what exactly goes into switching from auto/manual trann?

i was thinking about it. ive got a friend whos dad could put it all in for me. he runs a class in a college that does projects all the time. i was wondering how much time is involved in switching from auto to manual transmission? and, where abouts would i find the best place to get the 'stuff'? i heard that sometimes you get lucky going to car junk yards, and yanking all the stuff out of an old car. what are the inherent risks of doing this? would i be better off buying it all myself and having it installed? how much would a job like this cost (just the parts) labor is free of course im not sure if i want to yet, but i just think it would be so much funner switching manually. not for race, but just for the hell of it. or is it too much trouble just for that extra fun of stick shifting?