I've got two 8's, a 2004 with a rough body but solid manual drivetrain and a 2005 auto with immaculate body and a blown motor.

My plan is to move all of the manual drivetrain, computers, and some manual specific dash components to the auto car's body. Most people never attempt this swap because of the amount of parts you have to move over, but since i have the two cars already i figured i'd give it a shot.


Is anyone aware of any pitfalls doing this assuming you have all the parts, aside from maybe some mounts and probably the wiring harnesses, can't imagine the body's are any different? I have all the tools needed to do this, read up on this as much as possible. Seems like the go to answer is (just buy another 8), while not many people have actually done it.

 

There is a whole entire thread on this website that outlines this swap. Search and you will find it

 

You'll need to use the manual ECU, which means you need to bring over the manual's ignition key cylinder, which means you need to either carry both sets of keys, or change all the lock cylinders also.
And also the diff is different (auto is non LSD), the brakes are different (smaller on the auto), sway bars are different, etc.

Honestly just having the 2 cars is not a meaningful shortcut to having a running good condition manual car.
It might actually be easier to swap the good body panels to the manual car and give it a paintjob. Depends how you want to spend your time, I guess.

 

I think no LSD and small brakes are for the base auto. Sport auto would have the manual tranny brakes and LSD.

But yeah, I also think swapping the body would be less work.

 

Correct.

In 2006, all cars went to the six-port engine design as standard in the US; touring package AT cars added the larger brakes and an LSD. (I was mistaken about the brakes/LSD becoming standard). 2009 (series 2) cars all came with the larger front brakes, irrelevant of trim, but the LSD still required the Touring package on an AT car.