What is needed to switch from manual to auto trans?

[Newbie1979Pini]

I have an automatic transmission with torque converter and fly wheel. My 79' manual transmission needs to be removed so a professional can look at it. While it is out, I'm pondering what it would actually take to put the auto in? I know that I'd need to run a cooling line to an oil cooler mounted to the radiator. I know the length of the transmissions is different, and I already have a few different lenght drive lines that will hopefully work.

But I don't know about the electrical or the rear gearing.
Will I need to change any of the ignition wiring?
I know that the rear gears are set for the five speed manual, but If I'm not imediatly looking for top performace, can I leave it alone for now?

I would prefer to keep the vehicle as original as possible, but my car budget is really small right now. I need to weight my options if I cannot get the manual working.

[carl]

Probably not that hard to do. There are no electrical connections other than the back up light and maybe a starter cut out, I think that's in the shifter. You will need the trans, flywheel, driveshaft and shifter from the auto. Also need to swap over the vacuum line and kickdown cable from the auto. It should all bolt in without any issues if you are just dragging parts from your auto spider. You can get an aftermarket trans cooler or swap the radiator also. You can leave the pedal assembly alone, your clutch pedal just becomes a foot rest. The rear axle ratio is no biggy. I had an auto spider once and wondered why it seemed faster than others....found out it had a 5-speed rear axle and was running the 3.9 ratio rather than the 3.9 from an auto spider. I liked it so much I figured if I even owned an auto spider again I would put a 3.6 in it.

carl

[chrisfiat]

how long do you expect this " professional" to have your transmission, and why is it being removed ?

[fiat218]

gee, get a another 5 speed

[Newbie1979Pini]

As it turns out, the manual has survived my torture chamber. I will be sticking with the manual after all. But, the automatic is still just sitting in the shadows - waiting for senior manual to fail - someday.

[ORFORD2004]

If you use it in city traffic for most of the time i can understand using automatic. But for open road, stick on the 5 speeds or maybe your getting old.

[mcpeach]

I believe the auto tranny tunnel is larger than manual, so you would have difficulties going to auto. I have never heard of a conversion in the 30 years and 9 fiats later.

[TimpanogosSlim]

as i understand it you need a shorter drive shaft to use the automatic transmission

[vandor]

> I believe the auto tranny tunnel is larger than manual,

You think they made the bodies different just on auto trans cars? Highly doubtful. It's possible that the Spider 2000s had a different shaped tunnel (although I highly doubt it, as the consoles are the same) to also accommodate an auto trans, but it's highly unlikely that they made two different bodies on the same assembly line.

Yes, a driveshaft with the shorter front section is needed.