Manual Tranny

[CMYAU3]

: ey, guys i've got an 02 series 3 forte sedan. its an auto. ive got around $2500 and i wanted to know will this get me over the line with a manual conversion. also the job seems dawnting to me so getting a mechanic to do the job was the idea.

what needs changing? do i have to change the ecu, tailshaft and will i lose my cruise control?

i also want in the conversion a balanced and lightned flywheel and heavy duty clutch. should i keep saving? :eclipsee_

any info appreciatted

[robbo_yobbo]

You can get it done (with spare change) for $2500 fully installed if you shop around. (go to ford wreckers to install, not specialist mechanics or your $2500 will bareley cover the labour) Mine cost me 3K fully installed, but that included the purchase of an xr motor and install of that too which Im sure took up a fair slice of the amount.

I changed my ECU, but Ive heard you can get them reprogrammed aswell (although if you ask FORD theyll tell you it cant be done).

Basicaly you have a couple of options. you can .....
a) have your ECU reprogrammed
b) Swap the ECU and call an Auto Elec to do the Handshake with the BEM
c) Swap the ECU and the BEM to match and add your ignition switch and Keys to the BEM
d) Get the ECU, BEM and Ignition (with key) from the donor car (and let the Auto Elec have a day off)

Just remember, If swapping the ECU, make absoluteley sure the car the ECU comes from is the same series as yours, otherwise it will cause all sorts of problems (I learned the hard way)!

If not going option A, and you you cant get a manual ECU from your series, you will need to go with option D (as BEM/ECU wont speak to eachother from series to series), but you will also need to swap your engine harnes and dash wiring looms as there are subtle differences between series' which will cause issues (this sounds like a bigger job then it is as you need to take your dash out to put the peddle box in anyway).

If doing it yourself, I would like to suggest option D, as Even though your replacing more components, thier simply plug in, plug out parts, you will run into less hassles trying to get it all working.
It shouldnt cost you any extra if you can find a friendly wrecker whos happy to swap your BEM/ECU/Ignition for the one that came from the same car as the gearbox.

You shouldnt loose cruise control, (as far as I know anyway)

On top of the parts mentioned above (depending on the option you go with), you will also need a new tailshaft, peddle box and obviously the gearbox+clutch.

It sounds like a massive job at first, but when you break it down, its realy only a bunch of small jobs put together.

Buy yourself a gregories manual and set yourself asside a weekend, and you'll come in at around 1/2 your expected budget.

Then you can use the cash left over for your high performance clutch and flywheel. at a guess, around 5-600ish (Im guessing) for a high performance clutch and no idea on the flywheel sorry

Hope this helps.

[robbo_yobbo]

Oh, I forgot to add, once its all done, stick your original trans, peddlebox, ecu, tailshaft etc on eBay and you'll likeley pick yourself up enough for a decent set of extractors, cat back, maybe a high flow cat or a combination if your lucky!

[CMYAU3]

yeah it does sound like a big job to do, thanks , answered eveything i needed to know now i know what im in for roughly. i can start shopping around for parts and some one to do the job. thanks

[robbo_yobbo]

You'll find the cheapest installer to be the place you purchase it from.
Auto wreckers always do cheap installs if your buying the gear from them