Project 6-speed

[RyleyMA61]

looks great norbie, subscribing now!

[Negative Boost]

Heck yeh, thats awsome. Good side on pics too, shows just how big that box is!

[triptek]

I feel sorry for ya mate. Just fitted my R154 up this last weekend, i thought that was a struggle.

[Draven]

that looks like it's hanging low and lazy... any ideas on if it's any lower than the w58?

[Norbie]

Just finished bolting up the transmission with the newly fabricated crossmember spacers, and yes it does look like it's hanging pretty low. This is more or less inevitable given the design of the JZA80 crossmember, which is obviously designed with a "deeper" tunnel in mind. Once the whole thing is together I'll have to take some measurements and compare it to a MA61 with a more conventional drivetrain setup.

Anyway, progress is being made! The next order of business is getting the shifter at least mocked up so we can figure out where the hole needs to be in the tunnel. Hopefully this will be done on the weekend.

[Kagetsu]

Anyway, progress is being made! The next order of business is getting the shifter at least mocked up so we can figure out where the hole needs to be in the tunnel. Hopefully this will be done on the weekend.

The 507th lateral is where the hole needs to be.

Seriously Norbie, this is turning out great! I'm sure you're keen as hell to actually get it working. Be sure to check the box has oil in her. ^_^' Don't want to go ruining it before running properly.

[Norbie]

LOL that's sound advice. I have to admit I've done silly little things like that before, although it's never cost me $3k yet. One thing I like about the V160 is it's completely sealed; anyone who's removed a W58 will tell you they leak oil all over the place, no matter how long you drain it first!

Tonight I'm going to attach the V160 shifter mechanism and see how it compares with the original shifter location (if it will fit at all). Stay tuned, pics will be forthcoming.

[grahamd]

On my IS200 I had to shorten the shifter mechanism on my V160 by 55mm to fit but at least with an external shifter it is possible.

[Draven]

That's great news norbie!
I had been waiting to do a gbox oil change until I was doing the clutch, but sounds like I can change it now without the babyshit/wet-dog used gbox oil going everywhere.

[cambelt]

Hey norbs , the tailshaft flange that fits is from a 10/85 onwards FJ or HJ 60 landcruiser
the prado one i think is the same as a hilux and wont fit , the uni on the cruiser is bigger again than a hilux one
Dave

[Norbie]

OK thanks for the info Dave, very useful!

[Norbie]

On my IS200 I had to shorten the shifter mechanism on my V160 by 55mm to fit but at least with an external shifter it is possible.

Do you have any photos of this? I tried fitting my V160 shifter today and there's no possibly way it will work, but 55mm shorter could maybe work.

[grahamd]

Here's some photos.
Standard shifter arrangement
V160 arrives

Shortened shifter
Shortened Shifter

Fitted on box
Shifter

Landcruiser front tailshaft including spline
New tailshaft

Cheers
Graham

[Norbie]

Excellent, thanks for that grahamd! +rep

[Norbie]

OK update time. Here's the completed adapters/spacers for the JZA80 crossmember:


So with the gearbox properly attached it was time to get the shifter working. With some crafty engineering a W58 selector bush was modified to fit on the V160 selector shaft like this:


This was all looking very nice and was going to work quite well - until I mated up the shifter and realised I'm an IDIOT. While this mechanism certainly will change gears, it will result in a reversed H-pattern - so 1st gear will be on the right and 6th gear on the left. It's kinda hard to explain why this is the case until you actually look at both shifter mechanisms side by side, but suffice to say this plan isn't going to work and I wasted all this time for nothing.

So now it's back to plan A, shortening the V160 shifter mechanism just like grahamd did in the photos posted earlier. I need to shorten mine at least 80mm as opposed to the 55mm he did, so hopefully that's actually possible. We should know in the next week or so.

BAH!! So damn frustrating.