Searched and can't find the answers , so here's some questions.

[77_Jimmy]

Auto 2 manual swap.

Project truck 77 K5
Donor truck 80 K30

I have read the tech article on the swap but does not answer my questions. Will the whole pedal assembly bolt in ? It works a hydroboost system. Can I or have to swap the systems out for the pedals to work? I figure I would use the whole system , from steering pump to hydroboost thingie. But what about the steering gearbox , are they the same or different? Lastly how do you wire up the backup lights?

 

[manchildau65]

The swap is very simple from auto to manual and from vaccum to hydro. The hardest part is making sure you have all the parts, which you have covered by having an entire truck to work with. Reverse wiring is simple too, if I remember correctly, it is the dark green and blue wires going from your junction box on the firewall to the bellhousing and then to the tranny...

The only thing you'll have to do is cut one or two holes in the cab depending on whether it's a hydro or mechanical clutch.

 

[77_Jimmy]

Thanks , that's what i was looking for. I don't what to convert from vaccum to hydro unless the pedals won't work. So do I have to ?

 

[manchildau65]

No you shouldn't have to. The clutch and brake pedals are on the same hanger so you'll have to use the clutch/brake from the donor truck. The swap is honestly pretty quick and easy when it comes to the pedals and linkage. Again, you will have to drill a hole either in the firewall or the floor (hydro or mechanical clutch). I'm not sure if you'd care or not (I never did), but your steering column obviously will still be an auto set up. I just always pulled the pin and removed the steering lever. However, remember that there is a safety switch of sorts in the auto column that won't let the engine turn over if it doesn't think it's in park (just make sure the shifter section is all the way up in park). Good luck! It's well worth it in my opinion

 

[77_Jimmy]

The plate that the hydroboost bolts to is smaller than the one on the vaccum booster uses. It also looks like it has the holes for the clutch rod. If I decide to go with the hydroboost setup I'll use that and maybe I won't have to drill the holes. But it's nice to know I don't have to swap over if I decide not to go that route. Thanks again for your insight. Last question for now. My Jimmy has a 400 sbc from my research most 400's came with auto's , do you think my crank will be machined for a pilot bushing?

 

[manchildau65]

I've never heard of someone having to machine a crank in order to run a standard? I'm currnetly running a 400 SBC out of a 78' truck that I didn't have to do anything special to. I think you are fine, maybe someone else will chime in, but I don't think you have to do anything different between a 350 and 400