Auto to manual swap

[RollyTG]

Hi. Now that my engine rebuild is almost complete it is getting to be crunch time for replacing the transmission. I was intending to do the John's Cars GM T700 conversion, but it all just seems like a process that is altogether too complex and logistically difficult. So I am now leaning towards going with a manual gearbox - probably a Moss with overdrive. Does anybody have experience with such a swap or have any advice to offer on the subject? Any input would be much appreciated. THanks.

[NigelW]

I've done the swap on my car and it has transformed it. I suggest you leave the auto diff as is and not change to a higher ratio as it helps with mpg. I used all original S Type parts including a second hand overdrive gearbox with bellhousing and used flywheel that I had resurfaced. You will need a manual cars propshaft and pedal box with a clutch pedal and a new master cylinder with a new hydraulic pipe going to a new slave cylinder. Other parts will need to obtained like an overdrive switch on the steering column and a manual car colum binical with the overdrive script and the cutout for the switch leaver. The wiring for the overdrive is fairly easy to sort out following the standard wiring diagram in the workshop manual. The only deviation from a standard setup was to use a custom modified XJ6 gear stick with the overdrive switch in the gear knob. Obviously a new hole has to be cut into the transmission tunnel for the gear stick.

One big advantage of the conversion is it gives you plenty of room around the gearbox as the transmission tunnel is bigger on an automatic car making routine oil changes on the gearbox easer not to mention access to the starter motor. I sounds a complex job but once all the parts have been sourced it is a fairly straightforward job to execute.

The job I did was done at a very reasonable cost using second hand parts sourced from friends and spares days and auto jumbles. If I was doing the same job today I would go down the after market route, a lot of convertions use a Ford gearbox but these are becoming scarce these days. The latest convertions utilise a Toyota gearbox suitably modified for Jaguars. Realm engineering in the UK can supply a kit

https://realmengineering.com/5-speed-conversion/

that is recommended. You will still need a pedal box and a few other parts but Realm can supply a sutable propshaft. Sorry I don't have any knowledge of the kit you mention.

If you need any other info on this please ask.

Nigel