Manual to Automatic Conversion

Both manual and automatic transmission are discussed here, including the clutch!

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aidanmorris
Started learning about 480
Posts: 80
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:53 pm
Location: Somerset

Manual to Automatic Conversion

Post by aidanmorris » Thu Sep 13, 2012 7:47 pm

Hello all.

Does anyone have any experience of converting a manual 480 to an automatic? Is it best to try and find a donor engine+auto box and replace the whole thing rather than trying to marry an auto box to the existing engine?

I've got a 1995 celebration with only 51k on the clock but the clutch is feeling worn and given the high cost of a replacement and the fact that I do a fair amount of driving in London where an auto would be preferable I'm wondering whether a switch might be possible when the clutch finally goes.

Interested to hear your thoughts.

Aidan
1967 Land Rover Series IIA SWB
1995 Volvo 480 Celebration (sold)
2003 Condor Squadra and 2008 Condor Italia (2 wheels, no engines!)

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glasgowjim
480 Is my middle name
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Location: GLASGOW SCOTLAND

Re: Manual to Automatic Conversion

Post by glasgowjim » Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:35 pm

the automatic has I believe one different engine mount and the drive shaft is a different length. But you definately need more than the gearbox.
Do a search its been mentioned in more detail before.

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glasgowjim
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Manual to Automatic Conversion

Post by glasgowjim » Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:36 pm

Oh and the autobox is only reckoned to be good for 135 k miles

aidanmorris
Started learning about 480
Posts: 80
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:53 pm
Location: Somerset

Re: Manual to Automatic Conversion

Post by aidanmorris » Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:54 pm

The turbo+auto I've seen has only got 54k on the clock so I'd be more than happy if it got me to 135k!

Have had a good search for posts on manual to auto conversions but can't seem to find anything. Has anyone out there made the switch in this directon?

The posts I did read made a turbo auto sound like quite a good option and maybe not as thirsty as I'd feared.

Aidan
1967 Land Rover Series IIA SWB
1995 Volvo 480 Celebration (sold)
2003 Condor Squadra and 2008 Condor Italia (2 wheels, no engines!)

User avatar
glasgowjim
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 4830
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 5:28 pm
Location: GLASGOW SCOTLAND

Re: Manual to Automatic Conversion

Post by glasgowjim » Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:58 pm

gear lever/gaiter assembly
gear shift connecting rod
almost certain its the rear engine mount that is different just checked =>YES only the rear mount is different.
autobox.
you can check if and which side the drive shaft if any is different by looking up eurocarparts and seeing if they have different part numbers.

Yes the nearside (gearbox side ) drive shaft is different.....
refer to ...

http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/forum/v ... ic#p187246

also read this thread....

http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/forum/v ... ic#p185038

which indicates that the lower suspension arm is also different.

aidanmorris
Started learning about 480
Posts: 80
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:53 pm
Location: Somerset

Re: Manual to Automatic Conversion

Post by aidanmorris » Tue Sep 18, 2012 7:38 pm

Rather than buying an engine and box from a breakers where I've got no way of knowing if it will be in good working order I've been thinking about doing a transplant from a car that I know runs well.

However, rather than have another 480 as my donor I was wondering if I could use the engine+autobox from out of a 440/460 as I can buy a decent low mileage one pretty cheaply and can of course give it a thorough test drive before I buy.

I guess I'll still need quite a few 480 specific parts like Jim mentions above but before I pursue this any further I guess I need to check whether the engine and box in a 1994 440 2.0 SI auto is going to be the same as that in an automatic 480 Celebration?

Aidan
1967 Land Rover Series IIA SWB
1995 Volvo 480 Celebration (sold)
2003 Condor Squadra and 2008 Condor Italia (2 wheels, no engines!)

User avatar
glasgowjim
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 4830
Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 5:28 pm
Location: GLASGOW SCOTLAND

Re: Manual to Automatic Conversion

Post by glasgowjim » Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:01 pm

Aiden I suggest that you ask about 440/460 compatibility on the Volo owners forum VOC free to join and is really all about 440/460's .

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