Is a manual worth it...

[Uncle Gump]

wow... that went south fast. Refrain from the name calling or someone will have to go to time out in the corner... with the rest of the 6 year old children.

 

[snoranger]

 

[RonD]

LOL ^^^^^

My wife, and "How can there be no money, I still have checks in the check book?"

Yes I am old, checks, and check books, used to be ways of paying for things


There really is no contest for reliability, a manual trans will simply last longer than any automatic, if thats the question
But a manual does need the clutch replaced every 200k miles or so depending on driver

Automatics are "better" for most applications, and stronger for towing.

If you are switching to a manual because you want a manual then go for it, but much better to sell the automatic vehicle and buy a factory manual vehicle for reliability

If you want to switch to a manual because automatic broke down then don't, fix the automatic, either do it yourself or find a reliable shop and make sure they install a new FORD pump, one-way clutch and OD Drum
If you, or they, only replace gaskets, seals, servos, bands and clutches(rebuild kit) then trans will be "back in the shop" in 12 to 18 months.
This is why automatics can get a bad rep, lack of service and then bad/cheap rebuilds

 

[sgtsandman]

If you don't mind the work, the swap would be worth it. A couple of things you might not thought about. You will need the wiring harness off the engine of a truck that had a manual and more than likely you will need a drive shaft from a truck with a manual. I had a heck of a time getting a drive shaft that matched up with my '98. I can't remember if the automatics were too long or short but either way, they would not fit. I had to bring my old drive shaft in to match it up with what the scrap yard pulled in order to get the right one. The original engine head gasket had let loose and took out #1 & #2 piston. I got another engine from the junk yard and had to use the wiring harness from the old engine.

Outside of that it sounds like you got everything covered.

 

[Freddie Fudpucker]

manual to auto, fairly easy. Auto to manual, not so easy.
I agree get a better auto.