5spd to auto?

boost PSSH boost

boost PSSH boost

SM's Welding Guru
Apr 4, 2005
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If you're a hardcore road racer/autox guy...r154 takes the win.

If you're a hardcore drag guy, auto.

I've had both.

auto's good for what I do, but I also had many good times with my 5spd....and drag radials...and a t66.... :D

Why are people calling the r154 fragile anyway? It's an amazingly stout trans! 500, 600, 700hp on a stock 5spd is nothing to sneeze at.
 
jdub

jdub

Official SM Expert: Motor Oil, Lubricants & Fil
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Feb 10, 2006
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rakkasan said:
Simple really. Unless you dump 2-4k into an A430, it just cannot handle much above 350rwhp reliably. It's not a strong tranny, by any stretch of the imagination, unless you dump an assload of cash into it. Also, they shift as slow as a Dodge Reliant's auto, so that's more undue stress put on the friction plates.

In fact, the only person I know making decent power with a A430 behind it is Jdub, and I know his is an IPT tranny.

Are you suprised by this info? It's common knowledge that the A430 is weaker than Woody Allen.....
Click to expand...

Yep...and you'll def have to dump a ton of cash-ola into a A340E to get it above 350 HP. The stock auto can't handle a lot of power...extra friction, higher stall torque converter (mine's 3000 rpm), cyro treated parts, and a modified valve body to improve the shift. You can't go cheap on an A340E and expect it to hold up.

I'm pretty happy with the IPT tranny...pushing a little over 400 HP and it's held up almost a year now. Shifts great in Elec Mode...barks my 275 rear tires in 2nd and hits 60 MPH in just over 5 sec. The next test is when I install the stand alone ECU for another HP increase ;)
 
born2drv

born2drv

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Nov 1, 2005
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my "brand new" jdm a340e lasted 3 days after it dyno'd 411rwhp, and i didn't even drive it all that hard after the dyno.

i love the auto. i wish i could keep auto. but i don't have $4-10k to spend right now making a bulletproof tranny. $4k gets you a complete IPT built tranny... $8-10k gets you a complete th350/400 with o/d added on, supra stick shifter, high stall converter, custom adapter, the works.

after my restoration in a year or two i may be tempted to switch back to auto but it's definately not cheap.
 
bonus12

bonus12

Backroads Driver
Jul 15, 2006
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swaq said:
Agreed. Sports cars were not meant to have auto transmissions in my opinion. If you get one that already has an auto in it, fine. But if you're replacing a manual transmission (and the R154 at that!) with an auto then you are ruining the car.

My guide to the 5-speed to automatic conversion is very similar to my guide on converting a hard top to a targa top:

1. Sell manual transmission car to someone who wants a manual. There are plenty of people who would pay more for a manual.
2. Buy an automatic.
Click to expand...

listen to this man. sports cars are meant to be manual!
 
TurboStreetCar

TurboStreetCar

Formerly Nosechunks
Feb 25, 2006
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im with j spec on this one, im auto, and i love it. yes sometimes i do with i had a 5 speed so i could drift around corners but whatever, that would prolly jsut get me in trouble. my auto has 170k on it, bone stock except for accumulator mods. im running around 11 psi with a hks drop in intercooler exhaust intake and hardpipes. im guessing im somewhere in the neiborhood of 300 horseopwer at the crank. never has my tranny slipped (except for running low on fluid after i installed my cooler). any for ppl saying that 5 speed is more fun cause u can select the gears.......whatever, i have a shifter and i can downshift and hold a gear crusing at 5 grand if i wanted to. not to mention with 1 dollar in modifications that i did in 2 hours, it barks my tires into second on my otherwise stock 170k mile tranny.

im going to be building my auto up and there will be a thread to show all u haters up. i plan on getting a stall converter, blue friction clutches and looking into valve body modifications, my goal is to make it perform like a th350 or so.
 
Jspec7m88

Jspec7m88

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Dec 3, 2005
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Well. I'm done with all the arguments in this thread today.
I will finish by saying that if we all had an unlimited spending budget, we would all be smart to go with a SupraStick V4. :icon_surp

Along with all the nifty electronic tricks, you can still shift-play and not have to worry about your clutch foot being in pain at the end of the day (ie. 6 puck, LOL)...and you can go to the track, build boost
off the line, don't lose boost in between shifts and finally break into the 14's!!!!!!!111 :p(so sad).

Anyways, I'll be getting around to upgrading my tranny with minor work and don't plan to exceed anything over 400rwhp........yet.;)
It would of course, be a goal for the long run to get a TH-400. :)

Now I'm done.

Jeff
 
Toyota h8r

Toyota h8r

Formerly KILLERMK3
Jan 24, 2006
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Can anyone show me some pics of where the ect ecu is mounted? I looked and i dont have it. Is the tranny ecu mounted under the vent near the blower motor? Is the ge trans ecu the same as the gte trans ecu?
 
Yellow 13

Yellow 13

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Apr 4, 2006
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KILLERMK3 said:
Can anyone show me some pics of where the ect ecu is mounted? I looked and i dont have it. Is the tranny ecu mounted under the vent near the blower motor? Is the ge trans ecu the same as the gte trans ecu?
Click to expand...


I believe the ECU's have different shift points. The trans ECU shares the main ECU bracket behind the glovebox. I dont know about the ECT ECU. The only boxes I remember going down there are ABS, Main ECU, and the Trans ECU.
 
D

dbsupra90

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Apr 1, 2005
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the manual ecu and auto ecu are different. the ect ecu that actually controls the tranny is in the kick panel on the pass side near the floor. if you look at where the pass right foot would be there is a large piece of molded plastic there. when you remove that, you will see where the ect is/was/needs to be.

im an auto guy. and if i got a 5sp guess what. i would swap in an auto (altho not a 340e). i have never blown up a stock trans. i did, however build up mine but it was no where near 4k or anything. if i didnt have the custom stall converter and the custom work done to the trans itself it would have been around $800-1000. marshall put down over 400rw on a stock trans w/ over 150k miles. its just like anything else. its how it was treated and what measures you have gone to reduce heat. problem is most people pick up supras when they are 10+ yrs old.
 
Jspec7m88

Jspec7m88

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dbsupra90 said:
the manual ecu and auto ecu are different. the ect ecu that actually controls the tranny is in the kick panel on the pass side near the floor. if you look at where the pass right foot would be there is a large piece of molded plastic there. when you remove that, you will see where the ect is/was/needs to be.

im an auto guy. and if i got a 5sp guess what. i would swap in an auto (altho not a 340e). i have never blown up a stock trans. i did, however build up mine but it was no where near 4k or anything. if i didnt have the custom stall converter and the custom work done to the trans itself it would have been around $800-1000. marshall put down over 400rw on a stock trans w/ over 150k miles. its just like anything else. its how it was treated and what measures you have gone to reduce heat. problem is most people pick up supras when they are 10+ yrs old.
Click to expand...

You are the perfect example in this little argument we were having earlier.
People go by average statistics...and those average statistics are based upon transmissions that have the wear of 16+ years on them. Only God (and some very passionate original Supra owners) can honestly say how great the stock transmission IS...or...WAS...for that matter.


dbsupra90 said:
but it was no where near 4k or anything. if i didnt have the custom stall converter and the custom work done to the trans itself it would have been around $800-1000. marshall put down over 400rw on a stock trans w/ over 150k miles.
Click to expand...

Thanks for chiming in Dave...and I'm also waiting for your car to get done.
I'll make it a trip myself just to drive down there and see it. :icon_razz
 
Toyota h8r

Toyota h8r

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Can one of ya auto guys snap a quick photo of the ect ecu in its area? I cant find any area on my harness behind the kick panel that resembels where a comp would go. Also, what does the plug(s) look like? Im guessin since car was an 5spd, the body harness is taped off or missing. I dont know? Thanx all of those who had something educational or positive! Shelby
 
tookwik4u89

tookwik4u89

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Apr 6, 2005
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swaq said:
Agreed. Sports cars were not meant to have auto transmissions in my opinion. If you get one that already has an auto in it, fine. But if you're replacing a manual transmission (and the R154 at that!) with an auto then you are ruining the car.

My guide to the 5-speed to automatic conversion is very similar to my guide on converting a hard top to a targa top:

1. Sell manual transmission car to someone who wants a manual. There are plenty of people who would pay more for a manual.
2. Buy an automatic.
Click to expand...
The one point I agree is its prolly better to sell and buy auto, there are plenty people that just gotta hear that bov between shifts. Switching to 5spd is way easier, I did it without any electrical involved. I switched from auto to manual, back to auto, because it blew chunks for racing drag. I did love driving it 5 spd on the street. To think there is no place for autos in racing, take a trip to the strip and do a quick count! There are plenty guys on here that will flame you to death for that comment, and they have some of the fastest cars on here. In fact imma point them toward the thread just to make it fun:stickpoke
 
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