I searched the forum and couldnt find anything related to this topic, but I found a 5spd transmission for my car going for about $300. If i got all the parts (clutch pedal, master cylinder etc.) about how much would i be looking at for it to be professionally installed? Ive seen that a few people on the forum have done this swap before, i need your expertise!

 

Call around locals and ask.

 

That is a question that is not going to get a good answer here. Professionally?
As you are paying some one else labor charges it is going to be pricy, especially since if you really don't know for sure, what parts are you missing? All the hardware? Nuts and bolts? Brackets for what ever?
I rarely am sure I have all the parts when I collect them piece meal from a variety of sources and if I am missing something the only additional cost is what ever the missing parts are costing plus the time it takes to find them. And to me, that is free. I am doing the work. If I had to pay some one else to do it I could not afford it. Which leads to the next question. What is wrong with the automatic in the thing? It is a good one, shifts well and efficient. And arguably a better deal then the standard shift.

 

I personally prefer to drive standard shift when it comes to cars. For example, I do alot of freeway driving and when im doing about 70-75mph the car runs about 3000rpm. It feels like it needs one more gear to drop it down to about 2000-2500 for better gas mileage. But if doing a manual swap isnt worth the time, money, and labor, then yeah ill just leave it alone and save the money for a second car that is already manual transmission

 

Well, that really is a personal opinion that does not really have a cash value assigned to it if the only concern is the cost of fuel. Using that as a criteria. My current build is going to use a 700R4 which is a 4 speed automatic with a lock up torque converter and gas mileage will be a function of the final drive ratio which in this car is about a 2.7x something. However my 94 SC2 gets 33mpg on the open road. An increase of 5mpg would drop my gasoline cost about $480.00 over 30,000 miles as I too do a lot of freeway driving. And $480.00 would not pay for the cost of changing the transmission just because I wanted to. I like a 5 speed, and have installed a T-5 behind a 425hp 390 cu in street racer. And I have another I can install where I want to but frankly with today's automatics and that includes the one used in the Saturn. I personally don't see an advantage if any other than personal preference.

 

Hmmm well since you put it that way it makes more sense to me now. Yeah the Saturns get good mpg as they are from the factory and im averaging about 35mpg between city and highway combined. I just wanted to squeeze as much out of it as i could thats all

 

I like shifter cars myself, but I'd never convert a late model from a auto to manual to save a few cents on gas. The cost of parts along may never be recovered by the gas savings.