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I'm considering converting my car from an automatic to a 5 speed manual. Some say its easy, some people I know say its next to impossible. I'm not sure. Anyway, I'm looking to do it for two reasons. 1) Stick is more fun 2) Stick is rarer. I've seen a pretty decent amount of third gen trans ams, but only a handful in stick, and none of them were for sale. Anyway, I'm in a debate with my dad. He says that it would lower the value of the car because it woudnt be the original transmission and, because fewer people can drive stick, it would limit my potential market when the time comes to sell. I say that it doesnt matter since the engine isnt original anyway, and that while it will lower the number of potential buyers, the ones who are able to drive stick will pay more for it, because its a trans am, not grandma's food fetcher. So, when i get some money together (im broke from the soundsystem.) I may be in the markey for a manual transmission setup. What do u guys think? Which would you be willing to pay more for, a stick or an auto?

Ok, the poll isnt working for some reason, so just post what you'd pay more for.

the t5 was an ok tranny but its not much more work to throw in a t56 and be really special...if your looking for resale value forget swapping in the manual.

I like stick better and I happen to have a 4th gen T5 if you're interested.

Do they make bellhousings to bolt to a new T5 and a standard sbc?

I don't know anyone directly who has done the swap on their car, but I've heard it's not that hard. I also say that if you're gonna bother to do the swap, you may as well get the T56.

- Justin

Honestly, I don't really forsee the resale value being huge on a third-gen TA with a TBI motor, with or without a stick tranny. The TPI cars will be more valuable, since that was the more performance-oriented motor. Do whatever makes you happy. Believe me, once you drive a stick car, you won't want to go back to an auto - it's that much fun. And it's easy to convert a 3rd-gen. Get everything from a V8 donor car (preferably '88-'92) and you're in business - pedals, bellhousing, hydraulics, trans, shifter, and maybe the crossmember. The 700-R4 and T5 use the same driveshaft so you won't have to worry about shortening your stock one.

For what it's worth, my '88 Monte SS came from the factory with a carbed HO 305 and 200-4R automagic. It now has a Tuned Port fuel-injected 305 from an '87 IROC and a World Class 5-speed from an '88 RS. This car is worlds better than a stock '88 SS; much more fun to drive with the 5-speed, and the torque increase from the TPI is a big bonus. :)

i did the 6 speed swap in my iroc 2 years ago. I'd never even consider going back to automagic. hell i even got a daily driver with a stick too. The only thing i have left with a slushbox is my truck and even it would be a lot better with a 5 speed.

T5/T56 swap is not too difficult overall. it will take some time and you will have to get your speedo set up for it. it is however a time consuming swap.
your computer will also have to be told about the new tranny, but that usually isn't a very big deal.

later
tim

ps, i jsut happen to have a complete t56 set up for sale :wink:

unfortunately the ls1 style t56 won't bolt up to a standard sbc or lt1 from what i've heard.

Well, the LS1 T56 uses 7 (I think) bolts in the bellhousing, and only 4 or 5 of them line up with the standard sbc bellhousing pattern. I've heard of people just using the ones that line up, and I think someone makes an adapter plate, but not sure....

- Justin

The LS1 T56 input shaft is also a different length, and that's the other problem with making it work behind a traditional SBC. McLeod just released a modular bellhousing, so that you can basically mate any stick trans with any motor. CHP Magazine and a few other rags have some writeups on this setup. Here's some info from McLeod's site http://www.mcleodind.com/cgi-bin/fcc...ostname=MCLEOD on the one you'd need to do this conversion.

just keep saving and do an ls1 attached to t56 swap all at once :twisted: :burnout: