I have a 98 4x4 with a 4.6 automatic and I was thinking of puting a manual in it. Is this possible or is it to much work and money to even mess with?

 

I think your answer to both questions is YES! Is it possible? Of course. But by the time you change everything out and add a clutch I think you would have been better of to just trade what you have in on one with a manual transmission. IF you decide to change everything out, you know you won't ever get your money back out of it in resale value when you go to sell it someday.

 

you are absolutely right but i have a passion for manual transmissions. Ever since i sold my old truck i have wanted a manual transmission back.

 

Yes it is possible to change from automatic to manual. And it is also possible to replace the engine with a 454 Ch**y. All joking aside if you are persistant in wanting to do this, I suggest you try to find someone with a manual shift that they would love to swap for your auto. Then both of you could get all the pieces you would need. Good luck Paxton
P.S. I prefer to grind my own gears too!

 

Thanks for the idea paxton. If i had time and money I would connsider doing it, but for know I'm just thanking about the future.

 

Go for the swap. Maybe you'll luck up like I did. I got everything needed to convert my 4 sp auto to a 5 spd manual. Now this was on a S-10, but keep in mind that everything was brand new. I got it out of a city truck, that had just replaced EVERY thing on the drivetrain. This thing had 1200 miles on it, and the truck got totalled. I pulled everything my self for 150 bucks. Everything bolts right in. Just get a manual trans F150, tear it down, get everything, even stuff you don't think you'll need. It took me 8 hrs to do the complete swap. Get the manuals on both trucks and read them over and over till it becomes second knoledge. It will go smoothly, just take your time. If it don't fit, it wasn't meant to go there Its a lil work, but if your like me, and know you want a 5 spd, then just do the swap. Trading in/up is a waste of money.

 

thanks for the reply. You actually give me a little cofidance and some good ideas. Thanks for the reply.

 

No problem. Anytime

 

So...what does the PCM do when it goes looking for an auto trans and sees nothing?

 

be carefull. the pcm want's to see what that tranny is doing. in more way's than just park or reverse. most likely you need to be an elec. wiz to do this. more than just swaping a trans.

 

Hey, I'm willing to trade tranny's. I currently have the 5spd on my 4.6L, and I'm looking for an automatic tranny. I'm assuming that if the computers where to be swapped, and all wiring redone, then the computer and tranny should work out fine.

Well, if you're insterested, let me know....

 

I have a friend that put a 5 speed in a 93 ch#$y and what he did was put the transmission in neutral before disconnecting the battery. You wont have to swap out the computer. if you do this the computer will think is in neutral so you can grind all you want.

 

hey, if you're real adventureous, try to put in a tremec 3550 or TKO; they're better transmissions than the mazda unit... i'm curious to see how easily this swap can be done.

I'm assuming either of these will bolt up since they work on mustangs with 4.6... some mods will undoubtedly be requried, though.

 

The manual is a Mazda unit?? Holy cow, the 5-speed I had in my 90'Ranger 4x4 was a Mazda unit and that was a piece of sh*t from hell!! I spent over $2k on a tranny rebuild. Turns out the parts inside weren't what was corresponding to the tag on the tranny, took like a month to get the right parts. When I traded it in for my F150 the tranny was starting to go again.

I specifically asked the Ford salesman if there was a Mazda tranny in my F150 (auto) because I didn't want another vehicle with a f**ken Mazda piece in it.

My auto tranny better not be Mazda or I'm returning the truck!

 

I think I would need to transfer the computer as well.

If the engine thinks the car is neutral, then the computer will think that there isn't a load, and the performance of the engine will be sacrificed. Swapping the computer with the tranny will probably be the best bet.