5sp trans swap from 5th gen, Is it feasible? Options

[Xander_X]

^Yeah, now THAT WOULD be a headache!

This post has been edited by Xander_X: Jun 9, 2012 - 9:48 AM

[delusionz]

6gc donor car for sure, you'd want the manual ecu, dash and correct pedals

[Syaoran]

Here's my opinion from having used both transmissions.

I like the 6GC manual better. The S54 is a much better transmission. The double-cone synchros are really noticeable using just regular trans fluid (which is what my actual 6gc has).

I had a 5GC before this, it was a 93 GT. The S53 is OK at best. The fact that the S54 is much better made is worth the price difference to me. Unless you want the trans for the sake of being manual, I would suggest getting the S54 (6GC trans) because the S53 is only halfway decent spending some good $ on Pennzoil Synchromesh or Redline MT-90. The S54 with either has smooth-as-butter shifting.

Hey, you've got me sold! lol .... I mean, I mostly want a 5sp because I've never been a fan of auto unless I'm driving a pick up ... though my RDX is auto and I like it. Point is, for a "sports" or "sporty" car ... I want something that I control the power ... it's there when I want it .. I tell it what to do. I will say that though my RDX turbo's auto trans is really smart and knows when I want it ... it also has paddle shifters ...

If you're looking for sporty feel, then S54 is for you. S53 feels like what it is, an economy-car transmission. Powershifting is kind of hard and you feel like you're about to break the transmission when doing so. I ALWAYS had 3rd gear grind before the syncromesh change, when powershifting. After the gear oil, it was relived so that I only had it grind 1 of 6 or 7 times I powershifted... but it still felt dangerous to do so.

I tried the S54 on a friend's MR2 with Redline MT-90, and you feel like the trans will shift into any gear you want it to no matter what rev it is at lol.

MR2 transmission is way too hard to make it worth it. I'd rather save myself the trouble to do a S54 swap from MR2s.

[Xander_X]

So all 6gc have an S54?

[jcbass7]

So all 6gc have an S54?

Only the GT had the S54 trans, the ST has a different one.

I have the pedals, shifter base, cluster, and master cylinder if you are interested. I'm missing cables, shifter surround, shifter, ecu, and trans.

Donor would be a good idea for the manual parts, but I've parted two celica's before and haven't made as much as I was hoping. You end up having a bunch of parts and a car laying around for a long time.

[Xander_X]

So all 6gc have an S54?

Only the GT had the S54 trans, the ST has a different one.

Yeah, sorry, I meant GT. Obviously the ST has an A series.

Thanks for the offer. I'll PM you when I decide to go forward with it. The thing I like about having a donor though is ALL the little things that we forget about. I can put them both up on neighboring lifts and literally swap everything ... right down to clips, nuts and bolts ... and if something doesn't go or look right, I have a reference. Hell, if I get a decent enough donor, I may swap the auto in and sell it as a whole car.

[Smaay]

yes the MR2 trans is but not the Camry or Solara 5 speed. it bolts right up. you just need a new clutch disk with the right splines in it. Southbend clutch can make that for you

[trdproven]

You can also go with Competition Clutch, if you got the S54 tranny, you can buy a 3sgte flywheel, 3sgte pressure plate, and 3sgte clutch disk with the right splines custom made for it, Competition Clutch will make it for you, and i used ARP bolts. the advantage is a bit bigger diameter. if you got the trans the little bitty stuff that tends to be forgotten besides fasteners if you dont have a donor car is the c-clips, that hold the shifter cables on the tranny side and shifter side, they are gold in color. Decide what you want to change for your mounts. gauranteed you need the manual tranny mount, i did get away with auto mounts at one point for the rest until i also did the front and rear but im still on auto mount on the pass side. but at least you can still use the auto axles. i'd recommend brand new master and slave cyl, dont use a used one. you want new ones done right the first time so you dont change it again. read up again on the ECU thing i posted those are some options, either get a manual ECU, get a manual gauge cluster, or just take out the O/D bulb on your auto cluster. also to get if its missing when you buy the tranny is the bracket that holds the slave cyl line if you want to really copy the oem style. at least get the slave cyl OEM since the price is not that bad, i preferred it over aftermarket oem replacements. and the wiring is covered in the swap sticky. GL with your swap.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Jun 10, 2012 - 9:20 AM

[PhoenixTech]

You can also go with Competition Clutch, if you got the S54 tranny, you can buy a 3sgte flywheel, 3sgte pressure plate, and 3sgte clutch disk with the right splines custom made for it, Competition Clutch will make it for you, and i used ARP bolts. the advantage is a bit bigger diameter. if you got the trans the little bitty stuff that tends to be forgotten besides fasteners if you dont have a donor car is the c-clips, that hold the shifter cables on the tranny side and shifter side, they are gold in color. Decide what you want to change for your mounts. gauranteed you need the manual tranny mount, i did get away with auto mounts at one point for the rest until i also did the front and rear but im still on auto mount on the pass side. but at least you can still use the auto axles. i'd recommend brand new master and slave cyl, dont use a used one. you want new ones done right the first time so you dont change it again. read up again on the ECU thing i posted those are some options, either get a manual ECU, get a manual gauge cluster, or just take out the O/D bulb on your auto cluster. also to get if its missing when you buy the tranny is the bracket that holds the slave cyl line if you want to really copy the oem style. at least get the slave cyl OEM since the price is not that bad, i preferred it over aftermarket oem replacements. and the wiring is covered in the swap sticky. GL with your swap.

If he's running an E153, can just run all 3SGTE stuff. flywheel, pp, disc. If he's running an S54, just order a factory clutch for a manual 6GC GT. The E153 WILL require different shift linkage though, an S54 can use normal GT linkage. Also, the E153 needs the different half shaft setup, whereas the S54 is, again, stock GTs.