Is it possible to put a 5spd trans in a front wheel drive car that has the 3 spd auto?

Edited March 31, 20178 yr by Sandrion

Yes. I've been told mounting the carrier bearing for the driveshaft can be a problem. Everything els is pretty much just wrench work. Remove this, install that, etc. 

Are you adding the 4wd also?

I added 4WD to a 3AT wagon. Swapped the fwd transmission for a 4wd, and added the parts for the 4wd

Not looking to make it a 4wd car. Just wondering if it's possible to make it a fwd 5spd.

Swap the transmission. Maybe have to reconfigure a couple of wires. People have done it. I know the 3ATs, not so much the stick shifts. Bad knee took me out of them.

So.im guessing that the fwd only 5 speeds are hard to find?

Look for ones from sedans and XTs as they were more likely to be FWD.

 

wiring shouldn't be too difficult. Need to join the wires from safety switch in the gear selector and extend the reverse light wiring from the selector to the trans.

There is also 1 wire on the ecu that tells it what kind of transmission it has, manual or auto.

in the hydraulic 3 spd? I know there's definitely that for the electronic 4 speed.

 

BTW, if you happen to know which wire, that'd be helpful. I know others converting the 4 spd auto to manual have had issues with the check engine light coming on...

So to be clear, my car is a 1993, Loyale sedan front wheel drive 3 speed auto. I'm going to assume that when you say hydraulic you are meaning it has a modulator valve on the side that works off the intake, which mine does. I am wanting to switch my car from the auto trans to a 5 speed manual, while keeping the front wheel drive. Not looking to make it a 4wd car.

I looked at my fsm, there are a few indications of differences. I'm not 100 % sure what they do, and I don't have both cars to cross check. Th= fsm is lot better than the after market service books. Someone may have a link to the ecu schematics.

So, all this being said, how would I install the clutch pedal? Would it bolt right in/up?

So, all this being said, how would I install the clutch pedal? Would it bolt right in/up?

The easiest way is to transplant the pedal assembly from the standard shift car.

Yea, you'll need the entire pedal assembly, clutch, brake, and throttle. Technically the throttle pedal is the same, but there's no point to remove it from the pedal box....

 

Transmission crossmember is different. Obviously shift linkage, flywheel, clutch kit, clutch cable and starter.

 

Your old speedometer cable will fit the manual transmission. CV axles are interchangeable. 

 

 

You will have to at the very least bypass the neutral start switch to allow the vehicle to start. You may also want to splice into the reverse switch for the reverse lights

Oh, and you can use a 4x4 transmission and just cap the rear driveshaft output. The right size spray paint can cap is a snug fit, make sure it's not one of the ones with a small vent hole in it, put a little RTV around the outside and push it in to the end of the trans. Don't push it all the way in until it bottoms on the shaft, as the spinning shaft with eat a hole in the plastic quickly, just most of the way in.

 

It's getting hard to find any of these cars in the junkyards now, so don't hesitate to get a 4wd one if you find it. The 2wd's will be harder to find.