jay3

if you had an auto FD and did a 5sp conversion, would it be any different than an authentic 5sp? other than the "origional" factor i mean. would this have any bearing on performance, reliability, etc., etc.?

ManGaZeRo

iTrader: (1)

no

badddrx7

iTrader: (7)

Negative - it would be like Cinderella coming out of her dress and ready to PARTY !!

jay3

hahaha nicely put. thanks a lot.

lt1_rx7

iTrader: (13)

5 spd conversion made my car (originally...interesting history my car has in the short time i've owned it...) more enjoyable...shorter gears got me into the power band sooner...

as for performance, nothing is really changed, just the side effects of a 3.90 (auto) rear-end vs a 4.10 (manual)...realiablity, electronic automatic can always have electronics mess up, and with a manual, u can roll of the car now!!!

jeff p

if everything is working right with the auto its great for street driving. I changed to 4.3 rear end gears and got a big responce out of the car over the 3.9 rear end. the 4.3 gears just made the car come alive. before doing the swap try the gears and see if this makes you happy. if not sell the auto and buy a manual car its a lot less trouble.

Jeff

'85GSL-SE

iTrader: (2)

^ Negative. Myself, lt1rx7 above and his girlfriend did the swap on my car in about 8-9 hours. It was pretty easy and straight forward.

The Wiring just takes a little time thats all. But the before to after effect was unbelievable. Especially on the same car. It was like Night and Day.

Do the conversion you will be more happy. The only downside that I noticed was that the Turbos did not stay spooled constantly while accelerating. You have to shift this one manualy.

lt1_rx7

iTrader: (13)

hey daniel....the 8-9 hours was too long for it...but it was good times!!! but, we were working with cinder blocks, limited tools (and no air tools...), like always, annoying parts that just dont want to come off or go back on!!! hahahaha...of course, i had the same night/day effect with mine...

anyway, how's the car doing?

'85GSL-SE

iTrader: (2)

the car is doing well. All I have to do now is put the new Blitz NÜR Spec Exhaust on the car, get her inspected and she is off to the races. I still have an annoying idling problem though. Probably due to the Air Pump being off the car now.

rynberg

Given the hack jobs that most auto-to-5spd conversions are, I would say the car would be worth less than a manual, but more than an auto.

'85GSL-SE

iTrader: (2)

I disagree with that statement. With less and less FD's to populate the US I don't see it as inferior to a stock manual FD. Stock for Stock my Converted FD can out accelerate a stock FD any day. I have had less problems with my converted car mechanically than my stock manual counterparts have had.

rynberg

Disagree all you want. Your post doesn't make any sense.

1. Explain how your conversion is faster than an original manual FD.
2. Explain how a conversion would have less mechanical problems.

And YES, there are a LOT of hack jobs out there.

'85GSL-SE

iTrader: (2)

Ok, don't get excited man.

The light weight flywheel gives me more available horsepower. Since I cannot use the stocker due to the counter weight I went with the 9.0lb'er. So I guess that isn't stock for stock then..lol my bad.

A hack job is all in the eyes of the beholder. What is your take on a hack job? I made nice connectors for mine that look stock. I will be more than happy to take some pics of my job.


Mechanicaly the auto FD hasn't had the retartedness of the manual FD owners to put stress on the components. Mine are still original with 47,*** miles on them. The only thing failing is the wiring harness right now which is to be expected.

But as far as "disagree all you want." Try not to get too excited, after all who really knows it all? Not I thats for sure.

rynberg

I'm excited?

Okay, point #1 shot down.

shitty wiring, hacking **** up, not replacing the gauge cluster with a manual cluster, etc

I have zero clue what that is supposed to mean. "Retartedness" (sic) of manual owners? Any manual owner can replace components with new components too. Okay, point #2 shot down.

I'm not "excited", I just don't let BS statements go by. I'm quite calm, I assure you.

'85GSL-SE

iTrader: (2)

Thats good just making sure no one is getting their pants in a wad. I hate that. It's just a forum nothing else. So thats cool.


I agree with most of the points you made out above.

That would invite more of a hack job than has already taken place. Thats if the wiring part was not up to your or my Specs. The only way to do what you are stating would be to replace the whole cars wiring completely which most people do not have the money to do.

But then why buy an Automatic then?

In my case I bought mine for USD $2,500 for a woman wanting to get rid of the car. I have spent less for the car, performance upgrades and the 5 speed swap than I would have for a manual FD from the factory. Thats my case or else I would have bought a manual.

Pont#2 shot down? Negative. While this is true in a sense The Auto has had less fatigue due to the nature of the car being a "ladies" version or a cruise. So the components are not as worn out. Oh and BTW the auto FD owners can replace parts too my friend.

rynberg

These cars don't like "less fatigue". They get carboned up if they're driven grandma style. Besides, a lady owner who's sick of the car probably didn't maintain it as well as most owners here. Just some counterpoints.

If you bought a car in good shape for $2500, you done good, auto or not. Of course, I would have sold it for a big profit and then gotten a manual car.

That's fine but then don't expect your car to be worth as much as an original manual car, it's as simple as that.

jeff p

Pont#2 shot down? Negative. While this is true in a sense The Auto has had less fatigue due to the nature of the car being a "ladies" version or a cruise. So the components are not as worn out. Oh and BTW the auto FD owners can replace parts too my friend.

A Ladies version? WTF is this about! my car is a far cry from this statement. I get so sick of this auto is a piece of crap statement or less than a manual FD. bottom line its what you want out of the car. I for one don't race so the auto is a nice fun car to drive and its plenty fast with my setup, more than I can use on the streets of los angeles. I enjoy keeping my car as close to mint as I can "showing respect for a fine sports car" and it gets a lot of looks on the street. I never get flack for the car being an auto. its just on the forum when i here this crap. Rynberg is right most people will do a hack job on the conversion and you will have nothing but problems. so my 2 cents worth if you want a Manual car so bad buy one from the start!
Jeff

'85GSL-SE

iTrader: (2)

Perhaps you didn't read close enough, "ladies version or a cruiser"

You can have that with any car not just swaped cars my man

Mine was auto and I loved it until it blew up on a launch one day to get onto the Highway from a dead stop.

Then I decided F*** the auto and I went manual so if I need to launch again I want blow up the tranny from Boost Pressure being above 10PSI and the horse power being to much.

jay3

whats the diff. between a auto and 5sp cluster?

'85GSL-SE

iTrader: (2)

The "PND321", "Hold" button, "Cruise" light (Not sure on this one), The tach redlines at "7,000rpm's" due to the auto tranny on the Auto Cluster.

Other than that nothing they are both the same except that they wont interchange due to connection differences.

jeff p

Perhaps you didn't read close enough, "ladies version or a cruiser"

still don't know how "ladies version" and "cruiser" come together? but I think we beat this issue to death. the auto and manual thing needs to be put to rest. these are still fine sports cars both ways, and driving an auto dose not make you any less of a man or a sports car driver for that matter

Jeff

'85GSL-SE

iTrader: (2)

^ Agreed. Like I said I used to own one and got props all the time. But I am after more power than the Auto could handle. Hence my swap.

If you want an Auto that is crazy. Put a B&M stage 2 shift kit in it. I had one in my '85GSL and my God it was crazy! But my auto BLEW up and when I mean blew...... It was toasted and cracked.

jeff p

I've thought of going with a level 10 upgrade . but the B&M kit sounds like something I may look into.
Jeff

PhDMDRX7

I have a 93 turing that I did the swap on. When I got it, the engine was blown and the auto tranny was leaking fluid on the ground. I got a Mazda reman (from Ray) and got the MT, peddles, etc. through the forum. I used the AT engine harness with a PFC. I had to make a single jumper on the AT pigtail portion of the engine harness and splice in a proper reverse switch plug so my backup lights would work. I did not swap the gauge cluster for a MT gauge cluster (although I have a MT cluster sitting in my garage). I actually like it when the "R" lights up in the gauge cluster when I shift into reverse. It reminds me that I actually did the swap right!

I had the car tuned and only got 280 rwhp at 11 psi out of it because I had a old stock fuel pump. I now have the NippnDenso 255 lph pump and will go to quad 850s with stock turbos. Only other mods are Apex intakes, downpipe, highflow cat and N1 exhaust. I'll have it tuned by Steve again in Feb and let you know how it goes. My car is a "completely different vehicle" after Steve tuned it the first time.

There is nothing "wrong" with a AT to MT swap. I'll post my 1/4 mile times and speeds next spring. I don't expect to be ashamed of driving a "Ladies car" at all!

jic

iTrader: (1)

this thread needs to be closed