five speed conversation or vb mod? opinions wanted
10-16-2002, 12:57 AM
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 966
five speed conversation or vb mod? opinions wanted
ok, i have a '95 SE auto with 79.5K miles. i'm thinking about either doing the 5spd conversation like so many people have or doing the vb mod. here is what i'm thinking:
-1998 5-spd tranny with 28K miles for $650. all extra parts including clutch will be roughly $300 for total of $950.
-vb mode right around $350, plus shipping, with a $50 tranny cooler, all extra parts including solenoid should be about $550
of course labor would probably be a factor. i can do the vb since downtime is about a day. the five speed conversation will be more tricky and require more time. mtrai did it in segments i think, so i guess that would be an option.
what you all think?
-1998 5-spd tranny with 28K miles for $650. all extra parts including clutch will be roughly $300 for total of $950.
-vb mode right around $350, plus shipping, with a $50 tranny cooler, all extra parts including solenoid should be about $550
of course labor would probably be a factor. i can do the vb since downtime is about a day. the five speed conversation will be more tricky and require more time. mtrai did it in segments i think, so i guess that would be an option.
what you all think?
10-16-2002, 06:14 AM
#3
Re: five speed conversation or vb mod? opinions wanted
Originally posted by Romeo
what you all think?
what you all think?
I'm in the middle of doing the conversion on my '95. Last weekend I installed the clutch pedal (whew!), master cylinder and some of the hydraulic lines. It looks like this coming weekend or maybe the next I'll be finishing up.
$950 for all parts is a pretty good deal, in my opinion. I spent quite a bit more than that because there were very few parts donor cars here in Austin that I could find, so I had to buy some stuff from the dealer, but also because I bought an ACT clutch and new driveaxles from raxles.com, and I also spent about $250 on rebuilding the transmission.
Labor is another issue, though. I have enough experience to do the work myself, and I have air tools, which makes the job a lot easier. So I'm not paying for labor, and as a bonus I get the satisfaction of accomplishing something most of my friends can't even comprehend doing. Of course, a lot of them ask Why? But if they ask why, they wouldn't understand the answer, either.
)
10-16-2002, 06:43 PM
#11
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,400
5spd advantages over an automatic:
1)Better gearing (very important)
2)60-100lbs. lighter tranny
3)Less drivetrain loss
4)Direct Connection to your engine
All of these factors contribute to almost a second difference in the 1/4th and 0-60. 5spds have soo much more muscle in first it's not even funny.
VB mods primary function is to improve/lengthen the life of your tranny by getting rid of the lag inbetween shifts. This faster/harder shift action SOMETIMES gets you faster times, although it has been for the most part very unsuccessful in that area. Automatics are extremely boring. 5spd becomes like second nature, but auto puts you to sleep.
1)Better gearing (very important)
2)60-100lbs. lighter tranny
3)Less drivetrain loss
4)Direct Connection to your engine
All of these factors contribute to almost a second difference in the 1/4th and 0-60. 5spds have soo much more muscle in first it's not even funny.
VB mods primary function is to improve/lengthen the life of your tranny by getting rid of the lag inbetween shifts. This faster/harder shift action SOMETIMES gets you faster times, although it has been for the most part very unsuccessful in that area. Automatics are extremely boring. 5spd becomes like second nature, but auto puts you to sleep.
10-16-2002, 09:16 PM
#12
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 966
i could the the CONVERSION (funny one SLAMMED 95 
) with the help of some friends. i have access to the tools and looking at the instructions, it shouldn't be too tough. i am just wondering if i can deal with the down time. and i don't know if i want to keep my car for an extended period of time.
mtrai, ya maybe i should drive over and camp out for like four days and all the seattle guys can help. plus i want to see ian's set up
sprintmax - pigs could fly if you hit one with the max doing about 90
) with the help of some friends. i have access to the tools and looking at the instructions, it shouldn't be too tough. i am just wondering if i can deal with the down time. and i don't know if i want to keep my car for an extended period of time. mtrai, ya maybe i should drive over and camp out for like four days and all the seattle guys can help. plus i want to see ian's set up
sprintmax - pigs could fly if you hit one with the max doing about 90
10-16-2002, 10:17 PM
#13
if you can manage the down time the 5speed is so much more worth it. I have driven a 5speed max vs. my auto, and it's night and day, it's like an entirely different car.. Yeah it sucks in traffic and all that bs, but you can actually drive the car.
I can't tell you how many times i try and shift the car with the gas pedal
... it's not the same.
I can't tell you how many times i try and shift the car with the gas pedal
... it's not the same.
10-17-2002, 04:51 PM
#14
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 966
Originally posted by thebigsadler
if you can manage the down time the 5speed is so much more worth it. I have driven a 5speed max vs. my auto, and it's night and day, it's like an entirely different car.. Yeah it sucks in traffic and all that bs, but you can actually drive the car.
I can't tell you how many times i try and shift the car with the gas pedal ... it's not the same.
if you can manage the down time the 5speed is so much more worth it. I have driven a 5speed max vs. my auto, and it's night and day, it's like an entirely different car.. Yeah it sucks in traffic and all that bs, but you can actually drive the car.
I can't tell you how many times i try and shift the car with the gas pedal
... it's not the same.
10-17-2002, 04:57 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,087
Originally posted by thebigsadler
if you can manage the down time the 5speed is so much more worth it. I have driven a 5speed max vs. my auto, and it's night and day, it's like an entirely different car.. Yeah it sucks in traffic and all that bs, but you can actually drive the car.
I can't tell you how many times i try and shift the car with the gas pedal ... it's not the same.
if you can manage the down time the 5speed is so much more worth it. I have driven a 5speed max vs. my auto, and it's night and day, it's like an entirely different car.. Yeah it sucks in traffic and all that bs, but you can actually drive the car.
I can't tell you how many times i try and shift the car with the gas pedal
... it's not the same.
10-17-2002, 06:20 PM
#16
Originally posted by Canuck
Ahh and auto driver than apreciates a 5spd.
Ahh and auto driver than apreciates a 5spd.
thanks for the compliment romeo.
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