2005 Ford Thundergird convert to manual transmission

Thank you for the direction in advance. If I my continue to tap into your knowledge bank ?

Ford produced the t bird-automatic only...jag s type in both auto and manual as well as a very limited number of Lincoln LS with both trans options...ALL using the same frame and interior dash/center council. 

What about using the 6 cyl with manual trans out of a 2005 jag as a donor car using all the eng...manual trans..:computers...wiring...pedals...everything...same year...same frame...same center council and pulling the drive train out of the 2005 t bird and replacing it with the jag parts?

The only difference I have found is the wheel base is shorter on the bird. 

Equally, I have been told that the 3.9 engine with a automatic transmission in the 2005 Tbird can have a manual transmission out of a 2004-2006 Mustang GT bolted right up to the 2005 t bird engine block. 

This T bird is for my wife’s grad present for graduating with a Doctorate degree in Chiropractic in one year. Her qualifications for a car...must be manual...convertible...American built...prefers a two seater...not many choices...at all. ( She currently drives a Solstice and has had the tire smoking Mustang. )

Your input to the year in the making project is most greatly appreciated. Some how I will figure out how to thank you all for your energy and time...the completed project car...fully customized...and a year in the making...starting now!

Feel free to call or email

Paul 

586.634.6519....paulsurmont@yahoo.com

I would really confirm that the transmission bolts up. The Aston Vantage box is more likely to be the one that does. I would be very very surprised if anyone has pulled this off with the factory engine.

Some Land Rovers appear to have used an AJ-8/MT82 combo, but it's a different bellhousing pattern than the Mustang MT82. The bellhousing is part of the case but the tail housing and output situation might be workable for your need. If that's the path you went with it would involve sourcing a trans from another country. It may very well be cheaper and easier to either source an Aston Martin transmission and clutch setup, or to make or have made parts to fit the engine to another more common trans such as a T56 or a CD009. 

I vote for a coyote swap with a T56 magnum! Are you in an emissions testing state?

My understanding is that the manual behind the Lincoln V6 will bolt up to the 3.9 V8, but that it's basically made of glass and the V8 will destroy it. Check the Lincoln LS forums for more info.

Camaro? Corvette? Maybe a c4 or c5

customtbird said:

Equally, I have been told that the 3.9 engine with a automatic transmission in the 2005 Tbird can have a manual transmission out of a 2004-2006 Mustang GT bolted right up to the 2005 t bird engine block. 

I missed this earlier, but I believe this is incorrect. I'm 99% sure the 3.9 and 4.6 don't share a bell housing bolt pattern.

Will said:

customtbird said:

Equally, I have been told that the 3.9 engine with a automatic transmission in the 2005 Tbird can have a manual transmission out of a 2004-2006 Mustang GT bolted right up to the 2005 t bird engine block. 

I missed this earlier, but I believe this is incorrect. I'm 99% sure the 3.9 and 4.6 don't share a bell housing bolt pattern.

 I'm 100% sure it doesn't share it. The auto and manual from the 4.6 mustang will not bolt up behind the AJ engine. 

Will said:

My understanding is that the manual behind the Lincoln V6 will bolt up to the 3.9 V8, but that it's basically made of glass and the V8 will destroy it. Check the Lincoln LS forums for more info.

This is the only swap I have ever seen and it was broken at the time. This is a serious serious undertaking. There is not a lot of room to work under the 11th gen's and the computers are such a pain in the ass to work with when you are trying to add something the factory did not support.

Also this board is very forgiving to strange and very hard swaps. These people know what they are doing and this is one of the harder swaps here that I have seen suggested here if you want to keep it close to OEM.

Not one to cry "LS all the things" but this is likely the simplest route to your destination.

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/2000-stincoln-smells/100443/page1/

Her qualifications for a car...must be manual...convertible...American built...prefers a two seater...not many choices...at all

'Vette or a Crossfire?

I’m all for a project, but as Agent98 mentioned, a Crossfire would fit the requirements. With the same money and effort to swap over the tbird, you could build and pretty awesome and unique Crossfire. 

 Personally, i would probably just swap the whole 3.0/manual drivetrain and forget about the 3.9. I know that's not most people's first thought, but the 3.9 as delivered is an unexceptional v8 and i'd trade away the power and torque to gain the manual and a very unique car in the end. The 3.0 duratec can be modded to a pretty decent power level  (id assume ~255chp to not be too difficult) and drivetrain durability shouldnt be a problem. I think it would really simplify the project and make it more likely to actually be completed.

Plus, if i'm remembering correctly the 5spd has a 1:1 5th gear. By extension, that probably means that the auto cars (like the Tbird) had a numerically higher rear end gear, and if you kept it you'd end up with better acceleration than the stock V6 cars had. 

Crossfires came with a manual. What does a SRT-6 go for?

What is wrong with the Solstice she has now? If its an auto and she likes it, get a manual version