Manual to Auto!

S

Stephen79

Member
Hi. I know its usually the other way around but has anyone converted a manual car to an auto? either 4 cyl or V8. strange request, don't ask why!
 
John said:
Hasn't the auto got a larger transmission tunnel?
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It has, but on a V8 if you used a BW65 I reckon it would fit into the manual tunnel. More of a problem on the 2000/2200 as that was only ever fitted with a BW35, and that won't fit in the manual tunnel. I think if I really had to I could probably get a BW65 to fit there too, but it would need a new/modified engine bearer plate, and the right bellhousing and converter, and you would also have to consider the very short tailshaft on the 4 pot BW35, as you won't get one like that on a 65.
Even in the case of the v8, which would be a lot easier to do, I'd still think it would be a lot easier to go out and buy an auto in the first place.
 
Yes, I think the auto tunnel is wider. So, could be a bit of transmission tunnel modification involved here. Hopefully Chris or Harvey will be able to tell you all the gory details of what's involved but I suspect it will be do able.

Stephen, you said not to ask why. I can't resist - why?
 
JVY said:
Harvey will be able to tell you all the gory details of what's involved but I suspect it will be do able.
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I certainly can, but I'm not going to, (well not yet anyway) 'cos like you, I wanna know why.
 
Thanks for the input Harvey. It answers many thoughts I had and also rules out some ideas I had! I'll say no more other than diesel, auto and 2000... well one more thing, I am determined to dieselise a P6 I have. more info soon!
 
harveyp6 said:
rockdemon said:
so a sherpa bellhousing, lt77 box
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Ideal, if he wanted a manual, but he wants an auto..... :LOL:
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Yes its an L-series diesel I have and the theory was to mate it to a suitable auto but I'm not adverse to a manual and indeed it might be easier seeing as the car in question is a manual. I'm a diesel mechanic by trade so not afraid of the engine side of things. I have to say I'm a big fan of autos as I work on buses which are all automatics. I have several boxes at my disposal. The rover ones are an auto out of a 69' V8, a manual box out of a 3500S, not sure of the year but the chassis number is 48104413B which puts it somewhere between june 71' and Dec 74'.. I think. Of course I'm open to other gearbox suggestions, sherpa bellhousing and an LT77 might be hard to come across this side of the irish sea.
 
I'd want to put a modern 6 or more speed ZF type auto behind that engine (excellent choice, by the way). Obvious sources are a Merc or BMW, preferanly a diesel, so as to get roughly the right change up speeds and TQ convertor stall speed. But mating to the engine is going to need to be fairly inventive! I'd start by getting a crank spigot and flex plate (pray they didn't use dual mass flywheels on L series autos!) from an L series auto. Neither of the gearboxes you have I would rate as remotely suitable.

I wouldn't worry too much about the transmission tunnel. Get the correct drivetrain first. If it turns out to be a bit tight, then you can graft a P6 auto tunnel in relatively easily. There are generally an adequate supply of rusted out 2200 autos to supply a donor.

Other significant consideration is the engine mountings. Position and stiffness of the engine mounts makes a hige difference to how liveable with your diesel will be. I presume your L series is going to be from a trasverse installation, so the current layout of it's mounts is going to be plain wrong - one of them is likely to be off the nose of the engine towards what is now the bonnet slam panel - not a strong point of the P6! I suggest robbing the mountings (including a portion of the body where they attach) from whatever inline installation you get the gearbox from. Then try and position them in roughly the same location on the L series.

For a sump I'd put money on a sump drom any O series or Pinta inline installation suiting.

Chris
 
rockdemon said:
freelander might give up a gearbox and bellhousing too if theyre easy to find?
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Yes the engine is out of a freelander. I must see if the vendor wants the gearbox but I think he does. should be easy enough to get another one here alright. hopefully its straightforward enough. I love P6's but not so much the petrol aspect..
 
Ah! of xourse! Early Freelanders had the L series didn't they? Later have the BMW diesel. I wonder if you could get a an Auto on a Freelander diesel? A decent auto box place should be able to lose the $WD in favour of a plain tailshaft housing etc.

Chris
 
chrisyork said:
I'd want to put a modern 6 or more speed ZF type auto behind that engine (excellent choice, by the way). Obvious sources are a Merc or BMW, preferanly a diesel, so as to get roughly the right change up speeds and TQ convertor stall speed. But mating to the engine is going to need to be fairly inventive! I'd start by getting a crank spigot and flex plate (pray they didn't use dual mass flywheels on L series autos!) from an L series auto. Neither of the gearboxes you have I would rate as remotely suitable.

I wouldn't worry too much about the transmission tunnel. Get the correct drivetrain first. If it turns out to be a bit tight, then you can graft a P6 auto tunnel in relatively easily. There are generally an adequate supply of rusted out 2200 autos to supply a donor.

Other significant consideration is the engine mountings. Position and stiffness of the engine mounts makes a hige difference to how liveable with your diesel will be. I presume your L series is going to be from a trasverse installation, so the current layout of it's mounts is going to be plain wrong - one of them is likely to be off the nose of the engine towards what is now the bonnet slam panel - not a strong point of the P6! I suggest robbing the mountings (including a portion of the body where they attach) from whatever inline installation you get the gearbox from. Then try and position them in roughly the same location on the L series.

For a sump I'd put money on a sump drom any O series or Pinta inline installation suiting

Chris
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Thanks Chris, very helpful ideas. I'm starting to think I might stick with a manual box as it might be easier as to what inline box that is the question? I might do some research and see if anything from the BMW family would suit.
 
Hmm

Looks like only the BMW engined TD4 came with an auto. At leat you can use an early Freelander diesel for a manual gearbox and all the inline conversion bits. I presume the box is going to be an LT77 or R380, so it won't be a problem to convert to 2WD.

Chris
 
I think the guy who is selling me the engine wants the transfer box part of the setup but I can have the rest. LT77 would be an ideal box but rare as hens teeth here in Ireland I reckon. What box is the R380? pardon my ignorance! looking forward to getting stuck into it but could be a slow burner as a baby is due shortly!
 
I love to see stuff like this done but to me anything that needs the use of gloves to handle whilst filling up shouldn't go near a classic Rover :mrgreen:
Can't wait to see it evolve :)
 
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