Gearbox question.

[camry-GT4]

Wow, great feedback guys!
Thanks da_horse, I will be picking up the Celica 2.2L ST184 gearbox this weekend then. Im getting a pretty good deal, it's only costing me $200. Not sure what you meant by "but IIRC should be sweet", what the heck is that? As for the offer of the pics, that would be fantastic! Please forward anything you feel may help me. I actually got a price for a SV25 rear cut from Japan. Only $400 US. But by the time it lands here, it will set ma back approx $2800 AUD. Im thinking I may be better of fabricating it myself. I will decide once I get to that stage of the project.

wa5, yes the GT4 box can be converted to FWD but I would rather not mess with an ST205 gearbox as they are pretty rare ans also, I will have to just change it back over again once the AWD conversion begins. Easier for me just to drop the Celica box in.

Classique71, I know im in for a nightmare of a project once I get to the AWD conversion but one way or another, I will make it happen. As for the MR2 gearbox, yeah that would be my preference if it was going to remain FWD as the 96+ turbo models came out with factory LSD but these boxes are fairly rair and therfore cost a pretty penny. I just need the FWD box to hold up for a while so I can figure out the AWD conversion. Then I can turf the box and drop in my box from the ST205 front cut.
Thanks heaps guys, it's great to see so many enthusiasts out there.
Anyone else with any more info, please feel free to add.
Cheers!

[horse]

IIRC = if i recall correctly

i'd actually recommend the e153 out of the v6 camry's of later generations. they'll be a tad easier to source, and easier to bolt right in. else worse comes to worse the mr2 is always feasible.

try talking to some of the importers here on toymods eg, cvap, importbitz, and ask what they'd charge to bring it over.the only reason being you might be better off with the rear cut.

if this is not possible get pictures of the underside as they had the fuel tank to the side and also you'll definitely need to get the locations of all the rear diff cradle mounting points.

if its anything like the celica's your in for a long conversion, but it'll be different

other things are the manual to auto conversion. have a look at the conversions subforum and find Jetspeedcamry's v6manual swap thread. he details the procedure required to make the vzv chassis become manual friendly. things such as drilling for the clutch slave, different locations for the auto vs manual shifter cables etc.

the st184 box should still be manual speedo cable so you should be fine, else i'm pretty sure you can work something out to fit a manual sensor into the box. check jetspeedcamry's thread for how he did his.

some of the celica boy's with 3sgte conversion seem to be doing fine with the s53/s54 box's so dont worry about that aspect too much. hmm anything else just ask

[oldeskewltoy]

Wow... I'm surprised you guys don't know of the SV25... All-Trac Camry! Not sure if it was available outside the US(it must have been....) In essence it is already been done.. by the FACTORY! Now the factory SV25 used a 3SFE... but I'm sure it can be done easily with the correct bits.

I've owned an All-Trac Camry and I know that the fuel tank is different from fwd Camrys so to fit the diff back there you might have to be concerned with locating everything around it...


Do a search for SV25 and Camry and I'm sure you'll get plenty of info....


your little project is similar to one I crave to do... cept I'd like to take the SV25 Camry and fit the ES250 Lexus around it and make myself an ES250 All-Trac!!!

[horse]

maybe you didnt read the thread carefull OST, but i mentioned SV25 a few posts ago.

the only problem that makes this option harder is that they were never released in Australia.

btw es250 bolts onto sv21/22/25 anyhow so nothing hard there

[Dale]

I don't know how well an s54 will hold up behind a gen 3 3sgte.. plus it's going to be shit at laying the power down without an LSD

but yes as established it will bolt up fine, you may have problems with the flywheel - not sure if gen3 3sgte's are like gen3 3sge's where the flywheel bolts are offset for balancing the crank

Engine mounts should work if you used the ones that came with the chasis (manual ones though) and you'd probably want to get them rebuilt to be solid so they don't just break themselves within the first week of being in there

Driveshafts from an sv21 or an st162 celica should fit fine, the gearbox side will definitely fit but the hubs on the vzv21 may have had a different number of splines?

[camry-GT4]

Hi OST,
I have tried for over months & months to get pics of the undercarridge of an SV25 with no luck. We never got them here. They were only ever released in the Japanese and North American markets. I would really appriciate it if you could send me through some pics of the undercarride, running gear and rear diff cradle with mounting and fuel tank positions. Any help would be greatly appreciated mate!
Cheers.

Wow... I'm surprised you guys don't know of the SV25... All-Trac Camry! Not sure if it was available outside the US(it must have been....) In essence it is already been done.. by the FACTORY! Now the factory SV25 used a 3SFE... but I'm sure it can be done easily with the correct bits.

I've owned an All-Trac Camry and I know that the fuel tank is different from fwd Camrys so to fit the diff back there you might have to be concerned with locating everything around it...


Do a search for SV25 and Camry and I'm sure you'll get plenty of info....


your little project is similar to one I crave to do... cept I'd like to take the SV25 Camry and fit the ES250 Lexus around it and make myself an ES250 All-Trac!!!

[oldeskewltoy]

hmmm no embarrassed emoticon... Sorry I missed the SV25 reference in an earlier response... I also didn't know all the markets it was available in.... odd how the US market got that one..... and how it never got another(All-Trac Camry)....

I've never seen a floor photo before.... never saw the need... Did a quick search and found a complete car for $2000 US
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/car/340505831.html - its a 5 speed too.

BTW... my point in using the SV25 is not necessarily to use the drivetrain(not with a 3SGTE... a 3SGE maybe....) .... I believe the Celica GT4 bits would be fitted easier to that chassis.... as opposed to a fwd chassis.

Yes... I know the ES250 is a skin relative... my point with the ES250 was to build a car that wasn't... but could've been........

[camry-GT4]

Hi OST,
thanks for the link to the All-Track advert. There is no point in me looking at buying one from the US though as it would cost me much less to bring one in from Japan. Also, you guys have the steering wheel on the wrong side
I have already been quoted $400 US for a rear cut in Japan but it will cost me around $2800 landed in Melbourne. If I can fabricate for less than this cost I will. If not, I will have to look into getting one of these ass ends shipped in.
Back to the gearbox question, after the response from most of the people here, Im going to see if the wrecker I deal with has an E153 gearbox and see what the pricing is like.
If not, I will just grab the S54 box and puppy her along untill I figure out how to get the AWD conversion done. If there is anyone out there with undercarridge shots of an SV25, please send them through! It would help me heaps!
Cheers.

[camry-GT4]

Hi all, just a quick update. I went to pick up the gearbox this weekend (S54) and the maual conversion kit form an SV21. Unfortunatley, the wrecker I deal with hasnt got a conversion kit at the moment. I also asked about the E153 gearbox. He doesnt have one of those at the moment either. I want to buy the gearbox and the manual concersion bits at the sime time as I will get a better price. So I will check out the situation next weekend and hopefully he has the stock in. He is still going to hang on to the S54 box for me just in case which is great.
If anyone out there can send through pics of an SV25 AWD Camry All-Track undercarridge, please, please, please send them through!
Cheers!

[ajh]

There is a recent post on here re SV21 w/s manuals. ( about a week ago)

I downloaded them (PDF format)

They feature the AWD camry powered by the 3S-FE.

Cheers.

[horse]

u mean this one?

http://www.camrymanuals.com/index.ph...id=3&topicid=0

[camry-GT4]

Thanks ajh & huy!
this is going to take me a while to download and go through but Im sure it's going to be a great help! Having said that, if there is anyone out there with pics or access to an SV25 Camry all-trac to take pics, please help me out! I could really use some photographic reference of the undercarridge, especially the rear half!
This especially goes out to all the guys in the USA, Canada & NZ where the all-trac Camrys mainly live!
Cheers!

[horse]

try asking on www.toyotanation.com

they're a canada/usa based toyota forum with a fairly large camry owner base

[piggy]

I don't know how well an s54 will hold up behind a gen 3 3sgte.. plus it's going to be shit at laying the power down without an LSD

but yes as established it will bolt up fine, you may have problems with the flywheel - not sure if gen3 3sgte's are like gen3 3sge's where the flywheel bolts are offset for balancing the crank

Engine mounts should work if you used the ones that came with the chasis (manual ones though) and you'd probably want to get them rebuilt to be solid so they don't just break themselves within the first week of being in there

Driveshafts from an sv21 or an st162 celica should fit fine, the gearbox side will definitely fit but the hubs on the vzv21 may have had a different number of splines?

im using that box in my 162 (3sgte) even tho it is a gen 1 3sgte but i sometimes have traction issues on 17's aswell im now hunting down a lsd box for mine and am considering removing the rwd part of the spare 165 box i have laying around

[Camryman]

Just saw this. I would have gotten a gearbox out of the MR2. I think you just have to fiddle with the linkages. But converting from Auto to manual can be a pain.

I personally would not try a AWD conversion unless the chassis was built for it. The one conversion I do know of, the spare tyre well and to be cut to fit the rear diff. Someone ages ago also mentioned vibration issues converting a FWD to AWD.

I would be inclined to leave it FWD and have a switch to limit boost on 1st and 2nd gear.

If you need guidance I think there is a Auto Shop up in Newcastle that has done this GT4 conversion.

Let us know how you get on.