he’s ever done that particular conversion. I’m just trying to figure out if I should scratch all the autos off my list. BTW, I live near Philadelphia in NJ.

#5

Its not too hard if you are mechanically inclined and like bloody knuckles. I considered this before I found my car with a 5 spd. I have a friend who did it a few years back and said it was not hard. Its easier if you find a good wrecked car with the 5 speed. It tells you where and how the parts go in your car. Pull from one and add to the other.

Here is a link to a decent write up with lots of pics.
http://www.offthewallcustoms.com/Other/5spd%20swap/

Good luck and maybe someday I will see you at the track. I am outside of Philly in PA and will pop between NASA MA events and NASA NE events. At least the few I can get to when not doing family things.

Jason

#6

Let me know if you head to NJMP. I’m going there in June, and October and maybe in September too.

#7

I am actually going to NJMP on June 3 with Reisentoter Porsche Club to shake my car down and learn the track. Its open track all day for advanced drivers. I will do a race their later in the year also. Not sure which one yet.

#8

One consideration that I didn’t see mentioned above is changing out the rearend. Most automatic’s had a 4.10 gear, the manual shift cars should be 3.73. This is also not a big deal and the 4.10 rearend is worth a pretty penny on ebay.

#9

Seems like a lot of work to do on a particular car because it is “clean”. You could find a less-then-clean E30 and give it the nicest paint job in all of SpecE30 for far less then the price of the auto-manual conversion kit.

#10

You make a good point, but I wouldn’t do the conversion just because the car had good paint. I was thinking more of a car with a low mileage engine, no rust, no damage history and good paint. A car like this also would probably have lots of good non-spec parts that could be sold to off-set some of the initial cost. I’m no mechanic, and though I want to learn a lot by building up a spec car, I’m trying to figure out a balance between initial cost and how much work the car will need to be a decent spec car. I know the M20 is a strong engine, but I’m having trouble believing that one with 200,000+ miles isn’t going to need to be rebuilt (along with the trans) to be a reliable race motor. I just started looking and I came across a few lower mileage cars that have autos, so it’s a tempting proposition. I realize it’s all guesswork to some extent since you never know what hidden problems a car might have, and it seems to me that most of the people who’ve done a spec e30 err on the side of cheapness with the initial purchase. A shop near my house has a 318 shell (I forget the year) for $500. It’s not going anywhere, so I have it as an option to fall back on.

#11

I am also just outside of Philly in nj. I have most of the parts you need for this conversion, also a bunch of race cars and parts cars. Let me know if you need help with anything, we also have an auto we are considering converting to manual…

#12

I would not dismiss a good candidate (low mileage, good interior, good maintenance, straight body) just because it has an automatic transmission and possibly the wrong differential. If the interior (seats, door cards, and carpet) are in really good condition, their sale will defray a good bit of the cost of a 5-speed conversion. And if they happen to be black sport seats, so much the better. As a point of reference I bought an 87 325is with a great interior and auto for $1000 and sold the interior (beautiful black sport seats) and basket weaves (nearly perfect) for $850. So with the cost of a 5-speed kit I wound up with the car costing $1250. But then I had no labor cost for the conversion. It turned out that the engine in that car had seen serious abuse and had to be replaced, but that’s the risk you take with a +20 year old car.

#13

andrew240z wrote:

Sounds great. IM sent.:slight_smile:

#14

jlevie wrote:

That’s pretty much what I was thinking. Also, it seems the manual cars disappear pretty quick. I can’t imagine why.:wink:

#15

FYI - just finished an auto to manual conversion today. Took about 8 hours with 3 people (amateurs) wrenching (still have to do the pedal swap). We also took time to replace the rear main engine seal and the output shaft seal on the tranny. Definitely need to have a spare car/parts car available (we have 4). Two hangups - the top starter bolt, which is typical, but the one that really got us was the pilot bearing. The auto does not have one, and when we installed the new one we drifted it in flush, but you have to go all the way in. The following link helped get us out of this - http://www.slidewaysonline.com/?q=node/42.

Well worth doing - and I think many will be doing this as manual cars are getting scarce, and there are plenty of good auto cars out there.

Ed

#16

Thanks for the info, and the link. It’s a little overwhelming to contemplate, but like you said, the manual cars are getting scarce. Sounds like you bought a lot of beer today.

#17

And pizza.
Ed