No Manual Gear Box

I love my LS V8. The big thing I do miss is rowing my own gears. When I was shopping I never came across a stick shift sport model. If I had I would have bought it. Too bad Ford droped it completley. Looks like this model is in it's golden years already. Anybody out there do an auto to stick conversion in a V8?

not possible - the V6 tranny isn't rated for the V8 hp - and the PCM would have to be changed to an option that isn't available.

Sorry, Lou. I have to disagree. It IS possible, but not cheap. You'd have to get a stand-alone engine management system...and program it. Then you'd have to have a bellhousing and flywheel custom machined to adapt an aftermarket manual such as the Tremec TKO-500. You may or may not need a custom pilot bearing and/or crankshaft work. Don't forget the clutch. I'd go hydraulic to simplify things. Once you got the tranny mounted, you'd have to fit into the chassis (possibly easier said than done) and mount it, then measure and make provisions for a shifter by modifying the center console and tunnel. Then we can move on to the driveshaft, which will need a length change and possibly (more than likely) a new yoke.


I'd say a couple months and $8,000 if you do the majority of the work yourself.

Sorry, Lou. I have to disagree. It IS possible, but not cheap. You'd have to get a stand-alone engine management system...and program it. Then you'd have to have a bellhousing and flywheel custom machined to adapt an aftermarket manual such as the Tremec TKO-500. You may or may not need a custom pilot bearing and/or crankshaft work. Don't forget the clutch. I'd go hydraulic to simplify things. Once you got the tranny mounted, you'd have to fit into the chassis (possibly easier said than done) and mount it, then measure and make provisions for a shifter by modifying the center console and tunnel. Then we can move on to the driveshaft, which will need a length change and possibly (more than likely) a new yoke.


I'd say a couple months and $8,000 if you do the majority of the work yourself.

What do you do about the existing PCM thinking the car still has an auto in it?

Don't need it. Replace it with something like one of these:
http://www.motec.com/products/ecu/control.htm
http://www.eiptuning.com/eip/tec3.html

I would like some feedback/insight on doing a swap out in the V6 from auto to manual. IIRC the brake fluid resevoir doubles for brakes and clutch. I seem to remember reading that some where.

Noah, there is member over at LLSOC that is pursuing this right now. He's got other things on his plate, but expects to get on it in earnest next spring. He's already got the tranny and is researching the software issues. His handle is JES_LS.

I don't know any more than that...

Noah, there is member over at LLSOC that is pursuing this right now. He's got other things on his plate, but expects to get on it in earnest next spring. He's already got the tranny and is researching the software issues. His handle is JES_LS.

I don't know any more than that...

thanks! Any idea what state he is from? I may re-enroll over at llsoc just to collaborate with this fellow. I had brought this up at llsoc before and had abandoned the notion after I leased my 350z but it will be going back april of next year. I really would like to pursue this.

The forums are down at the moment, but I believe he's from Florida. I could be WAAY off base, though. I'll forward your contact info to him and get back with you about it.

The forums are down at the moment, but I believe he's from Florida. I could be WAAY off base, though. I'll forward your contact info to him and get back with you about it.

Wow! I hope you are right on with the location this could turn out well. Thanks again.

Thanks Chris. I recvd an email this evening and have replied. I want to work on a list of questions with him to pose to my mechanic at the dealer and a few other mechanic friends I have. My neighbor at the end of the street used to work at another delaer i went to in the past; he now runs his own shop. Plus I know a guy that runs a tire store and he stole a Lincoln tech from an area dealer. Hopefully we will be able to glean some valuable information and make this happen.

I am looking at late spring or early summer next year becasue i just replced a few tranny parts that set me back about 800 bux and I figure the MTBF is approximately 12months based on past experiences.

In regards the the pcm..... I wonder if the pcm that comes on the auto is the smae as the manual just different code. If they are it might be more cost effective to have the sctflash work done but replace the auto with the manual code.

Ahh the questions. I certainly see myself keeping this car for much longer if I can get this thing converted. I do intend to lease abother vehicle once I hold the note on this one and it may well be another LS or dare I say it Zephyr. I'll keep this as a daily and use the lease for road trips. Heck maybe I'll get a Navigator. I know the household is going to grow by at least one more in the next 18 months for a total of 5. If I can convince my wife to make out with me again. :)

Yeah . . . TMI!
I'll stop there.