Modifying the ST tranny

shodanpete · 10-09-2008, 09:40 PM

So, I'm stuck. I'm doing a st swap, and I haven't been able to get the holes drilled I need in the transmission. I've taken it to several machine shops and mechanics, and no one is willing to drill it for me. I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I have everything else ready, and I'd like to get this finished before it get too cold. Thanks!

Mista 2 · 10-10-2008, 06:32 AM

why are you using the silver top trans?you can just use your standard trans and the ratios are quite good.

SteveAW11 · 10-11-2008, 06:31 PM

its really easy to do a 15mm bit or a paddle bit of equal size in standard will do the trick for the shaft. Just drill from the inside out. Then theres the seal hole. I forget the size paddle bit it is. Im not sure where your located but If your in the ATL, GA area I will drill it for you. really doesnt take long.

theres also a write up on this somewhere.

kazin1111 · 10-11-2008, 09:35 PM

I went and got one of those wood drilling kits that has about10 different sizes. I slowly went up one size at a time making sure to drill directly in the middle. I managed to do it right on the first try in less than one hour. and I was unsupervised. If you read any of my posts you would realize that if I can do it, you can do it. (I shouldn't be trusted with an electric razor)

kevinioflosangeles · 10-12-2008, 09:57 PM

I've only glanced at the instructions on this alteration, but I can tell you that good twist drills should do the trick, and one thing you can do to minimize the "swarf" getting where you don't want it, is to cover the drill in grease.

And one thing to know about power drills, slower is never worse, always better.

Find a drill motor that has a good speed control on the trigger, and run the damn thing just as slow as you can. That with the grease should get next to no swarf in the transmission.

Now if that is not enough for you, be prepared to open the case and jam a greasy rag up against the back side of where the hole will open up.

328FTW · 10-12-2008, 10:11 PM

This thread has got me interested now cause I swap the whole casing and although I get to check the gears and syncros while I'm at it it is labour intensive and takes me a good 2 hours which is a long time for someone like me. Have thought about doing it but haven't done a swap lately but post how it goes cause I'm keen to know.

BTW just use lots of grease and you will be alright, I drilled my cylinder head just using grease, a rag and a screwdriver.

mr220v · 10-13-2008, 03:56 PM

I take a 9/16" paddle bit, place it in the corolla selector shaft hole inside the transmission, and drill from the inside out. This completes the selector shaft hole to the outside of the tranny. It's best to do this with the tranny upside down so that shavings don't fall into the bottom.

I then place the selector shaft in the newly opened 9/16" hole. This nice thing about the mr2's selector shaft is that it has a little dimple at the end. I use this to center a 1" paddle bit to drill the oil seal hole.

So, with the tip of the bit in the dimple, I bring the drill down onto the transmission perfectly centered. Now, 1" is slightly too small for the seal, so I then take my dremel and widen the hole slightly until the seal can be tapped in with a hammer.

Pretty easy.

Kerry Phillips · 10-26-2008, 05:26 PM

Okay, I think this tranny conversion may actually be easy-once U complete your first job. The pad and wheels site is very helpful-though the pictures could be better.

On removing the selector shaft- I had to really hammer mine out and it came out a little bent. Is this normal?

On the new tranny, the shaft came out so easy it was amazing. I compared the two selector shafts-made the conversion appear to be very simple.

Now should I attempt to straighten it or just try to buy a shaft from a dissasembler?

Kerry
Kwphillips1@yahoo.com

mr220v · 10-27-2008, 09:30 AM

I would try to get a new mr2 shaft. It shouldn't be that hard to remove. Did you forget to remove the retaining bolt on top of the tranny? That's the only thing holding it in. Otherwise, it slides right out.

I smashed the end of one good once. To a point where I compacted it. Had to take a grinder, and remove the excess material to get it to fit in the hole.

10-09-2008, 09:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
shodanpete No Skills Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Modifying the ST tranny So, I'm stuck. I'm doing a st swap, and I haven't been able to get the holes drilled I need in the transmission. I've taken it to several machine shops and mechanics, and no one is willing to drill it for me. I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I have everything else ready, and I'd like to get this finished before it get too cold. Thanks!

10-13-2008, 03:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
mr220v Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,795 Thanks: 13 Thanked 139 Times in 117 Posts iTrader Rating: (9/100% )	I take a 9/16" paddle bit, place it in the corolla selector shaft hole inside the transmission, and drill from the inside out. This completes the selector shaft hole to the outside of the tranny. It's best to do this with the tranny upside down so that shavings don't fall into the bottom. I then place the selector shaft in the newly opened 9/16" hole. This nice thing about the mr2's selector shaft is that it has a little dimple at the end. I use this to center a 1" paddle bit to drill the oil seal hole. So, with the tip of the bit in the dimple, I bring the drill down onto the transmission perfectly centered. Now, 1" is slightly too small for the seal, so I then take my dremel and widen the hole slightly until the seal can be tapped in with a hammer. Pretty easy. Last edited by mr220v; 10-13-2008 at 04:07 PM.

10-26-2008, 05:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kerry Phillips Some Skills Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 88 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	FWD conversion Okay, I think this tranny conversion may actually be easy-once U complete your first job. The pad and wheels site is very helpful-though the pictures could be better. On removing the selector shaft- I had to really hammer mine out and it came out a little bent. Is this normal? On the new tranny, the shaft came out so easy it was amazing. I compared the two selector shafts-made the conversion appear to be very simple. Now should I attempt to straighten it or just try to buy a shaft from a dissasembler? Kerry Kwphillips1@yahoo.com

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10-10-2008, 06:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mista 2 Cage Fighter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 461 Thanks: 16 Thanked 21 Times in 21 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	why are you using the silver top trans?you can just use your standard trans and the ratios are quite good.

10-11-2008, 06:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
SteveAW11 Cage Fighter Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 107 Thanks: 1 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	its really easy to do a 15mm bit or a paddle bit of equal size in standard will do the trick for the shaft. Just drill from the inside out. Then theres the seal hole. I forget the size paddle bit it is. Im not sure where your located but If your in the ATL, GA area I will drill it for you. really doesnt take long. theres also a write up on this somewhere.

10-11-2008, 09:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
kazin1111 Weak Skills Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 122 Thanks: 11 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I went and got one of those wood drilling kits that has about10 different sizes. I slowly went up one size at a time making sure to drill directly in the middle. I managed to do it right on the first try in less than one hour. and I was unsupervised. If you read any of my posts you would realize that if I can do it, you can do it. (I shouldn't be trusted with an electric razor)

10-12-2008, 09:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
kevinioflosangeles No Skills Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I've only glanced at the instructions on this alteration, but I can tell you that good twist drills should do the trick, and one thing you can do to minimize the "swarf" getting where you don't want it, is to cover the drill in grease. And one thing to know about power drills, slower is never worse, always better. Find a drill motor that has a good speed control on the trigger, and run the damn thing just as slow as you can. That with the grease should get next to no swarf in the transmission. Now if that is not enough for you, be prepared to open the case and jam a greasy rag up against the back side of where the hole will open up.

10-12-2008, 10:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
328FTW 3vzfe tinkering Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,541 Thanks: 12 Thanked 100 Times in 84 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	This thread has got me interested now cause I swap the whole casing and although I get to check the gears and syncros while I'm at it it is labour intensive and takes me a good 2 hours which is a long time for someone like me. Have thought about doing it but haven't done a swap lately but post how it goes cause I'm keen to know. BTW just use lots of grease and you will be alright, I drilled my cylinder head just using grease, a rag and a screwdriver.

10-27-2008, 09:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
mr220v Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,795 Thanks: 13 Thanked 139 Times in 117 Posts iTrader Rating: (9/100% )	I would try to get a new mr2 shaft. It shouldn't be that hard to remove. Did you forget to remove the retaining bolt on top of the tranny? That's the only thing holding it in. Otherwise, it slides right out. I smashed the end of one good once. To a point where I compacted it. Had to take a grinder, and remove the excess material to get it to fit in the hole.