Auto to 5 speed, back to auto. Advice needed...

[TurboChargedSE-R]

Hey, guys--My '93 'vert was swapped over to a 5 speed setup before I bought it. It was very well done. Now that I have completely refinished the car, I'm selling it to my parents for use at their vacation house, and they need it to be an automatic.

I have pretty good skills (have done engine swaps, turbo installs, etc.) and every tool I could need available in my garage. I even have a S13 FSM and convertible supplement.

Question: How difficult do you all think this might be? My first thought is that it's just a reversal of the excellent 5-speed swap how-to posted in this forum.

The tricky part will be the electrical junction by the battery, and wiring it correctly. Mine was done pretty much as seen in the 5-speed swap thread here.

Question 2: Should I just leave that electrical junction as-is...or will I need to return it back to the way it was before the swap? Chances are, I can get all the wiring and that junction when I buy the transmission, shifter, etc. from a part-out, if need be.

I look forward to hearing everybody's thoughts.

[biggie]

I say this with all good intentions. Sell it to someone on here and buy a stock one with AT. It would probably make you some money and save someone on here a lot of time and effort.

[Hijacker]

If selling isn't an option, Greg, it shouldn't be too hard to revert it back. However, there will be a nasty hole in the firewall from the clutch master cylinder.

First, make sure the plug for the A/T Park/neutral safety switch is still intact. It's the one under the fusebox. Some people will use the transmission harness plug to make their jump, but I've seen people who are trying to preserve the trans harness cut and solder the chassis plug instead.

Second, if they wired the top and reverse lights up like the way I instructed, you'll probably have to find a new inhibitor plug and solder it in. To get enough room to work with, most people cut the wires at the plug, making it impossible to solder it back.

If you're a true glutton for punishment, you can try to pull each spade connector from the plug and recrimp it to the propper wire. Or you can hardwire those wires from the trans harness to the chassis harness (easiest and dirtiest)

[Loki]

I say this with all good intentions. Sell it to someone on here and buy a stock one with AT. It would probably make you some money and save someone on here a lot of time and effort.

Please do this. It'll be so much easier and appease the S chassis gods. Maybe even just buy them a Sebring

[TurboChargedSE-R]

I have tried selling this S13 via forums and yes, eBay Motors. Nobody wants to pay more than $1500 for it. It has over $7,000 in new paint, wheels, tires, brakes, suspension, interior, top. Except for bushings, the car is reconditioned to a very good condition. Parents offered up a very decent amount for the car, and the way I see it, it will stay in the family.

Bart, I'm trying to comprehend what all you're saying. I'll have to have the wiring diagram in front of me and re-read your post. My question to you is...is this do-able with a limited amount of frustration?

I appreciate your input and may lean on you when/if the project begins. Thanks.

[Hijacker]

It's doable with minimal frustration. It's just the reverse of swapping a 5 speed in. The only major issue is that you're going to have a big hole in your fire wall that will need to be patched up.

This is the back of the inhibitor plug:

See how close I cut the wires? If someone did the same you'll have to either find a new plug so you'll have wires long enough to solder or just hardwire the cut wires to the trans harness and bypass the plug



I unfortunately don't have a better shot of the park/neutral safety switch, but you can see the wires I used to jump it. What I did was cut the plug off the trans harness and then connected them. Some people will cut the plug off the chassis harness and hardwire it, which means you'll have to source a new plug for the chassis. Or just hardwire the trans harness to that plug.

[TurboChargedSE-R]

Thanks for the pictures. I know I can successfully do the physical part of this - swapping the transmission, torque converter, pilot bushing, shifter, etc. I just have to get a grasp on that wiring junction and what I'll need to do to restore it to proper function/wiring.

Because the previous owner did the swap on my car, I had no hand in the wiring. The top works great, and I wired in a new reverse-light sensor on the trans by splicing wires as detailed in your original 5-speed swap how-to.

As long as I'm meticulous, I don't think there's anything involved here that can't be overcome with a good soldering iron and attention to detail.

As for the hole where the clutch slave cylinder is: I can live with that. It's going to be a vacation-use-only car from here on out (with 11" Wilwood four-piston calipers, lol) and under the hood cosmetics won't mean much.

[TurboChargedSE-R]

Added note:

If anybody would like a 5-speed swap for their S13 and will provide me with a full auto-swap package for my car, I am open to offers/proposals.

The catch: You have to bring the automatic stuff to me, and in return, you'll leave here with my 5-speed setup. I am located in Huntington, WV where the OH-KY-WV borders meet, about 1 mile off Interstate 64.

Interested parties can email my phone directly:gregkperry AT gmail DOT com