Hey I'm going to be up front and admit that I have NO knowledge of cars at all but I am looking to change that. I am currently driving a 1999 Chevy Cavalier Z24 Convertible. I really love my car but my tranny is starting to go . I was wondering if it would be possible, and if so cost effective, to buy a manual tranny and have a mechanic swap the Auto one out? If anyone could get back to me with an opinion on this or any info at all that would be awesome .

 

Cost effective? It probably be cheaper to go with a JY auto transaxle.

 

sorry but what exactly is a JY auto transaxle?

 

JY = Junkyard

 

oh lol duh. Thank you, but how exactly can I tell if it is in-fact the transaxle v.s. the actually transmission or is that something I would have to ask a mechanic?

 

Transmission is used for rear wheel drive vehicles because it transfers the power from the engine to the drive shaft to a rear differential. When front wheel drive vehicles came out, the term transaxle was used because it transfers the power to the front axles or "drive shafts" as some would call them. In short, a transaxle is a FWD transmission.

Which is the reason it's a transmission for RWD vehicles and transaxle for FWD.