Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - 05:15 pm, by: James Johnson(Jimbo)
Hey Guys and Gals.
I am just wondering if any one has heard of a factory remote shift W58 gearbox?
Now my sources are telling me that only the W55 box came out remote shift as the difference is ratios between the two so I would want a W58 as my brother has converted his soarer to a W55 and 1st gear lasts him all of like 2 seconds until he has to change into 2nd gear.
Failing that does any one know if the remote shift rear housing from a W55 will bolt onto a rear of a R154?
Just exploring some options here as I need a manual conversion done but want a strong reliable box that can handle all these track days and skid pad days.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - 06:29 am, by: James Johnson(Jimbo)
Sorry I should mention that it has to be a 5 forward speed gearbox.
Are you sure that it is a W58? Just from what I have found is that they didn't come out factory remote shift so unless some one has gotten a remote shift tail and put it on a W58 then sold it to you or a lot of people have been led to falsly believe that they have a remote shift W58 when it is a W55 they have instead. The only proper way to find out is by opening the box up but as I don't own it, it is a bit hard to do...
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - 09:14 am, by: Nathan Richardson(Richtheblack)
A '95 on MK4 N/A Supra uses the W58 with remote shift you are thinking if but any MK4 W58 will do as does the SC300 I believe.
Either way I don't think the W58 will live long if you intend on doing regular track days and motorkhana type events.
If you must have only 5 gears you should look at the R154, but I don't think anyone has put one of these behind a V8 for a while but the adapters are easy enough to find.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - 10:37 am, by: James Johnson(Jimbo)
I can only have 5 forward gears is because I am looking at getting into a race series here in NZ that is a classic Japanese race series and there are some restrictions.
That link on Trade Me is why I am asking about W58 remote shift as my brother has a W55 and 1st gear only lasts him all of like 2-3 seconds. that's why I am thinking of a W58 as I am not made of money to be able to afford a R154 and then modify/change the thrust washer in it and try make it remote shift as they are rarer than hens teeth here in NZ especially in remote shift.
My other question was if any one knows if a remote shift rear housing from a W series box will bolt onto a R series? I can get a R154 and have it modified to be a remote shift type but that is where things can go wrong as I know someone who has had that done but the shifts are quite rough. Plus I would need to modify that thrust washer to make sure it wont fail at any stage, with the R154.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - 10:44 am, by: Matt Petersen(Mattmannz)
You should have bought my conversion kit I sold recently James!
Had pedals, shift bezel, short shifter, bellhousing, flywheel, hydraulic throwout bearing, master cylinder, R154 remote shift with thrust washer mod, driveshaft, cross member and new rubber mount. All it needed was a clutch and it was a bolt in conversion for a UZx Soarer.
Sold the whole lot for $3400 as it had been sitting in the garage for over a year unused.
The W and R series are not interchangable, they are completely different. You don't "need" a remote shift, you can get the shifter housing modded slightly to move it back and then gooseneck the shifter a bit and it will work fine.
The thrust washer install isn't that expensive, it's worth tearing down any box you buy to do a visual inspection before using it, especially if you plan to race it.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - 11:08 am, by: James Johnson(Jimbo)
I didn't have that money at the time plus what I am doing is just accumulating parts over time then I will do the conversion.
That is the type of mod I have come across but the shifts are quite rough plus I would rather a box that is built with standard/factory parts. That mod I have been told will cost me about $400 then I am not too sure what is involved with that thrust washer but the washer alone is about $200-300 then I need to get it all installed and don't know what that would cost.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 - 11:50 am, by: Matt Petersen(Mattmannz)
That mod should cost a lot less than $400 and should work fine as long as you don't extend the shifter too far back.
From what I saw some people were extending the shifter past the back of the gearbox output shaft when that's not needed. You can extend it just to the end and then gooseneck the shifter and that should retain perfect shift feel.
The thrust washer install is normally around the same price as the washer itself but as I say it's worth tearing the box down anyway to get it checked before you use it. You can't tell the condition of the box without opening it up.