1.3L engine swap - manual to automatic? Help pls.

My 1996 Metro bit the dust lately, a sad (but I think well known)story, I was planning on keeping it for at least a while longer but the passenger front wheel assembly now wants to fall off.

So I was about to put it up for parts (a ton of parts on this thing, I'm something of a maintenance nut) and my nephews' good friend has a problem - the engine in his 97 Metro sedan blew.

So you see the picture. Myself and my nephew are planning on pulling my engine and installing it in his car (his friend is a good kid but doesn't make much money). My car is a 1.3L 5 speed manual with A/C. His is a 1.3L automatic with A/C. Are there any problems with this?

Any help, tips or info is much appreciated. And if anyone's in the Cleveland area looking for parts drop me a line.

(Admin if there's any prob with that line please delete it - I'm just going to take it to the junkyard, it's a shame).

Many thanks,

Pete

I don't believe there are any problems with what you propose. You will need to trade over his flexplate to take the place of your flywheel so the automatic will mate up. Pay close attention to any spacers behind it as I understand there are differences between the manual and auto spacing. I'm sure others will chime in if there are differences in sensors that need to be addressed but I think you've found a good way to utilize your parts and lend a helping hand.

there is a spacer that goes between the flex plate and the crank on the auto engine, make sure you pop it off and transfer it on to the new engine. might also need to transfer the throttle body off old motor but other than that should drop right in

i hate automatics. lol

Id buy a whole car to avoid an auto. especiallty a 3 speed like comes in the metro....

You know 2005, 91% of the cars sold in the us were automatic?

This is a depressing scene. That means even like the mazda 3, or toyota echo I want 8 years from now.... its going to be an auto. and my mazda protege from 95 is going to kill it in performance.

What Im going to have to learn over the next few years is the opposite. throwing manuals in auto cars. like the shift linkage, what parts are necessary, what tranny is possible.

in fact ill run this by some of you car guys. 95 toyota previa super charged. auto only. 3 speed even. in a supercharged minivan. ive never driven one but it hurts my stomach thinking about it.

What I want is a manual, but.... there was no manual. the manual previas sold were so few like in the 91 year i doubt they exist even in junk yards. this is a mid engine car, its practically unique in terms of many parts involved. How could you put a manual tranny from any car into it? the way it works is the tranny is on its side, but its rear drive. drive shaft going at like 30 degree angle, youll trip out if you ever look at one.

anyhow thats my hijack, how do you put a manual tranny in a s/c previa?

go to car-part.com and look for a manual tranny for one. if a different car fits it will show you in the list. if you find one in your area should have the parts needed to convert over

Hey thanks guys. So it looks pretty striaghtforward, just MAKE SURE I've got the spacing right.

St I'm agreed, I like sticks in small cars and hot rods, but I'm already putting in an engine, I don't want to do a tranny swap too! Good luck to you.

I'll post my experience when I'm done. Thanks again!

Pete

Well it's done, in, hope I never see it again.

:) nah it wasn't THAT bad. My observations:

5 million thanks for mentioning that spacer! I NEVER would've noticed it.

There are some wiring plugs on the auto that are different from the manual (makes sense). Since the harnesses and the transmissions stay on the car it doesn't matter. For the record there were 21 plugs on both cars, 4 vacuum lines, and the two fuels.

The Haynes manual says you don't have to disconnect the trans to get the engine out. You do, not pull it completely but pull most mount bolts and slide it back.

It also doesn't even mention disconnecting the PS pump. I recommend pulling the entire bracket that holds the PS pump & a/c compessor (4 bolts), leaving them both hooked up but "set aside".

The one part (other than the flywheel/spacer) that needed changed was the steel pipe, a coolant return, that runs from the back of the transmission to the back of the water pump under the intake manifold. It is bent a little differently on the trans end. One #10 screw and it pops out. Pay particular attention when re-installing it, I did not seat it properly and smashed/pinched the o-ring, it added 3 hours onto the end of my job.

That was the only thing. The engine is in and looks like it was never touched.

Test-driving it I can see why I didn't buy the automatic - dog off the line, and no fun whatsoever. When cruising it does ok though. The only reason I'd do this is to put the engine from an auto into a manual, should be a snap.

One additional comment: The last time I changed an engine was a 75 Cutlass. More vacuum lines, but only a few wires. Even though I knew there'd be more wiring on a modern computer controlled car I had no idea!! I don't even want to THINK about changing an engine in a more expensive car.

Thanks again everyone,

Pete

one last question i dont understand

as there anything wrong ith your manual? I mean is it still sitting around?

Id try to put it in his car.

It comes down to time and effort. He was fine with his auto trans and I was fine with not changing it :) .

He did mention yesterday that its' off the line performance was worse while its' cruising power seemed better. He is gonna try swapping the throttle bodies and see what a difference it makes.

And I forgot to post, I had forgotten to put the trans in neutral before pulling the harness, so the safety interlock wouldn't release, and got lucky - I stretched the harness back across the engine, plugged the transmission back in, and hooked up the battery. The interlock released! - phew.

Pete

He changed the throtle body, it was very easy. It does run better, they must be factory preset to auto or manual.

The towtruck came and took my little hulk of a car away. Funny, I owned that car for 9 years almost to the day, and outside of the occasional gocart feeling and gas sipping hated it. But I'm still sorry to see it go, it was more car than I thought.

Thanks again everyone!

Pete