5 Speed Swap

[jmitch]

thanks for the replys. i measured the cables i got from the 93 shadow and they looked like they'll fit.

[Tim_K]

Finally found a 543 today!

It's in a 1990 Daytona, and has the 3.50 ratio. It's a 124K mile transmission. The junkyard wants $200 for it, plus $25 for the flywheel plus $25 to actually unbolt it instead of just cutting it out of the car. I don't like these extra BS nickel and dime charges, but these things are hard to find around here.

So tomorrow I'll give them money down on it.

Are Daytona shifters, clutch / brake pedals, and clutch release cables the same as or similar to Shadow parts? I think the Daytona uses longer shifter cables, but I'm referring to the other parts.

I can still pull the other needed parts from a '94 Sundance to get the right shifter and pedals if I have to.

[jory]

Good job finding an A543. Every time one pops up around here I jump on it for parts and make sure the junkyard doesn't crush it right off. Right now I have 2 A543's and I'm getting one more from a Duster at the junkyard. I'm helping my friend convert his '92 Daytona IROC 3.0 to 5 speed and I'm selling him the spare parts I have to do it.

The shifter on the Daytona is straight, as opposed to the Shadow/Spirit shifters which have a little bend in them to make them easier to reach. That's how it was in the dozens of 5spd cars I've seen, your results may vary though.

[Tim_K]

The junkyard with the 543 in the Daytona had another 543. A 1993 3.77 geared one. It was already out of the car, sitting in the back of a school bus with some other transmissions.

It had been dropped hard at least 2 times. And maybe more. The thick shifter shaft going into the top of the gearbox was bent about an inch, the ring gear cover had a piece broken out of it, the clutch release lever was bent HARD against the side of the transmission case, and the bellhousing area had a chunk broken out of it where the lower starter / engine mount bolts go.

But according to the guy in his 20's running the junkyard, it was "a good transmission".

[Tim_K]

If I get this 1990 543 and put it in my 1993 Shadow ES. what am I going to have to do to make the speedometer work? I've read that 1993 and newer use some sort of electronic speedometer drive or something like that. Will the speedometer pinion in the differential extension housing just unplug from the 604 and drop into the 543?

[Boogieman142]

nope, it won't it takes some wiring to get it to work. i think someone already put up how to do it a one point in time. i just used some wiring diagrams. u have to send the reference voltage to it so uneed to wire that in, and u need the connector and i think the rest was just cutting the old plug off and soldering in the new one.

[mwinkle353]

I think I sent harv the information when I did my swap many years ago. I don't have the exact wire colors on hand right now. But I do know that all you have to do is match the wire colors from the VSS pigtail to the ones behind your battery. If I recall, there is an unused two wire plug (gray) and a dark gray nine wire plug that you have to splice/tap into, for it to work properly.

[mopar3.0]

yes 2 un used wires in the plug behind the battery, i had it all wrote down somewere, il see if can find it tommorow,

[Tim_K]

I'm going to get the shifter assembly with cables, clutch and brake pedal assembly, and the K frame from a '94 Sundance 4 door that has a 2.2 TBI / 523 in it now. I looked at it briefly today, and there's a big electrical plug going down to the right side extension housing on the transmission.

What wires / parts should I get from the '94 Sundance to make my '93 Shadow's speedometer keep working?

[Boogieman142]

depending on what wheel/tire combo u are using the plug and wiring pigtail, the sensor and thats pretty much it.

[Tim_K]

Got the parts today. K frame with lower control arms & sway bar, clutch / brake pedal assembly, complete shifter / cable assembly including the steel plate that bolts to the floor that the shifter mounts on, etc.

Getting the bolt out that goes through the clutch / brake pedals wasn't that bad. It got easier after I put my vise-grips on the other end of the shaft to keep it from turning while I turned the nut!

As for wiring, I was able to get a complete sub-harness. The wires going down to the speed sensor in the right side extension housing also tie in with the wiring harness going to the battery positive terminal, wires to the starter, and about 4 plugs behind the battery of different sizes. It would be nice to think that the wiring will just plug in and the speedometer will work right on the first try.

Going to pick up the 543 after work on monday.

Anyone want a 523? 1/12/94 build date, 3.77 gears, 134K miles, in a 2.2 TBI '94 Sundance 4 door. I'll call the body shop owner on monday and see what he wants for it. I never drove it so I can't say if it has anything wrong with it or not.

[87turbodance]

I found a 543 in a yard locally. It's a '90 with 3.5 gears. I'll be picking it up in a couple weeks. I'm excited. They have it in inventory as an '87 Caravan 3.0 5 speed. Makes no sense at all.

[Ntrain2k]

If it's a late 90 it might be the large spline input shaft too....

Would be a good find.

[87turbodance]

The build date is '89 on it so I imagine it is a small spline

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ntrain2k If it's a late 90 it might be the large spline input shaft too.... Would be a good find.

[Tim_K]

Are small spline transmissions weaker or in some other way not as good as large spline transmissions? How much power does it take to break each one?

The guy who runs the body shop wants $100 for the 523 if anyone is interested. You'll have to come here (Pittsburgh, PA area) and pick it up. Shipping is not available.