How much would I spend swapping an auto D17a tranny for a manual one. I don't have much knowledge on swapping, never done it myself but it can't be too hard.
Depends on how cheap you can source parts. IF prices are comparable to what it cost for my 6th gen auto to manual swap, it cost me around $800 total. That was back in 2009 though..
Wanting to swap from an automatic to a manual is not easy for those who lack a lot of experience. Check out the link Xpl0der provided and start doing some research because this isn't like playing with legos where you just change a few pieces. Call several local shops for estimates as such jobs can vary in cost by area.