How much of a pain would it be to swap the 6-speed from the 03 cl into my 01

 

I don't think it would be something you should attempt. It's not particularly difficult but judging by the way you're asking, it doesn't seem that you have the conviction to deal with the hurdles.

 

I actually do, I'm asking because I want to know first, will it work? And secondly, how difficult is it so I can prepare for the hurdles.

 

In terms of difficulty, it depends on your experience and budget. If you have to ask whether it will work or not, then you haven't looked into it at all yet. If you can afford the AEM EMS 2, then it will make the swap a lot easier. If you decide to do it and gather parts for the build, I can guide you through it.

 

How deep are your pockets? Got a budget in mind?

 

Yeah I haven't did much research on it but now that I have I am going through with it and my budget is around 2,500.

 

For what you're going to spend on parts alone, you could nearly buy a different used CL-S6 instead these days. Add to that the time you're going to put into it and it's simply not worth it.

If you want to know what all goes into it, search the forum. It's been brought up hundreds of times. A few have done it but for most it's simply not worth the effort and cost.

 

I think it can be done if you buy a parts car/junked car.
I would also buy a service manual.

then that way, you have all the parts and all the instructions at your fingertips and wont have to rely on a forum and can directly swap over.

but then again, the poster above is pretty spot on...you could probably buy a 03 six speed for $2500

 

kinda searched car-guru for used CL-S 6MT's and they're selling for $5-6k...
sell your old CL for 2-3k then add in that 2500 you were talking about and you have a non-hacked together 6MT

 

^This!

 

sounds logical

 

it can be done, justnspace is right get a junk car. Look at car-part.com. The hard parts is the rewiring of the harness and unpinning wires that go into the MICU harnesses. one of the greatest challenges is getting the reverse lights to work, usually the wires for that circuit come in through the sub ecu harness on the PAX side. The electrical is the hardest part and the service manual only shows so much, you would be well served getting both the service manual and the electrical manual if there is one for the schematics alone. I swapped my 2005 TL from auto to MT6 in 5 or 6 years ago, it is an undertaking. Also make sure you plan for the clutch pedal, if your not good a welding you will need to figure out how you mount a bracket to the upper part of the firewall probably.
You will have your dash all the way out of the car for this swap more than likely.

There were a number of times my Wife would ask, "are you gonna put that all back together" LOL yes dear. Seriously though my tranny blew up I got the wrecked car shipped to me for 2100 total about the same cost as a rebuilt tranny and I thought if it doesn't work then I was out 2100, and I'd go get a new car.
The other thing if you do it make sure if you swap ECU's that they re-write the VIN correctly emissions will be a PITA if you don't, and if you change the ECU you will likely have to have the car towed to stealership to have your ecu re-coded for the interlock.

Those are some of the challenges, but I also gained an extra J32A that I had rebuilt with RL CAM and rods and am thinking of adding a supercharger, maybe to put on a sandrail or back into the TL hmmmmm.....

 

^ I went through the same shit. The 2G wasn't as bad though. Reverse lights are easy to hook up, the clutch pedal doesn't require welding, and I don't think our ECUs contain our VIN (could be wrong on that one).