What an auto to manual conversion entail?

[trogdorpontiac]

My uncle recently picked up an '85 Camaro Iroc-Z w/ t-tops for $1500. it's been in storage since '92, 52k, no rust except the drive shaft and diff. which is just surface powder. body has minor shopping kart dings and the interior's in need of refurbishment cuz it was stored windows down, tops in the back.

it's the perfect project car with one minor flaw: it was an automatic tranny.

my uncle has more than enough projects on his hands and i'm sure he wouldn't turn me down with a serious offer.

i won't drive another automatic though, especially in a sports car.

what all is involved in converting this thing over to a t-5?

thanks in advance.

[Pontiac]

From what I understand, my friend and I had a pair of 87s that were 12 cars off the line different. We talked (But never made plans) on whats needed to be done. Now, this was talked about close to 10 years ago, so I may be off.

You're looking at a bunch of work. Getting the transmission to hook up to the engine isn't a big deal. Getting the computer to work with the new transmission would be a pain. IIRC, you'd need a computer out of another vehicle that was a stick. Then you have to do a bunch of wiring.

Mounting and physically getting everything in place, lined up, and geared properly shouldn't be a major task if you've got the tools and a lift. Wiring though, might be a different story.

[TA^Guy]

First things first, if you are going with a manual I would skip the T5 and go right for a T56. Sure T5s are ok if you don't plan on any real power, but if you do I sure you atleast get a Tremic T5 or TKO. As far as I remember you do not need to change the computer to do the swap. You'll obviously need the transmission, tranny cross member, clutch assembally, and resivior. Not sure if the actual booster has to change or not.

IMO, I would keep the TH700R4, it's a good transmission and with a rebuild with a shift kit, servo, and torque converter it can be a whole lot better. Not to mention it's a T-Top car, with a stick I highly suggest getting weld in subframe connectors to keep your roof straight. Even with my hard top '92 Z28 and a bit over 300ft/lbs of torque I twisted my roof without subframe connectors. All that and hammering the clutch and hard shifts you'll twist it like a preztel.

However, having T-Tops and a automatic transmission I'm pretty sure you have a carburated LG4 with 155hp/245ft-lbs. IIRC the L69 305HO was only avalible with the T5 which my '83 Z28 had, and the LB9 wasn't found much in 1985 with T-Top cars.

[trogdorpontiac]

it's a 305 TPI

[car audio dave]

i agree with john, do a t56. youll also need a peddle assembly and youd be smart to cut the floor pan from a manual car around where the shifter is and weld it in.

[TA^Guy]

it's a 305 TPI
Then that would be the LB9.

[GregFarz78]

What are your goals? A t-5 should be fine up to 400 hp no? T-56 is pretty beefy check the trans tunnel if it will fit with no modifications.

[TA^Guy]

T56 will fit a thrid gen, it will need a modified transmission mount, but there are companies that make them. IIRC there are some that make full t5 to t56 kits.