Auto to Manual Swap?

[CASTRO]

Hi, well you guys know that I've got an auto tranny like so many v6 Camrys out there. Now Im thinking about a manual conversion and have been reading every post in TN about it. Seems that its usually for the 3vz or i4 etc but could never find a clean article of a Gen4 Camry v6 with the newest beefy manual tranny and any upgrade parts i should pop in there while its cracked open. I do remember that maybe 1 or 2 people here have done it but i just need a parts list with a ballpark figure prices if possible. Im planning to have my friends shop do the work as they work on cars 24/7 as well as have the right tools to get the job done.

Want to do: best e153 manual and year of solara/mr2 for swap

Parts needed or mods that have to be: done (i have Traction control)
-any extra parts i need from a manual or mods i gotta do to make it work


Mods that i might consider but have no idea on costs/compatibility:
LSD, flywheel, clutch (solara vs mr2 models)

BTW I have a 97 v6 Camry so everything should be the same as the Gen1 Solara as I read that there was something weird needed for the 01 manuals... or might have just been since they used the 3vz motor. Thanks all!

[shidosha01]

Hi, well you guys know that I've got an auto tranny like so many v6 Camrys out there. Now Im thinking about a manual conversion and have been reading every post in TN about it. Seems that its usually for the 3vz or i4 etc but could never find a clean article of a Gen4 Camry v6 with the newest beefy manual tranny and any upgrade parts i should pop in there while its cracked open. I do remember that maybe 1 or 2 people here have done it but i just need a parts list with a ballpark figure prices if possible. Im planning to have my friends shop do the work as they work on cars 24/7 as well as have the right tools to get the job done.

Want to do: best e153 manual and year of solara/mr2 for swap

Parts needed or mods that have to be: done (i have Traction control)
-any extra parts i need from a manual or mods i gotta do to make it work


Mods that i might consider but have no idea on costs/compatibility:
LSD, flywheel, clutch (solara vs mr2 models)

BTW I have a 97 v6 Camry so everything should be the same as the Gen1 Solara as I read that there was something weird needed for the 01 manuals... or might have just been since they used the 3vz motor. Thanks all!

That's the next best upgrade to a supercharger in my opinion if you are financially ready for it. There is a guy here who claimed that his V6 5spd smoked an auto V6 S/C a few times at the track. 5spd plainly puts out more HP and TQ to the wheels. Precise shifts is the only downfall. I know I've had my fairshares of mis-shifts at the track.

Talk to SCV6 (scott). He's had sucess with his new manual tranny conversion. Good luck with the project.

[TRD_solaRa]

sweet man . . . yea I definitely agree wit shidosha about puttin more hp & torque to the ground. do it

[CASTRO]

Hi, well you guys know that I've got an auto tranny like so many v6 Camrys out there. Now Im thinking about a manual conversion and have been reading every post in TN about it. Seems that its usually for the 3vz or i4 etc but could never find a clean article of a Gen4 Camry v6 with the newest beefy manual tranny and any upgrade parts i should pop in there while its cracked open. I do remember that maybe 1 or 2 people here have done it but i just need a parts list with a ballpark figure prices if possible. Im planning to have my friends shop do the work as they work on cars 24/7 as well as have the right tools to get the job done.

Want to do: best e153 manual and year of solara/mr2 for swap

Parts needed or mods that have to be: done (i have Traction control)
-any extra parts i need from a manual or mods i gotta do to make it work


Mods that i might consider but have no idea on costs/compatibility:
LSD, flywheel, clutch (solara vs mr2 models)

BTW I have a 97 v6 Camry so everything should be the same as the Gen1 Solara as I read that there was something weird needed for the 01 manuals... or might have just been since they used the 3vz motor. Thanks all!

That's the next best upgrade to a supercharger in my opinion if you are financially ready for it. There is a guy here who claimed that his V6 5spd smoked an auto V6 S/C a few times at the track. 5spd plainly puts out more HP and TQ to the wheels. Precise shifts is the only downfall. I know I've had my fairshares of mis-shifts at the track.

Talk to SCV6 (scott). He's had sucess with his new manual tranny conversion. Good luck with the project.

The guy was kondo. (Nick) He actually goes to my school and said that at the track, a guy with a near stock v6 just upgraded clutch and flywheel beat him. Might have been that he had 18s in combination with audio equipment, but i still believe that having manual is more efficient than running a stock auto tranny. (a modded auto is a different story ) Any ideas? I've saved a lot of articles on TN as well as looked around the MR2 forums and seems like they got good ideas as well as an idea from WRAITH about using a part (possibly the shifter something) from an MR2 tranny to make the shifts shorter than using a short shift kit for our cars.

[CASTRO]

anyone here know information that would help me in my current project? Searched around on a couple of the old threads but not sure if those guys post here anymore. Anyone?

[209solara]

like they said pm or email scv6 (scott) hes done it with success. also check in the for sale section, there was a guy selling his manual tranny for like 350.

[CASTRO]

like they said pm or email scv6 (scott) hes done it with success. also check in the for sale section, there was a guy selling his manual tranny for like 350.

yeah, i allready PM'd scott and just waiting for a reply. Allready posted the same thing on TN and waiting for responses as the shop allready gave me the okay as long as I fint all the parts and have a good list or any tips that would help in the swap. Was looking deeping into old threads and noticed that it said there were 3 people with the swap: mouse, scv6 and the third i dont remember. Do they still post here?

Most likely gonna start the swap in the summer since the tranny looks to be over $600 new or if i can get it used and good condition with all the parts required, as soon as possible. Thanks guys for all the help. Milt, keep me updated on your progress. I'd like to know on the steps or exact parts with prices as well to help me in the swap.

[dan99solara]

im sure you love your car but it would be a million times easier just to buy a 5spd camry.

[SC V6]

Im currently out of the states, and the internet connection sucks here... IM actually in the Cayman Islands, and there are some sweet cars down here... its funny cause when I was making an alcohol run, I saw a 2004 Solara SLE V6.. it was funny.. anyway, when I get back to teh states ill send you the information that I have....
later
Scott

[CASTRO]

im sure you love your car but it would be a million times easier just to buy a 5spd camry.

Im sure it would be easier, but Owning an XLE with custom features (features not avail to the 97 Cam at the time) and Me being the first owner, I have babied the car since it was new... I wouldnt dream of trading or selling it. 130k on the clock and the motor still runs and pulls strong with almost perfect compression. Clean title and never been in an accident. If I were to sell ot find a 5sp Camry (which is EXTREMELY rare, try finding one), then it would have to be a stipped down CE model which IMO downgrading from the car I have now just to get 5sp. My car is proven at various tracks to be in perfect running condition and just dont think I'd get even enough for a downpayment considering its old (97) and has 130k+ miles.

Scott-Hey, enjoy your stay over there man no rush! Im considering doing the project in the summer (hopefully) since I still am in the process of finding various parts. Thanks again for your help.
-John