I used to have a 6spd 00' SS and LOVED IT TO DEATH it was so much fun. Unfortunately, it was wrecked because morons don't know how to drive.

Anyway, my insurance cleared my last loan and now I'm shopping for a new Camaro. Another unfrotunate evenet as a result of my wrecked car is that most of the Camaro's on the market are automatic. I'm afraid, after driving a 6spd for almost a year, I CANNOT go back to automatic.

So here are my question(s):

1) Is it very difficult (in other words, not worth the time) to convert an automatic into a 6spd?

2) Has anyone here done it?

3) As far as adding the 3rd pedal is concerned, how would you go about doing that?

4) And this is considering I get an automatic, would there be anyone who would be willing to switch tranny's straight up? Meaning drive type for drive type. If I'm not mistaken, auto tranny set ups are worth more than 6spd so you'd be winning.

Thanks for the info guys and let me know about that auto tranny being worth more... That is completely hearsay so I don't know how concrete it is.

-Matt

 

Don't do it. For a LT1 I'd say go for it since they have a nifty conversion kit available. But for an LS1 it's a pain in the butt hunting down all the parts you need.

As for swapping tranny with a M6 guy that wants an A4 that also has been done before. It's actually the best way to do it since all the parts you both need are right there. But here is your problem. Most M6's guys that want to switch to an A4 are looking for one with a high stall torque converter. Usually these are guys who get tired of losing to all the stalled autos at the track. So they only want to swap with auto guys that have a good torque converter so they save themselves the time and expense of getting one after the swap.

Since you don't have a car yet this is a no brainer. Don't buy an auto if you want a manual. Carmax delivers cars. Dealerships get new trade-ins every week. People decide to sell thier car at any givin point and time. It probably would not take as long as you think to find another SS M6 if you just exercise a little patience and keep your eyes open.

A4 to M6 is a big job and some people who did it had computer issues after. It's not worth even considering IMHO. Just hold out for a M6 and you'll save yourself the expense and headache of switching.

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

what he said. not worth it.

 

Yup. If you absolutely need to have M6, definetely wait for the M6 to come up.

Since there is no price difference between the M6 and A4 cars, you'd actually be throwing money away. Unless you find somebody wanting to do the swap, which I doubt too many are anyway...

Good luck with your hunt!

TS

 

BS. All you guys saying dont do it, its not worth it havent done it. I have helped with five A4 to M6 swaps and its very easy actualy. Usually takes about 8 hours from astart to finish with use of a lift. The pedals just unbolt from the firewal, and you install the new brake and cluth pedal in reverse of removal of the old brake pedal. The firewall is already dimpled for the master cylinder, soyou know exaclty where to drill. The hardest part is re-pining the harness for the M6. Even that is fairly simple. So far I have spent 1.5K, and i have a rebuilt tranny(much stronger than stock), shifter, ****, pedals, clutch, preasure plate, flywheel and console. All i need is the hydraulics, and computer to complete it, and im saving for those right now. I say do it. Its not nearly as bas as some people think it is. Just give yourself a little bit of time to aquire parts, shop around for better deals, I did. I bought my tranny, clutch, flywheel, preasure plate for 6hun, and all it needed was a rebuild which i got for 700 with new bearings, synchros and steel shift forks. Buy an A4 if thats all you can find, drive it around for a bit, and then if you still want the 6 speed swap it out. You might actually like the A4, launching is so easy to do, but rowing through the gears on the freeway is more important to me, im not a stoplight warrior.

 

Thats because 99.9% of the people that do the swap dont swap computers, or have a manual program imaged on their computer. They just use the stock A4 computer thinking it will work, and while yes the car will run, it will give you headaches unless you have a manual program imaged on the car.

 

Yeah, I haven't done it. Don't plan to, either.

It's definetely good the hear the story from someone who has done it, too, though.

So, you have $1.5K invested now and you are still looking for parts. How much more are those going to run you? $400? $600? More? Less?

After all is said and done, you have $2K +/- some and several hours of work spent on it. For you it might be worth the hassle and cost, but not necessarily for everyone. Especially if you have to pay for the labor.

Factory M6 cars are out there.

TS

 

True, Factory 6 speed cars are out there, but they are few and far between. So yeah, I have spent 1.5K on the swap so far, and i have a tranny that is way stronger than stock, a much improved shifter, and almost everything else I need to complete the swap. And when I am done, I will sell my auto tranny, the pedals, the shifter, and anything else needed for somebody to do a A4 swap, and ill re-coup some of the money i spent on my swap. I certainly wont make it all back, but a little bit helps. Finding a 6 speed car is hard, especially one that is in good shape. Finding autos are easy, they are everywhere.

 

It's not how hard the work is, It's how difficult all the parts are to get IF you don't have a car swapping with you. I never did the conversion but I did consider it for awhile. So I did searches, started a few threads and talked to a few people. After all that research I discovered a few things.

1). It's expensive and difficult to get all the right parts if you don't have a doner car waiting to swap with you. It's real expensive if you can't do the work yourself and have to pay to have it done. Not everyone is capable of such a job in thier garage or driveway.

2). It's much easier and less expensive if your swapping tranny's with a M6 guy that wants an A4. I all ready discused in my first post that the problem he might run into is finding a M6 guy that is willing to swap with a 4L60E that has a stock torque converter. However I did hear from a few guys in my research that said they had some issues with it throwing codes even though the computers were swapped. Most however did not have issues but the possibility is there from what I was told.

3). Most that chimed in on my threads that did it said it's not worth it. Most actually said they were happy with the end result but if they could do it again they would sell the A4 and buy a M6 straight up.

4). Automatics with high stall aftermarket torque converters are faster then the M6's, easier on the stock rear ends and are far more consistant. This was what actually made me decide to keep my A4 the way it is. I plan to get my TC soon and take advantage of that technology to get some hopefully impressive ET's.

It makes no sense for this guy to take on this project if he is still car shopping. My advice is look for a M6 and use the money saved for mods. Or at the very least find a M6 doner first and then buy the A4 car. When I was car hunting it seemed to me that for every five autos I found one manual. They are a minority but they are out there.

Just get a M6 to start with and you can spend the money saved on mods and the time saved driving your car.

Good Luck on your car hunt and good luck with the swap if you go that way.

 

Well I disagree with the point about trying to aquire all the parts needed. Itsts not hard at all. I have found everything ive needed on the computer or through friends. I only started buying stuff 2 weeks ago, and im 90% done. And also, a high stall converter car, is just as hard if not worse on a rear end than a manual tranny car is. I do agree though, that if you are still car shopping, try and find a M6 car. They are hard to find, but they do exist. If you find a really sweet deal on a A4, consider that too. Myabe driving around with an automatic isnt half bad. I love mine during traffic, but when i want to partake in some "spirited driving", i miss not being able to row through the gears. I only get to the track 2-3 times a year so having consitent launches really doesnt mean anything to me.

 

As far as getting the parts (without swap car) that is subjective. What might be easy for one can be difficult for another. Some of the parts needed can not be purchased new at performance shops or tranny shops which means searching ebay, junkyards and any store that might deal with used parts. It would be cool if someone sold a LS1 swap kit like they do the LT1 but unfortunately they don't. At least not yet.

Now a high stall torque converter in an A4 is no where near as hard on a rear end as a M6 is. I have seen and heard numerous A4's running 3500+ stalls well into the 11's on a stock 10 bolt. But once a M6 starts hitting 12's on slicks they are at serious risk of the 10 bolt going "boom" and a 12 bolt being needed to replace it. Of course autos need a 12 bolt eventually too but no where near as soon as a manual does. Autos are best for drag racing and heavy traffic commutes. M6's are best for pleasure driving, road course racing and long trips due to better MPG.

I agree rowing through gears is fun. That's why I researched going to a M6 myself once. But after seeing all the expense involved, parts searching involved and the disadvantages at the drag strip I decided to keep the auto and stall it. I wish you luck in completing your swap. It sounds like your gonna have more fun with the M6 since drag racing isn't your thing. But for the guy who started the thread it's much easier just finding and buying an M6 in the first place.

 

took me a day and a half to finish my swap.. I honestly thought the headers where more of a PITA than the tranny swap..

 

just buy an M6 and be done with it. tell me your location and come hell or high water i'll find ya one

 

I'm going to be doing the swap in my 95 Z28. My swap kit just shipped out yesterday and should be here next week. The kit cost $1,800 and it's complete with all parts needed except for a few wiriing harness pigtails that I'll need. Here is a nice writeup on the parts needed and the actual conversion process. I was apprehensive at first, but my A4 is dying and I dont want another so, I'm just applying the rebuild cost + the sale of my Yank TC to the swap cost. I'm sure I'll be gald I did it in the end.

-Tony

 

At least on an LT1, the swap wasn't too bad. Ebay is your friend. So is Jason Cromer, GMPartsDirect and other parts departments at dealerships that offer a discount. In the end I think it ran me juuust over $2000, but that was with a brand new Street Twin that I got for a steal.

You will need to get your PCM flashed to an M6 program. You do NOT need to change wiring harnesses (at least not on an LT1 car). All you need to do is some extremely simple splicing of the wires that plugged into your A4 shifter.

Was it worth it? Hell yes. If you have done a cam swap, you can do a T56 conversion.

Good luck