I know it's a stupid idea but I'm doing a conversion from an automatic to a manual transmission while I'm rebuilding my car (a less than desirable 1980). I've been collecting parts for a few years and my wife has directed me to either get the car running or dump it so I'm now deep into the project.

I've got the drivetrain from a '79 that was wrecked at 27K miles. I've also got a transmission / TT / bellhousing from an '85 that I snagged from a junkyard one weekend and a few (OK, a crapload) other odds and ends I've collected along the way.

I have the "magic firewall mount" from the '79 and figured I was all set. Things have been looking dandy until today when I put the pedals in and pulled the brake master to start modifying the firewall. The piece I have is clearly a smaller section than I would want and it also appears that it doesn't really match up to the firewall in my car. Was the tub changed between 79 and 80?

I could probably make it work but know that the alignment of the shaft is critical and I don't really want to be replacing clutch masters on a regular basis. Not too bad with the engine out but would not be excited about doing it with the engine in place.

I know that I could put a floor mounted clutch in - might be easier in some ways but I do like the way the pedals look in there, plus I've spent a bunch of time on my head putting them in.

I believe that I'm looking for suggestions as to where I might find a clutch mount that will fit my firewall or if I already have the right piece.




Firewall section duct taped sort of in place.

 

I did that conversion years ago on my 81. It was actually quite easy. I approached the cutting of the firewall with some trepidation but it was not a big deal. I made a roughly triangular cut following the shape of the firewall part. I attached the new piece with sheet metal screws from the inside so it was in compression and removable from the passenger compartment. I should have installed a flex line all the way to the slave cylinder in order to make it serviceable from inside though. I remember thinking that there really wasn't much to it and it might have been easier to fab a bracket to hold the clutch master than to use the one from another car.

You need to change the brake pedal and jumper the neutral safety switch wiring near the battery too. I changed the entire rear sub-frame as a unit from disk to disk it couldn't have been easier.

 

A trick for the brake helper spring is to compress it in a vice and bind with bailing wire in a couple of places. You can then install it easily. Cut the wire and pull it free when you are done assembling everthing.

 

Yeah, it's going pretty well and is quite straightforward. I just don't have the right firewall piece I think. Was hoping to find out if it is right or not - if no I need to track another one down.