i've been looking online but i've never found one. i was also thinking about converting mine to manual. my dad and i just finished converting his bmw wagon but thats rwd so it was a little easier i think. it took us about three weeks with a couple hours each day after work and some full saturdays.

i know the basics but i just wanted to ask if front wheel drive would be harder. this is the first time i've ever messed with front wheel drive cars or transmisions so its completely different for me.

I think I have seen one or two for sale before, but I wanted an automatic for a change (my first automatic I actually owned), so I didnt pay alot of attention to them, although I was specifically looking at 850's.

Per Chilton' repair manual, manual transmisions were available. It may be one of those situations where a manual had to be specially ordered (i dont really know) but I don't recall ever coming across many.

It seems alot of Volvo owners in the States are a little different than alot of other places (at least the typical soccer mom stereotype and Volvos is still quite strong here). So, I am guess that in the states the manual just didnt sell much, so finding them will be a bit tougher. Also due to gas prices around the world, and the fact that manuals can get better gas mileage, might be partly why the manuals are more common elsewhere, whereas typicall in the States we tend not to worry as much about gas mileage (although things are cerainly changing now).

Keep looking, they should be around, although you may have to look outside your local area to find it.

Yes, they do roll out of the factory.

But its rare. And most manual users are SO attached to their ride, they wont give it up. Even in the US. (Theres only a handful, OK, maybe less than 10 in Malaysia). I've even tried to legally 'smuggle' a manual tranny from the US to my country but my 'agent' still cant find one good set yet.

:)

because they don't exist, not is the US. canada, yes, just not here. south america, europe, canada, not in the us, something to do with liability laws and mileage, plus the ever present image thing. any 850 turbo, R or T5R that is manual in the US has been converted, and the tranny might be suspect since you need the beefier tranny, not the regular tranny. just my .02 cents worth.

This was about 2 years ago, but while I was looking for an 850, I stumbled across a nice auction on Ebay at the time that was a converted California Trooper 850 T-5 that I could have swore was a manual, and already semi-beefed up. Looked to be in pristine conditionwith little mileage also.From what I recall of the auction text, it was one of 5 that California bought to use and test out, but ended up going with something else so they didnt get used much. I am not sure what came of the other 4 as nothing was mentioned (probably sold to local people at auction or the police force maybe). I wish I could have got it, but it brought a hefty price. It was a beautiful pitch black sedan. Although I was looking for a wagon I wanted black, but ended up with grey:P

those are different. the feds used some and so did some highway patrols done south. they needed something that didn't look like the typical boy-racer car. those were all euro-spec if i remember correctly.

Oh well, still wish I could have gotten it :) It was probably one of those one time chances, since there were only 5 of that one at least (and apparently it was the only one to get offered in public).

The manual transmission is M56H or the M59. One of them is the same as the other, except for extra strong clutches and all.

Very common in the UK where many people still view Autos with suspicion.

I'm sure you could find a good transmission of the correct type from a volvo specific breaker, though what the costs to ship to the US would be god only knows!

Uncle BEN!
Hehe, can i contract you out to secure a manual tranny for me? HEEE HEEE


Btw, i thought i wanted to take some pics of my DIY buddy's manual-trans-ed 855T5 and put it in the garage. Maybe i'll do it when i meet him again in a fortnight's time.

You called Nephew BEAR? :bwekk: :beer:

:P


Yeah, just wondering if you could save me one of those MANUAL M59 transmission units...
:)

If you are serious i can certainly try and find one for you!

I'm just struggling to see how it could be cost effective to send it that far?

PM me if you ever want enything looking into mate :thumbsup: