Convert to Auto

RobAMerc

The boss keeps wingeing at me she would like an auto Fiesta but they are hard to find for anything less than silly money.
I reckon I could pick up a scrap auto box in the uk cheap and convert - anyone know how tough this might be ?

Thanks
Rob

crosstownk

Personally I wouldn't bother - too much hassle. Shift assembly's, possibly different drive shafts, reverse light wiring, gearbox mountings and God knows what else at the flywheel end of things. And then there's the possibilty of something being wrong with the scrappy box and you'd be questioning whether the box is at fault or if it was something you did in the conversion.

Like I said - lots of hassle...........

bushy...

Here are some things I can think of
Bits you'll need : Box, torque converter , flywheel ,shifter , kickdown bits & more
Driveshafts may be different . Hubs may not match auto driveshafts.
Brake discs etc may be bigger on auto car.
Engine may have different cam & fuel injection stuff ( to suit auto box ) .
Auto box may have electronic control/kickdown etc.
Exhaust routing may be different.
It may not be so bad though , get a parts pdf for each of them and have a good look. If you were going to do it , it'd be easier to have a complete-ish auto car to swap bits from , its always the little things that catch you.

Rovi

bushy... wrote:

If you were going to do it , it'd be easier to have a complete-ish auto car to swap bits from , its always the little things that catch you.

I wholeheartedly endorse this advice!
This sort of 'heart transplant' stuff is immeasurably eased by having a complete (and ideally, still drivable) donor vehicle.
Breaker's yard 'pulls' lead almost invariably to anguish and hair rending as obscure but essential parts are hunted down.

With a donor car, you'll at least have a VIN number for the parts man to help with the quest.

Esel

Think this was meant for you (posted in another thread!):

michaelanthony wrote:

Here is a link to cheap auto fiestas in the UK. http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_search.jsp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=block&sort=3&hassearched=Y&make=FORD&min_pr=75&source=0&model=FIESTA&max_pr=&miles=1500&agerange=&mileage=&postcode=sw1a+1aa&variant=&bodyid=0&trim=&fuelid=0&colour=&transmissionid=2&keywords=&ukcarsearch_full.x=44&ukcarsearch_full.y=6&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH

colm_mcm

it's possible to fit a servo to the clutch, a button on the gear lever is pressed when you want to change gear and it automatically balances the clutch for starting off. we did a few on 1.6 Avensis for disability, but it's no match for a proper automatic.

Wishbone Ash

It would be easier to make a left hooker into a right hooker!

crosstownk

Wishbone Ash wrote:

It would be easier to make a left hooker into a right hooker!

So true. And that's not an easy job either.

It's also quite possible that different engines are paired with slushmatic boxes.

Esel

Wishbone Ash wrote:

It would be easier to make a left hooker into a right hooker!

And that's before you pay for the coke!