Auto to Manual Swap

[NovaRally77]

Hello all,
If all goes well, I am planning on swapping the stock transmission (auto) to a 4 speed manual transmission that I have come across. The swap is being done on my 1977 Nova Rally with the stock 305 V8. What I need from all of you out there, is a place where I can get all of the parts that Im gonna need to do this. I have never done anything like this before but I have help with enough know how to get the job done. Any parts lists of things that I will need would be great. Its a project car so its not like I need it up and runnin for Monday...just lookin for some guidance, Thanks in advance.

Cant Wait till Spring!!!!

[bobss396]

Ideally, look for a salvage yard that has a car with all the parts, pedals, linkage, bellhousing, clutch, etc. There is some interchange there, the yard should be able to help. You may be able to barter your automatic to cut some costs down.

Check eBay Motors too, you might get lucky. The only thing you might need is a tab for the cross shaft ball to mount to the frame. This has to be welded in place if your front frame doesn't have one.

If you don't plan to beat on it too much, a Saginaw 4-speed should work and they are a lot cheaper than a Muncie. Spring for a good shifter though.

Bob

[NovaRally77]

Thanks for your input Bob, I really appreciate it. The tranny that I have acquried is a 4 speed Muncie, It belongs to my girlfriend's dad and he is no longer using it. Im getting the transmission and a set of heads that he is no longer using at no cost to me. Looks like quite a bit of performance increase comin this spring I guess I will have to start calling around looking for a junkyard that has the parts im lookin for, it would be nice to get the parts and barter the auto tranny and do this job for next to nothin. And Ill try not to beat on it too hard but im not makin any promises, nothin better than a old school chevy! Thanks Again!

[bobss396]

Glad to be of help. I've done them before and the key is to find all the parts in one shot. You might also luck into finding what you want in an Olds Omega or Pontiac Ventura, Buick Apollo. (NOVA, N= Nova, O= Omega, V= Ventura, A= Apollo).

I'll nose around on eBay later on and see what I come up with. You might look on the Team Chevelle Board for someone selling Nova parts.

The Muncie is a score, it can be decoded to tell you what you have there exactly. The Muncie and Saginaw are the same lengths and mount up the same. Be nice if it came with a shifter, the last Hurst Comp Plus I bought ran me like $160 in 1978, which I still have stashed.

Bob

[bobss396]

Found a neat site for the z-bar and other linkage, even the frame bracket I mentioned.

http://www.ss396.com

I was poking around on eBay Motors last night, came up with a bell housing and some clutch parts. You still might find the pedals though, I didn't get to the end of the Nova parts. Also look at Special Interest Autos online. They have a huge parts section.

Bob

[bobss396]

http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mv...t_Code=FMCK-69

Here it is, from soup to nuts. The only thing you may want is the formed sheetmetal thing for the shift boot. It pop rivets to the floor pan. I've seen them elsewhere online. You should be able to find it quickly with a google search under "nova clutch pedal".

All you need to do is get a bellhousing, flywheel, bolts, throw out bearing (new) and clutch, even used is ok, you can use the disc and pressure plate for trade-in cores. Make sure you get a pilot bushing to go into the back of the crank.

Bob

[NovaRally77]

Well Look at that! That sure does make it easier huh? I sure do appreciate all of your help Bob. Now at the bottom of the page there it said that it was for 68-74, mine is a 75-79, is that gonna be an issue? Or are these parts a bit more interchangable than others? Thanks again for all of your help, you have given me alot of valuable info and some really good links...man I sure do wish it were spring! Thanks again!

[bobss396]

I had missed that yours was newer. You could email them and ask what will fit your car. I did run into other things on that site with different searches. you can also try Year One, The Paddock for parts. I'm sure someone makes what you need. I'll keep looking though. I'm thinking of getting a Nova or 78-80 Malibu myself, I have a 402 that needs a home.

Bob

[bobss396]

Found a 75-79 pedal set in Arizona. Go to his basic site and email him with what you need, one stop shopping maybe?

http://www.azpartsandcars.com/pics/7...alassembly.JPG

[bobss396]

The more I look at this, the worse it gets. I find nothing in the 75-79 Nova category. You can ask the 68-74 suppliers if they could help you. You also might need an under dash bracket to hang the pedals off of.

Also try joining one of the Nova Yahoo groups. I belong to a Yahoo Caprice/Impala group and find it pretty helpful.

Bob

[NovaRally77]

402 Big Block? Sweet motor...knew someone that had one in a 72 Monte once...that thing was a beast! But about the 75-79's, they are hard to find parts for, I guess theres just not too many people workin on them so theres not really a market for new parts. I appreciate all of your help and any thing else that you find would be great. I will check with some of the yards around here for some of those cars and see if I can find the parts. Ill keep you posted on my progress. Once again thanks for everything Bob

DJP2

[bobss396]

The big block needs a freshen up and a crank so far. The heads are from a newer 454, the block is a .030 over 396-375, cam is a solid lifter L88 Vette grind. Intake manifold is a factory medium high rise. I also have a ready to go 350, a nice clean low-mileage motor. I have a nice cam for that, a Z28 grind.

I have a turbo 400 long tail on hand, prefer not to use it due to the long length. I also have several 3-speed manuals, one from a Chevy truck that is a really nice box with a Hurst shifter. I have a complete 10 3/8" clutch set up and pedals for a '65-70 Chevy full size. My preferred clutch set up is the 11" one from the truck, it has the cast bellhousing with the open bottom, uses the truck starter. I jump out the solenoid on that starter and use a remote Ford solenoid on the firewall.

I'll keep looking for pedals for your car, try that Arizona junk yard link. I think they weren't that popular as a stick shift and no one makes the parts as aftermarket yet. If you have a local junkyard stop in and have them look the pedals up in their Hollander manual. This is an interchange manual for almost strictly junkyard usage. You may find that something from a Camaro works. Ya never know.

Bob

[bobss396]

One last shot, this site looks like they might have the 75-79 parts, you have to contact him. Also again, make sure you get the under dash mounting bracket if it is required. The under hood linkage (z-bar, etc.) is also particular to the 75-79. The 68-74 stuff won;t work.

http://www.nnnova.com/clutchparts.html