auto >standard

87 2.9 4/4 · Apr 19, 2008

i was wondering if any of you's had changed an automatic to a standard truck is a 1987 with a 2.9 4/4 i want to put a diferent 2.9 from diferent truck (same year same make same model same everything exept transmission) the body i want to put it in is auto and i want to put the manual transmission in it i was wondering how hard it is to do this wanted to do the engine swap with the engine and trannies attached so dont have to reatach them and mess up clutch and flywhele

so any pointers?

kunar · Apr 19, 2008

87 2.9 4/4 said:
i was wondering if any of you's had changed an automatic to a standard truck is a 1987 with a 2.9 4/4 i want to put a diferent 2.9 from diferent truck (same year same make same model same everything exept transmission) the body i want to put it in is auto and i want to put the manual transmission in it i was wondering how hard it is to do this wanted to do the engine swap with the engine and trannies attached so dont have to reatach them and mess up clutch and flywhele

so any pointers?

my 87 was an auto when i bought it. the biggest thing you have to change is the pedal bracket on the firewall, swap it out with one from a stick so you have a clutch pedal. you wont be able to swap the engine and transmission together, they dont fit in one piece, but if you dont unbolt the pressure plate you wont have an issue. its all really straight foreward. theres a wire jumper you need to unplug near the pedals on the truck, then it gets plugged into the safety switch on the clutch pedal. the shifter boot needs to be changed to meet your needs, the steering column on a manual trans truck has a key release button, you may want to swap those too. the back-up light wiring needs to be spliced with part of the donor harness to make those work. dont forget to change the engine computer as well. any questions? ill do my best to help.

87 2.9 4/4 · Apr 20, 2008

well right now were just getting it ready (also checking for interiour floor board rust ext. pulling some body panels front grill just making some more room and were changing them anyways from big dents,rust.) next weekend we are going to be pulling the good engine outputting it on a trailer and we'll see how much time we have might pull the bad motor out.

there will probably be questions coming up thanks for the pointers so far.

87 2.9 4/4 · Apr 26, 2008

weather is teasing me sunny warm all week and now the weekend RAIN was planing on pulling th engine and transmision but it is outside with no shelter so i dont want to get it all wet and whatnot.

Dishtowel · Apr 26, 2008

Your changing from an automatic to a stick? Um, I applaud your enthusiasm, but InMyOpinion an auto is significantly preferable offroad. I like my stick shifts, they are fun. But you dont have 3 feet. And offroad you will need all three feet.

(dont anybody try and tell me I dont know how to shift or other nonsense. I have been throwing gears since I was 9. I have a class 1-6 license, in Alberta that means I can drive ANYTHING with wheels. I wonder how many people on here know what two sticking is about?)

kunar · Apr 26, 2008

Dishtowel said:
Your changing from an automatic to a stick? Um, I applaud your enthusiasm, but InMyOpinion an auto is significantly preferable offroad. I like my stick shifts, they are fun. But you dont have 3 feet. And offroad you will need all three feet.

(dont anybody try and tell me I dont know how to shift or other nonsense. I have been throwing gears since I was 9. I have a class 1-6 license, in Alberta that means I can drive ANYTHING with wheels. I wonder how many people on here know what two sticking is about?)

i agree with you, but... from a reliability standpoint, a manual wins out over an auto every day of the week. not to mention the power loss you see with an auto that you dont see with a stick. i had an auto in my truck and guess what... it was shot. (junk a4ld? surprise, surprise) so i pulled it and swapped in a stick. i use my truck as a daily driver and i love having the ability to control my truck to be in the gear that i choose, exactly when i want it. not to mention that the OP never suggested this is his wheeling rig.

to the OP: i forgot to mention you will need both drive shafts from the donor truck. the fm145 they used in the 87's was a different length. they are also not the best transmission but if the parts are free... anyways you will want to think about doing an m5od swap sometime down the line. the m5od will use the same drive shafts ad your a4ld did.

Hahnsb2 · Apr 26, 2008

Dishtowel said:
Your changing from an automatic to a stick? Um, I applaud your enthusiasm, but InMyOpinion an auto is significantly preferable offroad. I like my stick shifts, they are fun. But you dont have 3 feet. And offroad you will need all three feet.

(dont anybody try and tell me I dont know how to shift or other nonsense. I have been throwing gears since I was 9. I have a class 1-6 license, in Alberta that means I can drive ANYTHING with wheels. I wonder how many people on here know what two sticking is about?)

My 2 feet get the job done :dunno:

Nothing wrong with clutch slippage as long as you keep rpms low and don't slip for a long period of time, never smelled my clutch any time I've been wheelin.

Jorley · Apr 26, 2008

Dishtowel said:
Your changing from an automatic to a stick? Um, I applaud your enthusiasm, but InMyOpinion an auto is significantly preferable offroad. I like my stick shifts, they are fun. But you dont have 3 feet. And offroad you will need all three feet.

(dont anybody try and tell me I dont know how to shift or other nonsense. I have been throwing gears since I was 9. I have a class 1-6 license, in Alberta that means I can drive ANYTHING with wheels. I wonder how many people on here know what two sticking is about?)

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16260
2 feet, 1 hand.

Mutant Pony · Apr 26, 2008

If you haven't tore apart the stick truck yet, Do yourself a HUGE favor. Unbolt the clutch master from the firewall and remove it with the trans, Leave the line connected!
The pedal assembly can be tough. You can replace just the pedals but, it is tight. If you take the time to remove the whole assembly it is easy to do but, time consuming.

Zorro · Apr 26, 2008

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14966

Not exactly your truck ... but I'm doing the same.

Dishtowel · Apr 26, 2008

To all you's fans of the manual:

Good on ya, I'm glad you are happy with your set-up/rig. As we both know, each trans has their place.

Carry on, lol.

(yes, the A4LD is a POS)

87 2.9 4/4 · Apr 26, 2008

it will do some minor offroading nothing to serious

just to point out why in the world would u have to hit gas brake and clutch all at the same time?almost pointless to be doing that but the old foot turning sideways and hope for the best

and i haveent tore everything aport yet just front fenders and wheel wells off few things unpluged front grill headlights signals etc nothing mechanical is off yet

Dishtowel · Apr 26, 2008

87 2.9 4/4 said:
just to point out why in the world would u have to hit gas brake and clutch all at the same time?almost pointless to be doing that but the old foot turning sideways and hope for the best

ONE possible scenario.
Because you got stopped on a hill.
You are holding the brakes to prevent sliding down/back and you need throttle to get going up the hill. Try is sometime.
It can be done by slipping the clutch and making it hold you instead of the brakes then getting on the gas and trying to make it up. But more than half the time this seems to result in a stall. And after the 5-10th stall lotsa guys are frustrated, this sometimes leads to dropping the clutch and mashing the gas.
1 of 4 things can happen:
-dig in and get stuck
-brake something
-stall again
-success! your up the hill

To all the manual transmission supporters:
I know there is better solutions to this delima, (eg, back down in a controlled manner and take a 2nd (4th?) run at it) But this is a common scenario I have witnessed many times, with all different skill level of drivers. This scenario is 1 reason why I am a fan on the auto when wheeling.

As mentioned earlier, hand throttles are a handy thing to have!

Mutant Pony · Apr 26, 2008

Dishtowel said:
ONE possible scenario.
Because you got stopped on a hill.
You are holding the brakes to prevent sliding down/back and you need throttle to get going up the hill. Try is sometime.
It can be done by slipping the clutch and making it hold you instead of the brakes then getting on the gas and trying to make it up. But more than half the time this seems to result in a stall. And after the 5-10th stall lotsa guys are frustrated, this sometimes leads to dropping the clutch and mashing the gas.
1 of 4 things can happen:
-dig in and get stuck
-brake something
-stall again
-success! your up the hill

To all the manual transmission supporters:
I know there is better solutions to this delima, (eg, back down in a controlled manner and take a 2nd (4th?) run at it) But this is a common scenario I have witnessed many times, with all different skill level of drivers. This scenario is 1 reason why I am a fan on the auto when wheeling.

As mentioned earlier, hand throttles are a handy thing to have!

The point is that: even the meager 146 is stronger than the a4ld. Also, it would be much cheaper than adapting an AOD.

Zorro · Apr 26, 2008

Not gonna lie, I'm a bit worried about offroading a manual. I've driven stick on the road for ages, but I wonder how practical a manual is going to be when climbing ledges and stuff.

The main reason I went manual was reliability, plain and simple.

auto >standard

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