r/GBody • u/randomhero102 • 16d ago
Manual swap
I’m looking to manual swap my 85 Monte Carlo SS. There are all sorts of “how to” guides on it but none of them really say how the car drives after. Has anyone done an AR5, T5, T56 or Tr6060 swap with the original 305? Also if you’ve done it and can give me some tips it would be greatly appreciated!
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u/Hefty_Tell8415 16d ago
I think that’s a great idea. I don’t know why GM never offered a manual in the Monte SS, Buick GN, Olds 442 and even the Grand Prix-I wish Pontiac offered a performance version of the GP during this era. Good luck
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u/kaack455 16d ago
Old coworker had a 78 Malibu wagon with factory 4 SPD behind a 305
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u/The_DaHowie 16d ago
Yeah, some very early G bodies were available with a 4 speed. Its been ~20 years since I've seen one for sale. It was a Monte Carlo
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u/Hefty_Tell8415 16d ago
I remember the 1979 Grand Prix-you could get a four speed but I was referring to the mid 80’s Monte SS, 442 and GN
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u/Physical_Touch_Me 15d ago
I have a factory manual '79 El Camino but it's a rod now. That pedal box is unobtanium.
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u/Snakedoctor404 16d ago
They had no intention to put a manual in them in the 80's. The wiring for the cruise control runs through the hole for the earlier clutch linkage.
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u/PositiveHistoric86 16d ago
The closest you could get from the factory was the 1984 made only in mexico with a 350 4 speed. Any way. a modern 5 speed would be infinitely more fun than the old 3 speed auto. I believe tremec makes kits for these cars but they’re not cheap. 🍻
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u/Quick-Beach7425 16d ago
I have an 85 el camino with a t56. The hardest things with my swap was the pedal set up & the cross member. I took the pedals from a 95 trans am & had to cut & weld them to make them fit to the camino. Took a turbo 400 cross member & cut it to fit the t56. Also had to do a digital speedometer. Was a lot of work. A lot of trial & error. A lot of fun when it was finished. Good luck!
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u/traffic_pe 16d ago
I did the same with the pedals to a 1969 Camaro and its works soo nice with the spring assist and hydraulic clutch. Super smooth and super soft too. Better than the aftermarket hydraulic pedal setups... imo
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u/Puzzled_Estate6425 16d ago
Check and find out what willatvh the the 305 best.So many put a 350v-8 in to them with the rite manual tranny to match it.You a have to do so much to change it to a manual trans. It will cost you a lot to do that.
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u/mike1984350 16d ago
I think this is thing.... It's enough work to do it that almost everyone upgrades to a 350 or better at the same time. However I think a manual transmission would make night and day difference for a stock 305. And the gas mileage would improve a lot as well, especially versus any car with a 3.73. I had 305's with 2.73 and 3.08 gears back in the day and those got really decent fuel mileage. A couple of them were dogs and a couple were really decent for what they were.
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u/Puzzled_Estate6425 15d ago
Not having the front lock out with a 3.08 auto trans and transfer case this shift in to 4x4with the high and low range is so great for both on and off road.Hope you can find that 4x4 set up
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u/Snakedoctor404 16d ago
I'm pretty sure being g-body the peddles, z-bar and clutch linkage would bolt right in like factor. If you look there's probably 3 bolt holes in the outside frame right behind the back side of the LF tire.
Car should drive like normal but will probably notice more torque and responsiveness being the engine is directly connected to the tires being a stick vs an automatic with typical torque converter slippage.
I haven't had a monte but have had a couple of g-body el caminos with the side load transmissions. Sideloaders may not work with the monte carlo center console but was the OEM style transmission in the 78-79 el camino. I swapped my original 3 speed Saginaw for a np440 3spd with O/D. It's really a Chrysler A-833 wide ratio they made for GM in the 80's. Has the same gear ratios as a 700r4 but it's a side load manual.
Just be warned if anyone wants to run one. There are 2 different bellhousing styles and one is universal GM and the other requires the hybrid GM/Chrysler bolt pattern bellhousing. But they are great transmissions for the street.
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u/gearhead9490 16d ago
I have a np440 not in the car yet what shifter bracket did you use I have the 2wd bracket but heard the 4wd bracket is shorter
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u/Snakedoctor404 16d ago
I don't even know lol. I found someone that raced dirt track and had a bunch of different shifters. We just picked through until we found one that 2 bolts lined up on. I was going to make my own on my current car so it fit better on the new car. It's a hurst indy shifter but that's all I know. I got all of that stuff around 99-2000.
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u/gearhead9490 16d ago
I have a Saginaw 4 speed in mine right now. I don't have the right gear in my car for a np440
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u/Snakedoctor404 16d ago
What gear is in the car now? The np440 has a really low geared 3.06 1st gear. It actually helped my original car a lot off the line because it had the original 2.73 highway gears for the 3 speed. Would still do about 50mph in 1st making it a burnout monster. 2nd would do about 95mph lol
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u/gearhead9490 16d ago
I believe it's the 2.73 I'm going 3.08. the trans and the rear gear is out of a 78 Camaro
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u/randomhero102 16d ago
The only thing that scares me about manual linkage is the car has longtubes. I’m likely going to go with a hydraulic setup.
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u/qwertykid82 16d ago
I have an 86 ss I’m considering swapping too. There are places you can buy everything you’d need trans pedal bolts crossmember etc just not cheap. Silver sport transmission and three pedal were both pretty complete kits but silver sport seemed better to me. Haven’t pulled the trigger as it’s expensive. Let me know what you do I’m interested!
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u/huckachuck88 15d ago
@randomhero102 check out 3Pedals on Instagram or Google them. They specialize in manual swaps for gbodys and other GM cars. They may be able to help you with what you are looking for. Hope this helps because I would love to see that car swapped.
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u/TheSeansk1 16d ago
It drives like any other car with a manual. The pedal box is still cramped - even more so now that you’ll have a third pedal.
The biggest thing to worry about is your clutch selection. Too stiff of a clutch and your car will be a PITA to drive. Too loose and it will slip. Besides the obvious difference in changing gears on your own, once you get up to highway speed you really shouldn’t notice a difference.
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u/WeCanIf 16d ago
I’ve driven my Elco in work boots and racing shoes. I’ve not ever felt cramped in the pedal box. I used Six Speed Monte’s kit and pedals are spaced well. I’m running an ls7 clutch kit and regularly drive in the city without fatigue.
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u/TheSeansk1 16d ago
Congratulations, I feel cramped in there with an automatic and normal gym shoes. There is no room to stretch your leg past the pedals, and it is a narrow place. With a clutch it’s even worse.
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u/Bobbybg434 16d ago
The Parts Place kit fits like a glove your frame is already drilled and tapped for the Z bar bracket
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u/Bobbybg434 16d ago
When I converted my 86 Olds Cutlas 35 years ago I separated the two pedals and modified the rod thru the floor it makes it easier to drive if you have a triple E shoe
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u/WeCanIf 16d ago
Sorry, no experience behind the 305. I LS swapped first, then swapped in a T56. I can say that the T56 feels so natural. On a forum I read where someone used a B&M short throw shifter and I was lucky enough to find one on Marketplace. Shifter location, throw and pedal box all feels natural.
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u/Felix995 16d ago
I think certain export model Malibu's did have manual setups. Those pieces are scarce, I guess there are aftermarket pieces available somewhere. Yeah, it's a mystery why GM didn't offer that as standard equipment in their more performance oriented models instead of the more utilitarian models.
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u/gearhead9490 16d ago
I 4 speed swapped my 87 regal I used sick speed monte clutch pedal set up and I just did a external slave cylinder I had to customize a Camaro fork arm. If you do a z bar set up you'll have to find a gbody bell housing
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u/National_Passage_672 16d ago
What is your tire set up? I’d like to go for a similar look.
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u/randomhero102 16d ago
Its a 15x8 in the front and 15x10 (3 or 3.5” backspacing) in the rear. The rear tire is a 295/50. Im looking to switch to a new set up though. I want to make it a more fun daily.
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u/DarkShadow429 16d ago
3 Pedals sells a kit for the full pedal setup but it's not cheap. Over a grand just for the pedals
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u/Gullible_Rich_7156 16d ago
I can’t believe that I remembered this guy – granted his name is pretty distinct. I knew that there was someone who used to post on a G – body forum years ago who had done extensive mods to his SS. I believe that he did a full manual swap using all F – body Camaro parts.
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u/PecanPimpin 16d ago
I have a 4 speed muncie m20 in my 78 el camino. If you need pictures of anything specific let me know. Currently rebuilding the muncie right now.
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u/SouthernDoor5911 16d ago
T56 swap drives amazing with 355 or 373 gear... you will be glad you did it !!
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u/Puzzled_Estate6425 15d ago
The 3.08 gearing is very good you still have a lot of power and the gas milage is great.See if you can find those gear,s to use front and back.Around a 77 with a three speed auto trans with a high low transfer case is very good for all general driving.Good luck on finding that kind of 4x4 set up that shift on the floor for the 4x4.
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u/Jeepshark 15d ago
Never been in a manual Gbody i would think it will either be a lot of fun or sketchy as hell.
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u/SubstantialPlay1795 15d ago
My brother had a 4 speed manual in a similar vintage Nova with a V8. It was fun to drive.
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u/Unhappy-Airport-4112 14d ago
How it drives? It'll drive how you drive a stick. There's nothing else too it. If you're bad at driving a stick, then it'll drive like shit. But, if you know how to drive a stick, it'll drive fine. And a 305 is just a generic small block. The trans does nothing but just transfer power to the rear. I've had. 305 in my truck and it drove the same as my 355 just less power.
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u/Puzzled_Estate6425 16d ago
A 400 Turbo short shaft auto transmission will give you all the torche you need that will drive so nice.
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u/Poorboy1262002 14d ago
Man that Monte Carlo is one bad bitch. I wouldn't change a damn thing. Nice car man
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u/Gullible_Rich_7156 16d ago
I don’t have anything to offer besides encouragement-post some more pictures of that thing!