This has probably been done but neway.. Ive read so many articles on converting auto to manual. Ive had my na auto for 2.5 years now and a recond auto has been put in last october. IT IS SOOOOO BORING!!! All the articles ive read 'seem' like the conversion is relatively simple. Is it worth the cost and time? I was mainly considering it as i do heaps of highway driving and would like to know the fuel consumption benefits/disadvantages? also Cheers

dude not only did you post in the wrong forum, but in the correct forum there is already a post on this!!!! i'm moving this and i suggest you read the existing thread.

my questions are more directed to the advantages/disadvantages and whether or not it was worth the time and money.... i know all about what you need, just asking if it is worth it.

Quote: Originally Posted by scary my questions are more directed to the advantages/disadvantages and whether or not it was worth the time and money.... i know all about what you need, just asking if it is worth it. oh.. sorry i didnt meant to sound mean or something you're right, i read your post too quickly. i should have tried to answer your questions too! i too am planning a manual conversion - as well as a turbo conversion in the end. yes driving the auto is hell boring!! after driving a few friends manuals and adjusting to using a clutch it was crap coming back to the auto. i wouldnt call the conversion simple, apparently some of it is difficult, i seem to remember people having trouble changing the spiggot bush and fitting the manual clutch pedal. obviously lifting a gearbox into place isnt to easy (altho ive done it wiht just me and one other person so it can be done). changing the tailshaft and starter motor should be relitavely simple and the wiring shouldnt be too big a problem.. fuel economy... generally manuals get better economy simply because there is no slip like in the torque convertor of an auto.. but it could be the opposite if you adjust your driving style to pushing the car harder as you can hold the gears longer.. think you know what i mean. good luck.. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by scary my questions are more directed to the advantages/disadvantages and whether or not it was worth the time and money.... i know all about what you need, just asking if it is worth it. there are many factors to consider here. (I have converted my N/A auto vl to a 5 speed. The job is relatively straight forward for the mechanical minded bloke. How ever long you anticipate its going to take, double it! athouth simple, its not a quick job. The trickiest part is removing the spigoet bush. The most anoying part is swapping the pedals over. The most rewarding part is taking it for a 'spin' Is it worth it? well it depends how much you pay for the parts i guess. I got mine real cheap ($450) so i think it is worth it. I believe it will be worth it, when you consider the price of a rebuild on the old auto if/when the time comes that it need is (i've heards quotes around the $1600 mark) But the excitment of the manual, and the ease in which it drop burnouts makes it all worth while. As does blowing away VN commodores like you wouldn't belive, and keeping up with 5.0l's Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

hehe no probs natho thnx for the advice.... well, i aint the most mechaninal minded guy... i guess it just sounds easy coz the articles are written by mechanically minded guys eheh i think i will be doing some more research on this conversion before i further consider it. my girlfriends dad works on the mining trucks at alcoa so i mite ask him for some help. when i got my recond auto put in last october ($850 installed), i previously asked him whether or not if he could put a manual in for me... he quickly shoock his head and said nah mate, thats a big job and u would have to change the computer and everything. not knowing much about vl's at the time, i agreed with him. if my auto went again, i would have done it straight away. oh well, live and learn. ill still be doing research tho and hopefully if i got a good price on the recond, the job would only coz a couple of hundred smackos. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

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dont have to change the computer, just have to re wire the existing computer because the auto computer only allows the car the start in either park or neutral, these wires have to be changed in order for the car to start. i converted my VL from an auto to a manual just last week. it is a farely simple job if you know what your doing, a little time consuming though. andrew

You have to remove the torque converter spigot bushing,we removed it with a cold chisel, then fit the brass manual bushing available from Holden. I made up a wooden drift in a lathe to install the bushing into the crankshaft,as for fuel economy,my "recoed" auto slipped under load in overdrive & vibrated the car like hell,after converting to a manual it used $40 where before it used $50 of fuel,as for the auto trans control computer,it controls not only neutral & park positioning ,it also controls the torque converter clutch solenoid to engage or disengage o/drive. It also controls kickdown & power & economy ratios in every gear (including o/d by canceling it altogether)

You have to remove the torque converter spigot bushing,we removed it with a cold chisel, then fit the brass manual bushing available from Holden. I made up a wooden drift in a lathe to install the bushing into the crankshaft,as for fuel economy,my "recoed" auto slipped under load in overdrive & vibrated the car like hell,after converting to a manual it used $40 where before it used $50 of fuel,as for the auto trans control computer,it controls not only neutral & park positioning ,it also controls the torque converter clutch solenoid to engage or disengage o/drive. It also controls kickdown & power & economy ratios in every gear (including o/d by canceling it altogether). It increases bottom end torque like hell over the crappy auto,couldn't believe it was the same car.