Auto to manual progress...

[camaro_zach]

Ok, heres the scoop. The parts cost me 700 drop shipped to the garage im doing it at. And then i sold my auto tranny parts for like 250, so it cost me 450 for the parts really. I got it from www.tacreationsusa.com great guys. It really isnt a PAIN like everyone makes it out to be. I went an got my comp reprogramed for $85 from a guy in tampa. The only PAIN is cutting a hole in the body to get the stick in the car. Other than that, they sent me ALL parts and brackets i needed. They even sent me part of the body of the car it came out of so that i knew where and how to cut the hole. Its taken me a 5 days so far, but thats because i work on it from 2-5 after school, like i said, its in my friends garage. And i also spend time waiting on parts, like my new clutch. This whole conversion can be done in 2-3 solid days. Oh, and also, i had to buy a few conectors for the wiring harness. Cost me a total of $6. I also was able to use the software he has on his comp to see what color wires did what, aka, back up lamps, and park nutral switch, which i rigged up to the clutch pedal. Also, i had my flywheel resurfaced, and i JUST got my new clutch in the mail today, the centerforce dualfriction clutch with a throwout bearing. LOOKS KILLER!
It should all be done tommrow or wednesday, dependsing on homework and what not. Damn high school, thank god im out in 3 months.

http://www.mavness.com/tranny/1.jpg
http://www.mavness.com/tranny/2.jpg
http://www.mavness.com/tranny/3.jpg
http://www.mavness.com/tranny/4.jpg
http://www.mavness.com/tranny/5.jpg
http://www.mavness.com/tranny/6.jpg

NEW

Got all holes cut in body, and im ready to put the tranny in. While im putting the flywheel, i incountered my hopefully last problem. The bolts i had were from the auto, and they were a tad too short, they dont bite enough. So i have to wait 3-4 days for my local chevy dealership to order them. Here are the pics of the progress and my new centerforce clutch, its top notch quality.

The new clutch...
http://www.mavness.com/tranny/7.jpg

Part of the body that was cut out...
http://www.mavness.com/tranny/8.jpg

Pics from under the car looking up through the hole we cut, you can see the stero, ones with the flash on, one off...
http://www.mavness.com/tranny/9.jpg
http://www.mavness.com/tranny/10.jpg

This is here incase anyone was thinking of doing it, it really wasnt a big deal, would of went faster if i didnt go to school durring the day, i only get 3 hours a day to work on it.

Edit: typo

[ February 20, 2002: Message edited by: camaro_zach ]</p>

[Dominic]

Thats really cool - and quite amazing. Keep us updated - awesome photos!

[RiceCooker]

awesome job Zach. Where in Tampa did you go to get the computer reprogrammed?

[camaro_zach]

Lee's High Tech Performance, 727-344-1800

and yes, i did talk to him about custom programing... :( and ofcourse he couldnt.

If you need the addy for any reason let me know.

[Magnus]

Awesome! Very good info and great pics!

[camaro_zach]

Ok, i picked up the 5 bolts today, turns out they are just common 5/16th bolts...only american thread bolt on the whole damn car...go figure...i mean i knew the thread of them, but i didnt know what length the bolts were from GM. So i just got some hardened bolts, and its perfect. So im gonna put in the rest of the tranny today, and make the hole in the firewall for the hydrolic line. Its gonna be a mother though. i gotta take out the brake fluid container and the piece below it, after that its just a matter of putting all the pieces of the console back in the car. I'll post later tonight\tommrow.

[camaro_zach]

Ok, heres some pics. My camera died on me today, so i didnt get the latest pics. i have all drivetrain parts in. Tranny, shaft, etc. All i have to do tommrow is cut a hole in the firewall for the hydrolic line, however this is tricky because i have to take a few things out. Should be a prob however.

Clutch installed...Its off color a bit due to the flash, lol. In my other posts you can see the actual color of it. I'll say it again, nice clutch.
http://www.mavness.com/tranny/11.jpg

Looking up from the bottom of the car, the hole i cut, i put some of that insulation for the AC on it, so that i would stop cutting myself, and it looks nicer.
http://www.mavness.com/tranny/12.jpg

What my driveway looks like...
http://www.mavness.com/tranny/13.jpg

I have gotten used to that... =(

hahah, hopefully i'll be done tommrow.

[ February 20, 2002: Message edited by: camaro_zach ]</p>

[camaro_zach]

Oh, and if anyone was wondering, the clutch can be found at www.centerforce.com they have a distributor list on the site. And the price is wrong for the clutch, i paid $409 and i had it 2 day air shipped to me. That included a $60+ TO bearing.

[camaro_zach]

Ok, heres the latest, Its all put together and its all ready to go. I made the hole in the firewall, put the hydrolic line through, got pressure in the line, clutch works, put in the b&m. Ran all wires and put on new plugs for the tranny. However, they sent me the tranny cross member mount for the 97, cause it was a 3.8, however we all know thats a diffrent body than the 2000. So the bolts are off like 4 inches. So they are freighting me the new cross member i need. I'll have it on monday, but literally EVERYTHING is done, so i'll post on monday, with pics. I didnt take any pics today because i was too busy working. Im having my wizdom teeth pulled tommrow so i wont get to work on it friday or on the weekend, so i got as much done today as i could. Cant wait to drive it on monday, the new shifter feels so good, beats the hell outta the stock one.

[Wicked 3800 V6]

Make sure you're feeling ok about the teeth and the pain killers before you go take a spin ... taking a spin is not what you want to do after all that custom work.
Good luck,
-Rob

[camaro_zach]

Ya, im gonna take it easy till monday, but thanks for the advice. Im goin now actually, just answering emails and look at the boards before i go. Talk to you all tommrow, hopefully, haha.

[img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[Ironman24]

WOW, this is an awesome thread. Glad to hear everything is going so well with the swap. Let me know how you like the clutch. Mine has 50K + on it and still ticking, it should be dying any day now. lol

[97 Firebird]

Why are you doing this why not trade your auto in on a 5 sp. WHat a waste of time and money. But to waste money is for kids to do.

http://www.camarov6.com/ubb/ultimate...c&f=4&t=000364

So my post is not misunderstood. You flamed someone for wanting to try something different but you are doing something different here. WHy flame the guy for doing something different if you can do it

[ February 24, 2002: Message edited by: 97 Firebird ]</p>

[arnaldo]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 97 Firebird:
Why are you doing this why not trade your auto in on a 5 sp. WHat a waste of time and money. But to waste money is for kids to do.<hr></blockquote>

hmm what a nice thing to say..jeez some people...ugh nevermind! Zach, you are frikkin AWESOME! You have major huevos for doing what youre doing and much props to you! Get those pics up of the shifter ASAP..now that i know it can be done, i have a few ideas runnin through my head..Would you mind posting the total costs for everything? GOOD LUCK and dont take too many Vicodins

:D :D :D

[MustangEater8251]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 97 Firebird:
Why are you doing this why not trade your auto in on a 5 sp. WHat a waste of time and money. But to waste money is for kids to do.

<hr></blockquote>

Problem is have you ever tried to find an f=body in Florida with a manual transmission. There are non. My dad looked at nearly 7 car lots to find a f-body that was navy Blue, and a 5-speed. He never did find one with t-tops so he figured maybe he might be able to find a shop that will put t-tops in his car for him.