About to get my transmission swapped, few questions..

[HigherRhymes]

So I've finally made enough money to make the first big leap on my project car before I start my major mods. First step was to convert auto to manual, before suspension, body work, and engine get a make over.

So first things first, I don't have the tools or the space necessary to complete the swap. So I am having my good friend's shop do it now that I'm back in college. But before I leave them with my car I have a few questions that I haven't been able to find answers for.

1. My car is a 92 DOHC auto, power everything. The donor car I bought is a 90 SOHC, power everything. Should I make sure the harnesses get swapped to insure the ECU and all my goodies (defroster, cruise, etc) work properly? (Engine diag., CEL, etc etc?) Most swaps I've seen require splicing (for starter and brake lights, and others) I am not a wiring expert and I'm not familiar with what wires they're jumping and if its safe or has any adverse affects...

2. Will I need to pick up an ECU from a 91-93 DOHC ka24de or will the SOHC ECU I have work? Just by looking I can't tell the difference... but I am aware they have different part numbers.

3. Since the drive shaft, and gearbox will be dropped is there any parts I should buy to ensure my swap holds up for the long run (besides clutch/flywheel) [IE: the pedal assembly and linkage is metal in the 240s as apposed to the EVO X having problems with the plastic accelerator and clutch pedal snapping ] any parts you would suggest I make sure get installed?

4. How much hp can the stock two piece drive shaft hold? I'm looking for about 325hp to the wheels after all the work is completed, I've searched and the average consensus is around 400hp.. but not safely. Should I get the stronger and lighter single piece aluminum drive shaft?

[locoluna825]

you wont need to swap the ecu's you can use your old auto one and be perfectly fine, the only two things that will be affected are the; reverse lights, neutral safety and i think the cruise control. all you have to do to fix the reverse lights is make a new harness out of the harness on your old auto transmission. the nuetral safety tells your car its in park and allows it to start, in the Tut in the technical section it will tell you how to fix that. im really not sure about the cruise control not sure if you can do anything about it. and you will not get an engine light after the swap.

[HigherRhymes]

So I take it there's no difference in communication between the SOHC ecu and the DOHC one? any difference in codes?

Yeah bro I'm trying to keep that from happening. I would like to preserve all of my electronic goodies. I'm not running any audio or security equipment right now, but cruise control is a big one, rear defroster is huge (winter coming)... I would just like all my stuff to work as if the manual transmission was supposed to be there [preferably without splicing wires since I have a spare harness].
Modified by HigherRhymes at 4:30 PM 8/31/2009

[locoluna825]

oh no, there is a difference. but what im saying is when you do the manual swap you don't have to do anything to the ecus at all but if you feel like going through the pain and trouble of swapping the ecus out too your gonna be doing alot of wiring.

[HigherRhymes]

So it's kind of like a double edge sword then?...That's what I was afraid of. But on the same hand, I can't keep my auto one can I? I read that doesn't work.

Do you happen to know if the ECM is hard wired to the WHOLE harness or could I just pull half of one and then plug and play?

[locoluna825]

no the auto ecu does work

[HigherRhymes]

I see, in that case is it impossible for me to retain my electronics without a ton of rewiring?

[locoluna825]

yes, like i said before everything will still work besides; the reverse lights which is very very EASY to fix. And, im not sure about this one, BUT i THINK the cruise control may not work after the swap

[HigherRhymes]

Oh okay, that's do-able I suppose.So what do you know about questions 3 and 4?

I'm buying a new clutch/fly of course, but what else should I ensure makes it into my car I want a stainless clutch cable, and few other things, but is there anything I shouldn't put back on since the donor car has 230,000 miles on it?

and how about the drive shaft? I probably wont be pumping out over 300 to the wheels for a couple years, but how do the 240s drive shafts hold up after 15 years? would the center carrier/hanger be fine at this point after that much driving?

[locoluna825]

umm, make sure you get the old auto pilot bushing out of the crank and get a manual pilot bushing in there. my friend just tried doing his swap without doing that, i stopped him though lol. i would take a look at the transmission mount, the thing on the cross member. usually by that mileage there torn. the drive shafts are fine they can last longer than that. just make sure when you take it out that you mark the drive shaft and trans so when you put it back together they match the mark you made. the carrier bearing should be fine unless the previous owner put it through some real hell. just take a look at it see if i looks OK but if you feel like it get a new one.