At the crossroads - need some advice/help

**Polyal** · 02-05-2007, 01:46 PM

Well it looks like I am off to live in Hobart in July/June. It will only be for 2 or so years until I finish my degree.

Anyway, I am stuck with a decision, whether or not to keep the Ghia. I love the car, and Ive put a bit of effort into it. Ill convince myself that I will get something else and then I drive it and think to myself "WTF was I thinking, its great".

I was thinking about getting a XH Ute. Mainly because rarely do I taxi people around, and the tray would be handy to help me over stuff down to Tassie. A manual would be great to have again and the XH's look pretty sweet slammed and some nice rims.

Or I can do something that I wish I did with my first car, and get a Escort RS2000. I figure I can drive it as a daily until I finish uni and the garage it once I get a job and turn it into a little weekend toy/racer. I like the idea of a "raw" car.

So this is where I am stuck. Ive been thinking about a manual conversion for my Ghia; but there seem to be a few things stopping that.

1. ECU? Could I just use a manual EL XR6 ECU? But will that be ok in the Ghia as its a high series car?

2. Do I need to do the whole pedal box installation? Or are those Mal Wood clutch pins good enough?

3. What about the tail shaft? Do I keep my standard one?

4. Center console? I know I could just get all the interior bits from a XR, but its going to look retarded as thats black IIRC, an you get Cappa manual interior peices?

5. Finding a box, I dont think I want to put anything less that a EF box in, I can imagine its going to be a PIA trying to find a conversion kit.

There the major issues I can think of, and there are probably more. Also I dont think I would get another car if I couldn't sell mine for atleast $6k. Do you think thats reasonable? The k's are highish, but it drives brilliantly still.

So yeah, any info or advice would be great.

frd_crzer · 02-05-2007, 01:59 PM

allan the pedal box you wont need the mal wood pin will do. that is all i know of a manual conversion

JC · 02-05-2007, 05:48 PM

The ECU only controls mechanical functions, the BEM controls the high series stuff, so you should be right with a manual EL XR6 ECU.
As for the rest, tough decision .

b2tf · 02-05-2007, 05:55 PM

99% sure you will never find any capa interior bits for a manual, you'd have to be super super lucky to find a Futura etc optioned with both manual trans and the capa interior.

Dezza · 02-05-2007, 05:55 PM

1. The EL XR6 ECU will be fine.
2. Mal wood pin is much easier to do, and should be sufficient
3. The standard tailshaft will bolt straight up
4. You don't need to change the entire console, just the piece around the gear boot.
5. EA-EL will all bolt straight up. EBII isn't all that different to EF anyway. EA-EB1 is a bit different, but still works well.

NZ · 02-05-2007, 05:59 PM

The high series ECU controls the climate blower speed differently to the low series. On high series its 12v for full and 0v for low and reverse for low series. retarded huh?!

Kenaz · 02-05-2007, 06:28 PM

There is no better car than a EL Ghia

**Polyal** · 02-05-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZ

The high series ECU controls the climate blower speed differently to the low series. On high series its 12v for full and 0v for low and reverse for low series. retarded huh?!

No, my electronic knowledge is retarded...LOL

So do I have to change to a manual ECU? Whats the difference between a manual ECU and an auto? The idle?

Is it possible to get an e series edit and just copy the EL XR6 code into it. I have no idea what I am talking about but it doesn't seem that crazy.

As for the climate blower, could you invert the signal? Again, makes sense in my head but probably wouldn't work.

**Polyal** · 02-05-2007, 09:13 PM

Well I guess the turning point will be how much a conversion will cost.

Anyone want to hazard a guess?

JC · 02-05-2007, 11:52 PM

$2k all up - easy!

private9 · 03-05-2007, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NZ

The high series ECU controls the climate blower speed differently to the low series. On high series its 12v for full and 0v for low and reverse for low series. retarded huh?!

I know this is true but I've got an EL Futura with a climate conversion and climate works fine with both a high & low series ECU.

I6T5 · 03-05-2007, 12:36 AM

put an EA t5 in it you stupid ****head and drive the ****, or commit suicide allready faggot.

PHoeNiX · 03-05-2007, 12:46 AM

been lookin at manual for aaages....as ea silver said, malwood pin is sweet, only change the console surround - you will need a boot (im sure there'd be a cappa one soemwhere), go ED set up - cheaper and same effect, just an older box is all....and you can keep the ECU you have and do the resistor trick whcih means that the revs will 'hang' a lil bit, manual will just make the revs drop regularly, as though u bought it manual from the factory.

$2k?? im aiming at like 1/4 of that....see how we go though...

hope this helps somewhat...

Brenton

nothin suss · 03-05-2007, 10:57 AM

I have a solution.... Buy my Manual 2002 RX liberty wagon... You can have a manual as well as fill it up with your belongings!

I just got back from Hobart on monday night, had a ball. Salamanca is real cool on saturdays when they have the big market and clubs/pubs arent too bad either. I couldnt get over the amount of hills! As well as the local kids smoking dope and drinking goon... they love it over there!

**Polyal** · 03-05-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nothin suss

I have a solution.... Buy my Manual 2002 RX liberty wagon... You can have a manual as well as fill it up with your belongings!

I just got back from Hobart on monday night, had a ball. Salamanca is real cool on saturdays when they have the big market and clubs/pubs arent too bad either. I couldnt get over the amount of hills! As well as the local kids smoking dope and drinking goon... they love it over there!

LOL...yes all of this is true, I can see my fuel consumption and brakes getting worse..LOL

Tassie is a beautiful place, I go down about 5-10 times a year as the GF parents live there, and now she has a full time job in Launceston.

So, looks like my chances of going manual are slim.....

Ive been thinking about it a bit more, perhaps I can leave it auto and buy a escort for fun. Maybe...