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Re: Automatic to manual conversion. Got questions.
[Re: Evil Monkey]
#931250
02/18/11 11:53 AM
02/18/11 11:53 AM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,188 Twin Cities, MN
MN-ScatPack
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,188
Twin Cities, MN
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Quote:
I changed my Cuda from an auto to a manual back in about 1996 (I also did an Aspen in about the same time frame). Unfortunately, that was a long time ago and I don't remember all the little details. The first one I did was the Cuda, and I basically cobbled together a bunch of pieces that were supposed to be from a Cuda. It worked, but not very well. Then I found a 4 speed Aspen in the junk yard, and grabbed all the parts from it, and converted the Aspen. There was a night-and-day difference between the ease of the conversion, the way it worked mechanically, and the finished product - the Aspens clutch was much smoother, everything fit correctly, and it looked like it belonged. Fortunately, I found a 4 speed Cuda that was being parted out shortly after that, and grabbed all the correct parts and re-did the Cuda right.
If you can, try to get the bellhousing, Z bar, petals, clutch rod and clutch fork all from the same car - that way you know they were all matched up at one time and will work together. These were the parts that I had tried to cobble together from different sources on my Cuda, and they just didn't want to play nice with each other (I probably had a mixture of big block, small block, and non-Cuda parts). Or at least be very careful to get the correct parts if you have to get them from different sources - I didn't have any idea what part numbers I was looking for, so getting a list of correct part numbers would be very beneficial.
I don't know where you're located in the Twin Cities, but I'm about 5 miles East of the big 3M complex off of I-94, in Lake Elmo. If you need a hand or have any questions while doing the conversion, let me know - I'd be glad to help out.
Thanks Tom, I am located just north of the twin cities about 20 minutes off of Hwy 10. As for the challenger, I am still debating if I should by one of the kits out there that has everything included or if I should piece it part by part. I also am looking for some info or even pics of where some of the small stuff goes, like the z-bar and I believe there is a pivot point involved somewhere. Its the stuff that attaches to the body I'm unsure about. I know about the trans tunnel, pedals, but will I need a different transmission crossmember? Anything I'm not mentioning?
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