So I know it has probably been mentioned already, and if someone could point me in the right direction that would be awesome.

I want to do two switches in my 1970 Cutlass S -

1. switch from auto to manual
2. switch from column shift to floor

Any tips or advice would be great.

 

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is this a new feature to the site??

<insert sarcastic response here>

 

seriously I did that before I posted.....just wanted to find maybe a quicker way than sorting through 500+ results.

 

Search on CO isn not the greatest. You enter the phrase you are searching and 300 out of 325 results are completely irrelevant.

 

More info on your car would be helpful. Do you have bench or buckets now? One challenge is most Olds cranks need to be drilled out for the pilot bushing.

 

It's a pretty big deal, but not impossible. Parts will cost about $1000, you'll need at least:

1. Manual trans and bellhousing
2. Flywheel
3. Clutch disc and pressure plate and throwout bearing and fork
4. Z-bar and pivot
5. Manual pedals
6. Shifter
7. Engine with suitable crank hole for pilot bearing OR use Mondello's bushing and deepen crank hole or shorten trans input shaft.

You got the earlier responses because this is a very popular thing to "want to do", at least until one realizes the cost and magnitude of endeavor.

Steve

 

Right, why work when you can get someone else to do it for you?

FYI, you can use Google to search on CO. It works a lot better than the search function on the site.

 

Here, I'll even do the work for you. Copy and paste the following into Google:

"classicoldsmobile.com" manual trans conversion

 

Hi Cajun: I understand the difficulties with computers and searching, I'm not real savvy myself. I have a few thoughts on how to accomplish the manual transmission conversion:
1) I highly recommend purchasing the service manual and assembly manual for your year, make and model. They show detailed photos and schematic drawings. These are available through Olds vendors.
2) As mentioned before, you would have to drill out the crank shaft and remove it from the engine or you could use the special bushing mentioned previously which would be less labor intensive than removing the crank shaft.
3) I would also suggest that you purchase a complete manual transmission assembly either from a donor car or from an individual who has the complete assembly. This prevents you from having to track down individual pieces from multiple sources and paying shipping on each of them. Plus, you will know that all the pieces fit together and you won't get in the middle of the install and find you're missing something.
4) I have a complete setup from a '72 Cutlass that is compatible with model years '70-'72 that I would be willing to part with if you are interested. As I said above, I'm not real computer savvy (especially with a site that only gives you 30 seconds to type a reply before it times out on you!), so if you have any questions or would like to discuss further, please call me at 330-618-3178. Good Luck, Tim

 

Oh, no you dittent, Joe!

Original Poster- my pic was intended to be helpful
I can see it might be taken as sarcastic if you had already done that
Where did it say that?
Oh, and I forgot that CO's search is just about useless.

Do Joe's google trick.

I was just trying to assist, really.

PS driveshaft for MT is generally nut rubberized and for AT is rubberized, so maybe get an MT driveshaft or just have a new one made up, they are not that pricey.

I'm not ALWAYS a sarcastic bombastic.

 

I know it has a bench seat, I am not sure what transmission is in there (other than it's an automatic) and the shifter is on the column.

Sounds like it will be a lot of work but the car will be a complete tear down and build up so might as well do it then.

 

The original trans would have been a TH350 with the 350 engine or a TH400 with the 455 engine.