Question?

[RaZrShRp]

how much would it cost me to do a auto to manual swap and turbo my M20? any help would be very appreciated please

[RaZrShRp]

anyone? or should i just go with a M30 then later turbo that?

[jlevie]

The cost of a five speed transplant will be about $2000 or less, depending on what you wind up paying for the parts and whether you do the work yourself.

[StereoInstaller1]

If you catch the right deal on parts, you could make several hundred dollars swapping your car to manual.

Do you have room for parts cars?

[matt]

The cost of a five speed transplant will be about $2000 or less, depending on what you wind up paying for the parts and whether you do the work yourself.

Wow! Before anyone pays $2k for a manual swap, have them talk to me!

$1500 is more like it. Depending on deals you can find on parts, cheaper than that even.

[Jon325i]

Depending on deals you can find on parts, cheaper than that even.

This is quite true. Although I have never had to do such a swap, I know that if you take the time and effort to sniff out the good deals on the needed parts you should be able to do it for well under $2K. A while back a had a spare Getrag 260 gearbox which I sold for $200 (people told me this was a fair price, not a smoking deal). You'll also need a proper ECU - such as a Bosch 173 unit if you have an "i/is" spec E30....that's around $75 stock, $100+ if its got a performance chip. You'll need all the related shift linkage bits - go to a wrecker and pull this yourself for peanuts. If you want a short shift kit then budget accordingly. You'll also need a lower center console, shift boot, pedal assembly, etc. These can be sourced cheap as well if you're patient in your parts hunting.

The parts car option is worth looking into since you can get your hands on a bunch of stuff for el-cheap-o. The only catch is having a place to keep this hulk as you rip it to pieces (not an option for me).

Jon

[matt]

This is quite true. Although I have never had to do such a swap, I know that if you take the time and effort to sniff out the good deals on the needed parts you should be able to do it for well under $2K. A while back a had a spare Getrag 260 gearbox which I sold for $200 (people told me this was a fair price, not a smoking deal). You'll also need a proper ECU - such as a Bosch 173 unit if you have an "i/is" spec E30....that's around $75 stock, $100+ if its got a performance chip. You'll need all the related shift linkage bits - go to a wrecker and pull this yourself for peanuts. If you want a short shift kit then budget accordingly. You'll also need a lower center console, shift boot, pedal assembly, etc. These can be sourced cheap as well if you're patient in your parts hunting.

The parts car option is worth looking into since you can get your hands on a bunch of stuff for el-cheap-o. The only catch is having a place to keep this hulk as you rip it to pieces (not an option for me).

Jon

Hmm?

You dont need to swap ECUs.

[RaZrShRp]

i should have room for all the parts. is there alot to gain by doing a manual conversion?

[86espowa]

not really, you wont gain horsepower, but it will give you inifinately more control over where your rpms are as you cruise. And its a lot more fun to drive.

[Jon325i]

Hmm?

You dont need to swap ECUs.

That's what I've heard - something about how the shift patterns of the slushbox are somehow connected with how the ECU functions. As I said initially, I've never had to do this swap myself (all 3 of my E30s were manuals) but I've heard some of the tales others have endured in doing this project. If the ECU doesn't need to be swapped out, that's news to me.

Jon

[CarsSuck]

not really, you wont gain horsepower, but it will give you inifinately more control over where your rpms are as you cruise. And its a lot more fun to drive.

The manual trans is significantly lighter. You'll also have the opportunity to use an aluminum, or to save dough, a lightened, stock, single mass flywheel. This will make the engine more responsive and improve acceleration in the first few gears.

[RaZrShRp]

thanks. i may be doing this. any advice? if i do. do this it wont be till december when i have extra money i will be working with a budget of about $3000. and what should i do to the engine to make it run like a champ. since my car hasnt moved in about a year.

[euroshark]

The cost of a five speed transplant will be about $2000 or less, depending on what you wind up paying for the parts and whether you do the work yourself.

lol

A 5 speed swap will NOT cost you anywhere near $2000. You could easily get away with it for under $200 if you have a junkyard nearby...

[RaZrShRp]

well im sure i can get to a junkyard. i just hope i can get it running soon i miss my car..

[matt]

That's what I've heard - something about how the shift patterns of the slushbox are somehow connected with how the ECU functions. As I said initially, I've never had to do this swap myself (all 3 of my E30s were manuals) but I've heard some of the tales others have endured in doing this project. If the ECU doesn't need to be swapped out, that's news to me.

Jon

Uhh no.