Auto to 5 speed conversion questions
Auto to 5 speed conversion questions
Has anyone done it? Is it a complicated process with a high risk problems? How much did you pay for it? z1 wants to charge 2400 just in labor. I feel like that's a lil steep along with the 1200 dollar kit and then have to buy a transmission as well. Or maybe its the right price. Idk lol help me out.
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Ace2cool
- Posts: 11650
- Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 5:21 pm
- Car: 1991 Nissan 300ZX TT
1966 Datsun Fairlady 1600
2005 Suzuki GSX-R 600
1974 Honda CB550 Four
2009 Ford F150 Lariat - Location: Murfreesboro, TN
Re: Auto to 5 speed conversion questions
Yeah, that's not a bad price. They're converting your drivetrain. Takes a different driveshaft, different transmission, different ECU programming if you don't want a CEL, different sensors, different wiring subharness if you want the job done correctly, and have you ever tried getting those top transmission bolts out? An engine pull is almost easier.
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ThisIsSparTTa
- Posts: 738
- Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:02 pm
- Car: 91 300ZX TT 2+0
Re: Auto to 5 speed conversion questions
transmission bolts aren't that bad if you drop the back of the transmission to get at the top 4 first.
If you want cheaper, do it yourself. Is your time worth $2400? The price is about right considering they're experts on this and will get it done right on the first try, unlike a random shop.
I did the swap this summer, but its hard to say the exact amount of effort I put into it all because I did a ton of other things at the exact same time. It's really not that bad, I could knock one out in a weekend easily with the right parts lined up.
If you were to do it yourself, there's some areas you can save in. For instance, $200 of those parts is probably for the special Wiring Specialties Alternator harness to go from A/T EFI harness to the M/T. This really isn't necessary, and you can just splice over the wires for the reverse lights and basically be done with it, it just won't be quite as clean looking by your passenger headlight. There was some other issue I ran into with the connectors on the transmission, but I think I may have caused it.
Other simple parts like the clutch pedal you could crab from a local parts yard, etc.
Fair warning if you do it yourself, some guy from TT.net had posted a guide on how to cut in the clutch interlock switch (what keeps the car from starting with clutch engaged), and I found it to be completely wrong. I had to re-do it myself based on the diagrams in the FSM.
If you want cheaper, do it yourself. Is your time worth $2400? The price is about right considering they're experts on this and will get it done right on the first try, unlike a random shop.
I did the swap this summer, but its hard to say the exact amount of effort I put into it all because I did a ton of other things at the exact same time. It's really not that bad, I could knock one out in a weekend easily with the right parts lined up.
If you were to do it yourself, there's some areas you can save in. For instance, $200 of those parts is probably for the special Wiring Specialties Alternator harness to go from A/T EFI harness to the M/T. This really isn't necessary, and you can just splice over the wires for the reverse lights and basically be done with it, it just won't be quite as clean looking by your passenger headlight. There was some other issue I ran into with the connectors on the transmission, but I think I may have caused it.
Other simple parts like the clutch pedal you could crab from a local parts yard, etc.
Fair warning if you do it yourself, some guy from TT.net had posted a guide on how to cut in the clutch interlock switch (what keeps the car from starting with clutch engaged), and I found it to be completely wrong. I had to re-do it myself based on the diagrams in the FSM.
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worldisgrand
- Posts: 315
- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:25 am
- Car: 1990 300ZX TT
- Location: Southern Indiana
Re: Auto to 5 speed conversion questions
I'm going to be doing the same thing, but I do plan on doing the work myself. A buddy was able to find a complete swap for me for around $800.00, but haven't heard back from the guy as to whether it is a TT transmission or not. Craigslist is always a good place to go when needing parts for just about anything. You actually can use an automatic ECU with the manual, just not the other way around if you are wanting to save a little bit of money.
If I were you I would do the work myself, it will allow you to get to know the car a lot better so that if something does go wrong you will know the systems like the back of your hand. Personal experience and knowledge is always worth a lot more than money in my book. Plus if you are not anywhere near a Z shop like I am then you will only be able to depend on yourself. It will be a lot easier later on if you do the work yourself now.
If I were you I would do the work myself, it will allow you to get to know the car a lot better so that if something does go wrong you will know the systems like the back of your hand. Personal experience and knowledge is always worth a lot more than money in my book. Plus if you are not anywhere near a Z shop like I am then you will only be able to depend on yourself. It will be a lot easier later on if you do the work yourself now.
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DCaff300ZX
- Posts: 4202
- Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 8:18 am
- Car: .
1993 CRP TT- Modified - Location: Tacoma, Washington
Re: Auto to 5 speed conversion questions
Just for reference, years ago my Z guy Fairlady did a 5 speed swap for me in my NA and it ran $2,200. I supplied the transmission ($450, 50K mile 93B unit) so that $2,400 price seems a pretty good deal from Z1, who would give the same top level service Fairlady did and also include the trans.
I also dropped it on Fairlady in a hurry and out of the blue (AT failure!) and with some bad shifter parts he had to source on the fly, and he still got it done in a week or less and NO issues (added TT clutch) so really I felt $2,200 was a pretty fair deal.
I also dropped it on Fairlady in a hurry and out of the blue (AT failure!) and with some bad shifter parts he had to source on the fly, and he still got it done in a week or less and NO issues (added TT clutch) so really I felt $2,200 was a pretty fair deal.