AE112R six-speed conversion?

[Dan4096]

I have a manual Corolla Ascent from 2000, been having problems with the gearbox just recently, won't shift into 5th or reverse easily (requires more effort).

My mechanic says the problem is a shaft not moving correctly for those gears, and the problem will be expensive to fix and that it would probably be worth getting a new gearbox from another car of the same type.

I've always thought since I got the car that it could do with a sixth gear, would that be viable? What sort of gearbox would I get/what car would I get such a gearbox from?

Thanks for helping a noob! :)

[Hiro]

You'll need a C160 from a blacktop AE111 Levin - should bolt straight up to the 7AFE block, but I'm not sure what combo you'll need to come up with for clutch and starter motor, as well as mounts (3 of the 4 engine mounts in an A-series are actually gearbox mounts, and I think one of the C160 mounts is different). Also, C160s tend to be a bit expensive

The thing you'll find though is that the C160 isn't really that suited to the 7A, it's not a standard 5-speed with an extra tall gear added on the top, it's a close-ratio box so cruising in 6th in the C160 won't be much different to 5th in your current C52.

[123R-Prozak]

5th and reverse ? I'd get a 2nd opinion on that one..

[Dan4096]

@ Hiro: Thanks for that! You seem very knowledgeable, do you know of anyone who has done this conversion for a 101-112 series car?

@ 123R-Prozak: I will be going to a transmission specialist for a second opinion, of course :)