Gearbox question.

[camry-GT4]

Hi all, this is my first thread so I hope it all makes sense. I am currently starting a Camry project. I have an ST205 GT-4 front cut and a VZV21 Camry. The 3SGTE is going into the Camry in the near future. It will be FWD initially untill I can figure how to do the AWD conversion. So first of all, I need to get the auto to manual conversion happening for the Camry. Question is, will a 5sp gearbox from a 2.2L (5SFE) Celica ST184 fit onto a 3SGTE?

[Screamn_Sleeka]

AWD camry? Do you have to climb mountains to pick up your kids from school?
This idea would cost a LOT, why not just buy a real car - or as close to real as you can.
Even a real GT4 would cost less, and it would be so much better.

[camry-GT4]

Thanks for the reply Screamn Sleeka but that doesnt help me in the slightest.
The reason Im not buying a Celica GT-Four is because I dont want one.
As for your "buy a real car" comment, there's no need for that. I was led to believe this site was for Toyota enthsiasts. Anyone else out there that can actually help with my question?

[hosking1991]

this sounds interesting gl with it mate (sorry im not to good with fwd gearboxs)

[Timma]

Ahh, glad to see you came over! The s54 gearbox out of the st184 celica should bolt up, although i'm not sure on a few things in regards to this. Ie will the vzv21 driveshafts work? they have thicker splines. Sv21 ones might be an alternative although not as thick. Does the s54 have mechanical speedo or electronic speedo? Mounts will most likely have to be modded, cut, welded etc. I'm not sure on how long it will hold up under that power delivered from the 3sgte.

In my opinion the best gearbox to go with would be the manual e153 either out of a gen 3 v6 camry or above or mr2. The difference in the mr2 being the linkages reversed. It would hold up to the power, and i know from personal experience that the driveshafts from the vzv21 will fit the e153.

Good luck on getting the vzv21 into 4wd guise and engineered, its gunna cost a pretty penny!

[camry-GT4]

Thanks for the post Timma! Great to hear from you!
Ok so the ST184 5sp Celica (2.2L) gearbox is called the S54. Good to know. Yeah, the speedo on it has a plug type thing with wires coming out of it so Im guessing it's electronic, not mechanical. Im guessing I will have to connect up one of those converter thingys. As far as the mounts go, Im pretty sure I can use a mix of the SV21 mounts & the ST205 GT4 mounts I have, if not, I will have them fabricated, no major drama. As far as the e153 V6 gearbox from the gen 3 Camry goes, I have been told this fits pretty easily behind a 2.5 V6 from the VZV21 but not sure how easy it is to mount up to a 3S engine. As for the drive shafts, I will have to cross that bridge when I get to it. Im thinking I may have to make up a VZV21 & SV21 hybrid type shaft. Im hoping to purchase the gearbox this weekend if anyone can confirm that it will bolt up and work.
Cheers.

[JetspeedCamry]

Hey buddy,

The E153 will bolt up to a 3S engine no dramas. This is whats used in the MR2 Turbo (3SGTE/E153).

Regards

[camry-GT4]

Hi Jetspeed,
So the 5 speed gearbog from a V6 3.0L Gen 3 Camry will fit on my 3SGTE. Thanks for the confirmation. Do you know if a ST184 Celica box from the 2.2L will also bolt up ok?
P.S. I have enjoyed reading your other posts in the past. Very Impressive. I really like what you have done with your Camry.
Cheers!

[Classique71]

A option to consider would be a AWD caldina import - and swap the gear into that if you want practicality and Kid space ..

[camry-GT4]

Hi Classique71,
I do like the Caldina GT-4 (ST245) but I have had a thing for the Gen 2 Camry for a long time. This is a project that has been on my mind for the past 14 years.
So please, anyone else that wants to suggest a different car for me, I'm not interested. This is the project I have chosen to go with. I have already purchased a car for the project base and the ST205 front cut with gearbox + rear diff, shafts etc.. which most of you would know are as rare as chook's teeth.
So back to the question at hand, can anyone confirm if a ST184 Celica 2.2L 5sp gearbox will bolt up to a 3SGTE without any dramas?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.

[horse]

yes no dramas bolting up.

may have dramas with mounts, but IIRC should be sweet. if u need pics etc let me know and i'll grab them for you.

fwd conversion will be easy. wiring might be a bit of a bitch but other aspects shouldnt be too bad

4wd conversion will be hard, not impossible but very hard. will need new tunnel and firewall area for gearbox component and tailshaft. if you're really keen try to get some photos of the underbody of a SV25 which is the 4wd (alltrac) version of the gen2 camry in the states.

edit: where are you located in vic?

[Classique71]

nods - they fuel tank will need mods too , in a camry

Ask Wagonist about his efforts to convert to AD for his caldina and the issues he's struck .. yours will be the same , and it ont be cheap ( though pretty cool end result if you can do it ! )

Thats why the caldina was suggested .. Its a S series setup in petrol form , has the AWD stuff there - and would be easier and less costly in the end

Lok forwardf to seeing your work though - as theres at l;east 2 other 3sgte camrys in here and one st205 3sgte FWD powered one..

[wa5]

can the Celica AWD boxes be "hotwired" to run in 2WD like some Subaru boxes?
Just wondering if this is posible so this transmission could be used straight away. so as to avoid doing two gearbox and CV conversions.

[horse]

3sgte in gen2 camry is same deal as 3sgte into a st162. so nothing special there. but the fact its a camry not a celica makes it different

i believe to get the gt4 box working u'll need to remove the rwd section the get plates to block it off....can't recall for sure but it has been done. check out wiso come trd_st162's celica. its in the forum somewhere. it had a st185 awd box.

i'd still recommend using a 2wd box as it'll be fine.

Stu, there's actually shit loads that needs to be done to make the camry awd/rwd as its just not setup from factory to accomodate those aspects. it'd be the same problem as making a FF celica into 4WD or FR format.

think what justen did for the firewall, though not as excessive as he had to fit the tremec, not a rwd transfer case.

[Classique71]

I realise that - as lots of folk have asked this question , and never gone thru with the conversion because of the fact its an absolute arseload of work that could end up not working out right !

Id love to see it happen , but yeah , be keen if you have the green ( or the engineering skill! )

AWD GT4 box is usable - with a blanking plate and internal tweaks but its not as easy as a suby box or as sinple as a GTR fuse ..

best bet for FWD conversion still is the MR2 box , with driveshaft hybridisation