Hey guys i have an 85 d150 2wd automatic 318 that i want to put a manual in it do you know how hard it is to put in the clutch petal i have to have my floor pans replaced so i might put in a manual floor board do i need a new flywheel? Driveshaft? How do you run the clutch cable all the help i can get is well appreciated i follow instructions great and where is the best place to get a 4 speed or could i use a 5 speed out of a 93 cause i can get my hands on one of those i live in nw missouri

 

I did this swap last summer on my 91 w150. I don't know about an 85, but my floor boards work with the clutch. I swapped in a hydro clutch, so I didnt have to run any linkage. The hardest part I had putting in the clutch pedal was finding a pedal set. Once again, not sure how the 85's are, but in mine the brake pedal pivots on a metal rod, all I had to do was pull the rod out, slip the brake pedal off, and slide the new brake and clutch pedal on. Took me about 20 min, simply because its a pita to work under the dash. You will need a flywheel as you have a torque converter with the automatic, and obviously you'll need the clutch kit as well. I bought a set of manual driveshafts at a salvage yard, I swapped in a 4speed (NP435) which was shorter than my 4speed auto (A518), so I needed a longer rear and shorter front. I also ran into trouble because of my 6" lift, so the manual front was too short and I had to get a custom front made. Since yours is a 2WD you will only need the rear, and you may not even need it if the manual trans is close in length to your auto. I can't help with clutch cable/linkage as I did a hydro clutch (which was by far the hardest part of the whole swap). I bought my pedals, bellhousing, trans, shifter and rear driveshaft at a salvage yard. I got the trans, bellhousing and shifter for $150 with 80K miles. I love the 4speed, the only complaint would be the extremely low first gear. For daily driving I dont even use first, I drive it like a 3speed. On the flip side, the low first gear is a huge advantage if your ever stuck or if your off-roading. Overall, the swap was a lot of work (I also did a motor swap at the same time) but it wasn't extremely challenging.

 

Also, not sure if Dodge used the same cross member or not. Might have to check that out. You might consider a 5 speed swap. Being as you are a 2wd, half ton, you could likely run a NV3500 from a V8 Dakota or 1500. Then you could use the factory supplied hydro lines, instead of mechanical linkage, and you would get much better mileage. I ran a NV3500 in my 4x4 1 ton for a few years before it finally bit the dust. They are plentiful, fairly strong and cheap. Same amount of work as swapping in a 4 speed. Don't know if you know anyone that builds trannys, that might do you a favor, but I'm not too far from you, and I have a NV3500 you can have if you want it. Needs rebuilt.