RA23 gearbox help

[poorolla]

Hi,
I am contemplating buying an auto ra23 with 18R-C but i want to convert it to manual asap..
What is the cheapest/easiest way to do this?
Will the W50 from an RA40 celica fit? I know i can get one of these from the local wrecker nice and cheap so thats why i'm asking..
Would i need a new tailshaft or gearbox crossmember to suit??
Any help on this would be great!
Thanks,
Mark.

[thechuckster]

get a 5-speed & bellhousing & flywheel from behind anything that had an 18R - tho dont expect fantastic quality.

you will need a pedal box from a manual RA23 (or 28?) so you have a clutch pedal and a normal sized brake pedal.

You'll also need clutch master & salve cylinders - plus the hard & flexible line between both.

Dont forget small stuff like throw-out and spigot bearings. See if you can loan a clutch alignment tool to get the cluch-plate in the right spot underneath the pressure plate. You might need a new clutch plate - and if the engien is in good nick, a new pressure plate and a machines flywheel.

other RA23/38 owners can advise on the tailshaft & crossmember - but i'd guess that you'll need at least the former as the length of the gearboxes is different

there is no easy way to do this - but having the car jacked up enough for you to get under will be extremely helpful - as will having 2 trolley jacks (one to hold motor up, the other to move the gearbox into position. Having carpet on the ground under the car is a plus.

the cheap way to do this is enlist other celica owners to help you do the swap (and come to your house and drink all your beer/softdrinks)

[gianttomato]

Drain the gearbox oil or wire a spare yoke into place - that shit is godawful to smell, let alone soak into your working carpet and lie in it. The smell hangs around for days.

[poorolla]

Thanks for the prompt help guys,
Does anyone know what needs to be done in the way of tailshaft and crossmember??
Would the RA40 manual tailshaft fit??
Thanks again!
Mark.

[ace]

not sure if you know this but the RA23, RA28 and RA40 all had the W50 gearbox but yeh just buy the one u find best value for money

[Smokey228]

u can use the crossmemeber from an ra23-28-40... all the same...

i cant help ya wif tail shaft...

[brett_celicacoupe]

what gearbox has it got? look at the code on the compliance plate beside "trans/axle" should say "A___ T292." ill be able to verify if its the same as the RA40 auto box.

i think it is the same as auto boxes in the RA40's. for memory, when i swapped the auto to a manual in one of my many RA40's, the tailshaft went straight in no problems. length was also the same. dont forget to get the rubber boot around the g.stick and even the console if they have it.

you'll also have to put a wire looping 2 of the wires in the old plug that went to the auto so the car actually starts!

[normo]

the RA40 tailshaft will fit but the bolts holding the RA40 centre bearing are larger, use the RA28 ones

[poorolla]

One thing i hadn't thought about until now is the flywheel/clutch etc..
is the 18RC auto flywheel different to a manual flywheel? If so do i need a manual starter motor or will the auto starter still work??
Also, will a TA22 manual pedal box fit an ra23??
Cheers for all the help guys, +ve rep given..
Mark.

[brett_celicacoupe]

yep, youll have to swap the flywheel as well. starters on the auto and manual are identical.

[gurumaster22]

Also, will a TA22 manual pedal box fit an ra23??

As I'm also about to do this, can anyone confirm or deny??

Cheers
Alex

[SilverRA23]

Chuckster you dont happen to know whether the the pedal box in an auto vs manual is the same, aside from different pedals hanging in it?

I have this vague recollection when doing this conversion in 1993 or thereabouts that once i had finally wrestled the auto pedal box out from behind the dash and around the steering column so I could replace it with the manual one, that it was just matter of changing pedals in the auto one...

[DQIKST]

pedal box is easy to change, done it twice now,

TA23 auto tailshaft will work
so will TA23 auto gearbox x member,

[gurumaster22]

Chuckster you dont happen to know whether the the pedal box in an auto vs manual is the same, aside from different pedals hanging in it?

I have this vague recollection when doing this conversion in 1993 or thereabouts that once i had finally wrestled the auto pedal box out from behind the dash and around the steering column so I could replace it with the manual one, that it was just matter of changing pedals in the auto one...

Actually this was the case when I did the TA22 pedal box.
Guess it will be easy to have a look when I receive the RA23....

[o_man_ra23]

Items that fit:
Tailshaft (yes, identical between manual and auto)
Gearbox xmember and mount
RA40 pedal box, clutch master, fixed clutch line, flexible clutch line
Speedo cable

You will need to:
Get a flywheel and flywheel bolts... machine the flywheel and buy a new clutch. Make sure you take note of the vehicle you pull the box from, the RA40 and RA2x clutch kits are different (throwout bearing)
New spigot bearing (autos dont have them, so you dont have to remove an old one fortunately)
Get the bolts that hold the box to the block... they are different between auto and manual.
You will need to cut your transmission tunnel where the gearstick goes through (too far forward)
There is a slight difference between the carbies, but nothing you will need to worry about... its emmissions related.
The engine backing plate is different, as the Auto one has inspection holes... you dont need to change it if you cant be bothered, but it just makes it look more factory (and you can sell your old one for part of an auto conversion kit)
The reverse light switch wire (goes from under the box to about where the steering box is) - the neutral start switch wire has 2 bullet connectors going to it, these need to be plugged together (one is a male, the other is a female, no parts needed)

I did this conversion not long ago on my RA28, performed the whole conversion on my own, engine in vehicle with the vehicle on stands, bit of effort occasionally, but not that hard. Also note the RA40 and RA2x clutch slave cylinders are different, and you will need to use the one for the same vehicle as where the box came from.