Expert: Roger J.M. Warrington - 4/13/2005

Question
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Followup To
Question -
I just got an 87' corvette and i love it. It is an automatic, and i was wondering what the process would be to switch it to a manual and how much it would cost.
Answer -
hea Scott;
         Well if you are a car buff it is not too much of a pain in the ass, as you must get a clutch bracket welded in place also a new clutch set up and a p/plate.flywheel, throwoutbearing, fork and all the linkadge, foot pedal. cross over bar and a new drive shaft if need be, and a shift kit and a few other things, as it is a lot of work but if you have a auto you should get a heavy duty auto trasnny put in it as it will be as good or even better. as it is a lot  of labor and not cheep. I would let it alone.

My father has been a mechanic for some of his life, and then he worked at crysler for about 30 years. I was just contemplating if it would be probable to buy the parts and me and him install them ourselves.

Answer
hea scott;
 wELL i WOULD TELL YOU FROM MY EXPERIEANCE, IT IS A LOT OF BULL SHIT  WORK. AND AS FAR AS THE GOOD AUTO TRANNYS OUT THERE NOW I THINK THAT I WOULD GO WITH A BEEFED UP 4 SPEED H.D.AUTO TRANNY AS IT WILL OUT PERFORM ANY STICK SHIFT TRANNY AND LESS ALL OF THAT TIME CONSUMEING WORK, BUT THAT IS ALL UP TO YOU TO DESIDE, BUT AGAIN I WOULD LEAVE IT A AUTO WITH A HEAVY DUTY 4 SPEED AUTO TYPE.   AS A 4 SPEED STICK IS NICE BUT THE AUTOS NOW A DAYS ARE SUPER TRANNEYS.
SO IT IS YOUR CHOICE AS WHAT YOU WISH TO DO EITHER WAY IT WILL BE A NICE RIDE.AND WITH A VETTE YOU HAVE no ROOM TO WORK UNDER THERE AS FAR AS FIXING AND ADDING STUFF NUTS/BOLTS ETC.
SO GOOD LUCK TO YA.
ROGERW