W58 to R154 Swap Question
03-10-16, 04:22 PM
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W58 to R154 Swap Question
Hate to make a new thread for another R154 swap subject but I can't find the exact info to fit my needs this time. Car is an original 5 speed 94 sc300 so it had the old style shifter like the mk3s. I'm swapping to a GTE R154 combo and am having trouble finding exactly what I need for the shifter to fit in the right spot. From my understanding my trans tunnel and shifter location is a little different and doesn't require as far of an extension. I've also seen some swaps that switched to the early soarer shifter housing which is just a bit longer and matched the location to a w58 swap in an auto which had a hole cut, but these parts are difficult to find being discontinued now. Finally, I heard rumors of a short shifter that covers the ground needed to work with my setup without changing anything. If anyone knows anything to help me here I'd appreciate it, Thanks.
03-10-16, 07:27 PM
#2
Do already have the R154 transmission you want to use?
For your 1994 SC300 5-speed the best "bolt in" solution is an MKIII Supra R154 with a Soarer extension housing and internal arm or an R154 from a 1991-1993 JDM Soarer which originally came with that housing.
In the above configuration the R154 will go into the exact same spot and use the exact same under-console rubber sealing gaskets as your factory W58.
It is true that the shifter location in your SC300 is not as far back as is in the 1995-1997 SC300 or in all MKIV Supras, both of which use "tripod" style manual transmissions.
With a 1995-1997 SC300 5-speed the tunnel is different and only "tripod" manuals will bolt in directly without cutting the tunnel. With a 1992-1994 SC300 5-speed the stock transmission tunnel accepts any extension housing W58 or R154 without cutting.
With any originally automatic SC300 or SC400 you will have to cut the tunnel with any manual regardless of whether the manual gearbox is an early extension type or later tripod type W58 or R154 (and for reference the V160 was only ever "tripod" type).
Yes, the factory 1991-1993 Soarer R154 extension housing and internal arm have been discontinued internationally as of a few months ago. They were barred from sale outside of Japan well before that and an importer was required to get one. But now they really are discontinued from old stock. These parts and the assembly are outlined in Shern's MKIII R154 swap thread.
However... you can have your MKIII R154 shifter housing and the internal arm extended to the same length as the OEM Soarer housing. Driftmotion and a couple of other places offer this as a common service using a precise jig which is what you want.
The extension length difference between the center shifter area of the MKIII housing and the center shifter area of the Soarer extension housing is 1.125". Shern's thread will show this with comparison pictures and a tape measure.
There is also the JZX100 extension housing which will also bolt on but which (I think) comes out in the 1995-1997 SC300 M/T tunnel shifter location and not the stock 1992-1994 M/T tunnel shifter location... so not a direct bolt in for your 1994 SC 5-speed without cutting.
With an MKIII R154 and the OEM Soarer housing (or a cut/welded housing to the same length) can use your original 1992-1994 5-speed shifter and also a Suprasport V3 short shifter. There is also an alternative design that's come out by a company called Cube in Australia or New Zealand (I can't remember which). I am not sure where that one places.
I would not recommend using one of the MKIII versions of the transmissions without an extension housing solution of your choosing.
Note also that if you do use an MKIII R154 you need to change all of:
--shifter housing and internal extension arm
--1JZGTE R154 bellhousing
--Marlin Crawler speedo drive to VSS sensor convertor
--custom transmission crossmember solution from a modified '82-'85 Celica W58 crossmember, Driftmotion kit or a custom MKIII R154 to SC300 crossmember from CX Racing. This is because the transmission casing tail mounting holes are for the MKIII style mount which doesn't work with a factory SC300 crossmember without modification.
An early extension housing R154 from a JDM Soarer and any JDM Tripod R154 will use the SC300 W58 rubber mount and SC300 crossmember.
For your 1994 SC300 5-speed the best "bolt in" solution is an MKIII Supra R154 with a Soarer extension housing and internal arm or an R154 from a 1991-1993 JDM Soarer which originally came with that housing.
In the above configuration the R154 will go into the exact same spot and use the exact same under-console rubber sealing gaskets as your factory W58.
It is true that the shifter location in your SC300 is not as far back as is in the 1995-1997 SC300 or in all MKIV Supras, both of which use "tripod" style manual transmissions.
With a 1995-1997 SC300 5-speed the tunnel is different and only "tripod" manuals will bolt in directly without cutting the tunnel. With a 1992-1994 SC300 5-speed the stock transmission tunnel accepts any extension housing W58 or R154 without cutting.
With any originally automatic SC300 or SC400 you will have to cut the tunnel with any manual regardless of whether the manual gearbox is an early extension type or later tripod type W58 or R154 (and for reference the V160 was only ever "tripod" type).
Yes, the factory 1991-1993 Soarer R154 extension housing and internal arm have been discontinued internationally as of a few months ago. They were barred from sale outside of Japan well before that and an importer was required to get one. But now they really are discontinued from old stock. These parts and the assembly are outlined in Shern's MKIII R154 swap thread.
However... you can have your MKIII R154 shifter housing and the internal arm extended to the same length as the OEM Soarer housing. Driftmotion and a couple of other places offer this as a common service using a precise jig which is what you want.
The extension length difference between the center shifter area of the MKIII housing and the center shifter area of the Soarer extension housing is 1.125". Shern's thread will show this with comparison pictures and a tape measure.
There is also the JZX100 extension housing which will also bolt on but which (I think) comes out in the 1995-1997 SC300 M/T tunnel shifter location and not the stock 1992-1994 M/T tunnel shifter location... so not a direct bolt in for your 1994 SC 5-speed without cutting.
With an MKIII R154 and the OEM Soarer housing (or a cut/welded housing to the same length) can use your original 1992-1994 5-speed shifter and also a Suprasport V3 short shifter. There is also an alternative design that's come out by a company called Cube in Australia or New Zealand (I can't remember which). I am not sure where that one places.
I would not recommend using one of the MKIII versions of the transmissions without an extension housing solution of your choosing.
Note also that if you do use an MKIII R154 you need to change all of:
--shifter housing and internal extension arm
--1JZGTE R154 bellhousing
--Marlin Crawler speedo drive to VSS sensor convertor
--custom transmission crossmember solution from a modified '82-'85 Celica W58 crossmember, Driftmotion kit or a custom MKIII R154 to SC300 crossmember from CX Racing. This is because the transmission casing tail mounting holes are for the MKIII style mount which doesn't work with a factory SC300 crossmember without modification.
An early extension housing R154 from a JDM Soarer and any JDM Tripod R154 will use the SC300 W58 rubber mount and SC300 crossmember.
Last edited by KahnBB6; 03-10-16 at 07:36 PM.
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