Manual Transmission in current or future L's?
 

Hello everyone. This is my first post.

Well....Does anyone know if this is possible or will occur in the future versions of the L?

If not, is there a way to convert A4 to M5 or 6?

Thanks!

-Thomas

let me get this right...
 

i understand the first part of your question and have no answere for you. but the second part really stumped me. are you asking if they is a way to turn a audi A4 into a BMW m5? please tell me you are talking about types of transmissions or something. because if you are asking what i think you are asking...i feel very bad for you as well as the people who know you.:D but i feel i must be wrong. please let us know what you mean. i really would like to know.

anyways, as for the manual trany in the L. i do not personally know anyone who has done it...but i have heard of it being done. but the hold back that most people encounter is the long throw shifter. it seems to be what keeps a lot of people from doing it. not to mention the cost and headaches. hope i slightly answered your question...let me know what the second one is asking. (eventhough i probably won't be able to help):)

I think he is asking if you can trade out the automatic four speed in the lightning for a manual 5 or 6 speed. I have seen no posts dealing with that mod.

Mark

This was covered extensively about a year ago. The big problem is torque; we make too much of it for anything but a heavy duty transmission, especially with mods.

Someone did a required parts list (transmission, shift mechanism, flywheel, bell housing, clutch, pedal and cable, driveshaft, computer, wiring). Then they looked at installation and recalibration and decided they could live with our A4 (not an Audi).

BaylorBear - I enjoyed watching your team punk the Mizzou Tigers.

Jayhawks all the way.

wow
 

hahaha, i new it was something simple like that. god, i have to stop posting after midnight. it seems my brain turns to mush after 12:D . either way, i think its funny.

A

Well folks, I appreciate your responses. Ok I will go into a little more detail here.

I have a love for three things: Sports cars, trucks, and Manual transmissions. I HATE automatic transmissions. For me personally, they take all the fun out of driving. True, I'd rather have an A4 at the track...but there is no feeling like shifting into 3rd from 6th on the highway and feeling the tight boost of power that only an M6 can provide.

So, given the fact that I love a fast truck, I instantly fell in love with the Lightning. But I had to have an M6 or an M5 at the very least.

Now I am depressed, because I want a fast truck, but will not settle for an A4 which seems to be the general consensus on this thread.

I used to drive a Dodge Ram M5 and...gosh...I loved that thing! Yes, the shifter was a long throw, but something tells me that I could have gotten an aftermarket shifter at some time that would have helped that. (I was not much of a performance junkie at the time)

Now, I drive a WS6 TransAm, which I love....but I still miss driving a truck. And I will try to get one, but not at the expense of an A4.
Some of you will think I'm nuts, but thats just my personal experience and opinions.

Sic'em Bears!

-Thomas

long throw concern is bull i have had many trucks with a good linkage and an offset handle it is possible to shift as good as anything,the only problem is cost

Hey i love the Mizzou Tigers!! They really suck this year tho

An Idea...
 

So what do you guys think about modding a regular F150 into something that could run with the L?

This would give me a chance to own my coveted manual transmission and have good performance at the same time.

Perhaps the decreased cost of buying a regular F150 plus the modifications wouldn't make a huge difference in price comared to the Lightning.

-TH

Well, first off you have a displacement disadvantage. At least here in California, the 5.4 cannot be had with a stick. So you would be limited to the 4.6 (albeit with its growing catalog of Mustang goodies). And then I wonder if the tranny would be up to the task anyway. I believe the 4.6L 150's have a similar manual trans to my beloved Rangers (made by Mazda), which IMHO is about the worst manual transmission ever produced.

Now if you put a T45 or a Tremec behind it...

If your considering a regular F150 then you need to go up the supercharger forum and talk to Crash, he'll set you straight.

Aside from the long throw thing, there others to consider.

First off the regular manual tranny of the F150's, while it's been proven to good with a blower, I've heard noboby even getting down to low 13's with it, and if they did I don't know how the tranny would hold up. Overall my opinion of the F150 manuals is they're not that good. Which means your going to want to aftermarket $$$$$ plus custom chip to get around everything.

How Depressing
 

Thanks for the input, Captain. Seems like I had better just wait a couple years and see if Ford puts out an M6 on their L's in the future.

-Thomas

From a fellow Baylor Bear
 

You will never regret owning a Lightning! If I didn't have a family, I would have a Lightning in a heartbeat. I have always preferred manual transmissions. My step-brother has a MT Chevy, but would LOVE to own a Lightning even with an auto tranny.

Best of luck in your quest for the perfect truck. My .02 = can't get closer than a Lightning!

Sic 'Em!

Class of '93
CC Spring '91

- Jeff Kleck