K50 Gearbox Into A Ke30

[Banjo]

I recently did an auto to manual conversion on my newly acquired KE30 2 door.

 

The conversion was pretty easy, except for swapping the pedal box over, which has got to be one of the worst jobs on a KE if you are big, & don't fit between the drivers seat, with it right back, & the pedal area. Even with the seat removed it was a pain. Anyway, I digress.

 

The "donner" k50 came out of KE70, so had the rear gearbox extension with the gearstick location right at the back. (actually, it fitted perfectly through the tunnel hole for the 2 speed Toyoglide auto)

 

The rear gearbox mount on the K50 out of a KE70 is different to the mount from earlier KE series rear gearbox mounts, but lined up perfectly with the KE30 rear gearbox cross member, with just the need for two holes to be drilled a little further out to accommodate the rear gearbox mount holes. Everything went smooothly, and the tailshaft from the auto setup was exactly the right length.

 

First run in it identified a bit of floor pan vibration. When I took a look, the exhaust pipe was just touching the floor, which it hadn't before the conversion.

 

The rear gearbox mount from the KE70 was higher than than say a KE30 - KE55 type mount (which can't be used on the K50 ex KE70 extension housing), and was locating the rear of the gearbox upwards, such that the front uni had a bit more angle in it, & the exhaust pipe was closer to the floor.

 

To solve problem immediately, I got hold of some longer cross member to floorpan mounting bolts (starter mounting bolts) and spaced the cross member lower to correct the added height of the rear gearbox mount. I used some very large flat washers, & just keep adding them until it was right.

 

With 19mm - 20mm of spacing the gearbox sat properly, and I've now been driving it for several weeks, & it runs very smoothly. I am planning on making up two 20mm thick spacer blocks out of bar steel, & welding them permanently to the ends of the cross member.

 

I'm just interested, as to whether anyone else has done a similar conversion & run into the same problem.

 

Unfortunately the way the rear gearbox mount attaches to the late K50 externsion housing, it really has to be used, as other mounts would not adapt easily to the rear gearbox extension without a lot of fabrication.

 

Love to hear some feed back on this one !

 

Cheers

 

Banjo :dance:

Edited April 8, 2009 by Banjo