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3AT to 5sp D/R conversion


tractor pole
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I want to convert my 91 Loyale from an AT pushbutton 4wd to 5sp D/R.

 

I will obviously need the following,

Flywheel

Clutch kit

pedal cluster from junkyard

center console from d/r ea82 car

 

so my question is if I find one with the same diff ratio as the rear diff,

will the axles and drive line bolt right up?

does the drive line length stay the same?

will my speedo cable hookup?

will the ecu need to be switched to a manual car ecu?

 

thanks

 

Ben

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so my question is if I find one with the same diff ratio as the rear diff,

will the axles and drive line bolt right up?

does the drive line length stay the same?

will my speedo cable hookup?

will the ecu need to be switched to a manual car ecu?

 

maybe, turbo transmissions had different axles.

no, you will need a 5MT driveshaft

yes

no

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Here's the list:

Transmission w/ shift linkages

Driveline (really just the front section of the two piece but the whole thing is easier to pull from the donor car)

Pedal cluster w/ clutch cable

Flywheel and clutch assembly (make sure you get the flywheel bolts too as the flexplate bolts are shorter)

Instrument cluster (if you want to get rid of the shift indicator)

Crossmember (these are different between the 3AT and a 5-speed)

 

That should be it. If for some reason I remember something (I did this swap from a FWD 3AT to an RX gearbox) I'll edit my post and add the information.

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you will want the 5spd speedo cable, since the at one is too short.

 

all you need is the front half of the driveshaft. but if you have both, the rear part is interchageable in the case of bad u- joints since thay are all on the rear half, which is the same.

 

keep any and all bolts that come out to get your parts, as you will need them

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Instrument cluster (if you want to get rid of the shift indicator)

 

NOT plug and play. and not at all necessary. I looked into it, I do wiring all the time, and decided that the work was not worth it, just to get rid of the un-lit "PRND21" and get the working low-range indicator light.

 

 

 

If you are interested, here's what I found out. There are 2 plugs that control that center section of the gauge cluster (swappable MT vs AT). One of which is the exact same plug MT vs AT, and the other is different. BUT, even the one that is the same is wired completely different.

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NOT plug and play. and not at all necessary. I looked into it, I do wiring all the time, and decided that the work was not worth it, just to get rid of the un-lit "PRND21" and get the working low-range indicator light.

 

 

 

When I did my Auto to Manual conversion (mine was a 4EAT) I left the dash, but I rigged the 4wd and LO switches to the "3" and "2" lights in the dahs respectively.

 

I just had to make an adapter plug the 5spd wiring into the original 4EAT indicator plug in the cars harness (engine bay above tranny).

 

3AT I think is a little different as the switches for the indicator are on auto shifter, not on the side of the trans. And you can use your 4wd light, and just wire the LO light to the "1"

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  • 2 weeks later...

thanks for all the input guys,

I am thinking I will do this when I do my motor swap. nothing special just a freshened up EA82, no leaks and all four cylinders...

 

one more question: the RX was fulltime 4wd with D/R with a locking diff and the others were Fwd with hi/lo 4wd correct?

Edited by tractor pole
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  • 4 weeks later...

Can the PRND21 piece be taken out of the instrument cluster?

(I haven't had mine out yet to investigate.)

I was thinking of making my own Lo range indicator in its place...

 

anyway gathering parts has been pretty easy so far, all I need is a driveline and shifter w/ linkage.

 

 

Ben

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  • 1 year later...

so a final list on what I needed to do the swap.

 

5sp D/R trans

trans cross member

manual trans drive shaft

shifter assembly

interior bezel and center console

clutch pedal cluster (its easiest to remove the steering column)

clutch cable

m/t speedo cable (it's longer than the auto)

flywheel

clutch kit

wiring to transmission indication 4WD, LO, and reverse lights.

 

PRND21 was replace with a piece from a m/t car and about a foot of the car side of the harness to make a "conversion harness" so essentially it is plug and play. HINT: you can use the indicator wires for "1" or "2" for your 4WD and LO range indicators eliminating the need to run wires.

 

have been using the swap for about a year, it is the best mod I have made only second to the EJ swap.

 

Ben

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