acur1to2004

i have a 2004 acura tl automatic and would like to do a tranny swap im pretty handy i have done camaros but never imports im in the process of buying a salvage 2004 acura tl a-spec with a 6 speed manual with rear damage i was thinking on parting that out and using those parts to do the swap any one know if all the holes for the pedals shifter and etc are pre drilled what are the steps i need to do please and also what parts would i need to take in order to make it work i would highly appriciate any one with knockledge thanks

MrHeeltoe

iTrader: (1)

I bet you anything 99% of the chassis is all set up to be either or...just need the parts. I am all about you doing this man. I think this should be relatively easy to do if you have a complete donor car available.

Where are you located?

SouthernBoy

There have been some postings about this topic from time to time on these forums. Frankly, you'd be far better off to try to locate a manual TL rather than attempt a tranny swap. The amount of stuff you would need to do is crazy. There is a ton of difference between the automatic and manual 3G TL.

VQPower37

^ true, but with a donor car it will be much easier IMO

handsom-hustla

iTrader: (3)

^^x2. Unless you find a crazy deal. It is not really that easy to just put up the money for another car. swap what you have to swap over. Then sell your "old" car.. there are so many variables that play into it.(color/yr/mileage/condition/price, etc). in the OP case he is doing the labor himself, thus saving a killing.also, its not like there is a die hard demand but then the OP can sell his AT trans and make some of the investment back. Op as far as what parts you need etc, sorry im no help there. But I wish you the best of luck as I will be attempting the swap down the road..

AckTL05

iTrader: (18)

I am pretty sure you need the ECU,pedal, tranny and whole clutch set up and thats really it. Yes brembos came stock on 6spd so you might want to swap over the breaks as well. The whole center console would need to be changed (where the shifter is).

Where are you located? I forget the members name but PAUL NVA-AV6 did this for him.

voigt

wouldn't you also need a new gauge cluster (the auto shows what gear you are in). Also the manual TL has and LSD which you might want to switch over.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

Add to the list, M/T dash (combination meter assembly), engine mount brackets and mounts along with other brackets/supports, axles, wiring harness, both engine and instrument panel harness (maybe the A/T connectors can be eliminated then the M/T would be the same?), starter.

SouthernBoy

Yep, yep, yep. S-O-O-O-O many "little" things that really aren't little, alone with the big things. LSD, suspension (I know, this can be overlooked along with the brakes), as you mentioned, the instrument cluster, console... man you'd go nuts with this one.

Not saying it can't be done because it can. But for the time and money, our friend would be far better off to try to locate a manual. And then there is this little (big) problem. What happens when it comes time to sell or trade in the swapped out hybrid? Who in the hell is going to want to buy something like that. Probably someone, but the market is definitely going to be reduced.

VQPower37

^ i agree it would prob be more straightforward to just trade. but the only thing with that is if ur current auto has been well maintained inside and out, and you swap to manual u know the history of the car. however, if you trade u may be getting into a money pit with a car that may not be as well maintained. therefore, personally even if it would cost more to do the swap i would probably opt for that rather than trading a car that i bought new (hence know all the history) for a used car (which i may not know all the history and may not be as well maintained as mine)

NVA-AV6

I have done a few of these swaps on 3rd gen TLs, the average P&L is around $4.5K, the parts list is long and I usually look at my local yards for a totaled vehicle and work a deal with them for most of the parts, some parts I only do new like the clutch.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

All hail the mighty paul!

duffduffxx

Dpn't do it.

I hate cars

If he already has the donor car, it's only going to cost him time and hopefully a new clutch and fluid.

As a plus he will get the 6mt swaybars and brakes.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Good reputable opinions in this thread...I have 6MT, but I'd be curious to see what transpires.

Comptechtl2367

You would have to spend about 4.5k and then your car will be worth ~500 less then with an auto... i would just find a 6mt and trade in your auto!

SouthernBoy

Kelly Blue Book shows no difference between the manual and the automatic for an '04 TL. Edmunds favors the automatic by around $500. In reality, it's going to come down to demand and what the market is in the area in which one lives.

I suspect that manuals will generally command a higher price that automatics in private sales because they are much more difficult to find. With a trade in, the dealer might use the argument that the manual commands less then after he has the car, he will most likely highlight the fact the car has a manual and price it higher thereby increasing his profit.


To the OP:

You can make the swap but the primary decision factor may come down to how far you are willing to go with it, in terms of making the car look and feel as much as possible to a factory manual as opposed to a jury-rigged job. In a way, it's kind of like making strange visual mods to your car like large after market wings, ground effect lights, odd paint schemes and similar stuff. You significantly reduce your market for resale when you do these things. If that is not a factor or concern, then you are mentally freed up to have at it (you are anyway because, after all, it IS your car).

If you should decide to go this route, best of luck to you in your project. And if you happen to think about it, take pictures of your project's progress and post them so we can all see how things went.

NVA-AV6

One thing about doing this swap to a car already owned by you rather than trading for a 6spd, you know the condition and care your car has had vs esp with a 6spd weather the car has been beaten on hard, been in accidents and 1/2 azz put back together, flooded, ect......

Shoot2Thrill

Just labor alone, how many hours does this swap take?

AMUA6

iTrader: (7)

^50 million

Schlenk10

go for it.... then post the progress

u can do it

duffduffxx

I have to agree with the poster above, having a 6MT has skyrocketed the value of my car on the private market. 6MT is in high demand

Shoot2Thrill

I think you disagree? I recently purchased a 2008 TL-S manual looked at a dozen and talked with half a dozen dealers. I looked for two months. The auto and manual price is close but the slight price edge goes to the manual. Because it is less available. Yes, there are less people who want manual transmissions but those who do are passionate. In reality, there is a lot of variation in price. You could see the same car easily sell plus or minus 3 grand so to argue a $500 dollar difference is meaningless.
But still I think the hours would be astronomical. I'm amazed at the number of little differences between a 2008 manual and a 2004 manual.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

unfair comparison.
manuals in 2008 only come in Type-s Flavors.

Shoot2Thrill

Your comment is right, but I'm just looking at all the mechanical nitty gritty and am still amazed at all the little changes. I have the two to compare side by side.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

what other mechanical nitty gritties are there? I have the LSD and Brembo Brakes.
interior and motor changed, but its essentially the same car, no?

I hate cars

Yes, just lots of small details changed. Same car. They're still more alike than different.

Shoot2Thrill

Just all the little details could really suck up time. I did not mean to get off topic.

NVA-AV6

Usually takes me 2-3 long days to do the complete swap.

NVA-AV6

A couple of biggies are the redesign of the EGR system pulluing air from after the cat instead of directly thru the head casting, bell housing bolt patterns are completely different, 12.25" OD flywheel to 12.5".

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

thank you, sir. Exactly what I was looking for.

acur1to2004

I finally got the car 2004 acura tl with 6 speed manual with navigation, brembro brakes only paid 3500 for it .
I wanted to start taking the parts of my acura 2004 tl automatic with out navigation.
But heres my questions are all the holes pre drilled for the clutch? and also i dont want to run into a problem once i started taking parts of both cars.
I noticed everyone talking about trading my car.
I change my oil every 2500 miles with castrol syntethic oil and i have about 21k miles i dout i will find another one like mines plus i dont abuse it or beat it I also dont smoke and i dont eat in it most tl i overlooked are beat up smells and over 45k miles.
I would like to find out if everything will plug and play if i replace complete harness and what ever other parts are needed thank you.

myron

iTrader: (4)

may as well do the NAVI swap since you got it and I think for that you need a special made harness. I am not sure some guys here have a guys contact who makes them but you can also find him on ebay, he sells harnesses and full out conversions

I hate cars

Is that manual to auto or early TL to later TL?

NVA-AV6

3rd gen vs 4th gen TLs with the 3.5L

guss_90

NVA-AV6, Can the 2007 TL-S Manual transmission or 03' CL-S be adapted to an 05 RL ? . with the fact that will loose the SHAWD for a FWD .

NVA-AV6

Need a 08+TL-S MT in order to bolt to your block, from there you would also need the engine harness and ECU from the same newer TL. Now there is also a option for AWD, the 2010 TL-S MT AWD tranny, haven't seen one in the yards yet, but new I can get one for right around $3800 from Acura.

guss_90

Thanks for your answers and options to this.

Comptechtl2367

[quote=SouthernBoy;12536820]Kelly Blue Book shows no difference between the manual and the automatic for an '04 TL. Edmunds favors the automatic by around $500. In reality, it's going to come down to demand and what the market is in the area in which one lives.

I suspect that manuals will generally command a higher price that automatics in private sales because they are much more difficult to find. With a trade in, the dealer might use the argument that the manual commands less then after he has the car, he will most likely highlight the fact the car has a manual and price it higher thereby increasing his profit.
quote]

This is wrong. First of all KBB is junk and useless when it comes to a real value of a car. Insurance companies and dealerships use NADA. If i could and not get fired i would slap every person that calls me and say "but wait KBB says my car is worth this...". I do agree that in the private market the 6spd would be "worth" more as more people that tune TL's would want one but look at the ratio of TL's sold next to the amount of people that mod them.
Good luck on the swap and keep us posted on if you get it to work!

GtMaxx

good stuff man keep us updated because as i posted before i was going to start the process but still saving up for the worst but id like to see it done so if i go wrong ill know who actually completed this swap