3spd to 4spd trans swap?? possible? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

upgraded · 09-07-2005, 08:10 PM

My wife has a 97 corolla 1.6l with the 3 speed auto and I would like to get a bit better gas mileage out of it. I have access to lots of cars and parts and was curious as to what it would take to change the tranny to a 4speed with o.d. from the same year or if there were another tranny from another modle that would give me the same results with less hassle. buying an entire parts car is no problem if needed however her car runs and drives fantastic, would just like to get a bit lower revs while on the freeway. any help would be great. P.S- I searched for quite a while and found nothing about this kind of swap. thanks.

upgraded · 09-08-2005, 07:19 AM

bump for some info

SpeedballTrix · 09-08-2005, 10:57 AM

You could try to find some taller final drive gears.
It may give you worse city mileage, but it will definately improve your highway mileage.

***REN69*** · 09-08-2005, 02:16 PM

The 3spd auto was available ONLY with the 1.6L 4AFE Corollas, the 4spd came with the 1.8L 7AFE Corollas. Don't quote me on this but I think its possible to do the swap, but you may or may not need an ECU.

upgraded · 09-08-2005, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REN69

The 3spd auto was available ONLY with the 1.6L 4AFE Corollas, the 4spd came with the 1.8L 7AFE Corollas. Don't quote me on this but I think its possible to do the swap, but you may or may not need an ECU.

I was thinking this also but I was wondering what all would be involved. I actually have a complete car 93 with the 1.8l 4spd tranny I was just wondering what I could get away with using and or not using. If its just a matter of swapping the tranny then thats cool, if it involves new motor, trans ecu and some other wiring and possibly the shiftlever unit itself then I will probably just live with it.

Keep the info comming....

SpeedballTrix · 09-08-2005, 06:59 PM

I suppose you could just drop in the complete 1.8 and tranny.
That works doesnt it?
Someone who knows what they're talking about back me up here =P

And since you already have a complete parts car, that seems to make sense.

***REN69*** · 09-08-2005, 08:57 PM

It wouldn't involve the motor..

just the transmission and ECU, and maybe the axles if the ones on the 4AFE don't fit in.

SpeedballTrix · 09-09-2005, 12:04 AM

But if he has an entire car just for parts... why not swap in the complete drivetrain and get a better motor? He is gonna have to take the engine out to get the tranny off anyways. Unless he has a lift, in which case he's far beyond me =P

Cavi Mike · 09-09-2005, 06:44 PM

Manual or bust.