I know this is likely way more work than it's worth but I've been looking for a larger car with a Manual Transmission. I see that the Freemont is basically the Journey but with different styling (slightly) and different driving options... one of them being an option of a manual transmission.
Right now it's getting easier to find perfectly servicable Journeys for not much and I've been having fun fixing up some older vehicles. Has anybody ever swapped the transmission on a Dodge Journey themselves? Even if just replacing 1 4spd Auto for another? I can't seem to find the manual transmission for the Freemont for sale anywhere (unless somebody can tell me where to look). So I've been looking for other transmissions that might be compatable. It looks like the Dodge Caliber/Jeep Compass might be compatible, but the gear shifter comes up at different spots than it would in the Fiat.
Also there's the issue of the TCM. If that's disconnected with the Auto, will the engine still turn over? Just seeing if anybody has tried that or what happens when the TCM totally dies/fails.
Thanks in advance!
