EK auto to manual conversion details?

[Matt_Rennie]

Hi,

Young guy, new to the world of EK's, excuse my lack of knowledge.

I am looking at buying an EK sedan that has a 179 and trimatic fitted (I believe an original auto body car). I would like to convert the car to a manual (column shift would be great but floor shift is ok).

I would like to know if anyone has any experience doing this conversion (Ive read on here a few of you have gone the other way),any recommendations about gearbox selection, and things to watch out for when doing the swap (installing the clutch system etc.)

Located in QLD and would want to do things by the book (engineering, mod plates).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Matt.

[In the Shed]

Welcome Matt,
Whilst I can't help with your query there should be plenty here with the technical and practical experience.

Regards
Stephen

[Errol62]

Three speed all synchro box will fit but column linkages may require using a medley of HT and FB EK parts. You can re use the tailshaft as the box/bellhousing is the same length. Same speedo drive. FB EK master and slave cylinders with slave cylinder conversion bracket from crs et all. Aussie 4 Spd same deal with floor shift.

FE to HK three speed crash box will bolt up to FB EK column shift and use manual tailshaft and original slave master and speedo drive.

Personally I prefer the trimatic mated to EK column auto shift. Hydramatic tailshaft and HT HG speedo cable.
Cheers
Clay


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[Blacky]

a very clever bloke over here fitted a 5 speed gearbox to his sons EK van and modified a column shift to operate it
A Holden 3 speed should be asy enough using a HT/G column or maybe a Torana ? A mate of mine just did one using HT/G column but it was also fitted with a rack and pinion front end as the HT/G columns do not have the steering box built onto the end of the column

[Matt_Rennie]

Ok great, thanks for the advice.

If I'm going to do the conversion (and considering it is non-original from the start) I could live with upgrading an m20 or Celia with floor shift for simplicity.

Only other thing that makes me hesitant is the clutch, anyone have any horror stories i should know about?

Cheers,

Matt.

[Blacky]

My FB has a 186 and a 5 speed Celica box - its lots of fun to thrash around and goes like a rocket compared to my Grey/3 speed ute It has a hydraulic clutch setup , these come up fairly regularly on Epay or Gumtree as a complete or near complete kit so best keep your eye out and snap one up.

And welcome to the forum , got any pics of your ride ????

[mph]

Do the auto floor eks come with a rear crossmember. hows the trimatic held at the moment

[Errol62]

M20 is easily converted to take the FE EK slave cylinder and bolts up to red motor so no clutch issues. That said they are not as nice a box (imho).


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[mph]

M20 is easily converted to take the FE EK slave cylinder and bolts up to red motor so no clutch issues. That said they are not as nice a box (imho).


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And the peski floor shifters always seem to jam at some time or another

[Matt_Rennie]

Hi again, so I purchased the car...wasn't an Auto car after all. It has a fabricated oversized transmission tunnel welded in and a dodgy bracket made from angle holding the gearbox in.

Therefore, I'm going to try to cut the tunnel out and fold up a near original one and keep an eye out for an original (or similar 173, 179 etc) driveline. Anyone have experience in un-dodgying a conversion?

[Blacky]

post up some pics when you get under it mate - there has been plenty of these things undodgied on here over the years

[In the Shed]

post up some pics when you get under it mate - there has been plenty of these things undodgied on here over the years

Hey Blacky, had some experience with dodgy brothers??

Regards
Stephen