Auto to Manual...Can it be done? Is it Worth it?

MyEarsHurt

New Member

May 21, 2004

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Jun 13, 2004

#1

• Jun 13, 2004

• #1

Well, I bought a automatic 98 gt vert, and I desperately wish it was a manual. While chaning lanes and going down the expressway, I fake like I am changing gears and my girlfriend just laughs. So my question is this... Is it possible to change my automatic to a manual, if so what would it involve? What would I need to buy, I need a checklist so I can see if this would be worth it. Would I see a great increase in speed and acceleration? I have never owned a manual, but they look like a LOT of fun. If anyone has had any experience with this please let me know I would really appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

 

00BlackBeautyGT

Member

Oct 4, 2003

298

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16

E.S. Long Beach, CA

Jun 13, 2004

#2

• Jun 13, 2004

• #2

Keep it and live with it or sell it and get a manual. Too me it's not worth it. It's just too much work and money. I'm in the same shoes as you. Mines a 2000 GT auto and wished it was a stick. In the beginning I was actually looking for an automatic only because I inteded for this car to be my daily driver (hours and hours in traffic), turns out that I normally drive it only on weekends because I want to keep it new and immaculate. I use my girls beater for my daily driver now. But when I get in my GT, MAN do I wish it was a stick.

 

00BlackBeautyGT

Member

Oct 4, 2003

298

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16

E.S. Long Beach, CA

Jun 13, 2004

#3

• Jun 13, 2004

• #3

Oh yeah, I ****ing hate it when people compliment my car and then say "It's an automatic?"

 

GTn00b

New Member

May 25, 2004

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Independence, MO

Jun 13, 2004

#4

• Jun 13, 2004

• #4

00BlackBeautyGT said:

Oh yeah, I ****ing hate it when people compliment my car and then say "It's an automatic?"

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I hate that **** like oh its an automatic hes a *****, then he goes and gets in his 93 honda accord I cant stand those mother ****ers, talking trash on my car and then go get in a pos 1000 dollar car, I could of bought 14 honda accords!!!

 

Sinultros

New Member

Oct 25, 2003

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GA

Jun 13, 2004

#5

• Jun 13, 2004

• #5

00BlackBeautyGT said:

Oh yeah, I ****ing hate it when people compliment my car and then say "It's an automatic?"

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"Nice car, but eww why an auto?"

Sounds all too familiiar for me.

 

MyEarsHurt

New Member

May 21, 2004

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Jun 13, 2004

#6

• Jun 13, 2004

• #6

Well, at least I am not alone. We should start some kind of support group for one another...

 

G

geegee

Founding Member

Oct 21, 2000

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near Oklahoma City, OK

Jun 13, 2004

#7

• Jun 13, 2004

• #7

I suppose it depends on what you do with your car. With a 'vert there's no advantages either. Trade it in on a coupe with the manual tranny you want. Your difference cost is likely to be small if the cars are in equal condition and mileage. You need to be lighter as well as have more hp at the wheels.

 

DBMSTNG

I fantasize about it being BIG!

Founding Member

Apr 23, 2002

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not quite here

Jun 13, 2004

#8

• Jun 13, 2004

• #8

for the money and time it takes to do the swap, you could make the auto alot faster than the 5 spd. so from a $ to performance standpoint, no, it's not worth it.

from the fun standpoint, only you can decide that. i've considered the swap myself, but i won't do it unless i can find a hell of a deal on a 5 or 6 spd.

 

9

98SteedaStang

Member

Dec 11, 2002

382

0

16

Chicago Suburbs

Jun 13, 2004

#9

• Jun 13, 2004

• #9

Man I hate that s**t. "Is that a 5 speed?"
"No is an auto"
They automatically think your a puss. I so wish I had a five speed though. There are plenty of thing you can do to your auto to make it just as fast. Get a gear if you dont already have one. Second a good torque converter will work wonders. I plan on getting a PI 3200 stall this summer, dont forget the trans cooler though. I have heard really good things about this jerry mod. There's a how to here--> http://www.tccoa.com/articles/tranny/index.html. along with some other tranny tips an info.

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,259

17,943

224

Massachusetts

Jun 13, 2004

#10

• Jun 13, 2004

• #10

I'm used to it. My '88 stang is an AOD and i always get the "Sick car, too bad it's an Auto" line. It doesn't matter that it's faster than 4 out of 5 stangs i'll see out on the streets, if it isn't stick it's as if it doesn't matter.

I can rationalize though. I enjoy driving stick, that's why i am converting it to 5-spd.

my '03 and '85 are 5-spd.

 

M

MoNsTaMaCk24

Founding Member

Aug 12, 2002

742

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0

Shippensburg, PA

Jun 13, 2004

#11

• Jun 13, 2004

• #11

Little off topic but my brother rented a thunderbird and they have the 5 speed auto transmission... THEY SUCK!!! I feel bad for the new stang... 4r70w nice auto tranny!!! KEEP IT! They think your slow!

 

O

outlaww77

New Member

Jan 19, 2004

35

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0

West Palm Beach

Jun 13, 2004

#12

• Jun 13, 2004

• #12

can you say 14.1 n/a 97 auto

CAN YOU SAY 14.1 N/A -N- I CAN LET THE TOP DOWN 97 AUTO! THATS ALL I GOT TO SAY

 

00BlackBeautyGT

Member

Oct 4, 2003

298

0

16

E.S. Long Beach, CA

Jun 13, 2004

#13

• Jun 13, 2004

• #13

Keep your money!!! And take that money that you would spend for the swap and get gears, converter, tranny cooler, j-mod or shift kit. You'll be as fast as a stick. If you have money to spare, get some other engine mods done and you'll be faster than a stick. Just my .02 cents.

 

gruntman31

Founding Member

Apr 22, 2002

624

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Colorado Springs, Co

Jun 13, 2004

#14

• Jun 13, 2004

• #14

This is what I think you should do:

Lentech valve body w/transbrake
PI 3200 Stall TC
Tranny cooler
GEARS! GEARS! GEARS!
Nice little custom tune.

I went with a PA S/S valve body, PI 2800 stall, and 3.73s. I was very happy with my setup until recently. My tranny is wearing out, and doesn't fast or hard anymore. Looks like it's about time for the Lentech street terminator......or Tremec 3550..........I can't decide whether to keep the auto or get a manual either.......if I were you, I'd just build my auto up.

 

MyEarsHurt

New Member

May 21, 2004

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Jun 13, 2004

#15

• Jun 13, 2004

• #15

Thanks for all the input everyone, I guess I will just stick with my manual and try to live with it. Is it difficult to swap out gears on an auto? And what size gears should I put in it?

 

streetstang03

unModerator

Dec 27, 2003

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1

0

the dark side of the moon/home of the 1999, 2003,

Jun 13, 2004

#16

• Jun 13, 2004

• #16

MyEarsHurt said:

Thanks for all the input everyone, I guess I will just stick with my manual and try to live with it. Is it difficult to swap out gears on an auto? And what size gears should I put in it?

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