trife's AE102 - complete build & more to come!

So, after much research, I finally think I have this issue figured out.  The shifter from a 2000-05 Celica bolts right into the Corolla.  So I got one from a 6-speed Celica.  Here is a couple pictures to show my old one vs. the new one.







Notice how much shorter the shifter is!  Anyway, here it is installed.  Just test fitting for now.  I still have to get the cables.  But this should fix everything!  

iv got a modified gen 6 celica one in mine

I actually have that shor shifter haha THe stock cables I have wouldnt fit proerly in it(found out the hard way). Atleast, one of them would fit in the holding spot without mods. Ill probably use a dremmel and grind it down later

miib14 wrote:

iv got a modified gen 6 celica one in mine

Really...what is modified on yours? Was it a 6 speed shifter or 5 speed?

yeah, it is a 5 speed shifter, the ball at the bottom of shifter was heated and the shaft knocked down to make the throw shorter (i was told this when i bought it),

Decided to throw the Celica shift knob on there. I actually like the way it looks better. What y'all think?

Nice

is yours a 6 speed?

thats an ingenious way of solving the 6 Speeder problem. i just trimmed about 10mm of the wider of the two gear linkage brackets and welded it together. Gave me all six gears and a very narrow lateral throw on the standard 5 speed shifter.

miib14 wrote:

is yours a 6 speed?

^ Yes sir....Did you not read my thread!!!  j/k  

steed wrote:

thats an ingenious way of solving the 6 Speeder problem. i just trimmed about 10mm of the wider of the two gear linkage brackets and welded it together. Gave me all six gears and a very narrow lateral throw on the standard 5 speed shifter.

^ thanks, but I say your's is more ingenious than mine.  Modifying the bracket was actually my last result and at one point I had pondered doing EXACTLY what you did.  But then, I thought, maybe it's possible to source the parts instead so for future reference, I know the parts are available from the factory.  

Your way was much cheaper.  The parts cost me $125 total and were not easy to find.  I had to source them from two different junkyards.  I should have the cables here Friday.  I'm very excited to get it back together.

6 gears make so much difference to the driving experience! more use of the power band...

^ yup, I know....after I got mine with the 5 speed, I realized how much better the 6 speed would be when mated to this engine. My cables are due in Friday. So most likely Sunday when I get time to work on it, I will have so more updates. What kind of car are you in steed?

Right now? (don't judge me) a 1.1 peugeot 205.
Currently re-commisioning my 'SE111' Corolla hatch, but i did the 6 speed conversion seen here on an EL54 Toyota Paseo (Tercel based coupe) using the 5E-FE engine mated to the 6-speed box from the EE111 Corolla G6 hatch (we get some nice toys over here in europe). I'm planning to do a 6-Speed swap on a '99 Avensis (the 7A-FE engine) using the 6-Speed box from an AE111 corolla G6R very soon.

bet that will be a nice drive in the avensis..

any idea about a 6 speed for a 3S?

miib14 wrote:

bet that will be a nice drive in the avensis..

any idea about a 6 speed for a 3S?

i have researched this and the answer is yes. the 6 gen ceilca had a trim level SSIII (not the SSII) which was a limited run of the very last few of that chassis type, it had a revised BEAMS engine and there was a 6 Speed (non-LSD) gearbox as an optional extra.

so getting hold of one is exceptionally difficult, not only do you have to find a Celica SSIII (of which very few left japan) but it needs to have been one where they opted for the 6 speed box!
My personal belief is that this box is a derivative of the C60 box (strengthened with a 3S bell housing) but i have not been able to see one to confirm this.

So much toyota knowledge (head explodes)

steed wrote:

Right now? (don't judge me) a 1.1 peugeot 205.
Currently re-commisioning my 'SE111' Corolla hatch, but i did the 6 speed conversion seen here on an EL54 Toyota Paseo (Tercel based coupe) using the 5E-FE engine mated to the 6-speed box from the EE111 Corolla G6 hatch (we get some nice toys over here in europe). I'm planning to do a 6-Speed swap on a '99 Avensis (the 7A-FE engine) using the 6-Speed box from an AE111 corolla G6R very soon.

Gotcha, well after studying what you did, I actually realized that modifying the bracket does not change the travel or stroke of the cable.  So this still poses as a significant issue for me.  

miib14 wrote:

any idea about a 6 speed for a 3S?

Like "steed" said, there was a very rare Toyota Altezza (Lexus IS300) 6 speed that was mated with the 3SG Beams Blacktop engine overseas.  Keep in mind this was also a RWD car.  That is the only one out there that I know of and I'm sure pricing for even a used one might be pretty pricey.  And no clue what it would take to mount in a FWD application.  But, it should bolt up.



Now, back to my issue.  Some pictures will be coming soon.  I got my cables in, one was damaged already (possibly from when they pulled it from the car).  Anyhow, the cable length is longer than my stock cables.  Now, even though this doesn't sound like a big deal, it actually is.  This makes it very hard to connect the cables without bending them in a way that puts them more of in a bind.  So, now I'm working on first getting my money back for these cables, and then getting possible cables from a Corolla XRS instead.

steed wrote:

miib14 wrote:

bet that will be a nice drive in the avensis..

any idea about a 6 speed for a 3S?

i have researched this and the answer is yes. the 6 gen ceilca had a trim level SSIII (not the SSII) which was a limited run of the very last few of that chassis type, it had a revised BEAMS engine and there was a 6 Speed (non-LSD) gearbox as an optional extra.

so getting hold of one is exceptionally difficult, not only do you have to find a Celica SSIII (of which very few left japan) but it needs to have been one where they opted for the 6 speed box!
My personal belief is that this box is a derivative of the C60 box (strengthened with a 3S bell housing) but i have not been able to see one to confirm this.

Thats actually quite good to know..
personally i was thinking of getting a 2zz box (6 speed and try to swap bell housing lol)
i know the lsd from the mk3 mr2 fits in the s54 gearbox... so may attempt it.

[quote="trife96]
Now, back to my issue.  Some pictures will be coming soon.  I got my cables in, one was damaged already (possibly from when they pulled it from the car).  Anyhow, the cable length is longer than my stock cables.  Now, even though this doesn't sound like a big deal, it actually is.  This makes it very hard to connect the cables without bending them in a way that puts them more of in a bind.  So, now I'm working on first getting my money back for these cables, and then getting possible cables from a Corolla XRS instead.[/quote]

If your donor cable were from the celica, the extra length is due to how much farther back the the shifter is physically in the car. because the celica driving positiona is lower the shifter sits quite a bit further back/ trying the Corolla linkage is an excellent idea. if you have any major issues sourcing some i'm damned sure a set of JDM BZ-R levin cables or possibly a set of UKDM G6 corolla cables will solve the problem.

^ I will keep that in mind.  I might need to take you up on the offer.  I'm exploring some other options and hopefully I can get it resolved in a couple weeks.  I actually may still use my stock Corolla cables and modify the link like I saw once in another thread (pictured below).  I don't think I can use the XRS Corolla cables since they look like they attach to the shifter differently from mine.  (see comparison below)  you can see how the 7th gen has those metal tabs and the XRS has some type of wire retainer.

So after much research...again...I finally decided to scrap the shift cables.  I'm using original AE101 manual shift cables which are perfect length.  But due to cable travel, getting into 1st and 2nd was tight, and no hope for reverse, so I modified the bracket about a 1/2" over to see if this helps.  I will try and put it on tonight or tomorrow to see what happens.

It works!!! Some smaller adjustments will need to be made to make it shift a little smoother and so the shift lever will not be leaning so far to the right...but overall, I'm glad I can now shift in all the gears. Videos will be coming soon...

So it's been a while, forgot to post the video.  Here it shifting through all the gears.  Also, since the sub-frame was halfway removed, I decided to remove it the rest of the way and clean it.  Before I re-install it, I plan to replace the bushings with some polyurethane bushings for the sway bar and the control arms. Also going with the front and rear polyurethane motor mounts.



Sprayed with degreaser, practically used a half a bottle....



Came out clean, there was a few slight rusty spots but overall in good shape







Front sway bar bushings looked a bit old and dry rotted.  I'm sure they are original...

Just starting to get things buttoned back up.  Brought my battery to work today and put it on a charger.  It's been sitting up for almost two years but it's a damn good battery so was I was optimistic it was still good.  

Got the shift cables officially on, the firewall grommets back on.  Had to get my ECU from my friend who had been borrowing mine to run some tests on his car.  He's been having trouble with his 7AGE.

Here's a pic of his car...



N - E - WAYS!!! Got the transmission mount on...and wow, tight tight clearance!!!




MY FRIDAY NIGHTS!




IT'S ALIVE!!!!!

Spent some time Sunday getting everything sorted out. Cleaned the engine bay best I can. Got the engine support removed. And re-installed the hood that evening.