how hard is it to swap a automatic to a manual? - General - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• how hard is it to swap a automatic to a manual? by Master ACiD on 07 Sep, 2005 09:23
• as some of you may know, i bought a 84 gasser rabbit off ebay with a super clean body, my intentions are to convert it over to diesel by pulling the diesel engine and related poarts out of my truck and putting them in the car.
  
  when i went to pick up the car, i realised it was an automatic!
  how hard is this going to be? keep in mind that i have a complete 82 truck that i can grab parts off of. will the manual transmission pletal cluster bolt into an automatic body?
  
  id like to pull all the manual transmission related parts out of my 82 truck and swap them into this 84 rabbit. things like the petal cluster, shifter assembly, radiator, motor mounts, axles etc.  i am still relatively new to vw's but i have done auto to manual conversions on other makes of cars in the past, so i am wanting to get a general feel for how difficult this is going to be on a vw?
• #1 by BlackTieTD on 07 Sep, 2005 09:29
• you're in really good shape if you have a complete parts car. yes, you can swap all the manual stuff over without a hitch.  
  
  ps- i think only the new beetles come with a 'petal cluster'.  :lol: sorry i had to. you mean pedal.  :wink:
• #2 by vwmike on 07 Sep, 2005 11:41
• You're going to need to switch the trans (obviously), put on a flywheel and clutch, change the motor mount brackets, change the pedal cluster, put in the clutch cable, change the steering rack (the auto rack does not have the provisions for the shift linkage), and install the shifter where the automatic one was. It's a very doable project, although a bit involved.
• #3 by Master ACiD on 07 Sep, 2005 13:43
• thanks for the help guys. the caddy is in restorable condition, but someone cut out the entire bottom of the bed, leaving the rear axle and diesel tank exposed. i dont know why they did that, but its kind of hard to put back missing metal.
• #4 by Justin on 07 Sep, 2005 20:53
• just buy a sheet of metal and put it on the bed and problem solved, have you seen what those trucks go for on ebay???
  later
  Justin
• #5 by BlackTieTD on 08 Sep, 2005 06:35
• probably cut out with the intention of replacing it, then realized you can't buy that metal new... and good luck finding a solid bed on another caddy to hack up  :shock:
  
  you could try finding a mazda or some crap and using its bed to weld in. you could use a solid metal sheet and then put some wood runners over it. i've always liked the wood-lined truck beds, and no one would know its not the original bed underneith.
  
  caddies are hard to find in restorable condition. the one i bought was the best one i've found, and i still haven't put much of a dent in the project because the welding/metal work is so overwhelming. if your's is fixable, i'd fix it.  
• #6 by Master ACiD on 08 Sep, 2005 10:17
• i dont really have the time or paitence to do that extensive of welding.
  
  if anyone wants the truck body after i am done pulling the parts i need , you can come down here to south florida and pick it up.
• #7 by BlackTieTD on 08 Sep, 2005 10:37
• DIBS!  :lol:
  
  i might actually do that...
• #8 by Master ACiD on 08 Sep, 2005 13:59
• im down in south florida, about 103 miles from the bottom of the usa. thats a far drive from canada, but if you really want it, you can have it.
• #9 by BlackTieTD on 08 Sep, 2005 15:00
• i think its about 24 hours give or take from where i am.
  will the truck still be able to roll?
• #10 by Master ACiD on 08 Sep, 2005 16:28
• i also have a forklift 6000lb capacity at home that i own. (yeah how many people can claim to own a real german forklift imported from germany!)
  
  i could load the diesel truck onto a trailer if you wanted, or even load it into a bigger trucks bed.
  
  oh there is one other problem i forgot to mention, i dont have a title for this truck. i got it from a wrecking yard. the previous owner just wanted the truck "gone" so a tow company came and got it. i got it from the towing company, and i know where the previous owner lives, i talked to him about getting the title and he is too lazy to do it for me, even after offering him money.
• #11 by Master ACiD on 30 Sep, 2005 12:24
• well i pulled everything i need out of the truck. some guy came by and give me $500 for the carcasss. i loaded it onto his flat bed trailer with my forklift.
   
  (i only paid $100 for the complete truck)
• #12 by BlackTieTD on 03 Oct, 2005 06:58
• sweet, he paid $500 for a shell with no title? score.
  
  i just cut up an '84 GTI shell over the weekend.. i couldn't give the thing away!  :lol: