Converting AUTO to Manual

[miguel38]

Morning one and all,

A friend of mine is after a mini and has found a nice one, but its an auto, how much work is involved in changing it to a manual?

I assume is not as simple as bolting on a manual box and fitting the clutch pedal?

Cheers

Michael

[MHM]

Hi,
You will need to change the flywheel and housing, as well as the subframe because the auto frame is wider (have heard of people just making spacers)

[miguel38]

Cheers, How big of a job is it then? because im the one who will end up doing it for him and i cant be arsed to spend weeks doing it!

[beejay]

From memory the auto block is different with the oil pickup in a different place, so a manual box won't just bolt on. I could be wrong tho Starter's different too and possibly the end of the crank.
Easiest solution is to drop in a complete manual engine/box unit, as mentioned though the auto subframe is an inch or so wider as well!

[MHM]

Oh yeah forgot about that, as he said find a complete unit. but as you said if you cant be arsed dont bother its one of thos jobs that if you havn't got everything to hand you will be there ages

[MHM]

Oh yeah forgot about that, as he said find a complete unit. but as you said if you cant be arsed dont bother its one of thos jobs that if you havn't got everything to hand you will be there ages

[AnotherClarkey]

Alternatively give the auto a try, they are really pretty good once you get used to them. They can even be, dare I say it? Sporty. Damn sight better than most tiptronic, selespeed, etc, etc, guff out there.

[miguel38]

if i could bolt a complete unit subframe and all in thats not too bad, just dont want to have to start fabricating, ive not the time for arseing about that much!

Thanks for your help guys!

[DanGT]

Fitting a compleat front subframe with everything is not to bad a job. Just check the sub frame you use has the same brack set up (posible to swap parts over but one less thing to bother about). I would get a mini manuel and have a look to see what you are letting you self in for.

Good luck

[Flat6]

MHM said:

...as well as the subframe because the auto frame is wider (have heard of people just making spacers)

I converted mine, kept the auto frame and used a spacer kit from Mini-sport, which is available off-the-shelf and was a perfect fit.

You'll not do it by converting gearbox alone as the blocks are also different, so he'll need a complete engine/box assembly. It's then just a straight swap (plus of course rod change and clutch pedal/master cyl etc)

Edited by Flat6 on Tuesday 16th September 12:59