auto to manual

Wed Sep 09, 2009 7:00 pm

Afternoon everyone.

I currently have a 1984 323i coupe auto. I cant be doing with this automatic wrongness anymore, so i'm looking for a manual box, and was wondering which box can be used, and how easy is the swap?

Cheers

Jay

Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:10 pm

did the auto to manual swap my self theres alot more to than meets the eye things you nee
pedal box
clutch slave and master cylinder
and alot of time to do it but in the long run its worth it

Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:58 pm

what engine did you have mate? and was it a pre-facelift?

jay

Wed Sep 09, 2009 10:35 pm

Try to pick up the current copy of Total BMW, there is an article in there which looks pretty useful if you are considering this. It's not a step by step but highlights all of the parts you will need to change for the conversion. A quick read might help you decide if you want to do it or not.

Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:32 pm

Depending on availability of parts cars, it is easier to get a parts car.

Removal of the auto sucks. The top passenger (for you guys, driver for me) bolt is a bitch to get to and you need a LONG extension and get to it from the back side of the trans. Lower the tail of the trans so you can get to it.

The top starter bolt is also a pain. It is best to go from the front with an extension on the nut. Crack the nut loose and then you can simply put a pry bar on the bolt and that will be enough to hold it while you remove the nut.

The pedal box swap was pretty easy. I was surprised. This of course was LHD so the pedals may differ but it really wasn't a bad job.

That is as far as I have gotten. Picked up an E36 M3 lever and ordering all the shift bushings this week. Then need a clutch and can put it back together.

Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:04 pm

jasonbold wrote:Afternoon everyone.

I currently have a 1984 323i coupe auto. I cant be doing with this automatic wrongness anymore, so i'm looking for a manual box, and was wondering which box can be used, and how easy is the swap?

Cheers

Jay

You will need a 320i 'box(Getrang 240)the 325 'box (Getrang 260) will fit as well,but there tends to be a premium on the 'sport' version with slightly lower first three gears.
If I was to attempt this conversion I would remove the engine/auto box as a unit,then seperate on the garage floor.
Before re-fitting the built up engine/clutch/'box I would strip the interior to remove the carpet,gives much better access in the pedal box area,swap the pedal box over and sort out the clutch pipework.
Prossibly the easiest way to get all the bits you will need would be to buy a rusted out 320i manual,then all you would need to buy new would be a spigot bearing for the back of your crank and perhaps a new clutch.
I suppose you could do the job in a weekend,but I would use a week's holiday!

Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:23 pm

Again I'm not sure about the RHD cars but my LHD car had the holes for the clutch lines already in the firewall. The hose from the clutch M/C and to the slave cylinder. You just have to push out the rubber plugs. They popped right out with finger force.

The pedal box was quite easy.

I wish I would have removed everything. I could have replaced the oil pan gasket more easily, engine mounts, rebuild the front end etc. All things I want to do anyway.

Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:53 pm

LHD/RHD bulkheads are very different.LHD pedal box is just clutch/brake with the throttle linkage bushes spotwelded to the bulkhead.RHD the pedalbox incorporates the throttle pedal linkage.Clutch fluidy thingy will need fixing and pipe running through bulkhead into the clutch master on the pedal box.

Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:41 pm

Clutch fluidy thingy will need fixing and pipe running through bulkhead into the clutch master on the pedal box.

Having done auto to manual on my IS conversion, the clutch master bolts to the clutch pedal, then around the area of the pedal box, the metal should punch out nice and easy for the clutch master to go through.

Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:46 pm

robbo86 wrote:
Clutch fluidy thingy will need fixing and pipe running through bulkhead into the clutch master on the pedal box.

Having done auto to manual on my IS conversion, the clutch master bolts to the clutch pedal, then around the area of the pedal box, the metal should punch out nice and easy for the clutch master to go through.

This indicates that auto/manual shells differ at birth...
Manual bulkhead has a hole behind the pedal box to accomodate the clutch feed pipe...
Any comments from others who have done this swap?

Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:48 pm

Only in so much as there is an extra peice of metal in an auto shell that pushes out with an extension bar and a tap from a hammer.

Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:13 pm

all this taken into consideration, is it a job worth doing? i just dont want to get in over my head and be without my car for too long. or if anyone is local to m11 and wants to earn a few quid?

Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:39 pm

jasonbold wrote:all this taken into consideration, is it a job worth doing? i just dont want to get in over my head and be without my car for too long. or if anyone is local to m11 and wants to earn a few quid?

Only you can make the final choice,but this is major work that will take time to do properly.
You will need to spend time underneath the car,so it will require supporting in a safe and proper way.
Against that,when completed,you will have great 'job satisfaction',which alone is priceless!And when you get stuck,or are in a crisis situation,the zone is here to help you.
Go on,you know you want to...

Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:45 pm

jasonbold wrote:all this taken into consideration, is it a job worth doing? i just dont want to get in over my head and be without my car for too long. or if anyone is local to m11 and wants to earn a few quid?

I can supply parts and do the job if need be

garage is in Sheffield

Sat Sep 12, 2009 12:11 pm

e30topless wrote:
jasonbold wrote:all this taken into consideration, is it a job worth doing? i just dont want to get in over my head and be without my car for too long. or if anyone is local to m11 and wants to earn a few quid?

I can supply parts and do the job if need be

garage is in Sheffield

how much would you charge mate?

Fri Sep 18, 2009 5:39 pm

I don't think it is that bad of job. If you are confident in yourself, pay attention to dismantling procedures, and take your time you will do fine.

With that said it 'IS' expensive to do properly. By the time you re-surface the flywheel, new clutch/pressure plate kit, short shift kit or lever, all new shift bushings, new guibo, CSB, redline fluids.....

It all adds up faster than you expect.

I was all gung ho on a JB aluminum wheel until I realized how much just getting the thing swapped was going to cost.