avensis 5th gear conversion parts from the US - group buy anyone?

[Torero]

I collected Krish's rev 5 gearbox from Luke on Wednesday, myself and Kelvin [Kayjay0_7] fitted the extended gears. It took about an hour or so and is not beyond anyone with basic mechanical skills.

The gears from my usual MrT dealership and had a little discount, delivered they were £200.44. I have heard several good stories about the motorway usage and can feedback when it's installed. I did this on a spare box as I am fitting a V6 and I wanted to do the gearbox mod and fit it to the new engine then drop it straight into my rev 5 but if I'd realised how easy it is I would have reused my own gearbox.

BTW Paul Wood's 'How To' guide on TwoBrutal is awesome, it explains every little issue that you may encounter as well as lots of pics.

I'lll post up a few images from mine when I get a moment.

[Torero]

These are the gears and the part nos and all we used was a 27mm socket and large tommy bar to shift the 5th driven gear, some pry bars, a basic puller and I think it was a 10mm socket for the casing bolt and selector fork. Other than that just needed some gasket sealant ....oh and a hammer

Parts 5th gear 33336-33020 £106.31+vat , 5th Driven gear 33428-32040 £68.60+vat


Casing off


Selector fork and syncro hub removed and new gears in place:


Putting it back together.

[russthedude]

that certainly LOOKS a lot easier than I'd imagined it to be, so maybe I might tackle it myself after all. What's the score with gearbox oil during this work? Is there a gasket available from toyota or is it just a case of slopping on gasket sealant?

I'll carry on looking for another supplier to see if we can get these parts a bit cheaper

[Torero]

Hi Russ,

At first it really looks a lot more daunting than it actually is, as this was a replacement gearbox it had already been drained of fluid and I would imagine this would be a ballache to do in situ because of access issues, so the GB would have to come off and therefore would be drained.

There isn't a gasket on the original so I used Loctite 5910 black gasket sealant [-22 to 200 dgree range and suitable for constant exposure to oils] cost £5.49 from Halfords.

Try your local dealership first as you have the part numbers, just to test the water.

[PW@Woodsport]

As founder of the mod i'd just like to comment that it isn't as easy as you might think, there are a few stumbling blocks if you haven't done this before.

First, make sure at no point, the selector shaft moves clockwise/anticlockwise, if it does you're looking at a full gearbox dismantle and rebuild.

Also make sure the rear synchro hub circlip doesn't slip when fitting the hub, if it does you will only get 5th once and it'll stay there.

These are all faults homebuilders have had and that i have had to rectify, in the end they send me the gearbox.

Having said that if you're careful and take your time it's not that hard, just be aware of the pitfalls.

[Peter Gidden]

Also make sure the rear synchro hub circlip doesn't slip when fitting the hub.

Not easy when trying to push the assembly back on to the shaft at the same time.

[Torero]

As founder of the mod i'd just like to comment that it isn't as easy as you might think, there are a few stumbling blocks if you haven't done this before.

Apologies if my optimism got the best of me Paul, I wasn't trying to be misleading but what I was trying to say was that it isn't as difficult as first appears, if you follow the guide.

Having said that if you're careful and take your time it's not that hard, just be aware of the pitfalls.

See, I told you

[russthedude]

lol in that case then, 2 hours labour @£55+vat an hour doesn't seem too bad to save me cocking it up and losing more skin off my hands.

[Peter Gidden]

@£55+vat an hour.

Time i put my rates up! £40 inc VAT per hour here.

[Loque]

Cheap as chips that is these days. Seem to be something of a specialist in these parts too.

Err. Is it me or does this seem like an arseload of effort for not a lot of reward? *runs and hides*

[PW@Woodsport]

Not really, it's actually one of those mods that will pay for itself and eventually earn you money in saved fuel, dropping your motorway cruising RPM is not to be sniffed at.

Also for the top end freaks it also gives you a higher top speed if that's your bag.

Well worthwhile

[thomp1983]

just a quick update with some real mpg figures, ive done near 500 miles in the last couple of days with the longer 5th gears fitted. the driving has been a mix of motorway and twisty a roads and ive averaged 37mpg. 70mph is roughly 2800 rpm if my lockwood dials are to be believed, i don''t thing they'll be that far out

chris

[PW@Woodsport]

With this mod on V6 cars it drops the 80mph cruising from 4000rpm down to 3200rpm, and adds some top end speed but how much we aren't sure, i've never gone there or done the maths.