automatic to 5 speed transmission

[Caseih728]

Hello everyone. I have a 1992 gmc 1500 4x4 truck. The transmission has gone out of the truck and i was just wondering of anyone out there can tell me how hard/expensive it would be to covert it from an automatic to a 5 speed standard shift.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Hello everyone. I have a 1992 gmc 1500 4x4 truck. The transmission has gone out of the truck and i was just wondering of anyone out there can tell me how hard/expensive it would be to covert it from an automatic to a 5 speed standard shift.

Difficult to impossible. Impossible if the crankshaft isn't set up for a throw out bearing.

Standard to auto is a snap. Back in the day the best shifter pricewise was from a Ford with a floor shifter like in a mustang.

But auto to standard is a whole nother animal. There's the clutch and all that goes with it. Plus the gears will be off, autos always have higher rear end ratios, and then like I said, if the crank doesn't have the place for the throw out bearing, you're looking at another crank or motor.

 

[Mace Canute]

You may as well buy another truck as try to swap yours from auto to standard, it would probably be cheaper. Fix your auto tranny or buy a good used one and install that. (Make sure a used one is from a 4x4 of course)

 

[Jeepnford]

If you really want to do this do a little research and it would help to find someone who's actually done it. Try a few truck or 4x4 message boards. I don't know about Chevy's but I bought a 5.0 out of an Explorer(automatic) and changed it to manual,apparently all the cranks are the same because it took the correct pilot bearing. Then I dropped it in a Jeep. I would try to find all the parts first,a junked donor vehicle would be nice.

 

[Diamondpilot]

This is not always true. There's a lot of variables involved with what might be the standard or optional axle ratio. For all that's involved, it's a very difficult job unless you have the "right" donor vehicle for parts. And then, your computer system won't be happy either. You could also have balance problems when you change from a flex plate to a flywheel. Your best bet is to rebuild the automatic and maybe add some extra cooling to it and/or a shift kit.

I second all this. Leave it as it was. Its a old truck and not worth all the hassle.

Chris

 

[ME83]

I swapped a 79 c10 when I was in high school. I just picked up a manual tranny truck for $300 and swapped the pedals, transmission after I rebuilt it, and had to weld a different yoke to the driveshaft. I had the 454 pulled out of it and was doing drop spindles also so everything was open. Your 92's computer doesn't control the tranny anyways so don't worry about it, at most it just engages the lock up torque convertor. It will take some time so you have to ask yourself what your time is worth? Also I know in earlier years some transfer cases won't bolt up to certain trannies, I don't know about a 92.

 

[lostcause]

Hello everyone. I have a 1992 gmc 1500 4x4 truck. The transmission has gone out of the truck and i was just wondering of anyone out there can tell me how hard/expensive it would be to covert it from an automatic to a 5 speed standard shift.

to be honest, the ONLY way it would be practical to do so would be if you had access to a complete extra vehicle that was a standard shift donor vehicle. basically, if you can buy a complete vehicle with a good transmission (and hopefully clutch). even then, this will only be practical if you have time to burn, and enjoy heavy, dirty work. i'm not saying that you shouldn't do it, i'm just saying that it should only be done if you WANT to do it. it's not easier or cheaper than getting a rebuilt automatic.

as far as gear ratios go, it's no biggie. you are going to have a 3.73 or 3.42, depending on what the dealer ordered - either is fine.

this is a few of the differences that you will need to get from another (standard shift) vehicle: transmission, clutch (pressure plate, disc, throwout bearing, alignment tool), flywheel, hydraulic clutch master cylinder, hydraulic clutch slave cylinder, clutch linkage & hydraulic lines, clutch and brake pedal, trim and boot for shifter lever, clutch safety switch and wiring(?) possibly transfer case or adapter(?) - i dunno if there's a difference at all between standard and automatics. there's probably a few more obvious items missing too - this is just off the top of my head.

again, this can be accomplished by most anyone with a little mechanical know-how (along with some manuals, the internet, and hopefully friends). there are tons of dingy one light bulb garages across the country where this takes place every week.

 

[Diamondpilot]

If I remember right these trannys are not know for durability but are dirt cheap to have rebuilt. My neighbor had a old Suburban with a 350 and he would only get 2 years out of the tranny. I helped him pull it twice. I think it was only $400 to have it rebuilt.

Chris

 

[carpenter383]

It will definatley be more expensive to convert to manual trans vs. rebuilding the 700r4.
Cost for rebuilt 700r4 varies I charge 650 with a rebuilt t/c and a 12/12 warranty which is on the low end in my area. 700's can be a very reliable trans if done right.
The computer only controls lockup as ME83 said.
I would say if you had a donor truck the swap would be fairly painless. If you have to find/buy all the parts individually if might be a headache though.
The good thing about gm is parts interchangeability, most of the bolt holes will already be there. All sbc's are internally ballanced (except the 400sbc) so a flywheel will go in place of your flexplate no problem, and the crank will already have a pilot hole in it.
The rear gear difference (if any) is no big deal at all, the only thing could be the spedometer might be slightly off.
You will most likley have to have the drive shaft shortened and maybe a different yoke to match the manual trans output shaft.

 

[timswi]

It will definatley be more expensive to convert to manual trans vs. rebuilding the 700r4.
Cost for rebuilt 700r4 varies I charge 650 with a rebuilt t/c and a 12/12 warranty which is on the low end in my area. 700's can be a very reliable trans if done right.
The computer only controls lockup as ME83 said.
I would say if you had a donor truck the swap would be fairly painless. If you have to find/buy all the parts individually if might be a headache though.
The good thing about gm is parts interchangeability, most of the bolt holes will already be there. All sbc's are internally ballanced (except the 400sbc) so a flywheel will go in place of your flexplate no problem, and the crank will already have a pilot hole in it.
The rear gear difference (if any) is no big deal at all, the only thing could be the spedometer might be slightly off.
You will most likley have to have the drive shaft shortened and maybe a different yoke to match the manual trans output shaft.

Yup that's all true...A 700R4 is a killer tranny if it's built right.

it certainly would be easier to find a donor vehicle. There were manual trucks in that vintage, but the numbers were declining rapidly at that point.

 

[RollTideRam]

Have you looked for a 5 speed? My brother in law could not find one to replace the original 5 speed in his 93 GMC.

 

[some zilch]

its a chevy....anything is possible, and theres tons of parts out there to do it.:laughing:

ive done it twice in early 90s cummins/dodges; not really hard to do, its just finding the parts to do it.

the easiest way is to find a complete truck w/the 5spd, so you have all the little parts you will need.

 

[firefighter jim]

Difficult to impossible. Impossible if the crankshaft isn't set up for a throw out bearing.

Standard to auto is a snap. Back in the day the best shifter pricewise was from a Ford with a floor shifter like in a mustang.

But auto to standard is a whole nother animal. There's the clutch and all that goes with it. Plus the gears will be off, autos always have higher rear end ratios, and then like I said, if the crank doesn't have the place for the throw out bearing, you're looking at another crank or motor.

FYI: Cluth throw out bearing rides on the transmission bearing retainer. Crankshaft has nothing to do with it. Only thing pertaining to the crankshaft in a manual transmission is that it has a pilot bushing in the end to accept the input shaft of the transmission.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

FYI: Cluth throw out bearing rides on the transmission bearing retainer. Crankshaft has nothing to do with it. Only thing pertaining to the crankshaft in a manual transmission is that it has a pilot bushing in the end to accept the input shaft of the transmission.

You're right of course. The end of the crank holds the pilot bushing. Sometimers working on alltimers more these days....

 

[Stimw]

I changed a 1989 Silverado 4.3 5 speed over to a 5.7 auto and put everything back as it should be. At the time I bought a 5.7 roller motor and trans out of a wrecked police car for $400. and sold the 4.3 5 speed for $800.
BUT, this was all 2 WD.
All the 6 cyl and V-8 sensors were the same the only thing I had to change was the computer chip. I had to wire in the torque converter lock up from the trans to the computer. 5 speed had a shift light on the dash, it is the same circuit as the lock up. I did have to change the column and remove the clutch peddle.
I drove it 100,000 miles after that and sold it running great.