new owner 89 gts liftback

You can also get the 6th gen 3s-ge transmission, I have it as well and it's strong.

 

What oil did you use? is it a GT4?

For the normal FWD you only need 2,5L (1/2 gallon), filling proceedure is - http://www.st162.net/forum/showthre...uot-series-boxes&p=54442&viewfull=1#post54442
In your case I'd try thicker oil, 120W-140 or similar, or soon you won't have a 1st or 2nd gear

Unless you have $3k spare a box recon isn't viable. You can use any 3S/4S/5S type box, the later the better, but you will need to find a 4S/5S flywheel as well.
The Camry/Solara/Windom/Lexus V6 boxes are even better but you will need the shafts & cables as well as a 5S flywheel

The cheapest route is the way I did it, go to a yard, find all the bits you need, find a low mile car and pull it yourself for $150, cheap but no guarantees and it could be worse than the one you have.
Watch ebay and buy a loose box, sellers aren't always honest though

Box recon and notes are all on my thread - follow the menu on my sig

 

because any parts that need you need to change to fit the 5sfe or lone wolf's idea of the 6th gen 3sge (same as 6th gen 5sfe trans) is something you should change anyways while you're in there, like the flywheel/clutch/pressure plate. imo that's way easier than opening up a box.

you changed the box oil how long ago? any effects of getting better isn't instant. it takes probably a month or so of driving with it to feel any difference...it's gradual

 

S53 rebuild kits like this one are on eBay, pricey though, and if you've never done a gearbox before and you stuff it up it's a fair amount of coin down the drain. Price it up, but like Stig said you may be better off finding the latest model, lowest-mile gearbox from a Celica/Camry/whatever else that's FWD with an S-motor and just plug'n'play.

edit - sorry, my manners seem to have escaped me for a moment . Welcome to the site, you'll find a great bunch of enthusiasts here willing to help with pretty much anything you need. Looking forward to pics of your car. I actually don't hate the red interiors, there is something quintessentially 1970's-80's about them and they look absolutely pimpin' on the right car.

 

i had the s54 transmission in mine and it never gave me any problems. just less gas mileage . just do what you want. if you gas economy gotta research something with higher gear ratios so that your rpm is lower at a high speed. i was doing 4000 at 70mph with the s54 and i redline at 6000 because i had the 3sfe. didnt record what i was doing with the stock fe transmission. might as well do the clutch, flywheel, and the the seals while everything is out. just my two cents! good luck

 

by the way, if you want to save money, you can still use the old clutch and pressure plate if you think that it's still okay (it fits on the 5sfe flywheel).

i have a 5sfe starter that you can have for free +shipping if you want it

 

you mean the 5sfe trans? the preferably from a camry or a 6th gen celica. the mr2 one has the selectors facing the other way around and you'd need to convert it for a fwd layout.

 

if you remove your tranny and then take into a rebuild shop its not that bad of cost....where they get you is the removal/install, but if you just bring them a tranny its usually about 500 bucks or so.....check with your local tranny shops about the prices in car and out of car......this will give you your budget. and some shops will accept your parts as well, but usually don't provide a warranty


and welcome.

 

You can also use one (E350/351) from a Scion TC, Lexus E250/300, Avensis/Camry (2AZ motor) but you still need the GT4/FE flywheel and will need driveshafts plus cables plus a GT4 speedo drive, plus a GT4 clutch and GT4/FE starter.
There is also an E52/E56 you could use, these came in early 90's Camry's but the same would apply as the E35x

Forget the MR2 trans, it looks similar but won't work

I was quoted $2000+ if I delivered the box, for $500 there isn't enough money to cover new bearings so I don't know how good the "refurb" will be.
My guess is the $500 is to cover labour and the rest will get added to the invoice.

 

different countries ....different prices.......but yes i know what you mean.

 

unless you want to have hybrid axles, i'd suggest sticking to celica transmissions.

 

Forget the sprays, they look terrible when they start peeling, rather take your time and swap out parts when you find them.
That red isn't so bad, if it were brown I'd have sprayed it already
My car was originally blue inside but I took my time and made it black/grey. It was good because I did my alarm/sound/seatbelts/dash vents and fixed a lot of wiring f/ups at the same time

Don't forget you need the box and flywheel and starter/bolts, the flywheel must have 8 bolts

 

i know....... exactly why i did the blue interior conversion..................

 

Thats not stock and needs to go bye-bye - the others you see are people who are too lazy to wire in their radio's and amps properly.

You need to take out the climate control, re-solder all the pins on the back, put the wiring back the way it's supposed to be and then see if the aircon works properly.
Somebody has connected your aircon to the battery because they didn't know how to fix the climate control unit or bypassed the system fail sensors.
(ie the aircon doesn't work if the pressure is too low etc, safety features which you now don't have)

Why is there another wire going to the radiator?