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by RedJohn on January 6th, 2006
It would be possible with some vehicles. Many models are offered for sale with either a manual or an automatic transmission. There are few structural differences between the models, because of the added cost of supporting two different manufacturing lines, but there are a number of minor differences among modern cars that could be problematic. It is not a simple case of swapping transmission hardware.
There are several electronic systems, such as ignition interlocks, installed in cars that are different for manual and automatic transmissions. There may also be mechanical variations between the models, such as different gear ratios in the differential.
There are some vehicles offered for sale (in North America, where automatics account for some 80% of sales, the opposite of Europe) with the manual transmission standard and the automatic optional that are, quite literally, never sold with a manual. I recall the father of a friend trying to purchase a new car with a manual transmission. The car had to be special ordered from the factory, as there were none available through the dealer network with manual transmissions installed.
While it may be possible, it would be very expensive to do so, unless you were a mechanic with the experience and the time to do the work yourself. It would be cheaper to sell the existing car and purchase the same model with a manual. The conversion cost would then amount to the difference between the selling and buying prices of two otherwise identical vehicles.
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Comments
a big work this
by Sergio on January 6th, 2006
Technically, it CAN be done but usually isn't worth it.
by 8 Jan 2004-10 Dec 2009 on January 6th, 2006
Good answer. Older vehicles it is pretty easy, like chev pick-ups, 3-4 hrs.
by Anonymous on January 6th, 2006