Damaged Manual SL

[Jules86]

I met up with a mate from school who owns a couple of vl's. Has a blue (very faded) standard, sick sounding; as in sick/sad, with re-con gearbox for $500. And crashed his white manual sl; it only damage the front end a bit, still a bit of work involved in getting it fixed; just a few dollars, mechanically it is good, except for the radiator and fan which are stuffed/broken, no rust, It is also $500. 290000 on the engine.

Now my gearbox had always(2years) been making a grindy sort of noise in the morning when i chuck it into drive. It hasn't been service for about 40000km. Just wondering if getting the manual 1 is worth it ($500 and the work involved). As i have no idea on how to pull out a transmission. Also i will have a half a vl for parts. Except its blue interior and mine is brown. Just want to know if you's reckon its worth it as everybody wants a manual.

If someone could post back the steps involved or lead me to a detailed site it would be appreciated.

[Dead Head]

Wow thats a hard one,if you are not handy with a spanner or good mates with someone who is, I suggest that around $150 for an Auto service sounds good to me.

[harry3]

its not a bad auto if you can get it frixed, much easier to buy a manual VL if you really enjoy having to work the gearlever and clutch

[Bax]

I'd go it mate. I paid 900 for my manual conversion from Ponty's, and that was incomplete. If I'd been a little more patient I could of gotten one around 3-500 but I was in a hurry. For whatever reason I don't know.

If you get the entire car you can always put your auto back into it and then try and get it roadworthy and sell it off. Should be able to get more then 1 thousand for it if you tidy it up a bit?

[Jules86]

It's the hole car with no driver side front panel, and bent from middle to that side. But i'm getting told ya have to get a conversion certificate etc. Was thinkning it prob be easier to fix the body, and install PAS, as no rust; and have my car for sale, but the sentimental value is too much

I could prob even score a berlina interior off me mate (trade) for my car; cuz his car is blue/purple pearl with blue/purple chameleon dash and everything else is brown.

How hard is it for the pedal change and how long of a process is it (how long will my car be off the road?) Bextor, you've done a conversion, would you classify it easy ?

I'd also need a brown; manual center console.

[Bax]

I haven't done the conversion yet, but when i get around to it i have the added advantage of having absolutely no interior and nothing in the bay. So its going to be pretty easy.

Thats auto to manual, I've done manual to manual though and that was piss.

But yeah.

And i wouldn't worry too much about a brown manual surround, lets start with any coloured one, that will be hard enough haha.

You need a conversion certificate? thats a new one to me..