Auto to manual conversion questions

[5.8]

Has anyone done a "how to" on an AU auto to manual conversion. A couple of questions:

1. does tailshaft need to be replaced?

2. What ecu do you need to run? (Currently VCT auto)

[Ford Falcon XR6]

Not to sure on the tail shaft i'm pretty sure they are the same. But i have heard you can get away with running an Auto ECU in a manual i think it just causes a slightly high idle. Your best off doing a search on it i'm sure these questions have been answered before

[bartsau]

I believe the driveshafts are different lengths as my Mechanic got one custom made for my wagon when I had it converted to manual. Not sure by how much or if you could get away with the auto one though.

As for the ecu the auto requires a temperature feed from the auto gearbox which can not be has with a manual gearbox. Therefore the thermo fans will run at 100% non stop not allowing the car to reach temperature. I think these can be flashed but not 100% sure. I ended up getting a manual ecu from Injectronics.

[chrisvess]

The auto ecu can be used all that needs to be done is a resistor in the two trans temp sender can't remember which 2 or what resistance although i think it may be 6.8k mine idled fine and thermo fans ran normally doing this also just bridge the 2 wires for neutral switch and join up reverse lights

[bartsau]

Originally Posted by chrisvess

The auto ecu can be used all that needs to be done is a resistor in the two trans temp sender can't remember which 2 or what resistance although i think it may be 6.8k mine idled fine and thermo fans ran normally doing this also just bridge the 2 wires for neutral switch and join up reverse lights

Was this on an AU? The reason I ask is that I have seen it said before that the resistor trick does not work on the AU's as the ECU learns around it?? Not too sure about this though.

[chrisvess]

It was on an au series 2 forte and was still working fine 12 months later when I traded

[imbhvn]

I done the manual conversion on my series 3 wagon 3 weeks ago, i use my auto tailshaft its a little bit too long but still works fine, im running the auto ecu atm havnt done the resistor trick as of yet, the conversion itself is pretty straight forward.

1. remove steering column
2. unbolt pedal box and fit manual one.
3. Refit steering column
4. unbolt tailshaft
5.unbolt torque convertor (access in front of auto)
6. unbolt gearbox mounts and support gearbox on jack.
7. remove bell housing bolts and starter motor bolts.
8. remove plugs and selector from the auto.
9. Drop auto out.
10. remove flywheel bolts.
11. fit spigot bearing for manual input shaft.
12. fit manual flywheel and clutch assy.
13. fit manual box and bellhousing bolts.
14. bolt gearbox mounts and refit tailshaft.
15. run clutch cable.
16. sort out reverse lights etc etc.

Pretty straight forward if you know what you doing

took me 6 hours from start to finish. be careful not to burn yourself if your doing it after driving

[Haydn92]

I have just done the conversion on a 2001 AU SII XR8, from auto to manual. I only have the auto ECU, it is all in but wont start (doesn't know its in Neutral). I need to know what Gearbox harness i should use and what i neeed to do to it to get it running.
Thanks

[bartsau]

You will need to loop the wire on the gearbox loom for the neutral switch. On my gearbox loom this was a black wire. Can have a look tomorrow and take a photo of which pins and how it is looped as it is all out of the car at the moment.

[Haydn92]

That would be very helpful if you could. I have been told it is very simple when you know what to do.
My Auto harness had a round and a rectangular plug to connect to the car but the manual harness only has the rectangular, so I'm assuming its on the round one just not sure which pins.
Thanks heaps if you could post a pick.

[bartsau]

Ok so it is a long time now since I pulled it out...But I am 90% sure this plug shown in the photo is the one you will need to loop as shown to get the neutral switch to allow you to start it.