wow, I am sure that process is much more involved and difficult that you just made it out to be. That being said, some more details and pics would be great!
I am a new member here with a 2008 G8 GT, just a tic over 100k on it and I am loving this car.

 

I just starting looking into this conversion a few days ago as I've about had it with the automatic. I can't stand it.

From what I'm gathering, the cost is a deterrent as I could just sell my car and buy a 1st gen CTSV at essentially a wash. I like the G8 and all, but... How much do you have in your swap?

 

1st gen V is gonna be a mess, my friend has one and you're looking at a substantial investment in the drivetrain to make them reliable and even more to make them quick. You would have as much into a Creative Steel 8.8 rear as you would into this swap. If you keep an eye on ebay you can find some good deals, the last swap I saw went for $1800 for most of the Camaro parts but all said and done I would plan on about $4k.

wow, I am sure that process is much more involved and difficult that you just made it out to be. That being said, some more details and pics would be great!
I am a new member here with a 2008 G8 GT, just a tic over 100k on it and I am loving this car.

Maybe a little more involved here and there but it wasn't hard. I actually don't think it was any harder then doing a TH400 swap that I do regularly.

 

What about the ECU differences in between manual/auto and the TCU eliminations (if there is one)

 

yeah that's the big question, with out tcm is the ecm searching for the link ,, is there a way to turn off the tcm connection ?

 

I just opened up my HP tuners and there is a toggle for auto or manual , so it looks like you can turn off the tcm ,, but is there a harness that can be used to pick up the speed sensor,reverse light, ???

 

can this be flashed thru the hp tuners ?

 

Correct, both the GXP manual and Holden manual files are in the repository for HPtuners owners.

looking forward to seeing more. Kudos!

Ya there is more! haha A turbo kit happened to fall onto this car as well. I test fit a HuronSpeed 5th gen Camaro hotside and it fit nicely so more turbo options are opening up to the G8 world. Its designed around Precision and Turbonetics 76 and 78mm turbos but it looked like larger will fit, I believe some have used the Comp 81/83. The manifolds, crossover, downpipe and ypipe all fit nicely you will just need to fit the ypipe up to your existing catback. The crossover pipe is extremely close to the rad fans so I trimmed the fan support and heat wrapped the pipe and seems to be fine now.

Couple pics - Camaro short shifter assembly with GT console and GXP boot:

Test fitting Camaro trans in place:

 

looking forward to seeing more. Kudos!

 

get us info on the connections for the harness down a the trans ,, I see doing this to my car in the near future ,, also any detailed info on capturing the tune file on the hp repository and flashing it in to my ecm,, or do I just compare files and make the changes on my existing tune and reflash ,, thanks in advance

 

If you look at the TH400 swap threads the info is there on the pins to jump and some hptuner data is there as well if I recall.

Subscribed!
Also, does this mean most 5th gen turbo kits would fit, or is this one tighter?

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I'm not sure about other kits but they are similar cars so lots of things are interchangeable. I also did an AGP Camaro twin turbo kit with small tweaks for a G8 so fair amount of options out there.

Awesome! Takes a lot of balls to jump into a mod like that.

haha true but not many mods out there I haven't done so I just had to add this one to the list to see if it was as hard as people said.

Nice! Glad to hear it wasn't a horrible mod!

Indeed! Crazy part is the same size turbo spools up faster on the manual car then my auto car. People are concerned about manuals and turbo lag but it seems like a non issue, rolls into boost really low like 2100-2200RPM and from a roll even just giving a little gas ~25-35% to accelerate normally its already building boost. Its almost LSA like in its boost response.

 

Subscribed!
Also, does this mean most 5th gen turbo kits would fit, or is this one tighter?

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Awesome! Takes a lot of balls to jump into a mod like that.

 

Nice! Glad to hear it wasn't a horrible mod!

 

could we use a t-56 trans in this swap ?

 

You can make anything work if you try hard enough. I think the T56 has a different length and shifter position then the TR-6060 as well as some of them being slip yoke so driveshaft arrangement will change but nothing that cant be overcome.

What pedal cluster do these swaps use? Camaro, GXP, imported VE set?
I imagine a GXP set would be rather hard to come by...

I used a clutch pedal out of a 5th gen Camaro, plenty of them on Ebay.

 

What pedal cluster do these swaps use? Camaro, GXP, imported VE set?
I imagine a GXP set would be rather hard to come by...

 

SS clutch and brake should work too?

 

just pulled up the thread on the th400 swap,, (nice job on that ),, so long of the short ,,, can I remove the trans, jump the lan and can wires and do the gxp/holden flash or do I flash it first ? also do I have to license the gxp file in order to flash it ? ,,, last question ,is a 6.2 flywheel the same as a 6.0 working with wrecking yards to sell me the whole shebang ,,, again thanks in advance ,oh great job on the hard core work ,, I love this stuff

 

Flash the manual file in first, if you don't the car will be looking for the TCM and wont take the manual file. Then jump the wires.

You don't need to license the GXP file, just open your file then open the GXP file as a compare file and change things as needed.

Yes 6.2 flywheels are the same as 6.0 as long as its not from an LSA or LS9 since those have different crank bolt patterns.

 

You don't need to license the GXP file, just open your file then open the GXP file as a compare file and change things as needed.

sorry ask redundant questions but,, I did a quick comparison between the 2 files and there are differences in the options that are available between the manual and the automatic files ,, I will compare tonight to see what options are different ,, I don't mind paying the license fee if I can just program that in to the ecm ,, that way I am not missing anything ,, I will update ,, gmonde

 

Sorry after thinking about it I don't pay attention to licenses much because I have a year/model license on G8's rather then the individual license agreement so yes that is correct.

 

quote
Well the Holden manual E38 file works perfect! I flashed in the manual file which it rejected at first, unplugged the TCM and jumped the can-bus pins on the TCM plug, disable the clutch interlock, and copy over the engine parameters. Fires right up and runs perfect!

Speedo works, runs great, pretty cool I love it!! Plus its cool seeing Holden when I open HPtuners, haha.

so was this the fix for the no start issue ?

,,so after comparing files between the manual and automatic,, after the save to manual the automatic properties still are in place ,, so I think I have to register the gxp file and flash my ecm as a full write to eliminate the automatic properties from the program,


am I thinking crazy?

 

quote
Well the Holden manual E38 file works perfect! I flashed in the manual file which it rejected at first, unplugged the TCM and jumped the can-bus pins on the TCM plug, disable the clutch interlock, and copy over the engine parameters. Fires right up and runs perfect!

Speedo works, runs great, pretty cool I love it!! Plus its cool seeing Holden when I open HPtuners, haha.

so was this the fix for the no start issue ?

,,so after comparing files between the manual and automatic,, after the save to manual the automatic properties still are in place ,, so I think I have to register the gxp file and flash my ecm as a full write to eliminate the automatic properties from the program,

am I thinking crazy?

I'm sure there are a few ways to do it and the new version of software might be different. But if you currently have a tune on your GT I wouldn't wipe that for a stock manual tune. To get the speedo working I switched the settings to use the ABS sensor rather then the trans output. Some other small things here and there between the files.

 

So it turns out a manual swap isn't as hard as I read it to be. Someone dropped a bug in my ear that got the ball rolling so I got it done fairly quickly once I gathered all the parts. I used a Camaro TR-6060 trans with the updated part number (I heard the early ones had a weak internal part, possibly the input shaft?), along with a Camaro slave, master cylinder and pedal.

Used an LT twin disk clutch from Monster that feels stock and no chatter. Trans went right in without issue, plenty of room around the bell housing. I did have to drill a hole in the firewall for the master to pass through when mounting the pedal but otherwise the clutch pedal bolted right up to the dash (a 1 3/4" hole saw works perfect). Tick braided master and speedbleeder lines worked well and I used a GXP reservoir since Camaro doesn't have a separate reservoir.

I got a TR-6060 to TH400 mount adapter from LSX Everything (T56/TR6060 Mounts) and used a Energy suspension TH400 short mount (3.1158R). I had to cut the front lip of the crossmember back a little since Camaro trans is longer but otherwise worked fine.

Camaro shifter bolted in place about a 1/4" back from the stock shifter holes which is nice being a little closer to the driver. It still needs an MGW shifter like I installed in my GXP, stock shifters are just sloppy!

Ordered a custom carbon fiber driveshaft from DSS since the Camaro trans is a little longer it made for a shorter shaft then a typical G8. Runs smooth with no vibration, rated for all the power and 240 MPH (not that it'll ever see that).

For the rear I'm using it with a Camaro 3.45 and it doesn't feel all that far off from my GXP with 3.70's since the Camaro has slightly different trans ratios then the GXP.
GXP - 2.97 2.10 1.46 1.00 0.71 0.56 3.28
Camaro - 3.01 2.07 1.43 1.00 0.84 0.57 3.28

Took it for a drive and all is well! I'm surprised more people aren't doing this! I'll get some pics together for those interested... one thing I forgot about is the big auto brake pedal! DOH!

So the the camaro pedal works? i started gathering parts to swap mine but i got hung up because the g8 pedal assembly is discontinued. This is great information. I can't wait to start doing mine! post up some pictures when you get a chance! id love to see it. Others say there are issues fitting the camaro tr6060 compared to the g8 tr6060 did you run into any problems like that?

 

Yes, the Camaro pedal works well and really seems just like my GXP pedal. I had to drill a hole for the master to pass through the firewall but other then that it bolted up fine. Camaro pedal aligns with the two bolts in the dash for support, 8mm if I recall and I had two random GM bolts that threaded in to hold it in place.

Camaro TR-6060 wasn't too bad to get in there. But it does have its quirks like the bellhousing isn't removable and its a little longer. No show stoppers though, really just trimming the crossmember and adjusting the shifter placement was the worst of it.

 

Yes I've compared them.
The G8 pedal was sold as a separate item and the Camaro pedal is sold as a unit with master cylinder.

 

Did do anything with the wiring harness for the clutch position sensor, reverse lock out, and other sensors on the transmission?

 

Depends how fancy you want to be. Its easy to turn off the clutch switch in the manual tune so its not needed, granted its a good safety measure if you were to use it. I may wire up the clutch switch for a 2 step or something down the road.

Reverse lockout isn't needed unless you really want it. Without power it defaults to the solenoid locking it out, but if you want it in reverse it will still go in reverse. You can feel when you push the shifter against the solenoid spring. Its enough of a lockout you wouldn't throw it in reverse going for 5th since 5th glides in while reverse takes some effort. A lot of guys that have done swaps in other cars do it this way and seems to work fine.

 

So, no clutch switch , guess you don't downshift going up a hill with the cruise on then ??

While not G8, I have done manual swaps and for the little time, nice to do the VSS, rev lock up, clutch switches etc.
Just my take,
Gerry

 

Dunno never used cruise. You can get vehicle speed from ABS sensor just switch signal in HPT same as TH400 swap.

 

Thats a good idea with the 2step, i may just do that. I was thinking about just buying the whole GXP M6 Engine harness that has all the wiring for all the sensors on the trans. ill have to look into it a little more when i get closer.

 

According to MGM GT, The trans is longer and the case is a little different. I just purchased a Camaro TR6060 but i don't have a GXP TR6060 to compare it to. Its not unbelievable. Dodge and ford both use TR6060 in their cars like the viper and mustang. The cases are different but the internally are all mostly the same with exception of gear ratios and shaft materials.

 

what did you end up paying for the trans???

 

what did you end paying for the trans???

i bought a Promotion built TR6060, zr1 clutch and dss one piece aluminum driveshaft for $1k

 

wow ,, great deal

 

An OGOC member did this swap last winter for tracking his G8 at Mosport.
Spoke to him briefly about the swap but did't go into what parts or the sources he used for the swap.
There's something to be said about banging gears around the track but everyday driving, I'm just to lazy....

 

Damn Whiplash got a killer deal!!

Didn't take long for me to get rid of the stock shifter assembly, even with the Hurst its mushy. Much better now with the MGW!

 

Damn Whiplash got a killer deal!!

Didn't take long for me to get rid of the stock shifter assembly, even with the Hurst its mushy. Much better now with the MGW!

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I just ordered this exact shifter. i can't wait to get it!