Hey Guys,

Woo Hoo! I'm actually a ruuning and driving Charger owner now. It's on the transport headed my way. 1969, 383-2V, A/C, B5, white vinyl top, blue interior. Bought it from the second owner who bought it from the original owner. All receipts back to buying it new, broadcast sheet, fender tag, all original. It's even got the original luggage rack on the trunk too! He used it as a daily driver for the last 3 years. I'm so excited about actually having a running and driving car I cant' see straight. Pics to follow

I'll have the Road Runner painted this month, so time will be limited with what I can do on the Charger. The first thing I'd like to do is to yank out the automatic and drop in my 4spd from my Road Runner. I have all the parts (a big thanks to Jamie Passon for that one!) but was curious on the install process. I've done other cars and I always left the engine installed. Easier to do it that way on our beloved Mopars or pull the unit as a whole and do it that way? The T-5s I'm use to on Fords are only about 50lbs and we all know the A-833s have a bit more gurth. Just wanted to see what's the easiest way to swap it out. Thanks guys.

Cheers

I say "don't." Didn't you just get through writing a big huge description of "how original" this thing is? And the first thing you want to do is chop it up and convert from a TF to a 4spd?

I say "leave it original." If you're not happy with the way it shifts, have it "built" and get a nice "gate" shifter that you can install without tearing up the interior / floor of the car.

By far easier to leave the engine in the car. Unless of course the engine needs things too.
Travis..
EDIT If you are so happy to have a driving car, why mess with it right away? It will turn into a huge never-ending project if you aren't careful, and there goes your driver.

Engine needs nothing and runs just fine. Oh, I'll drive it as is for a little while and enjoy it, but that will be the first thing I change. I defenitely don't like the way the car shifts now at all. It's an automatic, that's why. I prefer to run through the gears manually so the auto is out. As far as it becoming a project that never ends, aren't they all? The swap would only take an afternoon, so I'm not worried about it cascading into something major. But I do see your point. Projects like that get the "while I'm at it" syndrome. "While I'm at it, might as well detail the engine, which is easier if it's pulled out."

Cheers

You can do that swap in an afternoon! I'm impressed! That would be one long afternoon for me.
Arno

An afternoon provided nothing goes wrong...and I start at 7am....and finish at 8pm...so yeah, an afternoon

Cheers

I'd leave the Charger alone. Buttt if you do want the 4 speed (can't blame you) pull the engine. You'll probably want to go thru it and maybe add a cam, T-chain and some other goodies. Sounds like a nice car.Send some pictures.

If you are set on the swap, why not make it a 5 speed?

Let's work at this afternon swap. Remove auto, remove all linkage and trans lines. Pull the front seats,console and carpet, reform the floor to fit including hump section replacement, fab and install clutch linkage, install new flywheel clutch and bell housing, Install trans, Install and adjust linkage, replace driveshaft if the length is the same if not then change length. Reinstall interior including any mods needed to the console. If you can do that in a day your way better then most shops.

You darn realists!
I think that if you wanted a manual trans, that is what you should have bought. Why buy a long distance 2-owner original car to hack it up?
Okay, it's your car and you can do what you want, but if you think you can do the job properly in one full day, it sounds like either you are going to hack it or you have never done this before.

You will need torque shaft bracket welded to the top of the frame rail at the correct spot. Easier to do this with the engine out. 4-speed pedals, linkage, torque shaft (Z-bar), a pilot bushing in the end of the crankshaft to install the 4-speed properly. Probably more things that I'm not thinking of.
I would leave it alone if it were mine.

Thanks for the compliment rrunner . I didn't want to start a huge debate over this. I just wanted a few thoughts on the swap. I want to use the fresh 4spd I have from Passon that's just sitting waiting for the Road Runner to get finished instead of doing the 5spd conversion.

A hack job? Not quite. I've done plenty of auto to 4 or 5spd conversions on Mustangs and GTOs. They all have taken me about 8-10hrs, give or take. Having all the parts makes it way easier that's for sure. I was just curious as to the best way to do this on Mopars: leave the engine in or pull it. I'll probably just leave it in. That's probably the best plan. Thanks guys!

Cheers

I'd leave the motor in. If you are going with original type linkage instead of a hydraulic setup,you should be able to easily weld the bracket in with a mig. I say fix the car however you want....it ain't like it's a one of one Hemi Daytona! You're simply planning on making a nice car nicer for YOU !

Yeah, do your thing. make it what you want. I'd really like to have a nice 5 speed in my car but money and time have kept me in an automatic with overdrive. So, I'll agree with you in saying that you should make the car what you want, especially if you have the means. Now, I have to agree with the others to say that you may be a little optimistic in getting that job done in one day

You won't do a Mopar conversion in the same time you do a mushmouse or a goat in. Entirely differnt animal.