I currently own a 89' GXL and the auto in it is unbearable. The car eventually picks up and goes but with no off line acceleration. The car is to beautiful to ditch and unless I can get a complete S5 manual assembly I might have to stick with the auto. Now I'm already getting new differential gears and possibly a header. Are there any cheap upgrades I could do so I won't have to replace the whole damn tranny assembly and still get some decent off the line acceleration? Also are there any differences between the S4 manual and the S5?

 

5spd swap is the cure man. No matter what you do it will still suck as an auto.

 

Yea 5 speed swap, search for the write ups, i did it its not too difficult.

 

it will be like driving a totally different car

 

Yeah my '81 GSL is a dream to drive. I got this car because it was $1000 and is in awesome shape. Its not really slow. If I race anybody I have to hope to god I can catch them because it sucks off the line. But more suggestions please.

 

There isn't anything you can do to help the tranny. Even if you have a higher HP the tranny will suck. The power is only as good as how well it can be transfered to the ground.