[barthmonster]

how hard is this conversion ? I've looked for a rust-bucket 'complete parts car' in 5-speed but had no luck yet...

The body on my auto is from texas and has zero rust but the 3-speed auto sucks dude !

Might be a nice car with a 5-speed and an engine conversion (which I don't know much about but I saw the sticky)

Thanks !!

 

[SCT]

Having done it, not difficult.

 

[barthmonster]

Say this looks nice, wonder how it fits...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-...0910465?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories

even comes with ECU, 5-speed and everything...

Maybe I need to read that sticky now...

 

[2win2rbo]

The 5-speed manual conversion is not very hard to do. It's usually challenging but you'll definitely enjoy the car once the conversion's finished. It's also good if you would keep the car for a very long time. AE92s are very light and nimble cars. Putting an auto transmission is almost an injustice.

 

[SCT]

Motor swap is more challenging, but not far. Major difficulties would probably just be wiring and fuel lines (depending if you're carb or FI). Other than that, it's a bolt-on motor swap. Any 4A motor fits like stock. any other require tweakings.

 

[barthmonster]

Yeah I feel that way about ANY automatic and 4-cylinder. My 2009 Camry has a 5-speed auto and I'm not that fond of it really I'd rather jamb the gears thanks...

To buy the stuff one item at a time would cost me way more than finding a 5-speed parts car but I still havn't found a parts-car yet.

Yeah, I did all the bodywork and painted this rust-free AE-92. It could use a better paintjob but the bodywork came out great. Car was from texas and has no rust at all...

 

[barthmonster]

I was drooling over that Silvertop conversion, 160 hp sounds nice (120 torque), however the 4A-GZE sounds like 165 hp and (152 ft-lbs) at only about 8.9 : 1 compression, that's a lot more torque at a lower compression I wonder how they did that ?

4A-GZE is a US motor not JDM right ? Wonder how hard they are to find the swap guide says it bolts right up...

I'm a cheapo SOB (married) on this project my AE-92 only has about 1600 in it total so I'm probably just go to Sioux Falls and buy a manual trans. & all the stuff at the junkyard but maybe in the future I can get the silvertop or 4A-GZE...

Also my 4AFE is brandy-new (shortblock) purchased off e-bay for $325 shipped but it has the old head on it... I couldn't believe it, right from Japan I still have the pics...

 

[Donald]

The 165 hp 4A-GZE is a Japan market engine. The GZE sold here in the MR2 only put out about 135hp.
The big benefit of the GZE is the fat torque it makes at relatively low rpm

The 20 valve engine makes it's max torque at about 4500 RPM while the GZE is making good torque from about 2000 RPM.

I am right now refurbishing (new bearings, rings & gaskets) a 165hp GZE to put into a 1987 Corolla FX-16

I also have most of the parts needed to do an auto-to-manual swap that I no longer need: shifter, shifter cables, pedals, clutch line, brake booster, flywheel and clutch.
No clutch fork or throw out bearing.

The clutch and brake cylinders, you should get new.

I have a 5spd from a 4A-GE, but you won't want that since it has a final ratio that will be close to what you now have in your 3spd auto.

 

[plyr503]

I did my auto to manual swap for about 250$ and it was CAKE!!! It was my first big project and I was blown away by how easy it was......

 

[barthmonster]

I did my auto to manual swap for about 250$ and it was CAKE!!! It was my first big project and I was blown away by how easy it was......

Thanks, that gives me hope I'm not bad mechanically but very slow (perfectionist)...

Did you buy a parts car or one-at-a-time the swap ?

I found a trans shipped for $192 plus I noted the clutch master cylinder is cheap (new) on ebay about $30...

Let's see, maybe you could help me:

Shifter & Cable
Clutch Pedal assembly
Smaller Brake Pedal assembly ??(smaller than the auto)

Can I use the same axles (half-shafts) ??

Did you need any new holes for the shifter or does it bolt in where the stupid auto-stick is ???

Thanks man !!

 

[barthmonster]

Did you change the ECU ? I've heard some people say they're different....

 

[plyr503]

I did a one at a time parts swap that I got from a local pick n pull junkyard, if your really relying on this car you may want to shell out the extra cash for a rebuilt 5 speed to be sure of what your getting, though my 180k mile junkyard tranny hasn't given me any trouble......yet........

Shifter bolts right in where your auto shifter did no biggie there, cables were the only PITA of the whole project because you have to remove so much stuff to both pull the auto shift cable and install the new manual shift cables. It was mainly just time consuming.

Clutch pedal assembly and clutch master cylinder are the only things that you need to do any drilling. If you look next to your brake master cylinder/booster you should be able to see on your firewall where your clutch master will sit, it's a bump on the firewall shaped like the backside of your clutch cylinder. You'll need to drill three holes there in your firewall , one large enough too allow your push rod and the rubber nub end of your cylinder to fit through and bolt holes to attach the clutch master to the clutch pedal assembly. I recommend making a cardboard template of the backside of your clutch master and inking your holes on the firewall so as to make sure you like the way your pedal assembly sits. You kinda only get one chance to get those holes right....

As for the brake pedal it's up to you, I am still rocking the fatty auto pedal and have only accidentally hit the brake and clutch at the same time maybe 3 or 4 times in four months.

Yep you can use the same axles but take it from me you might as well replace them while your down there if you have the cash, I didn't replace either one because I had recently had one replaced when I paid to have my THIRD auto installed (a painful story) and couldn't remember which one had been replaced and now the driver side is starting to click on me

Oh and the ecu thing, don't believe the hype about having to change it, it makes no difference I can tell you from personal experience. When my swap was done I had a slightly high idle and thought that maybe the auto ecu ran a touch higher rpm. I got so sick of getting mixed info online that I went and pulled an ecu from my exact car at the junkyard (except it was a 5 speed) and drove it around for a week and noticed no difference. Then replaced a vacuum line or two and my idle came down to normal. To be sure I then put back the auto ecu and presto! same results I had with the manual ecu !

Any way if you get your parts all together and a buddy to help you, you could do it in a weekend if you had to......

 

[plyr503]

oh and get some replacement brake line from a parts store (the cheapy four dollar stuff hanging by the cash register) unless you wanna buy a new one prebent. I was never meticulous enough to get clutch line out of the junkyard without damaging it.....

 

[barthmonster]

The 5-speed manual conversion is not very hard to do. It's usually challenging but you'll definitely enjoy the car once the conversion's finished. It's also good if you would keep the car for a very long time. AE92s are very light and nimble cars. Putting an auto transmission is almost an injustice.

I know, the wife and I bought a '91 Rolla (AE-92) brand new and drove 'er 209,000 then traded it for a Suburban to go 4-wheeling with... The Sub was a bondo-wagon and started showing rust 6-months after purchase...
Stupid, stupid, stupid.... That Rolla had no A/C though...

 

[Lucky Jeff]

I've gotta bring this one back from the dead. Could any of you tell me what years, and what models I could get the 5 speed out of for this swap? I Just bought a 91 and had no clue they even offered a 3 speed auto. I do nothing but freeway driving in this thing (60 miles each way for work). That 3 speed auto is not going to cut it. Plus I'm bound to screw with this thing a bit, just like everything else, and autos are just no fun. Thanks

 

[sincity.rolla]

for sure any 88-92 corolla would work. wagon sedan or coupe with 4af, 4afe, and 4age. not sure about the newer 93+ but i would assume they work since those engines will work on our cars with out problems and with our trannies.

correct me if im worg....

dont think there would be an issue with axles, but i do know there is a difference in flywheel and clutch sizes depending on the engine. just make sure u get the flywheel and clutch assembly from the same car.

 

[BeatupRolla]

just wondering how much quicker is the 5 manual compared to the automatics? i have been wondering..

i have a 5 speed and was thinking about switching to auto but damn if the 5spd is that much better i think i might keep it... if its that much better, well gas milage is better, speed im pretty sure is better but by how much? what else is better?

 

[sincity.rolla]

actually now that i think about it i have never driven an auto corolla. lol i have ridden in a few of them and in normal driving the manual feels like it picks up a lot quicker and is more responsive. it will definitely make the car more fun to drive. a lot of ppl say it wakes it up incredibly even if otherwise stock

 

[SCT]

Fun and significantly "faster". My ae92 was a 3spd Auto before the differential took a massive shit and I've been wanting to do the swap. I already had the 5spd months prior so that was the best time.

The 5spd manual vs the auto provide more torque from the engine since it's a solid connection from the engine to the drivetrain vs an auto where it's all fluid which takes some torque away. More solid, actually, whicever fits better in this sense.

And manual trans usually provide a slightly better gas mileage. One reason being the increased torque. But it all depends on your driving either way.

IMO, manual is better. Less stuff for it to malfunction. Autos have all kinds of seals, valves and shit. If it leaks, it acts up. In a manual, unless there's no fluid, can go forever. Then only maintenance beside checking up on the gear oil is the clutch. Changing the clutch is a maintenance I'll accept over replacing the whole damn transmission. And even if the clutch is exhausted, the car is still somewhat driveable whereas if an auto trans blows, its done right then and there and will need a tow (like I did).

 

[BeatupRolla]

yup i am going to keep my car, i was just about to sell it and switch for fully loaded ae92 which im pretty sure was auto, posted it up on craigslist and already with a few interest in like a day or 2 of the post... 5spd ftw.. i really like how the clutch is just so effortless to push in and the shifter too... just sometimes in rushour is a pain in the ass though.. for a 1988 corolla i was suprised how well it pulled.. i geuss it was the 5 spd power lol..