5 speed swap

[wodcutr]

My 86 325es auto tranny just died and I am in the process of swapping it to a 5 speed. I was wondering if a late style shifter will work on this car as the tranny I have is set up for either early or late, but I happen to have the late setup. When I pulled the donor tranny I noticed that the car had two prongs that tied into the bracket where the late shifter bolts into the body of the car. Does the 86 es have this same setup to mount the shifter?

Also I would like a little help on the wiring changes that need to be made. I have read several threads about this and still am not sure where to start. If anybody could link me to a good thread with the correct information that would be nice. Thanks!

[davem]

http://e30performance.info/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=231

Wiring:
Here is the part most people get hung up on. Wire the two green/black wires and green/yellow wire and connect all of them to one of the reverse light wiring. The other reverse switch wire goes to the blue/white wire. Cap off the brown wire. This will get your reverse lights to work and your car to start.

[Huff]

You should be able to replace the older plate style shifter with the more modern 2 arm shifter.

[warmsquash1]

I'm actually doing this to my 1988 Cabby as well, so here's what I learned... First off, if you just bridge the two green/black (or whatever color the neutral safety switch wires are) together, then you lose your cruise control, assuming it's important to you. Also, there are two different lengths for the selector rod on the gear lever. If you put your setup in and it looks like you're in first, third, or fifth when the lever's actually in neutral, you need the shorter one. This is a VERY common issue if you're putting in a E36 M3 or Z3 shifter lever, but I don't know if it affects a stock setup. Also, if you do want your cruise to work, get yourself some wire and another brake pedal switch. Wire one side of that automatic neutral safety switch to one side of the brake pedal switch and the other wire to the other side of it. Then mount the switch over your CLUTCH pedal. You can't use the stock clutch pedal switch due to it working in reverse of what you need (i.e.- the car would think it's in neutral when the clutch is up and in gear when it's down. You need it the other way...). Hope this helps a little! Good luck!

[wodcutr]

Thanks for responses! I guess the easiest thing to do is what DaveM shows to get the car up and running, but this probably eliminates the cruise control from what I am reading. Any other choices to keep the CC that is not hacked up?

[LJ851]

Thanks for responses! I guess the easiest thing to do is what DaveM shows to get the car up and running, but this probably eliminates the cruise control from what I am reading. Any other choices to keep the CC that is not hacked up?

Its not hard to keep CC. i did my 89 auto to 5 speed and there is a sub harness that has neutral switch , etc in it on the auto. Get the same sub harness from a manual car at the junk yard. dont remember where on the interwebs i found the info, but it wasnt complicated and my manual swap is all stock wiring and operates as stock.

[TurboJake]

Easier option.
splice a single wire from your brake light switch up to your neutral safety wire. You have to make sure you get the wire that is the brake light switch signal. Mine was the one on the right. Any voltometer will tell you which one it is. Brakes off, no voltage. Brakes on, 12v.

This way, it see's your brake pedal being pushed as neutral. Push brake pedal, start car.
Release brake, cruise works.
Tap brakes, cruise shuts off.

Done

As for shifter, You should be able to use either one. console or aluminum arm.

[LJ851]

^ What happens when you poke the clutch pedal with cruise on?