auto to 6-speed

[96ws-6]

Is there a conv. kit available or do i just need to get all the parts seperatley

[xxRillixx]

I would like to know if its worth the hassle? When i first bought my car i was looking into it, but was quickly turned off. Some of the fastest cars on my other forum are autos. The only real 'benefit' would be the joy of playing w/ the stick... From what i gathered.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

This question comes up a lot. Read this thread. http://www.f-body.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8848

I am in the process of it now. Call Scott at TN. auto parts in the link above. He has a 6 speed coming in this week. Tell him Jeff from Atlanta and the F-Body message board sent ya.

There are several people on the board that have done the conversion.

[N20LT4Bird]

I would like to know if its worth the hassle? When i first bought my car i was looking into it, but was quickly turned off. Some of the fastest cars on my other forum are autos. The only real 'benefit' would be the joy of playing w/ the stick... From what i gathered.

I have done the conversion. You are right; automatics are faster at the track (E.T.). The T56 is harder to launch and most people know that a low E.T. is all in the first 60 feet. The problem with the 4L60E is that it is not anywhere near as strong as the T56. So, I had the option of spending some cash bulletproofing my 4L60E, buying a TH400 (and losing the overdrive), or converting to the T56. I dont spend a ton of time at the track, so E.T. is not the "be all and end all" for me. I like the T56 on the street. Its just plain fun and I dont have to worry too much about grenading it.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Well I am almost through with converting mine from an A4 to a M6. The hardest part was;

1, Getting the pedal assembly with the slave cylinder in. What a PITA. As in everything if you have the correct tools on hand, things go faster. I didn't have the correct hole saw. It's back breaking twisting in the car.

2, Finding the correct pressure plate bolts. This took me half a day to find. If anyone wants a SPEC clutch, they do not come with pressure plate bolts and the stock length bolts are way too short. You need 3/8"-16 X 2.0" long. I had to go to 5 parts store to find them. I ended up getting 2 each from 3 different stores. Nobody had more than 2 bolts in grade 8 in stock. I might could have gotten away with grade 5 by why risk it.

3. The throw out bearing on the SPEC pressure plate has flats on it that have to be lined up to get the clutch fork to slide in after the trans is bolted to the bell housing. I could not see in the hole where the fork goes in to see the flats. Attempt 1 rotated the bearing and I could not get the fork in. So I had to slide the trans back away fro the bell housing to rotate the stupid thing. Why the heck are those flats on there anyway. Dumb design.

I learned a neat trick though. I filled the transmission through the shifter mount rather than the fill plug on the side. Man that was a whole lot easier and no mess either.

Mechanically it is in an seams to work fine on jack stands. I have a lot of electrical issues to work out though. When I turn on the parking lights or the headlights, the dash lights do not come on. I have to wire up the reverse lights. I have to jumper the neutral safety switch from the automatic. I have to wire in the switch on the clutch pedal that turns off the cruise when it is pressed. I have to get the harness for several things but one is the speedometer. I can't hook it up. Oddly enough I have no SES codes. That surprised me. I have to put a lower shifter boot from the shifter to the body. I have one but it isn't the correct one. I have a bunch of parts to order from GM. I didn't get the plate that goes on the front of the bell housing.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Woo Hoo Hoo!!! Somebody shoot me if I every try and buy another sports car with an automatic in it. Man what a riot!!! 6 speed is in. 3.42 rear end is in with torsen chunk and LS1 brakes . I just drove it around the block a few times. Man does that feel good. I ordered a new shifter to frame boot so the console is not in. I also ordered all of the pigtails to do all of the wiring so the speedometer is not working. The idle of the automatic program is a little too low for the manual.

My neighbor who builds race car engines has a buddy with a dyno who can reflash my computer and do some fine tuning too it. BTW this same guy has a 2004 Mach 1 which dynoed at ~290 rwhp. With just computer mods he has gotten it to over 350 rwhp. I find that kind of amazing with just software.

I am so excited. I feel like I just got a new car.