1968dave

I am going to give my 1998 to my son. I am fixing up all the little things that are wrong with it. The truck is in very good shape. It is a stick shift 5 speed. I am thinking of converting it into an automatic. How hard would that be? What parts would it involve?

Cmanjr

What engine does the truck have?

Jefk

personally, i'de keep the stick,thats personal preference though, i wanna drop my auto tranny haha

1968dave

4.2 engine. I personally like stick shift. I would have to teach my 15yr old how to drive it with the 5spd, which is more than likely going to be the case. However, I was just wondering about making it automatic to save myself the aggravation and a burnt clutch lol.

LOUDnLIFTEDf150

Automatic always best IMO

Cmanjr

If it's a 4.2 finding an auto for it is going to be harder because the bell housing has a different bolt pattern than the 4.6 or 5.4, meaning you couldn't go to your local salvage yard and grab a trans from a 4.6 or 5.4 which are probably more plentiful. I could be wrong on how plentiful they are though. But I've always seen more 4.6 and 5.4 trucks than I have 4.2 trucks.

And I vote you teach them how to drive a stick. It's a good thing to learn how to do. You learn to drive stick, you can drive anything. You learn to drive an automatic, you still have to learn to drive a stick, meaning you can only drive other automatics. If they learn how to drive stick they can drive manual and auto, making it easier. Plus it's just a good thing to know how to do/be able to do

Jackedup00

Agree and disagree. Its much easier to learn the auto first,you have less to pay attention to while driving so you pay more attention to what is around you. I can drive both,but learning on a stick would have been a huge pain in the ***. I've known how to drive since I was about 10,so I'm talking about learning how to drive on the road.

Cmanjr

I see where you're coming from and I agree 100%. And I've known how to drive since I was about 12, started with my grandpas 96 GMC Sierra and his 1950s ford tractor.

1968dave

I been doing research of the internet and it appears to be a pain in a neck and too costly. I am just going to teach him how to drive wife's automatic car and my other automatic F150. Once he learns the basics then I will teach hima and give him the keys to the manual.

Jefk

been shifting gears since i was about 6,learned stick in my dads 79 foxbody... After learning o drive it and 'accedintly' spinning the wheels a couple times... yea lol.. He also dropped the auto tranny for a stick