I think you would be best off to buy a good-condition GXP auto plus a wrecked manual GXP or RL. With the donor car you are guaranteed to have all of the miscellaneous pieces you would need, you will probably be able to buy them for less than the individual parts, and you will have other pars that you can sell or store for later.

 

http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f65/convert-auto-manual-70618/

DDM 11/14/2011, Post 3 of 60 posts.
We have an install coming up after the first of the year where we are doing just this and installing a manual in an automatic car. The costs really do not justify doing this to a regular car that is not already heavily modified. If it is just a stock Solstice/Sky it is going to be far better to sell the car and purchase another one.

We are also going to be installing a T56 instead of the stock 5 speed also with this build so we will also be able to offer that information after we are done with the install. That will probably be a better option for heavily modified cars since we keep seeing failures with the stock transmissions.

We have a pretty good list of what items are needed to do the swap and once we have done it I am sure there are going to be some items added to it. Once I have that complete list I will be happy to share all of the parts.

 

Why don't you look outside your area. There are lots of 5 speed GXPs for sale throughout the country.

Search on Autotrader.

Flying or driving a distance to buy a 5 speed GXP is less work and $ than swapping trannies.

Good time of year for a road trip.

 

Normally, I'd agree. But, since I:

1. Have an extra transmission, flywheel and clutch,
2. Have an extra ECU
3. And more time than money for this project at least,
4. And really like breaking things and putting them back together,

I though: hey, why not?

 

If you already have the tranny and the time, you are half way there.

Happy GXP hunting!

 

Is the differential gearing the same for auto and manual cars. Something else to consider.
I, too am always up an automotive challenge, but this swap seems like opening a major can of worms. I swapped out an automatic for a 5-speed in my '69 firebird but things are easier with older technology.
Since you don't have the car yet, I would search out a manual car to buy and keep the parts you have as spares.

 

The final drive ratio is the same for auto vs manual, but different for 2.4 vs 2.0.

 

Well - for the one I have in mind, we're talking about a $5k price difference. So, yeah, sure - it'd probably be wiser to just buy a manual, but I at least have to consider doing the swap.

It cannot possibly be more difficult than removing, rebuilding and reinstalling the engine, which I've done more than once.

 

Actually its a different challenge. The autos have different software, a TCM, cable set etc. I would love to see you do it and learn from the process but its not easy or quick.

 

Well, I've been repairing this car for four years. Quick would be a nice surprise.

Probably just going to keep the current car - I'm pretty attached to it. But I could use a roll bar (HPDEs) and functioning AC. I can fix just about anything on this car at this point, but AC is a PITA. I had it working briefly last summer, but every time I turned it on it would drop the idle so far that the car wanted to die, and would overheat if you let it run for very long. I might file that under "Let the real mechanic do it."

Never give up, never surrender!

 

We are reaching the point where you can pick up a project car with a manual for pretty low cost. Then you have something with the right systems in place to start with at least.

 

Well, after looking at the options, including some absolutely gorgeous GXPs, C5 'Vettes (I know, I know), I think I've settled on just fixing the few remaining issues with the current car.

At the very least, it's a known quantity. Spending several thousand dollars to replace a toy with a slightly-better (maybe) version of said toy isn't the most responsible thing to do, though it would be fun.

So, instead: off it'll go to the body shop after Nationals to fix a few paint issues, the windshield surround (still trashed from the hail storm) and the bumper. Taking it to a guy on Monday to get the AC fixed since my efforts have proved futile. Then, there's a bad O2 sensor and some interior cleanup.

With all of that fixed, the car should be in tip-top shape. Might grab an RPM roll bar while I'm at it so I can finally get back into HPDEs, which was really the point of this thing when I bought it in 2014.

Sigh. Being a quasi-responsible adult isn't always fun.

Also, I went and drove a GXP at a dealer down the street, and my car is faster. The turbo lag is annoying, but not the sort of annoying that's worth $10k. And, this one is paid for. In it's current state, I doubt I'd be able to sell it for much.

 

Hey all, I am brand new to this forum, and this is my second topic (actually wondering if I should have started a new topic?).

I am from Brazil and am buying a silver 2008 GXP convertible. Solstices have become few and far between in the used market over here. Which is expected seeing as they have never been brought officially by GM to Brazil (heck we don't even have any other GM brand except Chevy here). All the Solstices currently in Brazil have been independently imported when new (no used cars can be imported here before they are 30 years or older).

The car I'm buying is automatic. As per the OP I "simply cannot abide an automatic transmission". Not for this car which is supposed to be a fun car for weekends etc.

So, I plan to swap a manual gearbox into it. Maybe even change the engine to a turbo 3.6L V6 while at it. I have commented on the engine swap on another topic - V6 Engine swap

Brazil being a predominantly FWD, more european-spec-oriented market, the AR5 (or T156 or 6161for that matter) are not readily available transmissions here. I'm left with the option of using a light-duty compact truck transmission such as the Eaton Fuller FSO-2405 as used in the locally made V6 gas and 4cyl diesel Chevy S10/Blazer up to MY 2011. I happen to have one of these gearboxes (from an old project) sitting in storage. The one I have was actually pulled form a Brazilian market Nissan Frontier so has a different bellhousing, it's a bolt-on housing so easily swapped. The advantage of the Frontier's box is it is stronger, rated for up to 500Nm (368.78 lbft) torque.

The thing is a 5 speed affair and shifts like an old-school transmission, a little bit truck-ish but the feeling is nice, long throws and satisfying clackiness, sorta like a 90's BMW or an old Opel Omega. Kinda fitting for the vibe I'm looking into for this Solstcie.

Below is a technical drawing from this gearbox. I wonder if anyone could point me to a technical drawing of the AR5 for comparison? Dimensions are in milimetres.

Cheers