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Auto to Manual Swap?

5K views 39 replies 23 participants last post by  CSM41 
#1 ·
How much will an auto to manual swap cost?
 
#4 ·
Short answer is that you should be able to do the swap for less than $1500 (some will say much less) if you can do the work yourself. You may be able to do it for less than that if you find someone that is looking to do a manual to auto swap, and you can just swap all the parts from one Jeep to the other...
 
#8 ·
i live in new jersey and i wheel on occassion so having a manual will be fine and help my gas mileage.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Not sure what year TJ you have but so long as it is a 2002 or older, the wiring harness for the AX-15 is already there. For a 2003 or newer, it'd be a bit more difficult to install as you'd have to do some wiring/connector modifications.

And to me, as one who converted his 5-speed to an automatic for rock crawling purposes, converting from an automatic to a manual transmission is a giant step backwards. Go to any extreme pro-level rock crawling competition and you'll find it very hard, if not impossible, to find any transmission but an automatic. Most experienced offroaders who do the toughest trails convert to automatics, not the other way around.
 
#32 ·
BLASPHEMY!!! :D

My '98 Sport is a 5-speed, and that's the only thing I don't like about it. My two former 4.0L TJs were both automatics, and it makes a world of difference out on the rocks. I could easily see myself converting this Jeep to an automatic....
 
#14 · (Edited)
autos are sackless in my opinion.
I guess all the pro-level rock crawlers are "sackless" then. :rolleyes: Go to something crazy like the King of the Hammers combination race/rock crawl event in Johnson Valley and see how many are running automatics. In fact, the vast majority are running automatics. The King of the Hammers race/rockcrawl vehicle I had a small part building had an automatic (AW4) transmission.
 
#19 ·
lol the wrangler forum is the only place I've seen anyone without a disability who even want automatics. When I went to sell my tacoma I had so damn many "if only it were manual" reply's.

I had to spend a extra thousand, or even more to get a manual gto. it seems like here is about a 50/50 split. Granted we have almost NO rocks here, but I wouldn't even want to drive an auto wrangler
 
#21 · (Edited)
If I were buying a GTO, Corvette, Nissan 350Z, Porsche, Ferrari, an old Triumph TR-6 like I used to have back in the early 70's, or any other sportscar, I'd only buy any of them with a manual transmission. I wouldn't have a sportscar if it had an automatic.

But for a Jeep that sees really tough or extreme level trails, an automatic actually helps it perform better. Not to mention the little-known fact that the torque converter used in all automatic transmissions gives 2-3X greater low-end torque which can make the difference in getting up an obstacle or not getting up an obstacle. For most offroad trails, it doesn't really matter but the tougher the trail, the more an automatic transmission makes sense.

My previous (stolen) '97 TJ came with a 5-speed manual transmission and it had f/r lockers together with 4.88 gearing and 35" tires. I had to winch it up the same three rock crawling obstacles (dry waterfalls) on a trail I did nearly every year. No way no how could it make it up no matter what line I tried. Few others could make it up those waterfalls either. Then I converted that TJ to an automatic, with no other changes, and it then easily made each of those three rock waterfalls with no winch needed. The only change was converting from the 5-speed to the automatic.

That 2-3X greater low-end torque from an automatic is no jive.
 
#20 ·
My jeep was converted from an auto to a manual by the previous owner. I have receipts, he spent around 4 grand. I think he got ripped through.
 
#22 ·
Jerry Bransford said:
If I were buying a GTO, Corvette, Nissan 350Z, Porsche, Ferrari, an old Triumph TR-6 like I used to have, or any other sportscar, I'd only buy any of them with a manual transmission. I wouldn't have one if they had an automatic.

But for a Jeep that sees really tough or extreme level trails, an automatic actually helps it perform better. Not to mention the little-known fact that the torque converter used in all automatic transmissions gives 2-3X greater low-end torque which can make the difference in getting up an obstacle or not getting up an obstacle.

My previous (stolen) '97 TJ came with a 5-speed manual transmission and it had f/r lockers together with 4.88 gearing and 35" tires. I had to winch it up the same three rock crawling obstacles (dry waterfalls) on a trail I did nearly every year. No way no how could it make it up no matter what line I tried. Few others could make it up those waterfalls either. Then I converted that TJ to an automatic, with no other changes, and it then easily made each of those three rock waterfalls with no winch needed. The only change was converting from the 5-speed to the automatic.

That 2-3X greater low-end torque from an automatic is no jive.
I agree, i have an auto as well, and it is nice having no worry of an extra pedal!
 
#23 ·
Let the man do the swap. Its his Jeep not anyone else's. IMO it almost adds to the challenge. Where is the fun in the trail if you can just roll up and over every rock? You might as well be driving down the interstate sipping your Starbucks. I don't hold opinions about people on their transmission choices (that's just dumb) and I can see how in a competition setting it can give you an edge, but for fun? It really is personal preference. Like he said its his DD and wants the extra mileage (its negligible however). I personally love my 5 speed, however I would like cruise control.

For the record, all three of these rigs were manual and running the comp courses at Rausch (I'm sure its nothing compared to out west) without breaking a sweat.
 

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#29 ·
I have a stick in my jeep and it's my first car. I'm only 17 and I love wheeling with the manual I don't ever plan on using anything but a stick I love it
 
#30 ·
im not bashing autos jerry. well not intentionally. in fact i found myself yesterday wiching i had an auto when i smoked my clutch in the woods. poured smoke. whoops. but i lovemy 5 speed. theres no real rock crawling here in nh like there is out there. most ppl just go trail riding on old horse and buggy trails and logging trails. and mud. i agree completely with putting an autoin a rock crawler.
 
#33 ·
Im new to wrangler forum, started surfing posts, ran across this one, and had to reply.

Im in the middle of an auto to manual swap myself (swapping nv3550 from an 03 tj to my 97 sahara). I've got my auto tranny off, installed the clutch pedal, master/slave, flywheel, pilot bushing, pilot bearing, and clutch. I'll be bolting the nv3550 on tomorrow, then measuring for driveshafts, and should be finished!!!

If you have any questions regarding the swap, let me know and ill do my best to answer.

Oh, and for you auto lovers... I'll be putting together a package deal for an auto swap with everything included (32rh tranny, tc, flexplate, shifter, cables, 231 transfer case, linkage, colling lines, oil fill tube w/ dipstick, auto computer, everything *maybe driveshafts*). I should have it packaged and ready by end of the week.


Regards,
Jlong21
 
#34 ·
Oh, and for you auto lovers... I'll be putting together a package deal for an auto swap with everything included (32rh tranny, tc, flexplate, shifter, cables, 231 transfer case, linkage, colling lines, oil fill tube w/ dipstick, auto computer, everything *maybe driveshafts*). I should have it packaged and ready by end of the week.
Someone should jump on that. In fact, I'd rather have your 3-speed 32RH in my '04 Rubicon than my present 42RLE 4-speed automatic. You're removing one of the best transmissions (Ford even tried to buy the manufacturing rights to it) to have ever come out of Detroit for the NV3550, which doesn't have such a great reputation.
 
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