I'm currently researching the possibility of swapping a manual transmission into an 89 Pulsar with the ga61i engine and an automatic transmission. There is a local yard with a manual trans attached to a dohc engine. While the engine is in sorry shape, having no valve cover and rusted cams, the trans looks unmolested and it has all the gear necessary to make this work. My questions:
What standard transmissions will bolt right in?
What are the effects of retaining the current PCM with an auto to manual swap, but with an increased idle? (this car may have been a manual to begin with)
Any other economical swaps?
The engine is going to be rebuilt and the current trans is certainly showing it's age so this would seem to be an excellent time to change it out. I'm not really interested in more power, just reliability.
The only transmission that will really work with the GA16i is either the 4-speed or 5-speed manual that came in the 1989-1990 Nissan Sentra. While the GA16DE (twin cam 1.6) has the same bellhousing and bolt pattern, it uses a different design of CV axles, as well as (in later models), an electronic speedometre. Your best bet is to get a transmission from the aforementioned GA16i models. Also, it seems the GA16i transmissions are geared better (in my opinion). I have a GA16DE in my B12 Sentra with a GA16i transmission, and my 5-speed is much better than my friend's B13 Sentra with the same engine. Sad, really.
Picked up the trans from an 87 with the e16i, but it had the trans number from the 88-89 rf31s---, or somesuch. Bolted right up with a few tricky things concerning the flywheel (must use the 89's). Keeping the automatic ECM seems to be working, but I have the one from an 89 manual that I'll be trying later for comparison. Driveaxles seem to be the same across most years (87 and up). So far, so good.
Picked up the trans from an 87 with the e16i, but it had the trans number from the 88-89 rf31s---, or somesuch. Bolted right up with a few tricky things concerning the flywheel (must use the 89's). Keeping the automatic ECM seems to be working, but I have the one from an 89 manual that I'll be trying later for comparison. Driveaxles seem to be the same across most years (87 and up). So far, so good.
I did the Auto to manual swap, and the ECU from the Automatic would keep cutting the IGN at High RPM's, so I put in the ECU from a manual trans.
Everything else sounds like you have already figured it out.
Bob
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89 Sentra owner 9 years 205,000 miles and counting!
Check, swapped it. This explains the odd stall or two that I put down to faulty emissions or fuel components that were next on my list. Now just to go through the list for an overdone, hyperactive tune up and it's golden.
Linear Mode
