mikestewart395 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Hey guys, anyone ever swap out their manual for an automatic tranny before? I am curious as to the difficulty it would be to do it in my 88 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cvdloc Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 (edited) The big difficulty is the computer and wiring. Meaning if you got a donor you can rip everything out and it should fit right in, might be a pain and confusing just label and photos and it shouldn't be terrible. I have done an auto to standard swap I left everything in but I unplugged close to 20 - 25 wires and only used 4 of them after. And you'll also need the torque converter (I think that's what it is called) and the gut there. Center consol And cross member! I was the idiot who scrapped the wrong one lol trip to the wreckers! My question is, why? Automatic is nice for wheeling but the older nissan autos are close to garbage... Unless you install and after market trans cooler/temp gauge so as soon as it goes above normal you can kill it, ill give the autos that after going threw 2 in less than a year, you see my anger lol Anyways, it isn't terrible from 1-10 I'd say 6 it'll take a bit tho Edited January 9, 2014 by cvdloc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Most people go the other way, but if you put in a later auto (the HD version from the later Pathy/Xterra/Frontier) it could be worth it. You'll have some wiring to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejin4499 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 (edited) The wiring isn't that bad three or four plugs to rewire on the harness but a donor vehicle would be really really nice to have. If you don't have that then make sure you read up on what people take out for the manual swap so you know what you need to put back in. If memory serves you would need a Tranny computer all the wiring from that (look under driver side seat) The key lock in the ignition Harness from the tranny to the shifter Harness from tranny to engine bay Compatible speed sensor yours being an 88 would have a mechanical speed sensor i think you can take yours and put it on a newer automatic but you may want better confirmation than that. You're going to have to do something about the clutch pedal and neutral safety switches and interlock switches There is a switch for changing something about how the tranny shifts to the left of the steering column don't know if you need that or not but its there. Good luck hope that gets your started Edited January 9, 2014 by ejin4499 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverton Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 You essentially need the ECU+TCU and the ENTIRE harness along with the transmission itself. Much easier to sell your five speed truck and buy an automatic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikestewart395 Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 I was thinking of swapping simply because I drive one hour to work everyday, 6 days a week, city traffic.I forget the exact number but it was close to 35 red lights. Clutch shift clutch shift clutch shift.........automatic just seemed like a dream lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TutorN1 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Would have to agree with silverton. That's one of those choices where you have to decide, even tho it can been done, would it be easier to buy a pathy with the tranny you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nefarious Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Auto to manual swap, sure. Not too bad of a job. Manual to auto swap? Might as well buy an auto truck....that's going to be a LOT of work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikestewart395 Posted January 14, 2014 Author Share Posted January 14, 2014 Simple thing would be to sell it and buy another. It's just hard because I am a bit attached. It is a bucket of rust but it has a lot of history. It was an Airborne vehicle doing 4 years in Germany, 2 years in Italy. In my spare time I lovingly patch the floor panels, hammer some loose rust and add more bondo. I don't know. Maybe I will paint it and sell it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejin4499 Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Don't sell your friend just cause someone said the project might be difficult. Sell it cause your done and you want to move on to something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TutorN1 Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Don't sell your friend just cause someone said the project might be difficult. Sell it cause your done and you want to move on to something else.I second that. If it's worth it to you by all means go for it. You can't put a price on history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fast5speed Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 No offence, but on a scale of "not worth it" this one is probably at the top. It would become the epitome of "I wish I never started this project" Going auto to manual isn't that bad because it's mostly removing things. Going from manual to auto would be awful because there are so many things to add. torque converter, flex plate, transmission cooler, lines, trans computer, wiring, center console, etc etc. I believe it would consume a lot of your valuable time, cost a lot more money than you expect, and, in the end, your vehicle now has a lower resale value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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