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[atikovi]

I have a 1998 Catera 3.0 with a bad automatic transmission in the U.S. While I can get a used replacement transmission, it could be just as bad or go bad soon. Been thinking that if could use a 5-speed instead, I wouldn’t have to worry about it going bad and it would probably be the only stick Catera in the USA. Off the top of my head it would need the transmission itself, pedal assembly, clutch fluid reservoir and lines, shifter, modified console. How readily available are those parts in the UK? What transmission was used so maybe I could even source it here?

[Andy H]

Have you found the guide? Autobox to manual conversion

There are more guides that you might find useful Maintenance guide index

I will leave you to read around the subject.

[atikovi]

That guide is very helpful. Anybody know what manual transmission is fitted to this car? Such as Getrag? It would be much cheaper if I could source one here in the U.S. from another make of car than shipping one over from the U.K.

[05omegav6]

That guide is very helpful. Anybody know what manual transmission is fitted to this car? Such as Getrag? It would be much cheaper if I could source one here in the U.S. from another make of car than shipping one over from the U.K.

As near as can be found they are unique there is some talk of the Getrag 260? as fitted to earlier 3 series BMWs, but both have integral bell housings which aren't interchangeable. Might find a manual car in Brazil , but probably easier and cheaper to ship one over from here

[atikovi]

Not exactly what I wanted to hear. Wonder if these cars were sold in Mexico? Or any of the Carribean islands? Pretty sure not in Canada.

[Andy H]

Don't know if this helps. It was a discussion a few years ago concerning gearboxes (AKA transmissions )

2woody
Re: strongest GM RWD gearbox(manual)
Reply #6 - 18. Feb 2010 at 13:13 
a couple of things here.......

All Omega A and Omega B manual gearboxes are Getrag 240, made in a GM-specific casing and with either shot-peened gears or not, according to the usage.

A Getrag 240 without shot-peened gears is called "R25"
A Getrag 240 with shot-peened gears is called "R28"

The bell-housing for these is integral with the gearbox casing and comes in three shapes - 4-cylinder petrol & diesel / V6, 6-cylinder diesel and "cam-in-head"

Other than that, there was a Getrag 265 used in some Senator A and Monzas, which uses a separate bellhousing. Beware, though, this bellhousing is "cam-in-head" bolt pattern and won't fit any Omega B engine.

There are three other strong GM boxes :-

ZF 6-speed. Used in Lotus Carlton - fits "cam-in-head" engines

Tremec T56 used in Commodore and Monaro - fits V8 only

Borg-Warner T5. Never used in any V-car

If you're contemplating more power, you don't automatically need a stronger gearbox. There is a natural limit for how much torque you can put through a 'box - and that's when the wheels spin. The "worst-case" for any gearbox is going to be re-starting a car with a heavy trailer on a hill.

hope this helps.

[05omegav6]

Not exactly what I wanted to hear. Wonder if these cars were sold in Mexico? Or any of the Carribean islands? Pretty sure not in Canada.

The Catera was auto only, and North America only. The Rest of World model being the Chevrolet Omega, either as a 2.2 I4 or as a V6, either 2.5/3.0 or 3.2 V6, with all but the 3.2 being available as manuals. The reality is that automatics probably outnumber manuals at about 6:1

The only trim difference between auto and stick/manual is the square trim around the shifter, so that is the least of your problems