Coverting automatic to stick

I talking to guy about maybe doing some performance modding on my 2005 Cav and he said don't bother with an automatic. Is this good advice? What would it take for me to convert my auto to a manual? Or cost me to have someone do it for me?

Manuals are more fun to drive, but a auto can win a manual of the same car in a race.

plus, if you have an auto,they make nifty little devices you can add to your car to make your shifts shorter and harder.

but a auto can win a manual of the same car in a race.

thats not true, in fact its the exact opposite, a manual would win over an automatic if everything else about the car was identical, its all about the gear ratio, since the manual has 1 or 2 more gears then an auto, it can have higher gear ratios, which allows you to make it to your redline (your engines peak horsepower) sooner

heres an example, lets say you have an auto floored in 1st gear, when it gets to 6000rpms it will shift into second gear and go back down to 4000 rpms, with a manaul it would only go back down to maybe 4500-4800rpms, and since your engine obviously makes more power at 4500 then it does at 4000, the advantage is plain as day......




as for the "nifty little devices" they make the exact same thing for manuals, its called a short throw shifter

Better off buying a car with a stick shift than spending all that money converting your auto cavalier to a stick shift. The cost and the headache isn't worth it in my opinion.

Better off buying a car with a stick shift than spending all that money converting your auto cavalier to a stick shift. The cost and the headache isn't worth it in my opinion.

The hell am I gonna do with two cavaliers? I just bought my first one.

a manual would win over an automatic if everything else about the car was identical, its all about the gear ratio, since the manual has 1 or 2 more gears then an auto, it can have higher gear ratios, which allows you to make it to your redline (your engines peak horsepower) sooner

I agree with you in theory, but you have to remember that the manual is dependent on the driver's skill and an automatic only needs a heavy object on the accelerator pedal.

scratch that, it is ALL depentant on the driver's skill. if he messed up the launch you're f'ed, if you miss a shift you're f'ed, and so on and so on...

Plus, although a manual might win in a "long" race, in a 1/4 mile drag, autos shift way faster and accelerate faster than a manual can, computer > human brain, sorry...

And after you get your computer tuned and chipped, they will be able to hit the red line as well. autos are killing machines...

The hell am I gonna do with two cavaliers? I just bought my first one.

Sell it and buy something else maybe?

...here goes another auto vs manual thread

Manuals are more fun to drive, but a auto can win a manual of the same car in a race.
was that english?

lol...Automatic has stronger transmission, and will ultimately (sp) shift perfectly every time.

an auto with a Shift + will defintally own a manual with just a STS...so no, there not the equilivent (sp) :nono:

I talking to guy about maybe doing some performance modding on my 2005 Cav and he said don't bother with an automatic. Is this good advice? What would it take for me to convert my auto to a manual? Or cost me to have someone do it for me?

what engine do you have? if you have the 2.4L or the 2.2L OHV, dont bother working on it...the 2.2L Eco however is a very nice engine and keeping it as an auto would definitally prove beneficial for you...:smooch:

plus, if you have an auto,they make nifty little devices you can add to your car to make your shifts shorter and harder.

Where can I get one of these for my auto???

if you have a 4 speed auto then you can go with the B&M Shiftplus... it only works on 4-speed autos, if you have the hydraulic 3-spd... like mine GRRRR then you can't use this...

http://www.turbotechracing.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=482&idproduct=1136

try that..

My friend has a 2002 Auto Maxima 4 Speed, can he use the B&M shiftplus also?

if you have a 4 speed auto then you can go with the B&M Shiftplus... it only works on 4-speed autos, if you have the hydraulic 3-spd... like mine GRRRR then you can't use this...

http://www.turbotechracing.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=482&idproduct=1136

try that..

Very cool. Lookls simple enough...

anyone here have any experience with these? How do they perform?

look at this thread, it's about installing one..

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=657738&highlight=b%26amp%3Bm+shiftplus

Plus, although a manual might win in a "long" race, in a 1/4 mile drag, autos shift way faster and accelerate faster than a manual can, computer > human brain, sorry...

And after you get your computer tuned and chipped, they will be able to hit the red line as well. autos are killing machines...

wrong again man, shifting fast does not mean shit, its all about the gear ratios, and a 5 speed DOES have higher gear ratios then a 4 or 3 speed, and it WILL get to your engines redline (ya know, your engines peak horsepower) faster, go back and read my example

auto is better in a quarter mile, manual is better in a longer race... that is all I am going to say and I'm not trying to start an auto vs manual thread, there are plenty of them....

The shift plus is cheaper from www.carcustoms.net = free shipping.

All i have to say is it is up to the driver and what they like. But as for the swap its a lot of work i am in the middle of a 2.2auto to a 2.4 swap now and i have the doner car in my garage so i dont miss anything. Hope to have it ready in a month or so.

thats not true, in fact its the exact opposite, a manual would win over an automatic if everything else about the car was identical, its all about the gear ratio, since the manual has 1 or 2 more gears then an auto, it can have higher gear ratios, which allows you to make it to your redline (your engines peak horsepower) sooner

heres an example, lets say you have an auto floored in 1st gear, when it gets to 6000rpms it will shift into second gear and go back down to 4000 rpms, with a manaul it would only go back down to maybe 4500-4800rpms, and since your engine obviously makes more power at 4500 then it does at 4000, the advantage is plain as day......




as for the "nifty little devices" they make the exact same thing for manuals, its called a short throw shifter

Lol.. :shakehead Auto > Manual even on Sundays. :)

jake I just thought about this... not trying to agure an auto = better... but when the auto shifts back down to 4000rpm your foot is still on the gas and it will start increasing instantly... manual, you may only go down to 4800 rpm, but if you take too long to shift, or you are too slow to put your foot back on the gas then it will equal out the extra hundred rpms... so unless you're perfect.....which is why I simply say it's all dependant apon the drive, case closed... lol

I have a 97 Rs with a 2.2 auto. About to put a '01 2.4 manual in. Am I geeting into a mistake you think?

jake I just thought about this... not trying to agure an auto = better... but when the auto shifts back down to 4000rpm your foot is still on the gas and it will start increasing instantly... manual, you may only go down to 4800 rpm, but if you take too long to shift, or you are too slow to put your foot back on the gas then it will equal out the extra hundred rpms... so unless you're perfect.....which is why I simply say it's all dependant apon the drive, case closed... lol
just cuz its a stick doesnt mean you have to take your foot off the gas between shifts, i dont.....
and of course it takes driver skill when it comes to manual's, thats just common sense

its called speed shifting....pick an RPM about 500 off of your perfect shift time, and then keep the gas flored and slam in into the next gear....also reduces turbo lag/spool time :)

How about if we makes it this way: Human makes mistakes and computers dont

Has anyone on here raced a car the same as them but it was standard or auto (the oppsite of your car)

yes, i have, except it was a 97, not a 98, so it had 5 more horsepower, and i still beat it, cuz i have a 5 speed WITH HIGHER GEAR RATIOS,

To ad my input i have a 2000 cavy w/ a 2.2l inline(not eco although i want 1) its not worthless to supe em up i meen a 2.4 is better but dont put donw the smaller dog.Mine has a cold air and a B&M shifter(yes its an auto) And for the Auto/manuel despute.My old auto 89 camaro beat ne stick shiftin wanna be on the streets so hoola at ya auto use'ers that thing ran a 1/4 mile in 12.8 seconds.Of course may it helped that it had about 400whp but hey it was still an auto

Idk I love my automatic for everyday driving, but as far as race goes I wish I had a manual. It all depends on your driving style. Personally I love manuals and I think they are better then automatics, but both have their own perks and it all depends on what you want more. A everyday driver you can be comferitable with, or a street car, something you can race with and just all around have fun with.