I found a 98 GSX with low miles and in good condition...the only problem for me is that its an automatic....im lookin to swap it to a manuel but the cost is the only thing holding me back...does anyone know how much im lookin at to spend to swap the automatic to a manuel?

 

You know automatics aren't as bad as everyone says. I'm guessing it would be an easy 2 grand or so, but I wouldn't really have a clue.

 

I know it's going to be a lot of money

 

The problem with autos on a car like that is that the power band is in the high RPM's and most autos only have 3 or 4 gears that have to do the job of all five in a manual. So that means you are going to be out of your best range longer in each gear. In high school I knew one person with a prelude with the 1.6 and someone else with a 2.3, it was an auto. They were the same body style and there was no real differance in driving ability between the two of them and both were stock engines. They ran almost the exact same time at the track. The auto killed the edge the 2.3 had. There isn't much offered for import autos, domestics there are all kinds of performance trannies, shift kits, and the like that you can make up the deficit with. If you want to go with it and don't want to swap over I would at least look into getting a better torque converter. Most cars loose a good deal through the stock ones since they are made to shift smoothly not fast or efficiently.

 

Vertstanggt, there are a lot of things offered for import automatics. From place like Level10 to John Shepard, and even TRE, they all offer performance upgrades for the DSM automatics. Plus a dsm with an automatic isn't all that bad, Look at most dyno charts for either a 1g or 2g, they all have very nice torque bands that peak close 5k rpm. Even doing a turbo upgrade will make the car quicker and feel better in a few instances. Swapping to a t28 will make the car feel like it has v8-like torque since the turbo spools much quicker than the stock t25. You will feel that gain in an automatic, since the auto like to stay right where the turbo will spool. However it won't be quite up to speed with a manual transmission car. I'd say just save the headache and keep the auto. Unless you get a manual tranny built by shep or TRE, don't bother upgrading. DSM automatics can also hold up to 350hp reliably, and can take you to 13 seconds.

 

You have to get the whole drivetrain assembly. From the tranny to the rear. The gearing is different in the rears of the auto and the manual.

I know this because in my quest to convert from FWD to AWD I almost bought an Auto Rear end and was quickly told not because of this reason.

I am betting that it would cost from $1,000-$2,000 for all the used/new parts and another $500-$1,500 to install. Depending on the person you find to do it. If they have it will be cheaper than if they haven't.