I am thinking about swapping my IS from auto to manual. Has any one done this or know what needs to be done?

If you have a Is250 i believe so

Assuming you have a 250 you're likely better off trading it in for a manual car, I suspect it'll be cheaper (and at least warrantied, which you'd want given the manual is the only transmission I've ever heard of folks having replaced on a 2IS).

Assuming you have a 350 you're out of luck, they don't make a manual for the car, and the computer will be expecting to talk to a transmission.

Anyone able to read Japanese?

From Feb 2011 Options Magazine
SARD has a project going on...

V

yeah 2jz-gte swap with the 6 speed manual similar to the drift IS. other than that keep it an auto. modern auto tranny shifts faster than manual, but nothing beats the feel of a clutch if they released a 6 speed is350 id buy it in a heartbeat

I know everyone says the manual tranny from the IS250 can't handle the 2GR's power, but what about the 6-spd manual from the 1GR? (aka Tacoma V6). Its channeling nearly as much torque. Being that its from the same engine family, could it be hooked up to a 2GR?

The Aisin AY6 is more than capable of what the IS350 puts out, in my opinion. It is rated for up to 345lb.ft. of torque, for comparison (vehicles that use the AY6):

Camaro V6: 3,780lbs vehicle with 312hp and 278lb.ft. of torque.
FJ Cruiser: 4,327lbs vehicle with 260hp and 271lb.ft. of torque.

IS350: 3,527lbs with 306hp and 277lb.ft. of torque.

The AY6 / RA62 seems capable of holding it's own behind the IS350, IMO. Still the computer issues though, that will require a standalone or another type of piggyback, etc.

PS: If you do have an IS250, it'll probably be easier to sell it and get a 6MT version.


Jeff

oh, I didn't realize the IS250's tranny is the same as the Tacoma and FJ Cruiser V6 manual.

Tacoma = RA60
FJ Cruiser = RA61F
IS250 = RA62

They are all versions of the Aisin AY6. The RA60/61 use a larger push-type clutch, while the RA62 in the IS250 uses an LuK dual-mass flywheel and a pull-type clutch setup. The gear ratios are optimized for the different vehicles, and the Tacoma 4x4 and FJ Cruiser of course have different extension housings for the transfer case, etc. but the basic design is shared between all of them.

The Cadillac CTS, Camaro, and Holden Commodore are some other vehicles that share the AY6 behind engines and in vehicles that are very similar to the IS350.

RA62 with a performance clutch behind the 2GR-FSE seems very reasonable to me.

Jeff

I doubt the 6MT from the IS250 will be capable to handle the power, since there are numerous complaints about it in the 250 already.

However this is good info. I wonder how different is the bell housing from the Camero V6 6MT different from the 6AT. I found some new/used tranny on ebay for a fairly reasonable price. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2010-...ht_2808wt_1055

I PM'ed a Toyota Engineer a while back, who helped swapping in the 2GR FWD engine into MR2s. He said basically, all you need to do is to trick the TCU to Drive all the time. Then trick it in Park when you need to park it.

I guess we just need someone who the mechanical and electrical know how to be the first at this. Anyone? I would love to convert my IS350 into a 6MT.

Most issues related to the RA62 in the IS250 have been synchro related. I've never seen gear or bearing failure due to any power-related issues.

I guess what I'm saying is I doubt the RA62 would have any more issues behind the 2GR than it has behind the 4GR, as pretty much all of the reported issues have not been power related (synchros/clutch noise/etc.) No broken gears, cracked cases, damaged thrust washers, etc.

Jeff

It's still a crap design. No center support, and all the deflective force is being countered by a pair of tapered roller bearings on the output shaft. Add to this they have synchros on the mainshaft AND the countershaft, so they've fundamentally weakened the whole design. It surely isn't a Getrag 233 in any way, shape, or form.

A Getrag it certainly isn't, but capable of handling the power of the 2GR-FSE? I think it is more than capable, and is in fact rated for it.

Jeff

I wanted to swap to a manual in my sportcross but when I crunched the numbers....it was not cost effect for me. Good luck if you do and keep us posted

Being rated and actually delivering aren't one in the same. I'd start with this thread for a better understanding of the gearbox and the 2IS implementation.