w57 box

[payney8]

hey guys does any1 have pics of w50 w55 w57 and w58 gearbox differences as im looking to buy one and they do not no the model of it

[kugzs]

i think the best way is to check the ratios

[CrUZida]

W55, W57, and W58, are all externally identical.
Ratios are the only way to tell.
W50 has a steel case.

[takai]

Sandwich plate differs doesnt it? Alloy to Steel?

[CrUZida]

Yeah, alloy pre 1988 I think, steel after it.
I'm never 100% sure when the change over date is.

But both the W55 and W58 were available in both steel and alloy plates.
W57 was alloy only.

[takai]

Ah thought so, +rep for you.

[thechuckster]

find wilbo's thread on W5x gearboxes - it has pics and data.

Ratios for 1st and 5th will identify the box. Put box in each gear - rotate input shaft and someone else counts output shaft revs. Bring a whitemarker pen with you as you will forget what the marker scratch looks like at revolution 8 or when someone farts loudly and you fall about in hysterics.

[Cuzzo]

Not many pics but some great info on W series boxes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_W_transmission

[RT104GT]

hey guys does any1 have pics of w50 w55 w57 and w58 gearbox differences as im looking to buy one and they do not no the model of it

I published pics of W50 and P51 weeks ago on he P51 thread and the only way of telling is looking inside them.
W55 and later are obviously different shape and again only way of telling is rotate and check.
I found out other day that gearbox from RT142 and Supra are interchnagable and using bellhousing can even be backward compatible with 18RG 22R. Again photos on the p51 rebuild thread weeks ago.

[RT104GT]

But if you check the photo or send me your email I will send you photos.

[millsi]

nice! mine must be a bitsa then as it has w57 ratios and a steel plate

Yeah, alloy pre 1988 I think, steel after it.
I'm never 100% sure when the change over date is.

But both the W55 and W58 were available in both steel and alloy plates.
W57 was alloy only.

[CrUZida]

Hmm, its remotely possible, but I doubt it.

The W55 and W57 have very similar 5th gear, but 1st is very different.

I gather you have verified the steel plate with a magnet? Because the box looks like its been painted black at some stage.

[millsi]

yep its def steel!

[CrUZida]

Well if it does have W57 ratios, then its the first steel plated W57 I've heard of.

[takai]

Unless someone rebuilt it and decided that a steel plate was stronger than an alloy plate ?