3tgte in ta22 celica - W55 / W58 gearbox conversion

[ta22-3tgte]

Hi guys, I know this topic has been covered before. Especially W55 into a ta22 celica with 3tgte. So this may start to sound like a classifieds/wanted to buy post more than antyhing else.

Rundown: Car currently has the standard T50 bolted up to the 3tgte, and original tailshaft and diff. Engine has haltech e6gm, t28 turbo, 3" exhaust, front mount cooler and is putting out over 150kw (approx dont have final dyno sheet) at rear wheels. Gearbox is obviously old, had no work done to it, made a loud popping sound in 3rd gear flat to the floor (at max boost which is 10psi at the moment), followed by a horrid crunch and a grinding noise. Car now stalls when you attempt to lift the clutch in any gear.

I'm on the Gold Coast in Queensland, and have rang around a half dozen or so places chasing up a W55, or even a replacement T50 without any luck. I'm especially desperate, as this is my only set of wheels at the moment and I was using it as a daily driver to get to and from work.

Does anyone have ANY suggestions at all to help get me back on the road as quickly as possible? Will a fully rebuilt T50 get me out of trouble? Or am I better off trying to find a W55 and doing a conversion? Are there any other gearbox conversions for this engine and chassis that are easy/reliable to do? W58? R154? All ideas will be considered. I'm more concerned about time and whether its relatively easily doable than I am about saving money at this point.

Everyones 2 cents is appreciated.

[Norbie]

Don't waste your time with another T50, it will only break again at that power level. Buy any W5x box (doesn't have to be a W55), then get a bellhousing to suit. T series bellhousings are hard to come by but you can use a G series bellhousing instead and you shouldn't have any problem finding one around here. You'll need to modify your tailshaft but believe me it's money well spent - the W5x boxes are a great deal stronger than the T50 and have a nicer shift to boot.

[jfallen]

there was a chap giving away a W58, check the freebies section, might still be avaliable

Jordan

[ta22-3tgte]

I think the W58 gearbox is already taken, I tried to call the guy but his reception was no good and I'm still waiting for a response. I noticed theres a W55 for sale in the classifieds section, I'm waiting for a response from that guy too. With any luck I'll be able to get one of these. I'll put up a post when I've done the conversion, showing the old box (the damage hehe), and how to put the new W55 into the TA22 with pics and any tips etc.

[FASTFOO]

You can use a RA23 tailshaft with no mods and the TA22 has the centre bearing bolt hols allready there (you may have to clean 25years of crap out of them)

MATT.

[kugzs]

mate with the w5X into the 22, you can use an auto ta22 tailshaft. Also, an auto ta22 gearbox crossmember will not fit without some brackets/mods.

[LeeRoy]

I think the W58 gearbox is already taken, I tried to call the guy but his reception was no good and I'm still waiting for a response. I noticed theres a W55 for sale in the classifieds section, I'm waiting for a response from that guy too. With any luck I'll be able to get one of these. I'll put up a post when I've done the conversion, showing the old box (the damage hehe), and how to put the new W55 into the TA22 with pics and any tips etc.

mate with the w5X into the 22, you can use an auto ta22 tailshaft. Also, an auto ta22 gearbox crossmember will not fit without some brackets/mods.

Check my members rides thread in my sig. I have got a w58 behind my 3t using a g series bellhousing. Theres some pics of crossmember but i dont have a tailshaft as of yet. I will end up with a custom one.

- LeeRoy

[ta22-3tgte]

I've managed to source a fully rebuilt W55 that was conveniently advertised in the classifieds on this forum.

I've almost finished removing the broken t50 gearbox (pics to follow ), and theres a few points that I'd like to clarify. An ra23 tailshaft, and a ta22 auto tailshaft are in fact identical?

As for the crossmember, I'll have a look at leeroy's one and see if that explains things. Whats the easiest option for this, get one made up? Or will an ra23/ta22 auto mount work?

Also any pointers about whether the shifter position needs changing, and if so, where to get the bits from. Any other things I might've left out, like speedo cable?

*edit* You always forget the most important thing after you've made the post I've heard the 1G bellhousing will get me out of trouble here. This next question may seem either really n00b or DUH!! Can I re-use the bellhousing thats on the T50 gearbox? Since its exploded and of no use anymore, hehe.

[Norbie]

No, T-series bellhousings are not compatible with W-series boxes.

[rob1]

and the input shaft end of an auto ta22 or ra23 tail shaft will fit a w5x box. don't know whether they are same length though. pretty sure speedo drive will fit. xmember will have to be fabricated. (easy though)

[ta22-3tgte]

I've been trying to hunt down a T series bellhousing for a W55 box, without too much success for the moment. When people say that these are rare, they're not joking right? Someone doesn't just have one laying around perhaps?

Ok, I know the 1G bellhousing will do it, but I've been told the clutch is on the wrong side. Wouldn't this be a problem with a T28 turbo roasting the crap out of anything thats on the other side?

Failing that, I could post the bolt pattern to Castlemaine Rod Shop, and the guy told me they may have one laying around, or I could possibly get one made up.

And this is before I've even sourced a new tailshaft (ta22 auto or ra23), and get a custom made gearbox mount.

*edit* I'm off now to get an engine crane from supercheap auto.. You can sorta get the boxes out easy enough without one.. but getting them back in again, I think its a lot easier to lower the motor off its mounts .. A gearbox cradle would be nice too, instead of a brick and plank of wood on top of a trolley jack

[o_man_ra23]

RA40 tailshaft is identical to RA23 (dont know about TA22 auto)

RA23 g/box xmember wont help you, they dont fit TA22 in any way shape or form.

You should be able to modify the 1G bellhousing to suit the clutch.

Dropping and raising gearboxes is ok if you have 2 trolley jacks.

Cheers, Owen

[Norbie]

Dropping and raising gearboxes is ok if you have 2 trolley jacks.

Yeah, I recently installed a V160 solo with the help of 2 trolley jacks. This is much heavier than any of the gearboxes discussed so far, and I'm pretty sure the box weighs more than I do, so don't be such a girl!

[ta22-3tgte]

Okay, I hope I can revive this thread because its not done with completely yet. The W55 gearbox has arrived, but I'm having trouble finding a 1G bellhousing. I found one attached to a W58 gearbox that I can buy for $450, but he won't seperate it.

If anyone has a spare one or knows the location of one, would be much appreciated. I'm just going to attempt to bolt the new box up, jam the old mount under there and a block of wood or something to hold it, then take it into a local gearbox place to get them to fabricate a mount for it.

[o_man_ra23]

Take it to a sheet metal fabrication place and get them to do it... be better than a gearbox place.

As for the bellhousing, why dont you stick a wanted ad in the classified section, and also talk to places that sell gearboxes that have been converted to fit bogan mobiles... as they are sure to have some bellhousings leftover which ppl dont need on their commonwhores.

Cheers, Owen

[LeeRoy]

your best bet for finding a 1g bellhousing is to try places that sell halfcuts and motors etc. I picked one up from SSS automotive. I just went down there, asked for one, they had heaps, and then paid my $100 and left. They were the first place i went to.

Try CVAP (central victorian auto parts) they are on the forums and are a sponsor. Youll be able to find them under forum sponsors in the classifieds.

As for the X member the standard TA22 auto mount (the thing with the rubber) bolts straight to both the W58 and the X member itself but the problem is that the crossmember sits too fat back and doesnt line up with the holes. From this there are 2 options.

Option 1: Cut the X member so that you can slide the mount back but then you also need to cut the front as it will now hit on the gearbox. Now you need to drill 4 new holes for the mount to bolt to the crossmember. Following this you need to then reweld in some reinforcing as what you have cut out will leave the crossmember as just a flat piece of steel in the middle. Welding in some square tube will be fine.

Option 2: Bolt it all on and then using some L steel drill some holes to bolt it to the car and then some other holes to bolt it to the x member. This is definately the easier option. The end result should have the mount end up behind(as in rearwards) where it should be but the L plate stuff bolt to this X member, runs forward a few inches, then bolt to the standard body mounts.

If you check my thread out it will all make sense. In hindsight i would have probably gone with option 2 as it will not only be cheaper but also easier.

- LeeRoy

[rob1]

but which would be stronger? i am about to do the same thing. does the rhs get rid of the height problem? good info mate

[o_man_ra23]

RHS?? L plate?? Didnt think these were the same thing, as RHS is box section, and L plate is better known as angle.
best thing to do is:

1. Consult an auto engineer
2. Fabricate approved mount moving system
3. ??????
4. Profit.
Could incur extra cost tho.


Cheers, Owen

[LeeRoy]

The only problem i see with the option using the L plate is that there may be some extra load placed on the bolts as the X member is not directly bolted to the body of the car and the bracket may act as a fulcrum increasing the load these bolts see. Alternatively you could utilise the extra bolts on the body and have it so instead of only using 2 bolts per side use all 4 (theres at least 4 but there may be more on each side - cant remember)

Idealy something like a transmission swap to one that the car did not come with would require an engineers cert/approval anyways. I spose modifying the standard one like i have could be viewed by an engineer as the more favoured (at least in their mind) route.

I'm thinking also that this thread be renamed to something like "W58 into TA22" or something else that is more related to the topic this thread is now at.

- LeeRoy

[rob1]

Owen-rhs is used in the building industry. lol. i thought he'd know what i meant though..!

Yeah Leeroy. I was also thinking of the extra load on the bolts. I'll just wait until i get everything bolted in and go from there.