The company I work for "accidentally" picked up a clean used 05 FL120 with the Eaton 18 speed AS2 auto shift trans. I have never been around one before but it is a complete nightmare to drive and nobody is happy about it. If I understand correctly this is a standard transmission that is shifted electronically. Is there any easy way to convert it to a manual? We are willing to throw some money at it as we don't buy new equipment very often. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

There are a multitude of problems to overcome with a tranny conversion. To start with even though it is an actual standard transmission it is electronically controlled by a control module that is slaved to the engine control module. Both modules talk to and rely on each other, remove the tranny control module and the ecm becomes useless rendering the truck inoperable. A different wiring harness and a complete software rewrite would be needed. A properly sourced used or remanned ecm may be an alternative.

Be prepared to spend big money if the company wants to convert.

 

Thanks! I did not think about the electronic side of things. With that in mind I doubt we would tie into this project. Guess we need to find a driver that likes autos.

 

I know a guy with one of these and he wanted to take it out. I talked to a garage near me that specializes in trannys and they said as long as it has a clutch pedal in it that its not hard to convert. He said that there is a jumper wire you have to put in somewhere so that the truck will start because with the electronic tranny it will only start in nuetral. Other than that they said there is nothing to it.

 

I can check with one of our techs in the field, but really it should not be that big an issue. The trans control module should just come out with the transmission. The manual transmission, clutch linkage, etc should just bolt in. You might need to actually swap out the ecm but I think some of the new ones can be programmed for either trany. At least that's what the CAT guys tell me. Now, if you want to go the other way and upgrade to an auto? I have been told it gets pricy!