Manual Conversion

Post 754668 by AcidicDavey on 2015-01-05 19:32:24

Right folks, getting the car in the direction I want it but there is still plenty more to get done! I am totally sick of this goddam pathetic excuse of a 4 speed auto this car has in it, it is seriously holding the car (and me lol) back. My car may be an AWD but I dropped the prop long ago. If I'm going to convert to a manual I feel I might as well do it properly and go 6 speed, FWD and a fancy diff. I was thinking, could I just chuck a Focus MK2 RS box in there as it'll already have a Quaife in there? What do I need to know? What gear linkage? Driveshafts etc do I need? I know the first motion shaft is different to P80 cars so I'd need a P2 clutch, obviously S60R, may as well. What else? Could I just buy a pre ME7 x70 manual for all the bits and an S60R clutch and the Focus RS box would go straight in?

Post 754670 by AndysR on 2015-01-05 19:42:42

Holding the car back? What spec are you running?

Post 754674 by stribo on 2015-01-05 19:47:02

The Focus RS uses the Ford MMT6 'box, not the Volvo M66, which is used in the ST.

Post 754676 by AcidicDavey on 2015-01-05 19:53:28

By holding the car back I mean I'm not going to start trying to extract more 'fun' until that knackered box is out. It has rattled on first light touch of partial throttle under 30mph for over 10K! Believed to be the transfer box. Balls with the box, I thought it looked different :P I thought it could have been a way to save a few £££ or so on buying ST box and Quaife separate. I'm never that lucky!

Post 754677 by AndysR on 2015-01-05 19:55:24

[QUOTE=AcidicDavey;754676]By holding the car back I mean I'm not going to start trying to extract more 'fun' until that knackered box is out. It has rattled on first light touch of partial throttle under 30mph for over 10K! Believed to be the transfer box. Balls with the box, I thought it looked different :P[/QUOTE] Oh, 10,000 miles be interesting to show how long it would last although being stranded in an oilly puddle probably isn't as interesting I'm sure.

Post 754678 by AcidicDavey on 2015-01-05 20:02:07

The rattle if it is what I think won't cause it to explode ever. The rattle started the day I dropped the prop. The AWD was working fine but the props centre bearing was fubbered and moving around too much. It has never got at all worse, it is just annoying to drive slowly!

Post 754679 by Nealevo on 2015-01-05 20:03:26

I looked into the 6 speed box conversion when I was doing mine, it's cheaper to buy a St box and diff separate (£150 & £700) get it fitted (£200) than to buy a focus Rs box direct £1200 the conversion job is pretty simple, as I was told, it's just nuts and bolts

Post 754684 by AcidicDavey on 2015-01-05 20:16:55

So an M66 uses all the same 'hardware' (linkage etc) as an M56? This isn't a job for me to do, a bit much to do on the side of the road I think, I'm going to have to find someone to do it. Need to save first though!

Post 754685 by FIREBOLT on 2015-01-05 20:28:17

[QUOTE=Nealevo;754679]I looked into the 6 speed box conversion when I was doing mine, it's cheaper to buy a St box and diff separate (£150 & £700) get it fitted (£200) than to buy a focus box direct £1200 the conversion job is pretty simple, as I was told, it's just nuts and bolts[/QUOTE] I did the same thing, bought an M66 from an ST & was going to buy the diff seperately. Then a few months later I found an RS being broken & got the M66 with the ATB diff for £400. Funny thing is the ST box say FoMoCo on it & the RS says Volvo.

Post 754694 by AndysR on 2015-01-05 21:10:16

Post 754701 by Nealevo on 2015-01-05 21:45:07

I got it cheap with the diff already in place, Id already brought an m66 box but sold it on to cherry. :)

Post 754705 by Ettienne on 2015-01-05 22:00:19

[QUOTE=AcidicDavey;754668]Right folks, getting the car in the direction I want it but there is still plenty more to get done! I am totally sick of this goddam pathetic excuse of a 4 speed auto this car has in it, it is seriously holding the car (and me lol) back. My car may be an AWD but I dropped the prop long ago. If I'm going to convert to a manual I feel I might as well do it properly and go 6 speed, FWD and a fancy diff. I was thinking, could I just chuck a Focus MK2 RS box in there as it'll already have a Quaife in there? What do I need to know? What gear linkage? Driveshafts etc do I need? I know the first motion shaft is different to P80 cars so I'd need a P2 clutch, obviously S60R, may as well. What else? Could I just buy a pre ME7 x70 manual for all the bits and an S60R clutch and the Focus RS box would go straight in?[/QUOTE] Find this a few times and will be doing a 4th time on the 850r on the drive, once gul is back and 940 is off for paint. I've pretty much got this spot on with the help of Oblark and his designing skills and my fabricator friends. Tried very combination of clutch and flywheel then worked some of our own combinations as well. A warning from what I've heard the v70 is a pig to put the manual loom in as it goes complete into the fuse box in the car, I've only done 850s so can't say for sure. Oh diesel boxes are good as well.

Post 754717 by Saaamon on 2015-01-05 23:06:52

Would it not make sense to fix the prop seeing as the 4wd works, possibly eliminating the rattling?

Post 754720 by AcidicDavey on 2015-01-05 23:11:25

I hate autos, the rattling is just an excuse to chop it out ;) Not worth fixing/replacing the prop when I want a manual anyway :)

Post 754722 by Saaamon on 2015-01-05 23:20:26

Thats fair enough, wasn't trying to put you off just interested. I'd also like a 6sp gearbox in mine mainly for comfort, hope to see a thread/write up if you complete the job.

Post 754724 by AcidicDavey on 2015-01-05 23:23:18

It's cool Simon, if I had any sense I would have just sold the car years ago and bought a manual :P

Post 754726 by Biff on 2015-01-05 23:31:48

Where's the fun in that? You could always put an m66 in it from a p2 R? I can see why you would remove the angle gear etc as it is a right ball ache to do anything around there. I'd never have an Awd again. lol It's good you will keep this car forever so I say go for it.

Post 754729 by Saaamon on 2015-01-05 23:41:02

[QUOTE=AcidicDavey;754724]It's cool Simon, if I had any sense I would have just sold the car years ago and bought a manual :P[/QUOTE] I think we could all say similar things. A project such as a 6spd conversion is like journey, researching, collecting all the parts then seeing it come together.

Post 754731 by AcidicDavey on 2015-01-05 23:48:34

You're quite right you two. Back in 2008 it did nearly sell, took a deposit and everything but the chap ended up backing out of the deal as he learnt how much of a ball ache the AWD was :P I took it off the market and here we are now...

Post 754733 by Ettienne on 2015-01-06 00:15:51

[QUOTE=AcidicDavey;754684]So an M66 uses all the same 'hardware' (linkage etc) as an M56? This isn't a job for me to do, a bit much to do on the side of the road I think, I'm going to have to find someone to do it. Need to save first though![/QUOTE] Linkage is not the same and issues are caused trying to use an awd box, I had everything ready to m66 my ph3 v70r.

Post 754735 by AcidicDavey on 2015-01-06 00:37:44

Go on then Steve, what bits do I need that I can't get from a manual version of my own car? ...or sell me your stuff if you've still got it :P Don't worry, not interested in AWD, just a normal FWD.

Post 754736 by Ettienne on 2015-01-06 00:50:29

Need to fabricate a rear mount or modify m66. Modify the original m66 linkage on the box, or make new much better results this way. Ether way you'll have to ditch the airbox. Fabricate new cable brackets (not as easy as it sounds).

Manual Conversion - 98 V70

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