Well as some of you may know I've done the swap along with a handful of people here. I wouldn't say it's completely done but really darn close. I still have to change out my speed sensor ... mine is bad. These are a few things I learned along the way.

1. Always use the tranny fluid specially formulated for the NVT 350. No exceptions ... period.

2. Get the plugs for the speed sensor and the reverse light sensor. Regardless of how good you are at ghetto rigging custom little plugs the real ones are better. Plus you always know which wire goes where.

3. Get the MT ECU from the same year car you have. I have an extra ECU lying around because of it.

4. The MT ECU and the AT ECU trim fuel differently. Especially noticable when engine braking. MT ECU cuts fuel slowly so the car doesn't buck hard. The AT ECU cuts all the fuel right when you let off the gas and your car will suddenly feel like you are towing a brick wall behind you.

5. Even with the tranny swapped but still retaining the AT ECU, your car will only be marginally faster than before. 6500 RPM rev limit holds the car back more than the driveline loss. Shifting at 6500 brings the revs at the next gear down to 4k, just below the power band. Shifting at 7200 brings the revs at the next gear around 5k, smack dab in the power band.

6. You don't need your AT TCU. Take it out and save some weight. (I didn't take mine out till I put in my MT ECU though).

7. Armond is a bad MF for putting up how to wire up the speed senor.

8. For those that still make custom plugs for your sensor (ie. ME), the pinouts for the speed sensor are ...
Front of car
------------
Pin 1 - Speed signal
Pin 2 - Ground
Pin 3 - 8v Power (maybe 5v I don't remember)
------------
Back of car

9. Be prepared to start hating rush hour traffic from now on. Moving 30 ft in an hour with a MT will leave you wishing you still had your AT.

10. Despite everything it was well worth it. Increases the joy of driving at least 10 fold.

-"Easy Mac"
05 Mazda RX-8 (RR8 #88)
99 Eclipse RS 398whp & 372lb-ft

Good lessons except #9.

I have always hated rush hour traffic, and never wished for an auto.

#11. Be prepared for your brakes to last longer, due to engine braking.

Una salus victus.
"We are going to have peace even if we have to fight for it." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Michael J. Kulaga
e-mail: Michael_97RS@2gntDSM.zzn.com aol IM: MJKulga
http://highlander.dsmpower.com/

All motor in the making.

Injen CAI, 55mm TB, P&P Intake Manifold, Hooker Header, GS-T Muffler, AFX UDP, S-AFC, 8.5mm Magnecor Wires, Crane Fireball HI-6DI2, SS Clutch Line, NRG Susp. Motor Mount Ins., FU/RU/RL STBs, TSW Blade 17x7.5, Bridgestone Potenza RE730, Front KVR Cross-Drilled Rotors & Carbon Fiber Pads

To Be Installed: P&P Milled Head, Rear Disc Brakes, Rear KVR Cross Drilled Rotors & Carbon Fiber Kevlar Pads, SS Brake Lines

Firefly:
Mal: You don't know me, son, so let me put this to you plainly: If I ever kill you, you'll be awake. You'll be facing me. And you'll be armed.

Hey, that track in your signature looks familiar What times did you run?

91 awd: 60-1, 880's, E-Prom, etc.
93 awd: JDM 6 bolt, K&N, full exhaust, Wally 255, otherwise stock.

R.I.P. the original "Factory Freak"
15.5's with short ram and catback only
1996 RS 5-speed

Hehe. My track times suck. That picture is actually when I was still an AT. I believe the fastest I ran that day was 17.2 @ 79 or so. It was an ID Drag Wars back in August of 99. I actually took 1st place in the bracket class.

Since the swap, saying I've had launching problems is an understatement. I can consistantly pull off 60' times of 2.8+. It's really sad because as an AT I could always pull 2.4 60' times. Needless to say my times reflect the suckiness of the 60' times. Plus I was still running with a 6.5k rev limit. Fastest time was a 16.8. Fastest MPH 85.48mph.

-"Easy Mac"
05 Mazda RX-8 (RR8 #88)
99 Eclipse RS 398whp & 372lb-ft

OH yeah almost forgot a few

12. Be prepared to answer questions of "Didn't you used to have an automatic?" from old friends.

13. Remember that you can't just go trading your car in to a dealer anymore. The VIN# has the fact that the car is supposed to be an Automatic.

-"Easy Mac"
05 Mazda RX-8 (RR8 #88)
99 Eclipse RS 398whp & 372lb-ft