I have a 87 RX, 5-speed, and i'm about to get a late model 7. My wife will be getting the one i have now. She can't drive stick and would like it automatic. My question is, Would i encounter any problems with the ECU (such as idle, shift problems, etc.?) if i just change trannys?
Thanks for your time, and thanks in advance for any info you might be able to share.

 

umm.... give it a good home and trade it for an auto to someone else....

youl get a whole lot of offers guaranteed.....

 

Teach her to drive a stick!

 

NO problems with the engine.

You'll need:

-AT pedal set
-AT counterweight for your year of engine(86-88 or 89-91)
-AT flexplate
-torque convertor and tranny(let ie be noted that 90% of all used AT's will be on their last leg...these are EXTREMELY weak adn pose a major maintenance headache)
-AT driveshaft, any from 86-91
-AT starter, or a turbo II starter, any from 86-91
-shifter trim and shifter with linkage
-aftermarket tranny cooler and lines to install up front(unless you source a stock AT radiator with the cooler built in, which doesnt do very well anyway)
-youll have to come up with your own custom way to mount the tranny crossmember. IT will not just bolt up. I make a special adaptor for AT-5sp conversions, but it will not work in reverse...in fact, this will be very challenging given teh way it is all set up. THe AT mount sits about 6" farther back than the stock 5sp mount, meaning youll need to either cut those stock mounts out and reweld them in place, or come up with your own extensions out of scrap metal to make up the difference and use the original 5sp mounts.

ALl in all, youll wind up with a dog slow car(we're talking 22 second 1/4 here) with a probable bad/slipping/vibrating transmission that'll go out within 1 year for very little return. Just sell it and get somethign else if she wont learn to drive a stick...no use ruining a good car for nothing.

 

I hate autos...

 

Wouldn't it be easier to teach your wife how to drive a stick?

 

don't buy a manual transmission, or better yet, teach her how to drive stick. If she wants a 7, buy a auto one... no used to spend so much money on the conversion when you can easily buy a semi-cheap automatic one.

 

wrong wrong all wrong!

well i agree about not converting, expensive. you can get an auto for a good price nowadays. the only reason i can see behind converting is if you have too much time and money (if so i envy you) and like to tinker (like me) and that would be major tinkering

but i say wrong to the selling part. keep yer collection AND buy an auto, unless you want to sell to me of course just my 2 cents, one can never have too many 7's.

 

true, conversion issue sounds like too much for me. Thanks for the help and opinions!

 

tell your wife to learn to drive a stick instead of degrading your car =P