Hey guys I have an 86 SE with a 3800sc and 4t65-HD. Due to rust I'm swapping the drivetrain and brakes into my 87 GT I have... I plan on doing a turbo swap and cam swap amoung other things. But I can't get the idea of a manual swap out of my head! I would have to convert the GT to a manual. I just hate the 2.blank gears I have now, it makes it feel so slow! I recently aquired a 2M6 4 speed and it's a blast to drive! I don't have much funds but I do the work myself, so is the F23 as great as it seems? I do want it but obviously if it's going to be crazy expensive I can't do it. Btw I have FieroX mounts, and Phonedawgs wiring... Opinions welcome! Thanks
I won't try to tell you whether to stay auto or swap to manual...that is a decision only you can make. Personally, I wouldn't have done the auto to begin with...and if I bought an auto, a manual swap would have been budgeted along with buying the car. But....here are my pros and cons of the manual swaps mentioned.
The 94 Getrag that quickgta posted...It is a well known and well documented swap. All parts are readily available to make it a simple bolt in...but future repairs (rebuild kits and such) are getting harder to come by.
The F23 that LEEEZARD posted...potentially stronger than the Getrag (I am not aware of anyone breaking one yet)...but the swap will require some more engineering. Will require custom mounts, custom shifting mechanism, proper cables (figure out which ones work with the rest of your engineering)...and the clutch/flywheel might not be as "standard" as the Getrag (I haven't done the swap myself, but I keep hearing about peoples' searches for one that works).
Similarities: Gearing is pretty close between the two....close enough that it probably isn't a factor. Both setups use a hydraulic throw-out bearing. Both are stronger than the Getrag that came in the Fiero. Both can be broken with proper abuse. Both of the specific ones mentioned have LSDs. Both use stock Fiero manual axles.
I have driven Fiero Getrags with stock motors, and an F23 (with LSD) with a 380 rwhp SBC. I don't drag race...I run twisty mountain roads. I do think the F23 is a bit smoother in shifting...but the Getrag is good enough that it doesn't justify the added work. At the end of the day....I would go with the Getrag for the ease of installation. If I break it....then it would swap to the F23 rather than attempting to find another one. If the stock (or RD poly) mounts wouldn't work for some reason, then I would just skip to the F23.
Just my opinion...and it is worth exactly what you paid for it.
Ian, What is the basic point of the car and what are you trying to achieve with the motor? If you enjoy a fun car to drive and aren't going to drag race it much then a manual would be okay I would guess. Here's the thing, everyone says yeah I just want the sports car feel, etc. And think autos are slow and boring. My car is a fully built auto and if I had a manual I would have been more pissed it blew a clutch or even when I miss a gear than anything else. The moral of the story if you want a decently fast street car and aren't going to launch it at stop lights or take it to the track and be disappointed in a slower than normal pass, go with the manual and enjoy it. If you want a consistent track and street car and not having to worry about blowing a clutch, etc go with a manual. It's the owner's choice. If they made a bullet proof manual and it was the right gear ratios, I would love a manual, they just don't.
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[This message has been edited by Rare87GT (edited 08-13-2013).]
I originally went with the auto because of easiness of the swap, it can handle power well, and overdrive. I always wanted a stick but never had the chance to drive one, now my new Fiero has the 2.8 and 4 speed and I love it! I'm addicted to it. Like I said the gears in the 4t65 are way to high. I swear my new Fiero actually feels faster than my 3800sc. I've been reading up on the F23 swaps and I'm feeling a little discouraged... So much contrasting info and problems... I'm just kicking things around. And as for racing, I plan on beating on it on the street. Not really drag racing on tracks. But if I have to "baby" it, I don't want it
