if i bought a D1 parts truck with a manual transmission, would it mate up to my 2003 D2? i'd love to have a manual again.

 

Yes. You'd have to change some of the engine controls, because they are tied to the autobox, but it can be done. Somewhere around on a forum there's at least one thread about someone who put an R380 in his DII.

Found the thread:
It's more than just about the R380 conversion, but if you can overlook all the snarky comments it has good information. The R380 swap starts here:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...035#post635035

 

As Tom mentioned, the main change would need to be a replacement ECU from the UK that was used on a stock D2 with a manual tranny in other countries.

 

great info. thanks. on my list of things to do. a very, very long list.
jon

 

Keep us up to date on this.