1998 LS400 5 speed swap
10-22-15, 06:19 PM
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1998 LS400 5 speed swap
I'm currently beginning the official inquiries into 5 speed swapping my LS. I've been wanting to do it since I've got it and now the time has come. As far as I'm concerned, I just want a tranny that will be reliable for daily driving and for some hoonage on the side too. What do I need? What's the process? From what I've been told it's something like: get ahold of a transmission, adapter kit, clutch pedal, and I'll need a custom driveshaft.
10-22-15, 10:23 PM
#4
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Are you talking about a manual transmission swap? I believe someone out there actually sells a kit for it but if I'm correct it was for the SC400. I believe it connects to the W58 manual transmission you can find from the SC300 or NA mkiv Supra.
10-24-15, 03:53 AM
#5
The other big factor you're forgetting is the electronics side of the equation. The 98-00 are drive-by-wire (e-throttle) and the ecu goes into limp-mode if you try to run it without the trans. Often this is not an issue when it's swapped into other cars because standalone EM is used. I'm not saying it's impossible with the stock computer, but that is an issue you will have to address.
Which 5-speed would you use? The W58 is cheap but not that robust, the R154 is medium priced, but shifts like the truck transmission it was based on (in my experience) and prices are on the rise, and the V160 is gargantuan in both size and price. The CD009 is an option but the adapter kit is more expensive.
The adapter plate/flywheel/clutch (custom) would be needed, as well as the throw-out bearing, TOB adapter plate, TOB hydraulic bleeder+lines (if using a hydro TOB), a custom made clutch pedal, a custom driveshaft, and in my opinion you would need to relocate the parking brake to a more traditional handle-setup on the passenger side of the center console (custom mount, repurposed IS/SC parking brake handle, custom parking brake cable).
There is a lot more involved in a manual swap than just buying an adapter kit and transmission, especially on the '98-00 cars.
Which 5-speed would you use? The W58 is cheap but not that robust, the R154 is medium priced, but shifts like the truck transmission it was based on (in my experience) and prices are on the rise, and the V160 is gargantuan in both size and price. The CD009 is an option but the adapter kit is more expensive.
The adapter plate/flywheel/clutch (custom) would be needed, as well as the throw-out bearing, TOB adapter plate, TOB hydraulic bleeder+lines (if using a hydro TOB), a custom made clutch pedal, a custom driveshaft, and in my opinion you would need to relocate the parking brake to a more traditional handle-setup on the passenger side of the center console (custom mount, repurposed IS/SC parking brake handle, custom parking brake cable).
There is a lot more involved in a manual swap than just buying an adapter kit and transmission, especially on the '98-00 cars.
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