Came across several 3rd Gen 5 spds in the boneyard, and I installed the wrong ATF into my trans ( ATF3) and it should have been normal ATF...oh well! I figure I'll be better off beating on a manual than an Auto that's not that strong anyway! I'll be gathering all the pedals and nick nacks...I 'll get with a few folks to locate the leather shifting lever boots, single SS clutch line, and poly bushings...I'll definitely shorten my shifter a little but not too much...

 

You'll be getting rid of a bit of weight swapping over. No more trans ecu. You're more than likely going to need the manual trans harness that switches the reverse lights on when you go into reverse. Idk if theres a difference in VG vac/plenum setup like the VE between m/t & a/t. Going to have to swap axles and starter (pretty sure your already aware of that). Other than adding a m/c(slave and hose) and pedal. There's not much to it. And yes before anyone tries to jump on me before I say it theres the linkage. I used a ebay 4th gen short shifter. Can't wait to see the finished product.



Meanwhile I need to go out there to the jy and get two bumpers. Also swap my engine harness out.

 

Starters are the same. Try and get the a tranny from a VE (they all have the LSD). If you do get it from a VE, the flywheel is different (8 holes) and you will need to get a 6 hole one

 

Weird. I just assumed all these years CMax was manual transmission!

 

It ran hard as hell but I'm not gonna waste any time nor money having an auto rebuilt....The weight savings alone are gonna be great...I've got a couple of cars I can get all the linkage, pedals, axles, harness, center console, engine and trans mounts (will be filled), flywheel and of course if the pressure plate and clutch look useable, I'd place them there just to get it running...I do have a LSD M/T already! I really didn't want to do this but I think It'll be more durable than the auto which is slipping and when I had the old fuel injectors 2 injectors failed and I still managed to take out a Modded Corolla Hahahaha...anyway I really love the auto having that free hand but I think the fuel milage and braking (downshifting) will make this almost as fun as my D21...Maximo018 drove it can confirm it pulled like crazy with the auto!!!!

 

So you do have a VE tranny for it? So then you will be sourcing VE hubs etc?

 

As rare as it may seem, Pulled like no other autotragic ai had ever seen. Never thought it would meet its demise this way.

 

I am with James on the hubs. I watched someone else do this to a VG 3rd gen and they were trying to source the hubs. I Believe the trans bolts up except for one bolt hole. Let me know if there's any help u need. I believe I still have my modified 3rd gen shifter (pivot ball has been moved up).

 

Oh and I meant auto and manual starters are different. He's going to have to "upgrade ". Lol

 

If he goes to a VE trans his current starter will work. VE 5 speed starter = VG auto starter

All VG starters may be the same as far as I know though

 

Actually now that I think about it I believe ALL 3rd gen starters are the same except for the VE auto. I think the VE auto is the only unique/different one

 

I'll be garthering parts for the big day but I will flush the existing auto and try the correct fluid! In the meantime I'll have all the part necessary to swap when time!

 

man...cmax i've been there.

i had a seriously beefed up auto (shift kit, heavy duty cooler, filter, higher stall TC, HD clutches) and it ran really nice for a while until it developed a crack in the case. then i was just losing ATF all the time and it got annoying.

went with 5spd and never looked back.

 

Amen! Lol

 

Yeah, yall are more than right...I'm not gonna waste my time then....I learned from RC engineering rebuilding my VG injectors then 2 failed from open solenoid wiring...I was warned not too!!!! A waste of money and effort!!!!! Got a few good paydays coming up from Modding/repairing a D21 Hardbody (VG30E), BMW 745Li, 350Z headGasket job...money will be there to get everything done even a paint job ...

 

If you're using a VE 5 speed (as you should) you have two options to solve the axle/hub differences. By using the VE spindles (ie steering knuckles) the larger VE 5 axles will work with you VG. Alternatively, you can keep your VG spindles and create "hybrid" axles by using VE 5 inner axle half shaft mated to the VG outter half shaft.
IMO the full VE axles and VE spindles offer you a stronger (larger) axle overall and makes replacing an axle easy as opposed to building another hybrid. I'm not sure on all starters, but the VG 5 starter obviously works with the VE 5 trans since you are still using your VG flywheel.
Finally, be sure to use Redline MT-90 for your fluid, it is the best GL-4 trans fluid I've ever used.

 

It's a VE 5 I have from Maxitech...we got two transmissions with the car when I bought it....

 

this is exciting someone else is getting ready to do a 5spd swap!

 

never swapped a tranny before. would love feedback on the parts id need and a pretty detailed explanation on how to attempt this. im relatively smart and im good at picking things up quickly so with directions I think I could pull this off

 

oh wow...i'm 101% sure there's other post about all the parts you need..but off the top of my head.

the trans
bearing carrier bracket
shifter and all associated linkage/hardware
shifter trim and boot
clutch pedal and bracket
clutch lines
master cyl
slave cyl
flywheel
new clutch (you don't want to reuse this)

definitely do a search to get more details

 

Axles and hubs depending on which tranny he goes with but as you say, there's more than enough post on this conversion.

 

Hi guys, I like to hear any input about the wiring for back up lights and clutch switch. I did swapped my auto to 5 speed manual on my VG maxima and everything works good. Before I got deploy, I left the wiring part intact. I just need to work on that now that I am back. Any pictures or comments will help.

 

When I did the swap, I figured out the wiring from the selector switch that's mounted to the auto tranny I took out. Simply simulate the park and neutral positions and with a multimeter (preferably with continuity setting), probe the wires at the connector. Do the same thing in the reverse position. I would tell you the color wires but my car is long gone and I'm back in an auto which is running perfectly so need to do the swap yet. Hope this helps.

 

Here are some pictures of the differences in the wire harness


1990 SE transmission (4 wires female and male side).



1990 SE transmission (4 wires female and male side).



1990 SE



1990



1990 SE

 

These are pictures from a 1993 GXE VG auto harness


1993 GXE wire harness with 3 wires on the harness side and 4 wires on the transmission side.







1993 GXE VG



1993 VG auto harness







1993 GXE VG auto transmission shifter plugs at center console.