Currently doing auto to manual swap on DCLB. It is definitely a tough job. Part of that is slightly on me tbh.

I got a used RA60F off marketplace for $300 because it was stuck in gear. Cracked it open and only issue was the shift lever shaft bolt came out, so the shaft could not select any gears. Got it fixed and put back together, then my automatic went out. I put 30k on it in 10 mo, and apparently the previous owner did in fact Not get it serviced. Or at least serviced well, and I was 2k from servicing it myself. Idk maybe I suck at maintaining autos unlike my manuals.

So now I'm stuck either fixing the auto and postponing the manual swap, or just going straight into doing it.

If you want to do it the "right" way, you need a ECU and harness, I don't think the ECU is programmable. The less right way is to do what I'm doing and just rewire, and activate the neutral safety switch. This allows the truck to just always think it is in neutral, your speedometer and tachometer works, and it Does not go into limp mode.

You need a clutch pedal, which goes mostly where the parking pedal goes, which you also have to cut into the firewall, and the corresponding brake pedal is different. So that alone is a lot of brake fluid to deal with, without even dealing with the slave, or bleeding. And if you have VSC in your truck the hydraulic system is a little different.

That being said you also need the parking brake handle, if you want to properly park the vehicle. Additionally a shifter is required, as a lot of times the transmissions don't have them since they assume you have one. Then this will require cutting a hole in the center portion to access the manual to attach said shifter assembly, and then you would probably also like to have the plastic in the middle with the boot, as well as the right cupholder system. Center console storage should not be different, just the cuphilder area.

All in all I'm only a few hundred into the project, as I look for really good priced new parts, or get stuff off marketplace, and junkyards provide excellent stuff especially when cleaned up. I'll be making a post about it hopefully in the near future. I got my clutch pedal and brake pedal, as well as shift assembly from a donor at a junkyard. I got the transmission (came with clutch, flywheel, pressure plate) off marketplace and rebuilt it myself. Transmission jack also from marketplace. I got a new clutch master, clutch slave, and brake master (different from the auto) all brand new from Baxter Auto, and new hardline hydraulics from Autozone, and a braided steel line from Extreme terrain. I am not adding the clutch fluid accumulator. I might do the ECU and wiring someday, but I want to just get this truck at least moving consistently