auto -> manual swap

[TomsMR2]

yup.. got it done!

i found this is asked semi frequently over time, and everyone always gives these BS inexperienced hopeless answers..

i think thats just not fair. so heres the truth about the auto swap

honestly... its not that bad. how many times did i have to break out my welder? hole saw? special fabricating tools?

zero times. its a factory swap, everything fits just as toyota intended it, and pretty much glides right into place (except the damn fuel tank that IS a pain!) no tricks, no real surprises, no fabbing, cutting, grinding, welding or force fitting, the whole auto car is setup for the manual running gear.

you'll need the obvious, clutch pedal, hydrolic lines, manual trans and clutch assy... thats pretty much it.

you DONT need the 5spd harness. dont bother with it, i wasted hours trying to get it to work, and in the end i ended up removing the harness (again) and reinstalling the auto harness.

you'll need to either trick the ecu into thinking its in park, or just put the very small gear selector switch back in the car, set it to park, plug it in and secure it out of the way.. it doesnt care what the tranny is doing, it just wants to see the park signal to run your starting system.

starts and runs, no CEL!

it took roughly 35-40 hours of in-garage work.. keep in mind this was figuring it out the whole way, installing a new motor including resealing, regasketing, installing new oil and water pumps, belts (accessory and timing), AND screwing up and swapping harnesses 3 times. if i do it again, im confident i could pull it off in ~20hrs.. definately less if the old motor was reused. even if it was 40 hours just for the trans swap it isnt to bad to remove said offending sportscar-mudering autotragic and bless you car with the proper 5spd it deserves!

so thats the real deal guys. you dont have to sell your car for a 5spd. just collect your parts, and have at it!

[canadam]

Excellent ! I was just wondering about this...

[N8s93turbo]

very nice, and estimate on how much the swap costs?

[Mister2.2]

What about installing the shifter?

[TomsMR2]

shifter bolts right in. they use the same pattern. its literally 4 bolts and its off, 4 bolts and the new ones on.

i have no idea on parts costs. this wasnt my car, i did the swap for a local club member. he got all the parts from crw, and other locals.. i dont think it all added up to much though.

[TheAmazingDave]

Hey Tom, have you done this in a Mk1? If not, do you think it's a similar process?

[WoRR Pyro]

Tom, That was E-'s car right?

Wanted to know how the tranny and the engine turned out for him.
=X He's not grinding right now, yeah? =).

[Jay-Spec]

I have a 91 A/T, So do i have to swap axles also, or can i use my stock axles, someone told me i have to swap them when using a turbo tranny, but what about the N/A tranny can i use my axles.
And how much torque/Horse power can the N/A hold and the turbo?
Thanks alot guys for ur help.

[TomsMR2]

Originally Posted by 86mister2

Hey Tom, have you done this in a Mk1? If not, do you think it's a similar process?

ive talked to people about it and hashed over details. seems like the only thing thats different is that you gotta punch out that little cover plate on the mk1's. besides that its identical..

[Jay-Spec]

Ok now iam freaking out, i got everything i need for the swap and now iam being told the turbo shift cable may not work for the n/a tranny. TomsMR2 u been really helpful and u gave me the hope of doing this , but can someone please tell me for sure can i use turbo shift cable on a N/A?

[Raptor13x]

^ I know you can use the N/A shift cable on the turbo, but it does make it difficult to get into 1st and 2nd gear. There is a slight difference. If you've got the resources, I'd recommend just doing it right the first time.

[Jay-Spec]

Originally Posted by Raptor13x

^ I know you can use the N/A shift cable on the turbo, but it does make it difficult to get into 1st and 2nd gear. There is a slight difference. If you've got the resources, I'd recommend just doing it right the first time.

well thats just6 great, do u know how hard it is into get into gear? i dont know wher to get the n/a cables.

[Raptor13x]

I had to hold it with considerable force to the left side to get it to pop into those gears. I hit 3rd or 4th when trying to hit 1st or 2nd many times. I'd imagine with things reversed, you'd have a really tough time getting it into 5th gear or reverse. Then again, it could work just great, I don't know for certain.

[TomsMR2]

the 91 na cables are cheap enough used..

they dont take long to swap over anyways, just toss it in an see what happens.

[canadam]

Tom, can you write a full parts list of what's needed for this ?

[bigshoguns]

Tom a wire up would be AWESOME!! I am planning on doing a auto to manual swap soon if you help the MR2 NA community out with an Auto to Manual swap Write up with a parts list, we be in your debt.

[tpr3tc]

guys i am in need of an auto ecu part number 89661-17270, if any of you guys have already swapped your cars to a manual and dont need your auto ecu please let me know. i just need to rule out the chance that my computer is or is not messed up, if it is messed up i will buy it from you or trade you parts or what ever.

i am located in trenton, SC 29847

thank you very much for your time and help

Carlos
305.972.0868

[Jay-Spec1]

I swap my car to a 5 speed and iam still using my auto ecu, and its find, what ur problem.

[tpr3tc]

where do i start???

the engine feels like its under severe load when i give it 1/4 throttle, then i give it 1/2 throttle and it starts to go, then while i am cruising it does the same i sometimes got to give it 1/2 throttle just to pick up a litle speed, but then other times it seems to be allot better but not ever like its suppose to be. when i first got the car i replaced plugs, wires, cap and rotor hoping it would eliminate the problem but not so lucky, i have replaced the map sensor with one off another running car but it has the same problem, the funny thing is when i unplug the TPS it runs better at 0-1/4 throttle but then has the same issues from 1/4-1/2 throttle, it just moves the problem to a different location on the throttle, so i think it might be the computer.

but the fun doesnt stop there, the tranmision doesnt ever know what gear it needs to be in, so i have to drive the car like a manual, the funny part is the tranny shifts nice and firm just like its suppose to but if i try to take off from a stop in "D", it will actually try to leave in 4th gear, so i have to drop it down to "1", then run first gear but when i shift to "2" it goes straight to 3rd gear, so as soon as i fell it shift to 3rd i drop it back down to "1" and ten i am actually in 2nd gear, then when i shift to "2" again that when i am actually in 3rd gear so then i just drop it straight into "D" since it dnot matter if its in "2" or "D", and the overdrive doesnt kick in by itself, when i am ready for the car to go into overdrive i flip the ignition key OFF then back ON and then it goes into overdrive and then i could cruise.

i am tired of this if you havent noticed.

so here is what its like when i am leaving a light aside from the engine running super sluggish until i give it 1/2 throttle and then i finally goes, i leave in 1st gear:

1 shift to
2 shift back to
1 shift to
2 shift to
D then for Over Drive
ignition OFF
ignition ON
then overdirve kicks in

is this crazy or what, no one else in my house drives my car because they dont want to hassle with the engine and the shifting.

i have a comlpete turbo 5 speed swap, pedals, shifter, cables and all, but there is allot of things i want to do to that 3s before i drop it in so i prefer to get this car running better with the NA auto set-up and take my time buying all the little things i want for the 3s.

thanks for your time and help, feel free to call so i can maybe explain these issues a little better

Carlos
305.972.0868

[Alesagol]

Tom can u tell me if there is any other 5speed tranny that'll fit the mr2 mk2? I understand hat 1992 to 1997 camrys got the same engine, and a couple of celicas too, will those trannys works for the swap?. thanks for your time

Ale