Hi I am new to the forums. I just bought my first 1999 Integra LS. Its automatic and somewhere in the near future I would love to swap for a manual transmission. My question is will the swap feel the same as if it came out the factory?

 

Yes if the conversion is done correct but its a PITA to do the conversion, prolly better to just sell it and buy a GSR or a manual LS.

 

Reason why I have not bought a manual is Because they are so beat up. This one I bought was rather clean and only 105k miles. I would buy a gsr if I could find one in New York or jersey

 

Theres a writeup on how to do it on the team-integra forums, you should be able to find it with Google pretty easily. It's not an easy swap and it can get pretty expensive, the cheapest way to do it would be to find a junk car with everything you need at a pick-and-pull style junkyard, but if you can't do that then you might be able to find a local part-out. Buying everything individually should be a last resort.

 

Just keep looking if anything find a hookup on towing and get one from another nearby state or even as far as here in CA theres always a clean one lurking around just got to search, i found my first GSR in L.A, and drove there to pick it up. 1998 GSR mint 130k all stock red w Leather int for $5,500 if you search you will find one, id save up some cash then sell the car when you find a GSR and buy that one.


GSR trans on a LS will feel a bit better but i do beleive you need to do a ECU swap for the conversion. Although of course a manual in general comared to automatic is a night and day diffrence id go with a B16 W LSD or a ITR trans the gearing is much better for daily driving and feels much more peppy from the shorter gear ratio. It will make the swap well worth it imo, once you feel how a Type R or B16B/ CTR trans feels like you will love it compared to a LS or GSR, it makes your engine feel more responsive and alive. Just my opinion lol.

 

amrit88...there are several very good DIY articles, but you can find yourself spending more than you really need to on the tranny itself.
Get a manual tranny from a GS, not a GSR, ITR, CTR, or b16 SI. That is where you will save a lot of money.
In short, if you aren't going to pour $6,000 to $12,000 in to the engine, the GS tranny is more than fine.

 

Thanks for the reply fellas. Definitely will look for a gsr. Only problem is that it's savage in New York in terms of theft.

 

Owe i know! i grew up in the Bronx, lived in the slums for 10 years lol