Auto to manual convert?

[bpyne08@hotmail.com]

Im stuck with a 2000 solara coupe 2.2L4cyl. The engine was rebuilt and its an automatic and i was just wondering if anyone knows if there are different manual trans. that will fit my car because Im stuck with the damn thing and I want to make it manual for cheap. Is it even worth trying? Also I am a person with a background in european cars and i was wondering why they put 2 windshield wipers on it because i have had 2 VW's and one Mercedes and they all had 1. and it doesn't seem like the driver side one is doing much?

[Gadgetjq]

To most in the U.S. a single wiper system is the odd duck. I suspect Mercedes engineers know what they're doing but with a two blade system the arc of the wiper arm is much smaller (so theoretically could be run faster) and the two blades (should) allow for more coverage of the windshield since each can be as large as the overall height of the windshield so more coverage to the left and right during the sweep. On the other hand you don't hear many complaints about the single wiper system in the rain on the Autobahn. If your wipers aren't doing much you're probably in need of fresh blades. Any auto supply store can help you, just don't get cheap ones or you'll be replacing them again next year.

About the transmission. You'd be biting off a major chunk of work. Obviously you have to install shift linkage and a clutch pedal (so probably have to mvoe the brake pedal assembly to the right a little) you'll need the clutch actuation hardware, the manual transmission (junkyard) along with a flywheel and clutch assembly. By the time you're finished and in a nine year old car you'd be far better off selling the Solara and getting something...shiftier.

Cheers

[bpyne08@hotmail.com]

yeah i would much rather buy a different car but unless i find someone specifically looking for what i got , i would get ripped off big time with the rebuilt engine my trade in is the same as it would be without the new engine. Another question, it has drum brakes on the rear and they are about to cost me a ton to have done at a shop. i can do my own discs but i was wondering would it be cheaper having the rear converted to discs so then i could do them myself when they go out again?

[Gadgetjq]

If you have a shop manual (or even if you don't) you can easily do the brakes yourself, especially if you feel you're up to doing a transmission transplant. There's no big secret to drum brakes. You have a couple of shoes held against a hydraulic cylinder by some springs. Remove the wheels, pull off the brake drums and replace the shoes with new. The only special tool you 'might' need is a spring stretcher and they're really inexpensive. I'd suggest taking your brake drums to a shop to have them measured and turned just to be sure they're within spec (haven't been turned before) and will actually be round when you put them back on the car. There are kits available to rebuild the hydraulic bits or you can just buy new pre-assembled parts. Put everything together, bleed the brakes and you're done for the cost of parts. The really cool thing about doing brakes is you always have the other side to look at if you lose track of how one side came apart.

Cheers