Hey hey

 

Looking at buying a ke30 or ke55 (owner can't remember which it is) for real cheap, but it's an auto

Naturally I'd love a manual, and this will be my first project car.

 

So reading over the FAQ i've deduced that the easiest conversion would be a K40/K50 gearbox, so I don't have to worry about tracking down rare bellhousings, or installing a hydraulic clutch etc

And am I right in saying that they can be had for under $100 aussie?

 

I don't have any experience, but I am keen to learn and this is like the whole point for me of buying an old car.

 

Is it crazy hard??

Check out the for sales thread man, i think there's about 3-5 for sale on the first page

Nah mate all pretty straight forward. See if someone can sell you a "conversion kit" maybe from a car being wrecked. That way you can get the gearbox itself, clutch and flywheel, and a pedal box.

And am I right in saying that they can be had for under $100 aussie?

Most likely over the 100 mark for a 5 speed. And since you'll be swapping the auto over to the manual grab yourself the manual from a '70 it'll poke up through the hole left from the auto.

One notable problem you'll find is the gearbox cross-member, ke55 auto (and from what i've also found out late ke30) will only have the mounting points for the auto x-member, so you'll have to figure out something for that manual x-member - like welding the auto member to the manual member.

 

Tail shafts are different as well.

Make sure you grab the speedo drive gear with the g'box.

 

And the diff ratios are different between the auto and manual so your speedo will be out of wack.