4 speed conversion. Help or hurt value of car?

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CodyS

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Was thinking of doing a 4 speed conversion on my 1970 dart swinger with numbers matching 340 but not matching transnmission. Would a 4 speed conversion from auto on the column hurt or help the resale? Thanks for any input.
 
I think it would hurt it, IMO.

That said, it's almost a 50 year old car. Build it like you want.
 
i dont think it matters, its basically a bolt on conversion. save your auto parts and i think you cant go wrong.

+ i think more folks would want the 4 speed. that being said, i don think i would dramatically increase the value of the car either.

do it because you want it.
 
i dont think it matters, its basically a bolt on conversion. save your auto parts and i think you cant go wrong.

+ i think more folks would want the 4 speed. that being said, i don think i would dramatically increase the value of the car either.

do it because you want it.
I wouldn't call it a bolt on conversion , since you have to cut a hole in the floor and weld in a hump. If you don't have any of the parts, a four speed conversion won't be cheap. That money could be spent on some go-fast parts instead , like a good converter for that auto tranny.
 
I am on the other side of the spectrum ....I would say it would help.

I have changed every automatic car I have to manual shift and when I buy cars the first thing I look for is a third pedal.

if I were to spend big hard earned money on a car it would have to be a 4 speed or I would walk away.

keep in mind that 4 speed conversions are expensive, there is nothing cheap about anything 4 speed.
 
I am on the other side of the spectrum ....I would say it would help.

I have changed every automatic car I have to manual shift and when I buy cars the first thing I look for is a third pedal.

if I were to spend big hard earned money on a car it would have to be a 4 speed or I would walk away.

keep in mind that 4 speed conversions are expensive, there is nothing cheap about anything 4 speed.
I agree. If you had a rare (and all matching numbers) 69 440 M code Cuda, big block Dart or a Formula S car, I would say leave it with the auto IF you are concerned with value. Otherwise, put a 4 speed in it. I truly believe that an authentic 4 speed conversion will increase your car's value. If a person really wants a 4 speed, they are not real easy to find. Most are autos. If you measure and cut the hump out carefully, you could weld it back in so as to be unnoticeable. Plus, save everything else (unless you have to sell it to finance the swap), and you could put it back to an auto. Bottom line is this; If you want a four speed, do it! I did it in my 1969 Barracuda, and I do not regret it at all.
 
FWIW; I would, if funds are available go 5 speed. With an application-specific rear gear. You will never regret that extra gear. 340s love 11/1 starter gears.Normally that would be a 2.66 low and 4.10s. Well that makes touring a pita.But an o/d gear could bring those 4.10s down to 2.7s or 2.8s, a very nice hiway gear.
 
the non matching trans already hurt the value. 4 speed may help ya. how much documentation do you have on the car? how original is the car? what kinda shape is the car in?
 
..mean while - I am in the keep the AT camp - my days of driving anything but an automatic are done. It's not that I don't like them, they just don't like me back - my left knee just can't take it anymore. So as far as resale goes... everybody can drive an automatic, even if it's not their first choice - not everyone can, or wants to drive a standard. JM2C
 
Thanks for all the opinions. They are all greatly appreciated. I do already have the parts to do the conversion. I am more of an originality guy, but when I look at any vehicle the first thing I do is look for a third pedal also. But then on the other hand maybe I will not want to drive it as much when I am older and my body has some wear on it. The only reason I purchased the car is because I wanted to save it from its current state and owner, and it was local. I was looking for a 4 speed. I will have to think on it some more. Currently the car is in a million pieces, the way I purchased it this summer. So I have some time to ponder it.
 
Put a modern diaphragm style clutch in it (centerforce is good) and it will have a easy pedal your wife can drive....4 speeds AL MOST always bring more money, all things considered
 
I'm with Rainy day auto.
every car show I go to and see a real nice car. I always look to see if it's a manual. almost all the guy's I hang with look for the same thing. unless your into racing the manual is way more fun, but will never match a good auto on the strip.
 
I think it hurts the value. Not too many can or want to drive a manual.

This could be true with the younger generation. I am 30 and I notice most of my friends my age or younger can not drive a manual.

I was lucky my dad has a 69 340 4 speed 'Cuda and he insisted I learn drive in it back when I was learning to drive.

Most of my friends had parents who went to the new car lots and bought them new econo-boxes with autos and autos are ever increasing among the newer cars
 
This could be true with the younger generation. I am 30 and I notice most of my friends my age or younger can not drive a manual.

I was lucky my dad has a 69 340 4 speed 'Cuda and he insisted I learn drive in it back when I was learning to drive.

Most of my friends had parents who went to the new car lots and bought them new econo-boxes with autos and autos are ever increasing among the newer cars
I hear that. Just seemed to be the thing every since I was young. must have a muscle car with a 4 speed.
 
Just yesterday on the Web, some thieves tried to steal a car, but they didn't because it had a manual transmission and they couldn't drive it. Can't remember where this occurred.
 
I am more of an originality guy

You ended your own thread lol..... Stick with the automatic. Everything else won't matter as it won't be original and it will probably drive you bonkers....

I have done a few conversions. Pretty simple except for hacking up the floor. I can take either or but nothing beats seeing the third pedal in these cars....
Even better when you see a Liberty Shifter or the likes stuck up in the car. It probably means they really like servicing their drivetrain lol...

JW
 
Another thing you MUST consider before even thinking about swapping an automatic for a 4 speed. Will your engine's crankshaft be drilled into the rear flange far enough to properly install the pilot bushing for the input shaft? If not then it will have to be removed and taken to a machine shop to be drilled deeper to install the bushing, otherwise the bell housing will not mate to the engine due to the longer length of the input shaft.
 
Hold-on-there;We have options;
NAPA makes a slightly undersize bushing that has worked for me. Also there is a bearing option that pilots in the TC register, that is currently working behind my 367.The bearing works well if you have to shorten the input-shaft.
But a 1970 crank should be machined to accept the factory bushing.
 
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Has anyone ever come up to you at a gas station and said with an excited look on their face "hey is that an auto on the column?!"

Yeah me either. :D

Non numbers matching is non numbers matching. Doesn't matter now, it doesn't match. No, it won't get prices like an original 4 speed, but if the conversion isn't a total hatchet job it'll be worth more. Maybe not enough more to pay for the swap, but who cares. It's more fun. Real hot rods have 3 pedals.
 
Another thing you MUST consider before even thinking about swapping an automatic for a 4 speed. Will your engine's crankshaft be drilled into the rear flange far enough to properly install the pilot bushing for the input shaft? If not then it will have to be removed and taken to a machine shop to be drilled deeper to install the bushing, otherwise the bell housing will not mate to the engine due to the longer length of the input shaft.
Rookie question here. Are all 340 crankshafts 70 and earlier drilled for a pilot bushing? I thought I had heard that before.
 
IMO, A potential buyer with some knowledge will likely use the 4spd conversion as a negative in the negotiation of the sale (even though it's what they would prefer). So I'd think it could cost you with that buyer.
 
I got no patience for guys like that.....there's the door....Go buy a Neon.
When my S-clone was fresh, we went to a few shows, and I learned real quick that there are lots of those guys out there.So I stopped going as a participant.
I quickly got tired of :"you shoulda this or you shoulda that, or how come such and such, or my uncle had one of these -insert favorite non-Barracuda here." Yeah, I suppose I'm a little crusty like that...
 
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