Auto Replacement or 5speed?

[theKnifeArtist]

so right before my headgasket failure, i had problems with the tranny. it was slippin real bad. a couple times when it was cold i drove off and it took it about a 1/4 for it to finally shift after slowly trying to ease it to shift itself. when i would get on it, even not that much i would accelerate and then just slip allot untill i let off.
i put a half bottle of that lucas shit in it, but didnt get to drive around much because i had park it for the head gasket change. do you think the lucas can fix it for some time? i was thinkin' if my tranny took a crap, or is about to, im gonna have to do something about it. now i am almost finished with my headgasket change. I've been doin it for a little over a month, its really hard to find time. i really dont want more downtime with this car and my parents would probably get pissed at me and hate my car even more if the car would do down again.
Now, how long WOULD it be down for if i were to take the auto tranny out and throw in a used one. How much work does that involve? or should take more downtime and make it a 5speed like i've always wanted?
oh yeah, and this is my daily driver and i've been struggling goin to parts stores and to work in this damn town on my little bmx bike. everythings so far apart.
i still kinda like the auto, because it gives me a nice advantage in drags, and i cant wait to kick some local ass, but yeah i'd take a 5speed over it anyday.
what d'ya say?

 

[iwannadie]

Im kinda in your same boat, my tranny is throwing a severed #2 solonoid code. Also my drain bolt is stripped(stuck on) so I cant even put fresh fluid in it.

I just finished my BHG job and now the trans is the weak link it sucks. The feeling of all that bhg work and knowing the motor is running strong, but I cant use it because of the weak trans.

I think your best bet is to get it back on the road again. Then start gathering parts for which ever route you go. Once you have all the parts(you know youll need at least) the swap will be easier. Having the car even in limp mode will make getting parts alot easier.

For me its a cost issue, I can fix my auto cheap. The 5speed swap I would want to do right the first time. That means buying the trans then rebuilding it. New 1pc drive shaft($$), Then the odds and ends. Pedal setup, cylinder, trans support, etc. I think the time to gather all the 5speed parts needed and finding a decent trans(plus rebuild time and $$) add up fast.

 

[theKnifeArtist]

so you think my limping trans will last for some time?

 

[iwannadie]

so you think my limping trans will last for some time?

That I dont know, mine is holding up fine and I beat on it, but doesnt sound as bad as yours. Im just saying it would be easier to have all the parts on hand before you do anything to the trans. Also really think about how much the 5speed is gonna cost you and if you can afford it.

If anything drop the pan and put fresh oil in with a new filter, thats a cheap fix at least and could help band aid it.

 

[supraman7mgte]

Im kinda in your same boat, my tranny is throwing a severed #2 solonoid code. Also my drain bolt is stripped(stuck on) so I cant even put fresh fluid in it.

I just finished my BHG job and now the trans is the weak link it sucks. The feeling of all that bhg work and knowing the motor is running strong, but I cant use it because of the weak trans.

I think your best bet is to get it back on the road again. Then start gathering parts for which ever route you go. Once you have all the parts(you know youll need at least) the swap will be easier. Having the car even in limp mode will make getting parts alot easier.

For me its a cost issue, I can fix my auto cheap. The 5speed swap I would want to do right the first time. That means buying the trans then rebuilding it. New 1pc drive shaft($$), Then the odds and ends. Pedal setup, cylinder, trans support, etc. I think the time to gather all the 5speed parts needed and finding a decent trans(plus rebuild time and $$) add up fast.

Replace the pan!! It was asking for it,anyways!!
I have seen a few tranny upgrades from www.levelten.com

 

[iwannadie]

Replace the pan!! It was asking for it,anyways!!
I have seen a few tranny upgrades from www.levelten.com

Ya but by the time I swap pans and do the filter I might as well just go 5speed

 

[theKnifeArtist]

so how much work is it to take a auto trans out and a new one in?

 

[jdub]

Ya but by the time I swap pans and do the filter I might as well just go 5speed

You GTBSM...dropping the tranny pan is a piece of cake compared to a 5 speed swap. You need new brake/clutch petals, clutch reservoir, hyd line, new drive shaft...that's just off the top of my head.

TKA - you need to get that Lucas crap out of your tranny...clean the filter and flush. Look at the TRSM...you'll need about 12 quarts of ATF. Castrol is good...so is Valvoline...Dex II/III. The easiest way is to trace the most rear feed line on the passenger side of the tranny to the cooler and attach to a hose in a bucket. Take a tranny fill funnel and put in the dipstick hole. A helper is almost a must. Start the car...ATF will flow into the bucket, you add ATF via the funnel to replace. After 10 quarts go in, let it run for 15 sec or so and shut off. Check the fluid level...it should be below the cold notch on the dipstick. Reattach cooler line and fill to top of 2nd cold notch. Check your ATF level for a few days hot...the top 2 notches on the dipstick are the hot range. You want to shift in/out of gear a few times before checking. Add small amounts as required.

 

[theKnifeArtist]

okay, i'll try doing that, but if that fails, i'd just like to know...how much work is it to drop the tranny and throw in a new one?

 

[OneJArpus]

theKnifeArtist i am located in north jersey, i have an extra 5sp transmission with 72k miles on it. if your intersted maybe we can work out a deal. I can also give you the master, slave, and soft line if you want although they are all used with
72k miles on it as well. PM me if interested


FYI its not hard to swap from auto to 5sp or even drop the auto to replace.

 

[theKnifeArtist]

oh wow, you're only like 8 miles from my house in jersey! why havent we realized this before? hah. yeah i am interested but will probably take any action on this transmission situation until i get the car actually running. i'm not far from finished so i'll probably get back to you soon.

 

[theKnifeArtist]

hey where does it say R154 or W58 on the trans? my friend said he can sell me his, but i wanna know if its an R154. It's off an NA, but he said he bought a clutch for an NA and it didnt fit and a turbo oem clutch did. he would sell it to me with a brand new clutch. would buying a W58 be a bad idea?

 

[theKnifeArtist]

theres a NA supra sitting in my friends junkyard. would i be able to get all the parts minus that tranny from that thing?
would getting a w58 be a bad idea? im not puttin down crazy horsepower so i dont think i'd break it with too much power. are the ratios the same?

 

[foreverpsycotic]

from what i have heard and seen, the w58 is a MUCH smoother shifting tranny, and will handle a good amount of power with the right clutch and PP setup.

 

[theKnifeArtist]

will i have to get a new pressure plate? i'd be using a new oem clutch..
i think im gonna go for this w58. i've been doing some reading around here and i think i'll get the w58 and rebuilt it with the mdc kit. i'll probably get all those other shits needed from the swap from the same car. my car wont be seeing 400whp and i'm okay with that, so i think w58'll be fine.

 

[Doward]

Psh. Hey, if any of you want a good, non-slipping transmission - TAKE MINE. FREE. COME GET THE BASTARD AUTOMAGIC!

 

[theKnifeArtist]

florida right? thanks. i probably would for the time being and i'd love to take a trip down to florida, but its not happening right now.
so i decided that i'll buy the w58 my friend will sellin me, rebuilt it and then get the rest of the parts needed. for the time being i'll limp around with this shit automatic.
hey do you think the auto can get bad to a point that i'll just lose all gears? i'm not sure that would be fun on the turnpike