Update on my situation (WRECK!) as well as an important question.

[AxiOn419]

As some of you may know, my car was totalled in an accident last month after, well... let me supress my anger and just call her a "stupid girl" (brand new mustang..dealer tags still on the car), pulled out infront of me as I was doing about 60mph. My engine (rb20) is salvageable. I need a new intercooler and radiator as well as a new chassis.

Here is a pic of my car:



The insurance company is only going to give me $2300 (plus about $400 for injury) and the car back as settlement so I am limited in what I buy. I do have the opportunity to buy pretty much the exact same car (s13, hatch, se) except for one downfall.. its an automatic. I am told that the body and interior are in great shape and that the only thing wrong with it is a blown head gasket but that is of no importance as the engine would be coming out anyway. Oh, and the guy is only asking $750 for the car. Its hard enough to come across a clean s13 for a reasonable price, that is why I am considering this.

How much of a hassel would it be to pull my whole clutch assembly out of my current car and swap it into the automatic? Take into account that I will already be pulling the KA/transmission out of the new car to swap the RB into it.

I also did a search as to what is involved in swapping from auto>manual so please dont flame me for this. I'd like to get everyones input

Thanks a lot in advance

[krayton]

simple and easy. u got all the parts, just need to cut the lil cut out on the auto fire wall.

its even got the outline to cut the master cylinder on the firewall.

....now remembering, its simple, but a pain in the butt. switch over the brake and clutch pedal.

[AxiOn419]

Hey, I appreciate the input. At first I was totally opposed to even considering an automatic but now It seems like a viable option.

As far as the wiring and stuff goes.. How confusing is that?

[Nick240sx]

may i ask wat you hit? / end threadjack

[AxiOn419]

Well, the girl pulled across my lane to get into the oncoming lane and "didnt see me" and I hit her right infront of her driver side rear wheel. No doubt that she already has her car back while I'm struggling to get something going with mine and I'm stuck driving my brother '90 zx.

[Nick240sx]

wow, her car did that to your car? well considering the opposites in speed i can see that, but once again s13 saves its drivers life without airbags. i walked away from my wreck which should have been bad but my reaction is probably what eased my wreck. sorry to see it happen and i wish you all the luck in getting on the road in an sx again.

[IronMonkey]

I pretty much did the same thing a while back. Put my rb20det from my 5 speed coupe (89) into my automatic 92 Convertible.

Its just time consuming. Everything bolts up, but you might have to redo some of the wirings/plugs. Get signal from the starter and hook it up to ignition/power source. I was stumped when I couldnt get it to turn over when I transfered everything over. Good luck

[27RB240]

sorry to see it happen and i wish you all the luck in getting on the road in an sx again.

Yea I was the guy that talked to you at BR06....The black guy (not that it matters, just to help the memory)...

I dont think it should be too hard to do, which I dont know, but I know you have to do switch out the brake and clutch pedal assm. like krayton said along with drilling some holes in the firewall for the master cylinder, maybe alittle bit of wiring also, but wiring shouldnt be tooo much of a hassle....Good luck once again man!!!!!

[AxiOn419]

Actually nick., I managed to slam on my brakes and reduce my speed dramaticaly but the reason my car looks so crumpled and busted up is because the front bumper support was taken off of the car.. I learned my lesson

27RB240, whats up man, Yeah I remember you and its nice to hear from you, get anything going with your car?

[rb240det]

If you have all the parts to convert it to manual, then I would say go for it. If the price on the car is as good as you say then I don't see wher you could go wrong.

[skillzilla]

hahahaha man I went through this same thing As long as you have your wrecked car for parts its a piece of cake. All you need it a 2" hole and a couple of 3/8" holes in the firewall for the clutch master cylinder and everything else bolts up. The most PITA part is working under the dash getting the new pedal assembly in. There are pre-drilled holes for the clutch slave already, and the firewall has the holes you need pre-tapped and maked for easy drilling.

As far as wiring goes, I had Alan (JDM Alan from J-Hot) do mine, and Im thinking thats why mine is now running rich since the swap. I dont think my neutral switch is getting power, or something to that effect.

If you get a solid answer on the wiring let me know.

[AxiOn419]

Appreciate the responce JJ, looks like I have someone to help me out then .. if you were willing to of course haha.

Check out this thread, has some stuff about wiring on it:

zerothread?id=77784

you've probably seen that already though

[Fahaka]

simple and easy. u got all the parts, just need to cut the lil cut out on the auto fire wall.

its even got the outline to cut the master cylinder on the firewall.

....now remembering, its simple, but a pain in the butt. switch over the brake and clutch pedal.

I agree, but I just cut the auto brake pedal to fit...

[AxiOn419]

Well since I have the brake pedal from my manual s13 I may as well use it.. I am seriously considering this now, that is if the car is in as good of a shape as he says its in. I'm looking at it tomorrow

[Fahaka]

well I cut the auto pedal because it was about a billion times easier that removing two brake pedals and installing one. But either way...

[AxiOn419]

well I cut the auto pedal because it was about a billion times easier that removing two brake pedals and installing one. But either way...

Yeah, you do have a valid point. How difficult is the wiring?

[Fahaka]

I swapped lower harnesses so, not hard...

[AxiOn419]

Well, I am getting the car. The interioir is in just about perfect shape. Body needs a little bit of work.

Quick question: Its an LE model, what is the difference between the LE and the SE?

[HaXoRsMoBiLe]

http://www.heavythrottle.comthey have a good writeup on the auto manual conversion if you need further reference, its in the sr install faq not sure about the differences between LE and SE though

[AxiOn419]

Hey, thanks a lot, that looks pretty helpful.

I think the hardest part about all of this will be the wiring for the RB once its in the new car. I'm not sure what to do about that

[skillzilla]

The motor wiring is basic, I could help u out with that.