Gents, Just finished my 5-spd conversion on my N/A VL and fully recommend it to any one wanting to mod their N/A auto VL. The car absolutely hammers now and drives awesome. Also if you do the mod make sure the wrecker gives you a manual ECU with the kit because the car will drive like **** with an auto computer. I also already had headers and a mandrel bent exhaust on the car before the 5-spd went in. What are other peoples opinions on these conversions? Were the results what you expected? Regards, Joel.

My mate has an auto powerchip in his manual VL and it flies, better than ehat another mates auto did when it had the same computer, and better than what the manual did with the manual power chip. I think the auto computer only gives more fuel at idle doesnt it.

Mate, My 5-spd kit was originally fitted with out the manual ECU because the wrecker and mechanic who I dealt with said the computers for the N/A are the same. Additionally, the vlforums page where it states how to change from auto to manual also does not list this as a necessary part. Any-way the car was drivable but really rough and sluggish. However, I had previously owned a 5-spd R31 skyline and new that something wasnt right! I then rang around and spoke to some engine management places in Brisbane and they told me that the computers were different, things such as fuel mapping, oxygen sensor and the idiol. So I picked up a Manual ECU from a wrecker for $85.00 (Holden want $800.00 for this part) and plugged it in and what a difference this made! Picked up way more power and the car drove really smooth, unlike before when it drove like a piece of **** and kept on wanting to stall when decelerating to a set of traffic lights. Regards, Joel.

Yes, but an auto powerchip does work, and gives better performance than the manual powerchip, thats all i was saying, i have been told by a fella ages ago that the std auto computer wont work though

Mate, I think my next mod will be an XF throttle body and a chip after that. Regards, Joel.

why not a twin cam head? I was talkin t my mate the other day, he is after power, but no turbo insurance prices........nobody will know its there.........when u blow a VLT away, without spooling they will be left wondering........whatta***??????

Quote: Originally Posted by Boostedcal why not a twin cam head? I was talkin t my mate the other day, he is after power, but no turbo insurance prices........nobody will know its there.........when u blow a VLT away, without spooling they will be left wondering........whatta***?????? Well a twin cam head swap adds around 30% more HP over a n/a OHC. Now 30% of the factory 114kw is 34.2kw. So that rounds in at 148.2kw in theory as every car is different. I would bevery interested to see just how well a acr with this swap did against a standard VLT. Mind you the n/a would have to be standard as well for it to be fair. If anyone proves this (at a track of course) then post the results please, it would be good to compare results. Having siad that you wont "blow" a VLT away as you put it. I dont think there would be much in it at all. Even with mods to the n/a, all a VLT would have to do is turn up the boost and away they go.

I beg to differ about the computer. I've done a conversion using the auto computer and it runs fine and hard. I think that there are actually advantages in the auto computer over the manaul one... everyone to their own i guess.

Yeah i did a conversion on a auto vl and didnt even pull the cover off the kick panel and it hammers with the auto computer in place.

i have read in past forum posts that with this conversion both auto and manual ecu's are fine if you have a 5spd, it is only if you are runnin an auto tranny that you will NEED a auto ecu. as for performance between the two, it wasnt commenented on in that post

Sounds real nice, congrats. How much did it end up costing you in total roughly?

Quote: Originally Posted by joel Also if you do the mod make sure the wrecker gives you a manual ECU with the kit because the car will drive like **** with an auto computer define drive like ****? as far as i know.. i gots an auto ECU in wif mine when i got my 5spd conversion.. and its fine.... from what i can tell.... 8)

Im lucky enough to have a factory VL 5Speed. It was funny, when I called around for insurance, they told me there was no such thing. Hahahahaha!!! What a load of ****. But yeh, VL Manual rock Here's a pic of mine... Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Gents, The conversion kit cost as follows: $575.00 for the gearbox, tail shaft etc. (ABC Auto Wrecker in Oxley, Brisbane) $85.00 for a manual ECU (A&B Holden Wrecker in Slacks Creek, Brisbane) $250.00 for the install (Tipler Auto in Beenliegh, Gold Coast) Total = $910.00 I will also be selling my auto, which should knock a couple of hundred dollars off this total. Additionally, I was told that the price I got the box for was really cheap and is in very good condition. Anyway when driving with the auto computer it was rough on idle and accelerated poorly and was not smooth. When decelerating from 3rd gear to 2nd gear and then onto 1st gear the revs would drop down to 100-200rpm and felt like it wanted to stall. And then the computer was not bringing the revs up to idle. I previously owned a 5-speed R31 skyline and knew that the 5-spd drove very smooth so I rang some engine management places and they told me that my problem was the computer. Once I swapped it and turned the key it was like driving a brand new car, everything was smooth and felt really responsive. However, I do understand why people are still running auto ECUs because the mechanic who installed my box and the wrecker who sold it to me said that the ECUs were the same and this mechanic has done a fair few VLs in his time. I guess the only way to find out for your self is to find a mate who has got a factory 5-spd and swap the computers and take it for a drive. I only know from my experience that when I drove the car home from the mechanic who did the install that I was very disappointed with the result, until a put a manual ECU in it and am now extremely happy. The mechanic also wants me to bring it back so he can take it for a drive and see the difference for himself. Regards, Joel

I assume that those prices were for the me5 box and not for the mx7?

mine is 5spd standard, but yes, theres obviously a huge difference between the auto in the manual.

Tempest115, That price is for a non-turbo gear-box. When I was getting quotes the highest price I got was about $1350 for a full kit. Regards, Joel.

I just got ripped off with mine, I screwed A couple of gears and had to get it replaced - n/a Gearbox was 850 - Plus to get it put in - Things checked and Oil etc - was about 1200. I didn't think it was too bad considering Barsby's wanted 1250 just for the gearbox and 2500 for a Turbo 5spd.

I converted my auto NA vl from auto to manual. I never touched the ecu, still running the auto box. My car runs fine, no complaints at all. I'll agree the power increase from auto to manual is incredible. I can now beat almost any v6, and even pull away from 5.0L ss's up till 100-120km/h then they catch me. As for running like crap and wanting to stall with the auto computer, i'm not getting any probs. As far as i'm aware the ECU's are identical except for the fact that the auto ecu's have a couple of extra instructions for controlling the auto. My mods are: 2 1/2" cat back exhaust, 33degrees timing advance, k&n filter, cold air intake. Last dynoed wtih 96rwkw with only 25deg advance, and 2 1/2" cat back mods only. A couple of the Adelaide guys should be able to say that my car isn't sluggish and goes well, a couple have been for a spin in it with me.

how are you running 33 timing and not pinging? did you have to change the mixture adjustment? And I paid $1200 for a turbo box and conversion kit (and starter motor). clutch was buggered though. came with the centre console too.