I have considered upgrading my stock tranny in my 84 brat. Found me a reasonably cost effective good shaped 5spd D/R trans from the market page here on this forum. Now I've never done this but I've ghosted this site enough to know it's a good mod but can be difficult if there is no experience doing the work! I don't have a car lift but l have the tools to do the job. Out of curiosity, would it be smarter to have a recommended professional mechanic do the work or should I roll the dice and just do it myself. I'm not sweating the cost but it's the time frame I'm more leary off. Any opinions? Thanx in advance to any and all responses.

Not a hard job. If you are considering doing it yourself, you're probably qualified. These 80s cars are a breeze to work on. Rust being the X factor.

 

otherwise just do your research ahead of time and talk to a few who have done it before and forge ahead.

It is nice to have a friend close by that has done it to help you out. If you got it high enough with big blocks of wood and built it solid block for the car to sit on you could drop the driveline and then disconnect the tranny and then disconnect the crossmember, slide it back about 8" inches and then lower it. I have just pulled the engine, but I have done several times. 

 

But you don't have to pull the engine. If you raised the vehicle at least a foot higher, it would come out. But having a buddy to help you muscle things around would be a nice help. Buy some beer and make a weekend out of it. You could do it in a day easy, especially if you had the clutch and flywheel already surfaced and ready to go. Then it is just take apart and put back together. Once you do it, you will be; oh, not that hard.

I too have been considering this same swap. My 83 Brat is getting harder and harder to get into and keep in 4th gear. I seem to remember some comments about having to either cut up console for the 5 speed gearshift, or someone posted on here that they were selling a kit to be able to make the retrofit. Anyone know who to contact?

 

Are parts available to rebuild a 4 speed? How about a good clutch upgrade? any recommendations on that? I've lifted the car and are now running 15" wheels and all terrain tires, so a better clutch would be helpful.

 

Thanks

The tranny you want is the D/R 5 speed. I am not sure about cutting up the console. I put a newer Ej 5 speed in but then again my Brat is lifted so that "may" help the situation but not sure, and didn't touch the console. 

A lot of guys have changed to the D/R 5 speed so I am sure one of them will chime in and let you know. Just start looking for a 5 speed now and the other stuff will work out. 

I too have been considering this same swap. My 83 Brat is getting harder and harder to get into and keep in 4th gear. I seem to remember some comments about having to either cut up console for the 5 speed gearshift, or someone posted on here that they were selling a kit to be able to make the retrofit. Anyone know who to contact?

 

Are parts available to rebuild a 4 speed? How about a good clutch upgrade? any recommendations on that? I've lifted the car and are now running 15" wheels and all terrain tires, so a better clutch would be helpful.

 

Thanks

 

 

Jerry, aka bratsrus1, makes and sells the 5spd swap kit you referred to.

 

Dan 

Thanks,

I'll see if I can track down bratsrus1. I've already installed a 2" Anderson lift kit, and 15" Toyota wheels so hopefully clearance won't be a problem. Lots of great help here. I couldn't have gotten as far as I have without the tips. I did find a factory shop manual online that has also been lots of help.