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Manual to Automatic Tranny Conversion Feasibility 200 1984

I have an '84 244 that's a straight that's been sitting for over a year now (don't worry, run once a month) ... it's a manual with a bad syncro, gear grind, etc. Replaced the clutch to no avail. Can barely get her in gear now (even rocking the car back and forth, etc, etc... all the tricks). Was going to replace tranny en mass, but would like to know what I'm getting into if I try to replace it with an automatic. My sister needs a car badly, but can't drive stick as she is disabled, and if possible I'd like to put an auto in this one.

Thoughts, warnings, suggestions, Behemoth parts lists...? :)

Thanks,
Hannah C.








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    Manual to Automatic Tranny Conversion Feasibility 200 1984

    I have done this swap M47 to AW-70 on a 92 245. The items the others have stated are correct. The items that are real pains are:

    1: Swapping out the pedals is a pain and seems to be easier with the dash out.
    2: Rear end swap is a real pain, but a must to maintain stock torque levels.
    3: Don't forget to plug the hole in the firewall where the clutch cable used to run.
    4: To avoid the nightmare of adding the OD relay circuit, get a solenoid bypass plate from IPD, or grind a bypass groove in the solenoid face.


    Finally, DO NOT replace just the front half of the driveshaft, replace the entire unit, otherwise balancing issues will cause problems. At least on a 92, the same trans crossmember is used for both the auto and manual trans, it just migrates to a different set of holes in the bottom of the floor boards. Someone mentioned that the flex plate bolts right up the the flywheel, I'm sure that was just a typo, it bolts right up to the crank. If you do unhook the trans from the engine, replace the four torque converter bolts and crank bolts with new ones, they have a thread locker compound on them that can only be used once.

    If you have specific questions about the swap, email me off-line and I'll do my best to help out.

    jorrell
    --
    92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!








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    Manual to Automatic Tranny Conversion Feasibility 200 1984

    What you wish to accomplish is very doable--best done with the donor car handy. The torque converter flex plate will bolt onto your flywheel. You'll need the shifter assembly (bolts in), front half driveshaft, wire harness/neutral safety switch (in shifter housing), radiator with trans cooler, oil lines, crossmember/mount, speedo cable. If you need a donor car I could be persuaded to tow an abandoned project car to Thomasville, NC (my son's shop). I put a 1985 gas motor and auto into a 1980 Diesel stick shift body. My wife started driving a 900S Saab before I could finish out the Volvo and then she didn't want to give up the Saab. Now she's moved on to a Saab 9-3. The Volvo has been a storage shed/parts car ever since. The body has the '85 rear installed but the pedals have not yet been installed. I could also remove the parts and cart them to NC (excluding the rear). I am motivated to clear the driveway of this car as there is a '71 142S offered to me but no place to put it.








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    Manual to Automatic Tranny Conversion Feasibility 200 1984

    Should be a lot easier than going from automatic to manual, and plenty of people have done that. I believe the only difficult part would be changing the flywheel/flexplate? I've never worked on a manual, but I'm guessing you will find the conversion almost as easy as a straight swap.







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