Hey guys and gals! I have a bunch of questions concerning all the little things about the auto to 5spd swap... This will probably be an ongoing thread, as me and my "crew" (hehehe) continue on with this project...
Note this is on a '85 GSL

Question 1
The wiring that goes to the shift mechanism on the auto tranny... Is that what tells the car when it is in park so it can start? Ifso, how will this be resolved when the new tranny's in? Will it hook it the 5spd?
This raises some questions in my head about how will the the car know when the clutch is depressed for ignition? Which connection handles that job?

Question 2
The two metal oil lines that run from the driver side of the auto tranny to the bottom of the radiator... What is to be done with these when the 5spd is in? Should they be removed? Plugged? What?

Question 3
Will the starter from the auto tranny work in the stick?

Question 4
I have heard that I can use the Automatic flywheel's counterweight on the new 16lb flywheel I am getting...
Is this true/advisable? Will this hinder performance vs using the one that comes with the new flywheel?

Question 5
Is the auto's differential different than that of a 5spds? Ifso is it compatible, or subpar compared to a 5spds?

Question 6
I understand that I will have to fashion some sort of bracket to help mount the new tranny... Any tips?

We are going into this with just common sense and a haynes... I know, it's not a lot really.... I have dropped two 2G 5spd RX trannys in my experience. The automatic thing is totally alien to me, there were a lot more connections to it than I expected, though it is out now. I know people have done this before successfully. I really want to do the job correctly, this car is going to be for my Dad...
So I am looking for someone with experience here and who I can continue to get advice from.
If you are out there say HI! And please lend me any little tips and tricks you learned in your experience!


Thanx for reading all that!
Ciao!

 

well i'll help ya out here.

Question 1: You have a few wiring things to do. First for simplicity's sake, go to a junk yard and pull a transmission harness for a 5sp 84-85 but NOT a gsl-se. When you put the clutch pedal in you need to instal the clutch switch, the connector is right by where the clutch pedal goes. Plug it in and you are good to go. Also by the ECU, there is a small black box that you need to unplug. It's the auto transmission control unit.

Question 2: Just remove them, you dont have to plug up the radiator or anything, just remove them.

Question 3: You need to get a starter for a 5spd 83-92 N/A car. The auto one will not work with the flywheel.

Question 4: The counterweight that will come with your flywheel IS an automatic transmission counter weight. I'd use the new one because well.... its new.

Question 5: They are different in the second gen, but in the first they are the same. You will need a new drive line though.

Question 6: I did the same thing so I have some pics of my mount here:

 

Wow man! You are my hero! I will keep posting here as things develop! NICE Bracket!
As far as the tranny harness... I will shop some yards here.. Assuming I don't find it I wonder how much they go for new?

Than you so much! ciao!

 

New thought...
Q1: Age old question... getting the flywheel nut loose... We are getting air tools and the 2-1/8th in. socket to break it loose tomorrow.... Will the flywheel indeed REALLY need to locked for the loosening if you use air tools? Some say no for removal, but yes for when you torque the new flywheel down...
So air tools and a giant socket should do the job right? Ps: Note, the engine (supported by a jack) is still in the car and the car is about 1 and a half feet off the ground, I could sit up though slouched in the tranny housing area.

Q2: I hear there is a trick to pulling the counterweight...
Searched for it here and couldn't find anything... Ya don't even have to answer this one now, because I don't even know yet what the counterweight looks like mounted. I've seen pictures of one off before, but I'll post again when and if we succeed in removing the flywheel! Thanks!

 

you can use the counter wieghts. and most light flywheels do not come with them. if you decide not to use them i would be glad to by them off you.

jr

 

We may take you up on that Jr... I will get back to you when we decide what to do... We'll be able to let you know by the end of next week or so. we are thinking we are going to use the new counterweight... Would you still be interested in buying the old one? And do you know anyone interested in buying a used '85 A/T with 110k on it? It ran awesomly!

 

yeah if you dont know how to pull off the counterweight dont bother, with a lightened flywheel you will need it anyway.

I have heard many times that a blast of the air gun will get that flexplate/flywheel loose. If it wont loosen then use the flywheel stopper tool, you can find it at mazdatrix.

Oh and you are going to need to go to a junkyard and rip out the pedal assembly of a 84-85 FB specifically the brake and clutch pedal and all the associated hardware. After you remove you current brake pedal you'll discover that your car allready has the mounts for the clutch pedal. Be warned, swapping the pedals is the hardest part of the swap.

And as for the tranny harness, they are very easy to find. My harness is actually from an 83, and it works fine. The older years may work too, however my clutch interlock system doesnt work, but I could care less about that.

The bracket is just some cut steel, I believe (not sure on this) that you need to make the brackets extend the mount 4.5". Also notice that I have a piece of steel inbetween where the crossmember meets the transmission. When you extend the mounts like I did the tranny sits lower, and this piece brings it back up to the correct height.

Oh yeah I couldnt find ANYONE to unload my old tranny on. I ended up having to trash it. There just isnt much of a demand for a 84-85 auto tranny out there.

 

My memory doesn't extend back far enough to help with the wiring. I don't recall doing any, but I did eliminate the ECU at the same time.
I don't like just making extensions for the trans bracket. It allows the transmission to bounce up and down too much. I ended up drilling holes in the trans tunnel and adding extra support to stop the bouncing. I think I still have the mount if you are interested.

 

OKAY! Well!!! It honestly seems the only reason to remove the 360 ft. lb nut is to remove the counterweight!!!!! The fly wheel itself seemed to be secured to he counterweight only by 6 nuts that we broke with a bar and a 14mm!!! Could this possibly be true!? If we werent going to replace the counter weight could we have saved the 75 dollars on renting the air compressor/wrench!??? ARGH! Somebody please tell me I am crazy and that we did need to get it off!

Thanx! We are in the middle of the job right now, so any responses would be welcome!!

 

There was also a small washer/flange that went between the flywheel to counterweight bolts, it weighs nothing so we are putting it back on with the new flywheel. If any of you know of any harm that'll be done with this lemme know asap... Also, the pilot bearing for a manual tranny only right? So it's good that there wasn't one in there with the auto?
Thanx again...

 

yeah you have to get the big f#$@#ing nut off to install a manuale fly wheel and you can use an year tranny other than a 79-80. if oyu need a tranny i have 3 good 4 but they are nto hard to find. i am out of pedals though we use them in dirt trackers. but i do want the counter wieght if you will let it go at a reasonable price.

jr

 

yeah you do have to remove that nut to get the flex plate off. As for the year of transmission, try to find an 84-85 one if you can.

There are few differences, but they may be important depending on the application since you have an 85.

The 84-85 transmissions had neutral switches whereas the earlier ones did not. The ECU uses this signal for... something, not exactly sure what.

The next, and I think most important difference is the shifter. The 81-83 tranns shifter came out straight up, whereas the 84-85 came out at a slight angle. I'm positive this has to do with the redesigned dash. Anyway if you get a 81-83, the shifter will fell kind of awkward in nuetral. Also the 84-85 had lower busings for the shifter where as the earlier ones did not.

What I did since I have an 85 and I have a earlier transmission is use a shifter from an 84 to 85 in the earlier transmission. Feels perfectly fine to me.

 

Hey guys! Reporting in here... Job is coming along great, Tomorrow we will put the transmission in place. We are holding for a new clutch hose, probably get that from the dealer tomorrow... Can't find it anywhere else, we are open to suggestions there... Also gonna see if we can find a wiring harness for the tranny. Does anyone know exactly what that consists of? Should only be four or five wires right?
The other thing is... There was this metal line that went into the A/T on the driver side. Following it up into the engine it turns to rubber hose and dissapears under the carb.. Any one know what that is? What should we do with it?
PS... JR we did not use the NEW counterweight and are open to selling it. We are not sure how much they go for.... If anyone can offer some good figures here, maybe we can figure something out!
Thanks for all of your continuing help everyone!
Will update again soon!

 

you can get a nice braided stainless steel replacement clutch hose from mazdatrix. The only cost like 20 bucks.

If I remember right the transmission harness does consist of five wires (for the 84-85 anyway) 2 for the reverse switch, 2 for the neutral switch and the trigger wire for the starter motor.

That metal piping is for the auto transmission fluid cooler. Remeber those lines under the radiator? They connect to that. In anycase you wont use those with the 5spd, so you can go ahead and remove them.

 

get me what all wires you need i have five or six harneses laying around.

jr

 

Hey guys! New day! Today we are getting a new rear seal and we had to order a new steel clutch hose from Mazdatrix $36!!! With overnight shipping! We had to get it because we have to have this done by thursday morning eek! We are now down to fashioning the bracket. I think we are gonna go with a version of HornBMs method and if it bounces too much we'll try something else, but we need to get this done and running! So, again open to ideas here... We are thinking of 3/8s to 1/2 inch thick steel, two plates around 5 inches in length plus the center mount.. What size is that roughly? 3 by 4 or so? Feedback would be great here!
Thank you so much for the offer JR, but we found one today at the same yard we got the tranny from... OOOH!!! Check this out! While we were out there today I saw two of the biggest spiders I have ever seen outside the Smithsonian! Golden garden spiders that had a diameter including the legs of about 7-8 inches!!!! I freaked out! Everything is bigger in Texas! LOL
Check in again soon! Thanks again everyone! You guys are really helping this job go a lot smoother!

 

Okay... The ECU is on the driver side right? I am looking for the A/T control unit so I can unplug it... I have put the clutch sensor in but can't find the plug that matches it! Anyone know how I could identify these? Help!

 

ok the clutch switch plug is actaully held up in the harness with a pice of tape. I believe it comes out of the same area that the stop switch comes out of. Its a white plug by the way.

The ECU is on the passenger side. You have to pull up the carpet and under it will be a kick pannel. Under the kick pannel will be the ecu on the right, and the A/T controller on the left.

My bracket was 3/8" steel I believe. It works but I would like to get something sturdier in the future, like welding some thing on the frame, probably when I dump a rebuilt GSL-SE transmission in there.

 

Thank you so much guys! The job is done and the thing runs great! We ended up fashioning a bracket just like Hornbms and there is little NO bounce in the shifter, acts like normal! Anyway, thanx again so much for everything! Couldn't of done it without ya!
P.S. JR!!! The counterweight is still for sale....
So lemme know if you are still interested!
Ciao all!