Auto to manual transmission swap

[Speadster]

Hi all

1st post so please go gentle

I am in the process of looking for an old Rover SD1 Vanden Plas 3500 circa 1984, I want a manual box but every tidy car I find is Auto. I can easily find a manual box on Ebay and have it fitted but does Anyone know the procedure for notifying such a change to the DVLA or if it is even allowed?

I don't see any instructions on the DVLA website.

 

[Peter.N.]

Bear in mind that you will also need the clutch pedal assembly and possibly a different prop shaft so a donor car is required. I wouldn't think there would be a problem with the DVLA but you will probably need to have it inspected and pronounced safe from an insurance point of view.

I used to do diesel conversions, I took them to my local garage for an MOT and when it passed asked my friendly mechanic if he would 'sign this form for me'.

Peter

 

[Speadster]

Thanks Peter,
I never even thought about the clutch pedal, completely slipped my mind. A bit more of a job than just a straight swap, might not be worth it.

 

[Avocet]

It wil lbe quite involved. I'm not familiar with the arranegment but I did it on a V6 Ford (Reliant Scimitar) many years ago, The flywheels were different, as was the spigot bearing in the back of the crank. If you're really unlucky, the starters might even be slightly different as well! The wiring to the starter on my auto contained an inhibitor switch so it couldn't be started in gear. You'd need to bridge that out if you had one, and the throttle linkage had a kickdown cable attached to it. The pedal boxes were, of course, different too, as was the speedo drive. Your auto might well have a transmission fluid cooler too.

The DVLA is the easy bit. You are only obliged to tell them about the changes if they affect any of the data on the technical page of your registration document. If they do, there's a page for you to enter the new data and you send that back to them.

You'd have to inform your insurers it wasn't standard too.

 

[chainsaw_masochist]

My dad had a manual SD1 in the late seventies. It was a great motor to drive but a complete b*gger on the reliability front…and the rust? Hopefully whatever you buy will have been properly looked after so there will not be too many pitfalls.

I seem to remember that with several manufacturers some autos had different differentials to their manual equivalents, so there could be a massive amount of work required. No doubt a peruse of the relevant Haynes manual will specify whether this is the case or otherwise. It would also be worth registering with an SD1 owners website. One other thing I seem to recollect about the SD1 manual gearbox was that it used auto-transmission fluid – weird. Perhaps this was only relevant to the early models, though. Good luck, in anycase.

 

[Mursal]

Probably not worth it as you say, unless you can do the work yourself. I remember doing one as an apprentice and there was a lot of hidden work. For example the flywheel assembly will be different to carry the clutch.

Ect, ect

 

[Speadster]

Yes I agree with the general consensus, Idea duly knocked on the head

Better to find a manual car to start with.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction guys.

 

[PAMMIT]

hi just been listing or attempting to list my rover sdi vanden plas v8 with manual transmission.if you go onto ebay and find my account which is 2011gazshandy you can see what she looks like i will be honest ive had her garaged for about 5 years meaning to do her up but got my head stuck in a transit ambulane for a camper van so never got rouns to it. she needs some work ie body work round sill and doent start now but this thats battery . inside is tidy no rips etc and all the usual stuff also has 5 new 14" alloy boots, new starter motor and a few extras that aint fitted. its on private plates but origional plate was a694van which i think could be a wanted plate anyway with the van bit . my number is 01377241417 if you want to hear some more about it i have put reserve on it as know its quite a desirable car but have a look and let me know what you think. wont be listed until tuesday tho
cheers
pammi

 

[Speadster]

hi just been listing or attempting to list my rover sdi vanden plas v8 with manual transmission.
cheers
pammi

Hi Pammit,
Since I posted the above I had a change of plans, I bought a Triumph TR7 V8, restoration is already under way.
Thanks for posting and good luck with your sale.