- Thread starter
- #61
As far as shift levers being too close to the dash, that is simply solved with a cutoff wheel and a welder.
Converting a U.S. Spec 80 to Manual Transmission
- Thread starter suzuguru
- Start date
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As OGBeno said, no. My 80 has absolutely zero electronic control of anything to do with gearbox or transfer. It is 100 percent mechanical control. And that's how I like it. If I need 4wd, I stop, engage the hubs, select 4H or 4L, take a little bit of power to make sure it's all engaged, and drive. To get out of 4wd I stop, dis-engage hubs, de-select back into 2H mode, power a little to make sure the light goes out, and Bob's your uncle.
With a manual gearbox, why would you want to start in gear? Occasionally I forget to take it out of gear to start - can be embarassing if I 'bump start' into another parked vehicle.
Parking in gear is very important as a safety adjunct to the known issue of 80 series HB deficiency, and even since I got the HB in mine to work in Dec last year I still park in gear (with front wheels turned in and gbox in reverse if facing downhill, or 1st gear if facing uphill). One of the 'default' things any manual gearbox vehicle owner does is check the gearbox is in neutral before starting (unless one has a brain fart and forgets!).
To date, I've never needed to clutch-start. Being a 1hz diesel, clutch start won't work if the battery is dead as the fuel solenoid on the injector pump won't have any power so trying a push or roll start is pointless. The motor may fire on compression of residual diesel but unless the alt begins to work straight away no power will reach the solenoid in time.
- Thread starter
- #63
Back in the day, when everyone couldn't afford a winch, starting in gear was a way to move the vehicle when the engine failed to start. Say you were in the middle of a water crossing and the vehicle failed to restart after stalling. Then you could engage the starter while in gear to use the starter motor to 'drive' the vehicle to dry ground. Not the best scenario, but better than sitting in the middle of the creek.
This is occurring right now, in 2023
. A popular way to get over an obstacle after you have stalled the engine at the most inopportune time.
- Thread starter
- #65
This is occurring right now, in 2023
Well, I'm sure it is, but not near as much as back in the day. Definitely handy if you don't want to take a swim to pull your winch cable out.
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Iffen you don't like living in the United States, just move to a foreign country.
Like Arkansas.
Next thing you know, they'll stop offering curb feelers.
Say it ain't so
- Thread starter
- #69
What we buy is also a function of what they offer us. For instance, in 2022 there were zero new Toyota Diesel sales in the U.S. That's because there were zero offered for sale.
And Toyota will probably follow Nissan/Mitsubishi/Peugeot aka PSA and look to 'dump' diesels once they subscribe to the Cult of Electric Jesus club and seek to make diesel look 'bogan' compared to petrol (and eventually EV) as Nissan has done with the Pootrol. At least Toyota still sells the 79 series with manual gearbox (h152f) and diesel. I bet the 300 series LC doesn't get offered with a manual gearbox (and neither did the 200 either I think). At least the 200's really did have both a barn door and a tailgate version.
200 series came with manual transmissions.
300 series does not, in any trim form, in any market, in an engine variation. They are all a 10-speed slush box.
300 series does not, in any trim form, in any market, in an engine variation. They are all a 10-speed slush box.
Toyota hasn't sold a diesel vehicle in the United States since 1985. We American buyers told them pass....
It's easy for us 2nd, 3rd or 4th owners to complain that we never got the "cool" 80s. But think of the demographic in America that could afford to buy a new 80 series off the lot 25+ years ago. That's what Toyota was thinking about. Toyota doesn't have a fetish for punishing American buyers by not offering options. They do their diligence, and make a business decision on what to offer a particular market.
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Lately, I've been enamored about an ls3 or some flavor of 4th gen vortec 6.0 with an h152f. Someday.
This is my dream drivetrain -
No BS DOD/AFM nonsense. Factory tuned at 400+ hp and 464 ft lbs torque on 87 grade pump gas.
quickdrawbrand.com
I love the NV4500 in my bumpside ford, but want something more polished for the 80. They also make a shift relocation kit to pull it back 5 inches.
www.axisindustriesusa.com
Mated all up to the factory transfer case.
I can't imagine an 80 series being more fun than that.
In an alternate universe where some curly haired punk in the Bahamas hasn't effed my tech portfolio, I'm calling SNLC to make it happen.
Here in reality I can still probably make it happen, put I'll need to space out the drive line purchases over a year or two, then spend the next 2 years night and weekending it.
No BS DOD/AFM nonsense. Factory tuned at 400+ hp and 464 ft lbs torque on 87 grade pump gas.
Transmission & Adapter – GM LS to Tremec TR4050 5 speed 4×4
Chevy LS v8 to Tremec TR4050 5 Speed transmission and Bell Housing
quickdrawbrand.com
I love the NV4500 in my bumpside ford, but want something more polished for the 80. They also make a shift relocation kit to pull it back 5 inches.
Toyota HF2A to Jeep 23 Spline
Axis Industries is Committed to Engineering, and Manufacturing the Highest Quality, American Made Off-Road Product. Cummins Swap, Jeep, Ram
Mated all up to the factory transfer case.
I can't imagine an 80 series being more fun than that.
In an alternate universe where some curly haired punk in the Bahamas hasn't effed my tech portfolio, I'm calling SNLC to make it happen.
Here in reality I can still probably make it happen, put I'll need to space out the drive line purchases over a year or two, then spend the next 2 years night and weekending it.
With my limited knowledge and lack of research, I was always a little unsure with the ECU swap neccasary for running the 5 speed how it would deal with a supercharger. After all it is a OBD1 ECU.
Come to find out it does indeed work! For your viewing please here is a supercharged and manual swapped LX450 I came across while scrolling Bring a Trailer.
bringatrailer.com
It looks awfuly good with that Delta console. I wish they would add a driving video.
Come to find out it does indeed work! For your viewing please here is a supercharged and manual swapped LX450 I came across while scrolling Bring a Trailer.
No Reserve: Supercharged 1996 Lexus LX450 5-Speed
Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: Supercharged 1996 Lexus LX450 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #133,041.
It looks awfuly good with that Delta console. I wish they would add a driving video.
Chiming in on this thread for future readers - I swapped (two of) my 1991 US spec 80(s) over to manual using a factory H150F setup.
I found the transmission and associated parts on gumtree.au (like their kijiji/craigslist). After I got in contact with the guy, we arranged to have him palletize the following that were needed for the swap:
In total, it was $1500AUD for the used parts, ~$500CAD for the new parts, and $1400CAD for shipping. This was in 2020. I checked recently and I would be able to get shipping from Brisbane AU to Halifax CAN for $500CAD.
You have to do a lot of leg work yourself, but don't let the guys who sell you the "kits" make you believe this swap costs $8k USD. I was $3500CAD all in and if I did it again today it would be closer to $2500.
All of that said, it's the best money I've spent on the 80. It's a lot more fun to drive, the deeper gearing, extra gear, and losing the parasitic loss of the auto is a transformation. I really feel I'm getting the most out of the powerplant/platform now. Even with a 3FE, I've towed all sorts of stuff (up to 6000 pounds) on the highway. Is it slow? Definitely. But it does this stuff without "drama" now where before it was a pain in the hole. I don't think twice about hooking on a 3000lb trailer and dragging it wherever.
Acceleration is improved, highway speed holding is dramatically improved (rarely ever a downshift due to always being in the powerband), mpg is improved (about 2-3 mpg across the board), fun factor is improved, versatility of the platform is improved. With my 6500lb touring-kitted 80, I can still knock down 15-17mpg on highway trips if I keep speeds to around 60, manage 13-15 mpg mixed driving being careful, or average 12.5 and enjoy keeping up with traffic.
Downsides are the slack in the drivetrain is a little more pronounced, mostly an early-80 series thing probably.
I found the transmission and associated parts on gumtree.au (like their kijiji/craigslist). After I got in contact with the guy, we arranged to have him palletize the following that were needed for the swap:
- transmission (H150F)
- clutch pedal and box
- master cylinder
- slave cylinder
- bellhousing
- engine adaptor plate (not convinced this is needed)
- flywheel
- driveshafts (front is shorter, rear is longer)
- shifters and linkage for transfer case
- clutch pressure plate
- clutch disc
- flywheel bolts
- pressure plate bolts
- pilot bearing
- master cylinder rebuild kit
- slave cylinder rebuild kit
- LHD shift boots
- shifter bushing
- pedal pads
In total, it was $1500AUD for the used parts, ~$500CAD for the new parts, and $1400CAD for shipping. This was in 2020. I checked recently and I would be able to get shipping from Brisbane AU to Halifax CAN for $500CAD.
You have to do a lot of leg work yourself, but don't let the guys who sell you the "kits" make you believe this swap costs $8k USD. I was $3500CAD all in and if I did it again today it would be closer to $2500.
All of that said, it's the best money I've spent on the 80. It's a lot more fun to drive, the deeper gearing, extra gear, and losing the parasitic loss of the auto is a transformation. I really feel I'm getting the most out of the powerplant/platform now. Even with a 3FE, I've towed all sorts of stuff (up to 6000 pounds) on the highway. Is it slow? Definitely. But it does this stuff without "drama" now where before it was a pain in the hole. I don't think twice about hooking on a 3000lb trailer and dragging it wherever.
Acceleration is improved, highway speed holding is dramatically improved (rarely ever a downshift due to always being in the powerband), mpg is improved (about 2-3 mpg across the board), fun factor is improved, versatility of the platform is improved. With my 6500lb touring-kitted 80, I can still knock down 15-17mpg on highway trips if I keep speeds to around 60, manage 13-15 mpg mixed driving being careful, or average 12.5 and enjoy keeping up with traffic.
Downsides are the slack in the drivetrain is a little more pronounced, mostly an early-80 series thing probably.
What year 80 series did you source the parts from? And I didn't see and ECU in your parts list? Don't you need the manual ecu?
TIA
I knew there was a reason I felt at home and comfortable in Sierra Leone, Suriname, Benin and Cartagena.