Anyone done this tranny swap in an IS300 Manual?

 

yes.
runs about $4500
not direct bolt in, requires the TT supra or gs430 rears sub frame and differential for proper gearing, otherwise your gears will be short and useless with any notable power.
Requires a custom drive shaft or Toyota Sequoia drive shaft.

You need to cut and remove about 2 inches from the shifter mount as the v160 and 161 are longer then the w55 and you will also need to cut a weld the shifter rod.

 

As lextacy says, many guys have done it. Full GTE and 6spd swaps too. There are a number of build threads over on my.is as well. Certainly not cheap or quick/bolton, but definitely worth it if you plan to make serious jam.

 

It'll likely run much more than $4500. A v160 in good condition goes for about $3500-4000 then you'll need the rear diff and axels which go for about $1800. I don't believe the TT supra or GS subframes fit the IS. Most people have cut and rebraced the IS subframe to fit the rear diff.

 

The v161(difficult to source) offers better gear ratios so you could avoid doing the rear diff... You could also change out the gearing from your manuals diff with the ring gear and pinion from an automatic, the downside to that would be not gaining the advantage of holding the additional power the Supra/GS rear holds. The stock diffs are pretty stout up to around 600+ from what I've heard.

 

Lextreme- Yes. I've done the swap. I see you posted this about 7months ago. But if you haven't done anything yet, or still have questions. Maybe I can help you out.
Nohting against the guys that haven't done it. But it's a 100times easier then most people make it out to be. I did the WHOLE swap, pulling the W55 tranny, axle and exhaust off, and put the V160 in, Sequioa driveshaft in, exhaust, wired it up and tweeked the cables for the tranny all in about 4hrs. I had a lift, did it in a shop and had power tools and 1 friend helping me with it.

-He's right. The whole swap should run about $4500. You can pick up a used V160 in good condition for $2k-$4k.
-Don't worry about swapping in the GS or TT Supra rear end for now. That's a whole nother project. Your gearing will be FINE. Yes the gears are shorter, but most people don't notice it. My Lex would pull on car with similar power. (400whp). But I'd hit the 'wall' at 145mph because of gearing. So do the 6spd swap, then if you still feel the need for 150mph+ speeds swap in the GS or TT rear end.
-For the 6spd swap, use a Toyota Sequoia drivershaft. You can pick one up for $150-$350 bucks. Cheaper then a custom driveshaft. Bolts right up to 6spd and IS300's rear diff.

FOOBER2 is right. When you think of your V160 swap you need to think of the tranny, clutch, pressure plate, (fly wheel if you want it, I didn't get it), driveshaft, SRT tripod and shifter link, 6spd shifter and shift ****, random nuts and bolts for everything bolting up, fluids, and some wiring for the speedo and reverse sensors to be extended. I'm sure I'm forgetting soemthing off the top of my head.
*make sure that you exhaust will work. I had to take mine off, cut and clock the flange on it so that the Sequioa driveshaft would not hit it. The driveshaft becomes one long piece and will sit higher up. So the exhaust might dig into it.
*make sure to swap out the O ring for a new O ring or speed sensor on the V160..... otherwise you'll have to take the whole tranny out and put a new one in, in a couple months cause it might leak a little. Cause there isn't enough room to pull out that long speed sensor out of the tranny tunnel while it's bolted into the car.

 

A great swap. Takes time, but well worth it. Took a month with other projects goin on

 

Damn I just wish my IS was manual period

 

It's a little longer. You're gonna have to make it fit for the drive shaft.

 

Use the Toyota Sequoia driveshaft. Should be about $200-$250 bucks at any junk yard (if even that much.)

It is a telescoping driveshaft. TONS that have swapped in 6spds into a IS300 have used it, including me and it will hold the power. It's a direct swap and bolts right up to the V160/161 tranny, and to your IS300's rear end. I had a 5spd with a LSD rear end, and it bolted up. I haven't heard of anyone having any problems with using that driveshaft on a auto IS300.

 

great little post. anyone have links to their 6spd build with more accurate pricing?

 

Yes.
http://my.is/forums/f114/6-speed-all...beyond-410664/
thread on my.is
I helped contribute to alot of that info. KR4P11 is my SN on there.