Auto to Manual Conversion not complete?

[jblack]

So, I had my inaugural race in Spec E30 in Florida last weekend (I came in first - not difficult when I was the only racer in the class). Sebring is a hell of a track - lots of turns.

My car was born an automatic - we converted it because:
1. All E30s really want to be 5 speeds
2. Autos are not great when racing
3. The Spec E30 rules allow it

So - a guy comes over and says - "so - your car was an auto once, eh?" - I say "huh? how could you possibly know? - and yes!"

He goes on that one of the digits in the VIN was even for autos, odd for 5 speeds (or the other way around). Very cool info.

Then he says "and the hoses going into your throttle body are different on an Auto" - Huh? I didn't know that - and we got distracted and I never finished the conversation. Anyone know how they are different? I would like to be as authentic to the conversion as possible - I don't want to get protested by someone who thinks it is some kind of performance benefit - I want to do it correctly.

Can anyone explain the differences between the auto and manual throttle body plumbing? or - even better - a close up picture from the driver's side of a manual throttle body?

Thanks!

[SpecM]

-Im not 100% sure that's accurate... the kick-down cable is gone yea, but...

[jlevie]

The only difference I know of in the throttle body between a manual and auto would be the kickdown cable.

[nando]

the manual TB from my parts car is exactly the same as the one on my car as far as I can tell. I guess I could take pics of them side by side?

[Teaguer]

Truth is, as other have already stated, that the manual and auto TB and its associated plumbing is exactly the same .

Its more likely that the guy just noticed the kick-down cable/bracket and figured it out .
Also unlikely that he was able to decipher the VIN .....probably just noticed the big giant "A" on your doorjamb sticker .

[jblack]

Truth is, as other have already stated, that the manual and auto TB and its associated plumbing is exactly the same .

Its more likely that the guy just noticed the kick-down cable/bracket and figured it out .
Also unlikely that he was able to decipher the VIN .....probably just noticed the big giant "A" on your doorjamb sticker .

He walked over to the car with the hood down - looked at the vin on the dash and said it - I opened the hood and he said "yep". I looked at his car and it had less hoses in that general area - but that could mean he removed something.....

Very possible on the kick down and I misunderstood - thanks!

Or - he could be full of it - but wow -

[nando]

he could have removed the coolant hoses

[jblack]

Makes sense. That probably explains it. That is also not legal for our class... Hmmmm....

[jlevie]

That mod would be in a gray area of the rules. Technically, it falls into the "if it doesn't say you can, then you can't" category in SpecE30, but I've seen it done. As far as I know, there's no performance advantage to the mod and I doubt that you'd be protested because of it (assuming anyone knew).