yeah Im a transmission mechanic....... let me get my 2 cents in on this cause I was once pondering doing this to my ATX.
It is a lot of work, even for someone with the right tools and experience it still takes time and energy. It is actually a lot more then just putting a 5 speed in there... and I don't mean other things like pedals, clutch, shifter etc... I mean harness, subframe, mounts, and the accessories... that is a lot of work and far beyond average for a auto to manual swap for MOST cars that came with a 5 speed option from the factory.
Soooooo what to do?
I mean even my transmission is slipping in 2nd, and I felt it slip in 3rd a couple times the other night when I shoulda been in 2nd winding that out but I just stayed in 3rd out of the powerband and gearing but still on the power.....
I'm just going to rebuild mine, I've never seen a SHO transmission nor know a lot about the differences... and I hear they have some different parts inside so it will be entertaining. I've never pulled a SHO tranny out either....I've done Vulcan's and 3.8's but they are all different to some regards,
so Im going to rebuild this one in a couple months hopefully, keep posted if I do any improvements to it....
I'm just going to find a nice clean body MTX SHO one day, I don't care what else is messed up on it... and build a highly modified SHO, I'm just going to keep my ATX as a DD, it is fun... I love to drive 5 speeds too and I still enjoy this car. **** cruise around 30mph in 2nd gear then hit it.... its nice when it downshifts into 1st quickly and instantly pulls great....... **** thats probably my greatest fun doing that, atleast the speeds are slower and not 120. let me just throw a knock on wood in here.... FHP doesn't like when 120 shows up on their radar screen.......