Swapping Automatic for Manual 5 speed

[Timberwolf]

I have a 92 EX XLT 4-Door A4LD and the tranny is toast. After searching and reading and learning I've come to the conclusion that this particular transmission is near to worthless and anything I do is going to be costly and most likely the tranny will fail again. Cost is a major issue and all work I will do myself... hopefully! I'd like to remove the automatic and install a 5 speed manual. I've done some searching through this site and I see that its been done to various vehicles but I couldn't find one specifically detailing a '92. My concerns are cost of course as well as final appearance. Could someone be so kind as to provide a generalized breakdown of all parts I would need from say a donor vehicle to make this changeover? I'll list what parts I know so far and perhaps you could reply with added components needed.

Transmission.. Obviously.. But what do I need?

Front Drive shaft possibly?

Cluth and brake pedals and all associated linkage.

I've heard something about a slave cylinder..??

Computer from a same year make model vehicle with a manual transmission.

Wiring harness for said computer.. "How difficult will this be to remove and install?

Steering columm..??

Dash panel.. without the gear indicator?

I will most likely be buying a used transmission from a
local salvage yard and will figure on new clutch, pressure plate and throwout bearing..

Thank you in advance for all your kind input and advice.

 

[RiverRat]

I went manual to auto because my manual was junk (mostly the clutch).

Transmission.. Obviously.. But what do I need?
How about the manual that come standard in the Ex /Ranger.

Front Drive shaft possibly?
Get a manual from a 4x4 that has the correct tail housing

Cluth and brake pedals and all associated linkage.
yep, bolt on.

I've heard something about a slave cylinder..??
Yep, bolt on from ranger/ex

Computer from a same year make model vehicle with a manual transmission.
I believe so.

Wiring harness for said computer.. "How difficult will this be to remove and install?
Shouldn't need it. It would be nice but you could get buy without it i'd guess if you can make your own harnesses. The manual harness is pretty simple.

Steering columm..??

You could keep yours and take off the gear shift lever. On my manual I kept my column and added the parts for the auto trans lever.

You could get a complete column.

Dash panel.. without the gear indicator?

On manuals there is a plastic cover that fits where the gear indicator used to go. snap in.

Hope this helps. I feel you pain. My tranny was why I swaped to a 4R70W. So bottom line the easy way to go is to find the same year 4x4 complete vehicle and use it for all your parts.


How about doing something really cool like swapping in a BMW M3 with SMG? Now that would be sick

 

[Timberwolf]

So what your saying is I could get all the parts I need from a 92 ex or ranger?

 

[CodePoet]

I agree that you'll need the computer, and a manual from a 4x4 so it has the correct tail shaft. But you really should redo the whole clutch...you'll have no idea how many miles are on the donor one, and it might just be a ticking timebomb. In the donor you (in my opinoin) should replace the slave cyliner, throw out bearing, pressure plate, clutch disk. I dont' know if you would need the the flywheel too. Go ahead and pull the shifter and the boot also. I have a manual and in the instrument cluster there actually is a cut out for the gear selector....mine is just covered by a plastic plate behind it. You could probably shave that automatic lever from the column...or of course pull the column from the donor vehicle.

Anyway Good Luck!
CP