tranny swap

Steve F · Post by **Steve F** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 2:01 am

I am looking at buying a 79 spider auto and am curious if a swap to a 5 speed would be very difficult to do, anyone with advice on that?

E Prod Racer · Post by **E Prod Racer** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:49 am

Steve,
As a performance shop owner, I talk to car owners every day that have cars that don't satisfy them from a performance standpoint. Some of these cars are easily modified, and some aren't. Some general rules apply. Boosted cars can always use more boost, or a bigger turbo. Usually, non-boosted cars aren't practical for boosting. Most engine swaps don't run, or at best don't run, like, well, a car.. Auto to manual swaps are more trouble and expense than is practical.

In short, if you want a certain car, or a car with certain equipment and features, buy it the way you want it. Keep looking - the Spider you really want is already out there.

Steve F · Post by **Steve F** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:08 am

Thank you for your advice Bill. I will continue to look for the car i want but i am a man of limited patience so i may still consider this idea as an option but only as a last resort. There seems to be very few of the spiders in BC with the requisite lack of rust that i am looking for that are 5 speeds.(At my budget level)

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:34 am

if you look south to Calif you will find lots of rust free Spiders, and the drive back to BC should make for a nice road trip

nickfury · Post by **nickfury** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:54 am

If you do want to swap tranys i do have two standard transmitions boath used with cables and counsel, drive shaft, clutch assembly. sory my bad no pedles. and am looking for a auto as the one on mine seems to loose fluid as fast as i can put it in maby we can trade? I was going to try to find a good used one of a shevy chevet i understand they are the same unit??? let me know if this intrests you i am in rainy north vancouver.
perras@telus.net

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:51 pm

there are guys looking for quality Spiders with auto tranny, and can't seem to find them...around here at least. seems that there are those who didn't get the opportunity to learn to use a clutch.

i'd hate to see you go thru all that effort, and reduce the available stock of auto tranny cars.

'cides, it just doesn't sound like a good investment of your time when there are so many quality manual tranny cars available. Where are you looking that you can't find one to suit you?

124cso · Post by **124cso** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:48 pm

As the man said, buy the car you want, not one you think will be changeable. Unless you get a real bargain, it ain't worth the effort to swap auto for manual. You would need to;
check crankshaft attachment is the same for a manual as auto,
find & fit flywheel, clutch etc,
find & fit manual pedal set,
re-wire the starting electrics and tranny safety switches.
find or make a new top for the tunnel / shifter console,
if it's a carburator car, you will need to remove the auto's idle connections & fit manual controls ( or whole new carb ),
If it's injected, you'll need a manual car's ECU (computer)

Or just look for a nice Manual car and save all that hassle. Oh and if you do do a swap, won't you need to get the title changed too ?

124cso · Post by **124cso** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 9:41 pm

Oh and your rear axle ratio may have to be changed too !

Get the impression it ain't worth it ?

Steve F · Post by **Steve F** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:45 pm

Yup! I get it. I get it. I guess i will look some more then. LOL. Thank you all for the input.