Holy **** (conversion tips)

[Timo]

Ok heres the scenario: was innocently going about my own business, doing a big burnout in my VQ All was going well until the auto **** itself and sprayed trans fluid all over the engine at the same time. Needless to say the engine caught fire proceeded to destroy my engine bay. Luckily i managed to put it out with minimal damage done, but i do need a new 'box
Now for the question. Ive been thinking for a while of converting the old VQ to manual, and now seems like the ideal time to do it. Has anyone done this before? Whats involved? Is it as easy as converting an auto VL to a manual? What parts do i need to get to undertake this conversion?
Cheers for any help,
Timo

[azkwazere]

Please use search function.

This topic has been covered before plety of times.

The fact its a VQ means little more than a few more parts.

aZk.

[Timo]

ok i have used the search function and it comes up with nothing useful.
Also are you sure that the conversions are the same. VQs didnt come out with a manual option as far as i know. Therefore im assuming there is no provision (ie brackets etc) from the factory to fit a clutch pedal and other associated gear, unlike in the VLs where its all there.
Maybe im searching wrong but it just comes up with useless **** that isnt even related
Also will a T5 bolt up to a series 2 5L in place of the auto?
Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

[slo_firo]

just because its a VQ dont mean things wont bolt up - they have manual wagons and utes dont they? gues what a VQ is built from.....

just find one of the 150 bigillion threads about manual conversions and follow that

[NORTI]

Do they have a clutch pedal hole in the firewall even thou? I know there was manual wagons, but still..... I havent ever heard of a manual statesman either? (I know not factory, but even converted.)

[greenfoam]

Do you think they use a different firewall for a statesman than a executive :P, its all the same except stretched a bit at the back. VQ_rats statesman is a manual so is Stealthies just for starters. You will just need something like the pedal box, gearrbox, bellhousing, clutch and flywheel, gearbox mount and cross member and the front half of a manual tailshaft

[vq rat]

As greenfoam said my vq is a manual its a easy job the hard part is fitting the pedal box , you will need to drill out the auto shifter plate and pot rivet a manual plate in the floor , but you will see when you pull out the center console what i mean there, to swap over you front tailshaft yoke i just fitted a new uni joint and the manual yoke as itis a different spline so fit it,I am still using the same ecu and its fine, if you want to keep you cruise control it pays to fit a switch to the clutch pedal and there is a hole there in the firewall for the clutch cable and gide to go throw hope this helps cos a manual in a stateman is very fun

[MasterOfReality]

As greenfoam said my vq is a manual its a easy job the hard part is fitting the pedal box , you will need to drill out the auto shifter plate and pot rivet a manual plate in the floor , but you will see when you pull out the center console what i mean there, to swap over you front tailshaft yoke i just fitted a new uni joint and the manual yoke as itis a different spline so fit it,I am still using the same ecu and its fine, if you want to keep you cruise control it pays to fit a switch to the clutch pedal and there is a hole there in the firewall for the clutch cable and gide to go throw hope this helps cos a manual in a stateman is very fun

How did you get around the centre console issue?

[vq rat]

I got one out of a ss (a statesman has a insert that go's on the top of the console ) if you leave if off you window switches hole is way too big to hold them if you are as luck as stealthie you my get one out of a gts r which clips in to the top insert id love to get one but the ss one looks fine il get some pics up of it

[NORTI]

Stealthy doesnt have a Statesman?

[vq rat]

no but he has a vp international calais with the same console init.

[adam69]

VQ304 is wrecking his manual statesman at the moment.Look in for sale section.He did the conversion himself too.

[Timo]

Cheers guys for all your help, looks like the old girl may be going manual
Slo-firo would you care to link a couple of these many threads, as i cant find any. I must be using the search wrong, im fairly computer illiterate

[MasterOfReality]

I got one out of a ss (a statesman has a insert that go's on the top of the console ) if you leave if off you window switches hole is way too big to hold them if you are as luck as stealthie you my get one out of a gts r which clips in to the top insert id love to get one but the ss one looks fine il get some pics up of it

Yeah pics would be good.

I saw a VR/VS GTS shifter surround on ebay, and it was $150. Im not paying that for a small piece of plastic. And when I looked closely at it, I'm pretty sure the inwards curve down the bottom left was a different shape to the auto one.

I am also trying to find out whether I can replace my calais centre console with the more common hard topped console, I'm not sure whether it will fit up with the radio surround in the calais.