Has anyone converted an automatic (S4) to manual? If so advise/opinions appreciated

artikulieren · 08-04-2008, 06:33 AM

I had an idea yesterday as to what to do with my messed up 88 S4 but it would involve converting it to a manual. Has anyone ever done this? Do you have to change the computer and/or alter the wiring significantly? I'm not concerned terribly about the damage that could be done to the interior to change the shifter, the console is a mess already. I was just really curious if this is a feasible conversion and how much pain (and cost) it might be. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciate.

Red Baron · 08-04-2008, 07:27 AM

My track car is a converted auto. No wiring or computer changes are needed. One of the hardest things is to rivet in the spot where the clutch acuator arm travels through the fire wall. FWIW, I saw all of the parts needed listed on ebay when I was browsing last night and the price was quite reasonable.

artikulieren · 08-04-2008, 10:29 AM

Thank you gentlemen for answering my question. Sounds to me like I can strip my messed up 88 down to the nitty gritty (keep the good stuff for spares for my nice 87), pop in a 5spd setup and have a nice track car. I just wonder if I could get around replacing the cracked windshield with a lexan piece rather than the super-expensive replacement glass as the car probably wont even be street legal. Another thing I think I would have interest in doing is ditching the original dash and gauge pod entirely in favor a fabricated lightweight dash and a cluster of separate aftermarket gauges. The dash wiring in my 88 has ISSUES. When it is running the idiot lights work but the tach and oil pressure gauges don't, and if it is running and you move the turn signal lever the oil pressure gauge goes from dead to pegged on high. I couldn't begin to guess.

Danglerb · 08-04-2008, 11:28 AM

928's that have been stripped down and set up for track use sell for between $10k and $15k, hint hint hint, this is not due to them being cheap projects. It will be MUCH cheaper for you to buy one of the ready to race cars than to convert yours. Great time for my favorite quotation.

"What part of Porsche racing did you think was going to be inexpensive, the Porsche part or the racing part?" attributed to Greg Brown.

Every marginal thing you can squeak away with on a slowly driven street car needs to be 100% for a track car.

OTOH I know someone with a full kit of parts to convert your car.

artikulieren · 08-04-2008, 12:46 PM

Danglerb, realize this all too well. I look at it as a long-term project to putz with on cold winter nights here in Chicago (indoors of course). I don't really want to sell the mess4 but I don't need 2 nice drivers, so rehabbing it is sort of a redundant project. The previous owner claimed that the guy he bought the car off swore it was Paula Abdul's car originally, which I am uncertain as to how I could prove that (the VIN history doesn't give names and all the documents for that mess are long gone). I intend on looking into that before I tear the car apart as I'm sure if she indeed did own it at some point that the car would valuable to some crazed fan (I personally could care less). I'll probably post a thread specific to checking 'celeb' ownership history in the near future, I don't really feel like thinking about that right now! Also how much does your friend want for the 5spd conversion? Thanks

N2O-SHARK · 08-04-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artikulieren

The previous owner claimed that the guy he bought the car off swore it was Paula Abdul's car originally, which I am uncertain as to how I could prove that.

Oxycotin in the glove box?

I totally agree with you about the price. I could have bought a well sorted out S4 for what I have put into my shark. But the time, frustrations and joys of doing it myself are priceless. Not to mention, I'm a hell of a lot more car smart today because of it.