auto to manual swap

[goanna_38]

Hi, tried a search and got nothing so I'll try a post. I am doing an auto to manual swap on a series 1 VS v6. Box and everything else is out of a VP which I assumed would fit. Hit a snag fitting the flywheel. Outer rim of the flywheel fouls on the nose of the starter motor. Tossing up between three options. Try to find a VS flywheel, machine the outside of the flywheel or grind the snout of the starter motor. Not keen on the last one and uncertain if the second one will work. Just curious if anyone else on here has done it and if so did they have the same trouble?

[DannyboyDS]

ok firstly this thread is int he HOWTO section first page, the HOWTO section is full of goodies, Since thats your first post i'll assume you havn't found that section yet, you will though :P

The complete Vn-Vr Manual Conversion Guide.

secondly, was it out of a series two VP? and did you get the starter? from memory you will need a different starter with a manual.

[goanna_38]

Thanks for that. According to the thread I need a different starter. Now just have to find one. What a pain. Dunno why Holden would do that. More like the sort of thing ford would do.

[Haydz]

They are different..

one is a bosch - Auto

And Delco Remy - Manual..

it has something to do with the amount and weight it will have to crank to get her to fire up.

[TUF UTE]

vp = buick v6
vs = ecotec v6



different motors and boxes.... everything is different mate

[mischa]

vp = buick v6
vs = ecotec v6



different motors and boxes.... everything is different mate

read this about the engines,

V6 Crankshaft Info

And early VS's had the T5 box, same as all VN-VR

[TUF UTE]

have u got vs ecotec bellhousing and such though ?

[TUF UTE]

that could be why your having starter issues if u havent

[woodyotoad]

make sure its a manual starter, i did the conversion on my mates VR and had no problems

[GTP 85]

as said...get a manual starter.

All v6 T5 bell housings VN-VS are the same as far as i know.

[VSSECO]

Yep, there the same bellhousing. And as stated earlier, the T5 was still used on series 1 VS's so it will all bolt up fine, but you will need to buy a delco starter... the worst part is that they are rare and expensive. From series 2 onwards, all V6's used the same bosch starter regardless of auto or manual, but your T5 will need the delco sorry

[VSSECO]

Good news, this one is going cheap as:

COMMODORE VN-VR V6 MANUAL DELCO STARTER MOTOR !! - eBay, Other Car Parts, Accessories, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 16-Nov-08 19:30:00 AEDST)

[Haydz]

also make sure you get the manual starter motor bolts. they are shorter than the auto ones.

[Chirpstr]

If you have a manual starter make sure the spacer is in! It will just jam otherwise and also wont sit flush. (from experience loool)

[DannyboyDS]

cant you buy a delco starter brand new? I hate rare parts.

[VSSECO]

You can. Holden still have some of them available but the prices are ridiculous

[ejukated]

Hi, tried a search and got nothing so I'll try a post. I am doing an auto to manual swap on a series 1 VS v6. Box and everything else is out of a VP which I assumed would fit. Hit a snag fitting the flywheel. Outer rim of the flywheel fouls on the nose of the starter motor. Tossing up between three options. Try to find a VS flywheel, machine the outside of the flywheel or grind the snout of the starter motor. Not keen on the last one and uncertain if the second one will work. Just curious if anyone else on here has done it and if so did they have the same trouble?

if you're using the flywheel out of the VP make sure you get it matched balance to the flexplate that came off your motor. ecotecs and buicks have different balance specs in the flywheel/flexplate

[goanna_38]

if you're using the flywheel out of the VP make sure you get it matched balance to the flexplate that came off your motor. ecotecs and buicks have different balance specs in the flywheel/flexplate

That is about the third different time I've been told to get the flywheel balanced. What's up with that? I was always under the impression it was either balanced or out of balance. Beginning to get the idea I need to change the chip too. I bought a starter secondhand for $45 but had to order the bolts from Holden. Might ring the same wrecker and see if they have an ECU as well.

[ejukated]

these motors are externally balanced. The flywheel/flexplate combined with the crank pulley balances the whole bottom end. If you look on your flexplate you will see some weights tacked on near the ring gear, similarly on the flywheel there will be a section of the casting missing.

the amount of weight thats been removed/added (removing weight has the same effect as adding weight on the opposide side). changed from the buick design to the ecotec.

[ejukated]

if your using a T5 manual, you will need to modify the auto loom or get a manual loom aswell and get a manual chip and pcm or get a manual loom aswell.

[goanna_38]

Got a manual harness and buying a ECU out of a maual. Big concern is flywheel. Box is currently in car and I'm in the process of putting it back together. Currently working on the theory that I may as well get it all in and working and worry about flywheel later. If I get it all up and running now, changing the flywheel later isn't that hard.

[Chirpstr]

Don't just worry and forgot about the flywheel. You will have to get it balanced and machined to the original vs auto flexplate if using a vn/vp/vr one. You will have vibration/balance issues and will stuff more things up and also wont be fun to drive if you don't do this.

[goanna_38]

So far so good. Got hold of an engine builder that didn't react like I was asking him where he was hiding the martians when I enquired about rebalancing the flywheel. About the only problem now is the exhaust hanger bracket. The VP box has a vibration damper hanging off the back of the box where the exhaust hanger on the VS goes. The auto one won't fit because it bolts up differently and if you go into Holden the microfiche is less than helpful because the pictures aren't exactly clear. There are about 4 different brackets and knowing my luck if I order blindly it will take 4 goes (with freight charges attached to each) before I get the right one. If I had a VIN number it would be a piece of cake. Anyone got a VIN number for a series 1 VS V6 sedan with solid rear axle and a T5 box that I can use to get the right bracket first time? The VIN number on mine won't work because it was originally an auto. Only other option I have is make some sort of adapter to bolt the auto one to the manual box. That'll be fun.

[Haydz]

the series one manual has a different vibration dampener on it.

[goanna_38]

Finally got the car started. Been a few flooding issues in Queensland recently and we suffered a bit here so got a bit preocuppied with other things. Few strange things though, had a manual harness which I fitted (not recommended while the engine is still in the car let me tell you) but the reversing lights still only work off of the auto harness inside the car. Also it didn't need to be turned on for 4 hours to timeout the security code (I changed the whole ECU for a manual one and I assumed I would have to do this), just plugged it all in and bang, away it went. Not sure if this means the ECU is a bit dodgy, it's been chipped or if the Holden blurb in the owners manual is full of hot air. I think the harness I got came off of a car that was supercharged (not the same car I got the ECU off of) because the wires to the coil pack have been extended and as far as I am aware that is the only reason you extend them, to fit an aftermarket blower.