A friend of mine is selling me his 1979 Camaro for $1000 with a 355CI motor and a auto transmission, I dislike automatics and was curious how much it would cost me to complete this swap. The transmission I can get easy its the interior change im unsure about the cost. How much am I looking at here?

 

Roughly $1000 for used parts.

 

Are you talking without the trans, or trans complete with the rest?

 

There is a guy over on Nasty that sells trans, BH, clutch, pedals and z-bar for 1000-1200. He strips Camaros for a living. Usually stock or stock replacement parts. I'd sell my stuff for 1200-1500 because of the Centerforce clutch and new hurst shifter. I also have a 11" clutch set up. Guys are paying 200 for the bellhousing alone.

 

I was pretty much in the same boat you're in a month ago when I bought my first camaro. 1978 Z28 and the TH350 tranny was out on it. I really wanted to go manual cause I hate automatics, but yeah, it will cost an easy 1k to do it, plus lots more time. Hard to find complete set ups, especially used. I spent a bunch of time trying to figure out if it would be viable to do, but I paid $1200 for the car, and doubling the price just to go to manual didn't make sense. If you're planning on keeping the car a long time and really restoring it, probably worth it though. Ups the value quite a bit cause they're hard to find too. Maybe keep it until tranny goes, then go for manual?

 

There's also the cost of a new console because the shifter sits forward of where the automatic shifter is now. You also have to cut a new hole in the hump for the shifter. There's a sheet metal hump where the manual transmission shifter comes through to be welded on also Nothing show stopping but something to be aware of should you decide it's worth it.

 

I may have to sell mine shortly. My son is having surgury in April. My insurance is a joke.


Do I get something for my 3000th post?