3-Gear Auto, any tuning possible?

[dirus]

Hi, I'm an unpround owner of a 1994 Corolla, 1.6lt 3-gear automatic (US model). Its painfully slow, especially on the highway, as it kicks into the 3rd hear at just 30mph, unless I push the gas pedal down a lot, for it to downshift back into 2nd or 1st.

I got this car for $3400 two years ago, and it only has 75k miles on it. Its in great working condition.

Is there any way I get a bit more power out of this engine? I'm probably going to sell this car soon (and buy 1991 BMW 325iC, hehe), so I'm just looking for some cheap little bolt-on things that can give it a little more of a kick (it can't even wheelspin unless its raining). Maybe an ECU upgrade to make the gears a little more aggressive?

[CorollaDX-R]

to tell u the truth there isn't much mod to get the 3speed auto to go fast... but NAWWZZZ is the quick way to make hp... hahah... i own a 3 speed too but i'm savin up for a engine and tranny swap but rite now i still dun hav much saved up... cuz my i need my tranny replace

[4Aaron GE]

Forget NAAAAWS, turbo is the way to go.

I'm afraid that there really isn't much you can do in way of 'cheap' to do what you want with that setup - Expect maybe to start with a NO2 kit, and work your way up from there.

[wiccanferret]

Hey cool...another 3spd 1.6 in Austin. I deliver pizzas in mine in Dripping Springs. If you see me, honk and swerve or something so I know it's you. I'll be obvious...I'll have a stupid Domino's sign on.

[Hook]

isn't there a cable to adjust to get more response out of ur tranny?

my 3spd rolla has it, the tighter u set it, the more agressive the shifts and the longer between shifts so that u actually get going a bit before it goes to a higher gear...

mines is set pretty good....normal street driving has it shifting around 2500~3500rpm (depending on load and the weight of my foot on the pedal)...the occasional blip has it shifting at lower rpms but when I floor it, it shifts on 6000rpm and it actually kinda peppy

[dirus]

No RPM display on it, so I have no clue when it changes gears... only estimates based on sound/speed, hehe. Does the ECU control the gear changing? If so, I could probably get it changed to be more aggressive instead of having to change the gas pedal (and wasting gas just to get it to downshift).

Usually get 200 miles to get my tank to 1/4th, but with my constant holding down the pedal, down to 150-180 miles. But that might just be my "interesting" driving style.

PS: Wiccanferret, You can find my car sitting around west campus... Dunno where Dripping Springs is... Whats your fastest speed around the turns on N. Lamar between 24th and 29th street? (My favorite turns, heh)

[Liter]

Im getting a 1996 corolla im gonna save up to put this snail on it. Cuase like you said there isnt much power in these cars.

[MrCool2571]

BAH i have a 94 3speed auto. I lose to everyone hahahaa. (still loves it)

[dirus]

Hey, those minivans drool at our 3-gear speed man!

[Flashmn]

Jackson racing, Paxton, Vortech will help you in the torque delivery what your 3 speed slowpoke needs . Turbo would just add more lag to your lag

[Cavi Mike]

Floor it!!!!! My ex had a '93 prism(corolla) with the 3 speed. OMG what a dog. It wouldn't stay in the gear it was in past 5 grand unless I shifted it manually. When it shifted it wasn't anywhere near it's power band. OMG what a dog(I had to reiterate). I adjusted the TV cable(detent cable, kickdown cable, whatever your term is) so it shifted at about 6,200. But what a horrible HORRIBLE TRANSMISSION!!!! Even my '87 corolla has a 4th gear for christs sake. What toyota was thinking when they did this...

Just swap it out for a 5 speed. Not much harder than changing a clutch except for running your shift linkages.

Parts you'll need to pilfer from the junkyard include, but not limited to;
*tranny(duh)
*both shift linkages
*entire shifter assembly
*clutch pedal
*clutch master cylinder
*clutch slave cylinder(grab the line while you're at it too)

I don't know if you need the halfshafts too, have an autoparts store cross-reference the part numbers to make sure. Unless you have air tools, don't waste your time trying to get the flywheel off. Even if the engine is seized it's near impossible to crack the flywheel bolts loose without an impact gun. If you're really hard up for the cash, nab the pressure plate and clutch disc, but buy a new flywheel.

[Hook]

^^^ that's what I meant....adjust the kickdown cable (I didn't know that's what u called it there too)

but I'm putting in a 5sp gearbox as soon as I finish gathering all the parts

[SR5_4WD]

I'm glad I got away from the 3 speeds, like in my Metro before it snapped in half, quite a few people said that my car sounded like it shifted @ like 10 grand. Not having a tach in the POS I dont really know, but when Hondas pass you in top gear at 165kph (Wide Open), it makes almost anyone sad. If you want your car to spin, try removing the bolt which usually keeps the pedal off of the floor. But you may not have one, you'll have to look

[Hook]

^^^ lol...yeh thas sad....my 3spd tops out on 175kph @ WOT which doesn't take too long when I shift manually at ~6500rpm....not bad for a bone stock SOHC 12-valver

[dirus]

I've reached 170km/h (~105mph) on my little Corolla. Was racing a friend from Talahassee to New Orleans. He had a rental Impala with its speed electronically capped at 115mph, so I wasn't at too much of a disadvantage. Did the race to my relative's doorstep in 3 hours almost to the dot... and we won by about 15 seconds (they tried taking a shortcut when we got stuck in traffic, but that route ended up taking longer in New Orleans).

My friend got pulled over outside of Austin the next day doing 100 in a 65mph zone, and all he got was a warning (His european accent did the trick). All this with 4 people in each car, bogged down with tons of camping gear and drinks/coolers. Not a single problem with the car.