I finally got the trans swap finished, I gathered parts for about a year taking my time getting as much as I could new OEM. Basically anything crucial is new oem while things like the clutch pedal were bought used.
The actual swap was way easier than I expected in the end. I decided to just drop the trans and not pull the motor and would do it that way again in the future no question. The transmission drops right out, the upper bolts were no problem once the motor tilted a few degrees. I used just 3' of extensions no wobble joints needed. I did forget to remove the auto trans kick down cable and it caused it to hang up before we realized what it was :nono: . Be ready for fluid to pour all over no matter how well you drain the old auto trans.
I wish I had a better trans jack however, a friend provided the jack and turned out to be pretty crappy but did the job. The jack didn't allow it to tilt so we had to muscle it a bit but again not a big deal. We could have done the entire swap in a day no problem had I not needed to wait for parts. We spread it out over 2 saturdays, 1 to remove 1 to install.
The wiring was easy although I still need to actually set up the NSS. I just bypassed it but I won't leave it like that long(this weekend). I was thinking of either extending the actual bypassed NSS wiring to the pedal and using it. Or, using the anti theft routed to the pedal as a make shift NSS to keep it from starting but I'm not sure yet, I just know I want it to function.
I planned as much as I could, reading this and many other sites over and over. Still I ran into a bunch of small parts I needed, mostly fasteners which the local dealer was able to get me over night no problem($$).
It was a great feeling when it fired right up first try after the swap and drove with no problems. The only problem now is apperantly I forgotten how to drive a stick. Despite the first car I drove being a stick and passing my driving test with a stick And riding motorcycle longer than I been driving cars, I have to re-master the clutch. I actually ended up in a big parking lot practicing when a sheriff pulled up on me thinking I was drunk at 3am in a parking lot. He was baffled I had my M endorsement and was saying I couldn't drive a stick. What can I say its different using your foot rather than your fingers for clutch control... A few more days and I will have the feel again.
All said and done my parts list is huge and ended up being around 1700 bucks. Again, the majority being new oem parts and add in a shaftmasters 1 piece aluminum DS and the bill shoots right up. At least I know it's all brand new and should last.
Finally, thanks supramania for enabling me to do this swap :love: . I asked a few minor questions other wise the search button was my guide. Next is the 7mgte swap, let the searching and spending begin.
The actual swap was way easier than I expected in the end. I decided to just drop the trans and not pull the motor and would do it that way again in the future no question. The transmission drops right out, the upper bolts were no problem once the motor tilted a few degrees. I used just 3' of extensions no wobble joints needed. I did forget to remove the auto trans kick down cable and it caused it to hang up before we realized what it was :nono: . Be ready for fluid to pour all over no matter how well you drain the old auto trans.
I wish I had a better trans jack however, a friend provided the jack and turned out to be pretty crappy but did the job. The jack didn't allow it to tilt so we had to muscle it a bit but again not a big deal. We could have done the entire swap in a day no problem had I not needed to wait for parts. We spread it out over 2 saturdays, 1 to remove 1 to install.
The wiring was easy although I still need to actually set up the NSS. I just bypassed it but I won't leave it like that long(this weekend). I was thinking of either extending the actual bypassed NSS wiring to the pedal and using it. Or, using the anti theft routed to the pedal as a make shift NSS to keep it from starting but I'm not sure yet, I just know I want it to function.
I planned as much as I could, reading this and many other sites over and over. Still I ran into a bunch of small parts I needed, mostly fasteners which the local dealer was able to get me over night no problem($$).
It was a great feeling when it fired right up first try after the swap and drove with no problems. The only problem now is apperantly I forgotten how to drive a stick. Despite the first car I drove being a stick and passing my driving test with a stick And riding motorcycle longer than I been driving cars, I have to re-master the clutch. I actually ended up in a big parking lot practicing when a sheriff pulled up on me thinking I was drunk at 3am in a parking lot. He was baffled I had my M endorsement and was saying I couldn't drive a stick. What can I say its different using your foot rather than your fingers for clutch control... A few more days and I will have the feel again.
All said and done my parts list is huge and ended up being around 1700 bucks. Again, the majority being new oem parts and add in a shaftmasters 1 piece aluminum DS and the bill shoots right up. At least I know it's all brand new and should last.
Finally, thanks supramania for enabling me to do this swap :love: . I asked a few minor questions other wise the search button was my guide. Next is the 7mgte swap, let the searching and spending begin.
