Well, if you want to go with an auto, be prepared to spend a lot more money on gas...

Expect it to use about twice as much gas as the manual does now.

I have a '77 244 that's an auto, and it sure is gutless... No power at all, and it uses tons of gas compared to my '80 245 that's a 4 speed stick with OD.

The auto transmission from your '78 has only 3 speeds. It starts slow from a stop, and causes the engine to run at high RPMs on the highway...

If you really want to convert it to an auto, you would probably be better off getting a later style Auto transmission that had an OD. Much better on gas, and a lot more responsive, (or so I've heard).

I would never want to convert a manual to an auto, but it's your car, so go for it if you really want to.

You will also probably have to replace the radiator, since some radiators on the manual cars don't have a place for the auto tranny cooling lines to hook up...

If you want to give that manual tranny away, I wouldn't mind having a manual transmission to put in my '77.... heh heh heh...