Manual to auto finally done!!

doogie

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I made the decision last fall to either pick up a '13 auto or do the swap to my '07. Since the 07 has such low miles along with being pretty much "done", I decided to keep it and get a conversion done. After collecting the parts over the winter, I decided to have a reputable fairly local shop do the work.

I went used for the tranny/mechanical parts from a guy going the other way on a low mileage '06 along with a salvage yard PCM and new for the TCI shifter, PI converter (3K stall, triple disk), dipstick pan from LMR and engine harness.

Dropped the car off on 4/12 and finally got it back today. What should have taken a week, turned into a 4 week episode due a ton of unrelated issues that started with a leaking dipstick tube (finally plugged the pan fitting to keep things moving - still need to get it addressed), then the used flexplate from the donor car was warped (which of course was not found until it was all together and running), then chasing the brake interlock (which I realized later was well-known... just not to the guy doing the work), followed by their dyno going down on the day my car was scheduled for tuning.

Anyhoe, got the car back this morning and had a great ride home. Not sure if it is just me, but the car seems to pull harder now and is a totally different experience than rowing through the gears manually. My left knee absolutely loves it!

I still need some more seat time to see if I like the shift points, but it does seem to bouce between gears a little frequent between 40-45. The shifting from 2-3 and 3 to D also seem to hit hard and abrupt... could this be from the converter and or having an aluminum D/S and LCAs?? This is my first time driving a performance/tuned auto with a good converter, so it could just be me.

It is a blast to drive and I can't wait to get more seat time!!

Anyone else who has done this swap have issues with the cruise control as I noticed on the drive home it was not working?

New numbers as well... 424HP/400TQ (SAE). Not much lower than my MT results, so I am pretty happy!

New TCI shifter.... this thing is a blast!

TCI_zpsb409642d.jpg
 

retfr8flyr

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Congrats on getting it done. The trans control is all in the tune and is critical on the 5R55. You really need someone that knows how to tune the trans, to not only make it work it's best but also make it live longer. The hard shifting is a combination of the tune and the TC. Has your tuner done a lot of auto 5R's? I would get with Lito and let him dial in the trans portion of your tune.


Earl
 

Wicked GT

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Very Cool! That is on my bucket list for the car... wanted an auto but this one had all the options I wanted with a 6-speed. Hopefully over the winter mine will be getting the same set up.
 

doogie

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What did you do with all your old MT parts?

Have a few items in the classifieds that I posted earlier today including an exedy clutch, flywheel, JPC line and pedal covers. The PCM, harness and MGW already have buyers lined up. Tranny is also available, but I need to get some pics up along with figuring out a price.

Congrats on getting it done. The trans control is all in the tune and is critical on the 5R55. You really need someone that knows how to tune the trans, to not only make it work it's best but also make it live longer. The hard shifting is a combination of the tune and the TC. Has your tuner done a lot of auto 5R's? I would get with Lito and let him dial in the trans portion of your tune.
Earl

My tuner is very experienced on this platform. I need to chat with him on Monday about a couple missing parts and will bring up the shifting.
 
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07graygt

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I don't suppose you guys have a complete parts list? I'm really thinking I want to do this too.
 

lethe

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I love driving a manual but its hard to deny that FI and autos go together really well. I may consider the swap some day.
 

doogie

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I did enjoy the 5 speed and one of main reasons I went that route initially was due to my lack of knowledge with how a tune wakes things up in stock form as there was no comparison between the manual and auto (the auto drove like a dog). But with a left knee that I have banged up multiple times and getting older, I was ready to go this route. Well worth the investment!!

Think I figured out my cruise issue as I just remembered the line lock mod I did that uses the cruise on/off button... and I found the switch in the console for activating that circuit in the "line lock" position. Need to take it on a quick test drive to confirm, but I am almost 100% positive that is the problem.
 
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doogie

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Adding my dyno chart as well. Not too bad considering my first dyno tune with the MT, while still running the stock fuel pump was almost identical. Only real change besides the auto was adding GT500 pumps along with this being done by a different shop/tuner.
 

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