Auto to Manual Swap - Supra Mk3

[samwell]

Hey chaps,

Now I'm going to have a look at a very nice looking Supra near me tomorrow. It's got rediculously nice spec , Electric everything, digi dash, leather, alarm etc. The only set back in my mind being the 3spd Auto 'box.

Some Pics:




Now I am fairly mechanically competent. Changed plenty of clutches, head gaskets and the like.

Apart from needing to source a manual 'box and interior trimmings, is there anything preventing a swap?

Cheers,
For inspiration:

Sam

[chairchild]

you'll also need the flexplate and torque converter - sometimes an additional ECU to control the 'box, or some way that the 'box knows when to kick down. It's different for each manufacturer

Sometimes the whole exhaust tunnel is a slightly different shape too, with totally different chassis mounting points for the gearbox

[samwell]

This is going to manual? I assumed ACU intervention and torque converters were Auto jobbies?

[The Doctor]

you have to trick the ECU that it's in P or N, so it will start. Chances are that the cruise control won't work (because it thinks the car is in P or N).

[chairchild]

Apr 9, 2012 13:26:15 GMT samwell said:

This is going to manual? I assumed ACU intervention and torque converters were Auto jobbies?

indeed it is... this is just me being a spaz, and mis-reading the OP

[tigran]

Your major issue will be finding a R154 gearbox from the manual supra's. Usual price for these is around £5-600 with an entire kit being much much more. As they are very sought after for this exact reason as well as I believe 2JZ conversions.

[samwell]

Apr 10, 2012 12:40:36 GMT tigran said:

Your major issue will be finding a R154 gearbox from the manual supra's. Usual price for these is around £5-600 with an entire kit being much much more. As they are very sought after for this exact reason as well as I believe 2JZ conversions.

I see, I figured the cost might be an issue. I guess depending on circumstances, I could pick up a ratty manual like this one:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Supra-MK3-3-0i-non-turbo-Drift-racing-/170819093713?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27c59c84d1#ht_2132wt_881

As picked up on by the Doctor, assuming starting will be easy to bypass, will the ECU do anything else odd that you can think of?
I'm guessing that trying to get the cruise control to work would be a little bit hopeful or would it just go to a set RPM based on the known top gear ratio...

[chairchild]

failing that... can you get a reverse-manual valve body for the supra slushboxes?

I know for the Jag V12 slushboxes, you could get a modified valve body for the gearbox, which changed the shift pattern from P-N-R-D-2-1, to: P-N-R-1-2-3, whereby YOU chose the gears, the gearbox would never automatically change gear.

If it wasn't for the torque convertor, it would essentially be converted into a sequential gearbox, for the cost of a bolt-on slab of metal in the gearbox

[The Doctor]

Apr 10, 2012 15:40:13 GMT samwell said:

Apr 10, 2012 12:40:36 GMT tigran said:

Your major issue will be finding a R154 gearbox from the manual supra's. Usual price for these is around £5-600 with an entire kit being much much more. As they are very sought after for this exact reason as well as I believe 2JZ conversions.

I see, I figured the cost might be an issue. I guess depending on circumstances, I could pick up a ratty manual like this one:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Supra-MK3-3-0i-non-turbo-Drift-racing-/170819093713?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27c59c84d1#ht_2132wt_881

As picked up on by the Doctor, assuming starting will be easy to bypass, will the ECU do anything else odd that you can think of?
I'm guessing that trying to get the cruise control to work would be a little bit hopeful or would it just go to a set RPM based on the known top gear ratio...

non turbo has the slightly less desirable W58 gearbox. Still good for 300HP, but not as good as the R154.