tornado_735 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 A few years back I entertained the idea of swapping the automatic out for a 5-speed on my late '91 CS. I can't remember who told me this, but someone told me that putting a 5-speed into a car with an engine that has only been mated to an automatic would likely cause the engine to blow up since the engine was broken in with an automatic. I remember thinking at the time that the guy might have been full of it, but I didn't know any better. I was contemplating a 5-speed swap in my GP tonight, and that story came to mind. Does it have any bit of truth to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake91 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 the story probably comes from being able to rev the engine higher with a 5 speed. the swap has been done many times before you should be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted To Boost Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 There is no truth whatsoever in that statement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 that statement was made by someone with little/no knowledge of how engines/transmissions work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I blew up my 3.4 about 10-15k after a 5 speed swap, but I think that mad more to do with 193,000 miles then it did anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pontiac6KSTEAWD Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I think I heard this rumor too. But I remember it being something about a pilot bearing, or something like that. Dont remember thou.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Our cars don't use a pilot bearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagitarii Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 If you start revving an engine in a higher range than it was normally run at you can break the top rings. The pistons are used to stopping at a certain place, higher revs will push them out a little farther. Happened to my first mustang, had to use a ridge reamer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado_735 Posted August 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 If you start revving an engine in a higher range than it was normally run at you can break the top rings. The pistons are used to stopping at a certain place, higher revs will push them out a little farther. I seem to recall this being part of what the problem was. It's been about 7 years since then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89SupremeCutty Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 If you start revving an engine in a higher range than it was normally run at you can break the top rings. The pistons are used to stopping at a certain place, higher revs will push them out a little farther. I seem to recall this being part of what the problem was. It's been about 7 years since then i doubt that can happen unless the engine gets over revved, like past 6k or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mra32 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 If you start revving an engine in a higher range than it was normally run at you can break the top rings. The pistons are used to stopping at a certain place, higher revs will push them out a little farther. I seem to recall this being part of what the problem was. It's been about 7 years since then i doubt that can happen unless the engine gets over revved, like past 6k or so. wouldnt this mean that the bearings and connecting rods are stretching a measurable amount if the pistons are going farther up the cylinder walls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 yeah.... that makes little sense.... the travel range would be the same..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89SupremeCutty Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 If you start revving an engine in a higher range than it was normally run at you can break the top rings. The pistons are used to stopping at a certain place, higher revs will push them out a little farther. I seem to recall this being part of what the problem was. It's been about 7 years since then i doubt that can happen unless the engine gets over revved, like past 6k or so. wouldnt this mean that the bearings and connecting rods are stretching a measurable amount if the pistons are going farther up the cylinder walls? that's what i would think. and if that happens wouldn't the piston end up doing a valve dance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I would imagine it would matter how the car was driven. With an automatic, it's easy enough to baby the car, and never touch 4500RPM but once in awhile. Me personally, I visit my good friend 6500RPM every time I drive the 3.4L vert I own, but that's just me. I guess the rationale is that you're more likely to rev the engine higher with a manual because of the lack of the low auto shift points. Also, I can't imagine the pistons travelling all that much farther if the engine is revved higher. Wouldn't having everything tightened down negate this? This sounds to me like the myth that you can't switch grades of gasoline once you've picked one. Someone told me this when I first started putting 93 in my car when I started driving, just to see what it'd do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado_735 Posted August 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Me personally, I visit my good friend 6500RPM every time I drive the 3.4L vert I own... Off topic, but I found the rev limiter for the first time in my GP today... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ss427 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I just put a 94 auto 3.4 into my 92 stick lumina. 900 miles and no problems with it so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 the whole basis of this thread is pointless. from swapping to manual ALONE: it makes no difference to the motor what kind of tranny its pushing. if you're going to be a dumbass and rev the living shit out of it: yes the rods will likely stretch more, causing some interesting valve-to-piston contact if it goes on long enough, but the same thing will happen regardless if its an auto or manual at the same RPM. essentially: driver stupidity is at fault if switching to a manual causes engine damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 i hate unfounded rumors from uneducated idiots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 i hate unfounded rumors from uneducated idiots. X10 from me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake91 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 X58752150595 from me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I want a 5speed swap, but it sounds much too involved. how long should something like this take someone to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 considering regals didn't come with 5 speeds, about as long as its going to take me with the monte. current ETA: never... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake91 Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 but it sounds much too involved says the guy rebuilding a jag v-12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 the main thing that would scare me away Andrei, is that you are OBD 1.5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake91 Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 though kuntzie did one in an obd 2 car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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