How do I tell the correct tranny replacement?

My84terc · Post by **My84terc** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:03 pm

My transmission is toast. I know different years had different gears, will that make a difference on the rear end? How do I tell if the gears are correct. Most junkyards and JDM places just have them listed as 83-88 4wd manual trannys. Is any year okay or is there a difference?

Post by **Mattel** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:58 pm

You want to get a pre-85 transmission/front end for your '84 or if you get a later model 85 onwards get the rear end as well and swap that while you are there as it's not to major a job. do some searches as there are plenty of threads on this question here.. good luck with it all

takza · Post by **takza** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:27 am

I think the trans itself is the same thru all T4WD years...just that the '82-'84 diff is a different ratio than the later years. Info in the repair section on doing the trans alone.

My84terc · Post by **My84terc** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:02 pm

Is there a way to tell what rear end gear ratio I have? I'm wondering this because the few times I've used the 4wd I have to practically use a hammer to go back into 2wd. A transmission place said to find out what numbers were on the gear that the speedometer cable goes into. Hopefully I can figure this out, can't afford a rear end too.

Shannon · Post by **Shannon** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:11 pm

When you replace the transmission on the 4WD tercel both the front and back differential gear must be the same ratio. 8/82 - 8/84 is the 3.73 ratio and thereafter is 4.1. The 4.1 transmission is much easier to find. If you need to put in a different ratio transmission the back differential gear must match. Supposedly, if you mark your wheel (tire) and do one full revolution while counting the turns of your driveshaft that will tell you the ratio you currently have (by counting the driveshaft revolutions) within one wheel revolution.

sdoan · Post by **sdoan** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:13 pm

I believe you can pull the cover on the diff attached to the tranny and count the teeth on the ring. ( from memory I think it is supposed to be 11 teeth on the early version on 10 on the later - but not sure of this and you should confirm!) Not certain, but it is probably the same as the number of teeth on the ring in the rear diff so you could pull that and look there to confirm that they have the same ratio.

To find the ratio on the rear diff without taking it apart you can disconnect the driveline and jack up one rear wheel. Turn the driveline flange or the rear wheel and count the number of turns. The flange should make either 3.9 (3.7?) or 4.1 turns for a single turn of the rear wheel.

Shannon · Post by **Shannon** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:14 pm

Also, when I change from 4wd to 2wd I make sure my steering wheel is straight and the car is moving forward a bit, and then it seems to shift easily. If I am just sitting it doesn't want to shift.

My84terc · Post by **My84terc** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:44 pm

Okay, I may have to go with a newer tranny and worry about the rear end later. If I get a JDM engine (from Japan) is there things that are different since there cars are right hand drive? Also, in the future is it easier to change the rear end out or just change the gears?

takza · Post by **takza** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:17 am

Shannon wrote:Also, when I change from 4wd to 2wd I make sure my steering wheel is straight and the car is moving forward a bit, and then it seems to shift easily. If I am just sitting it doesn't want to shift.

It's in a bind. If you turn the front wheels the other way and move forward or backwards it will unbind. Just don't force the lever.

Practice on some gravel till you get how it works?

takza · Post by **takza** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:19 am

My84terc wrote:Okay, I may have to go with a newer tranny and worry about the rear end later. If I get a JDM engine (from Japan) is there things that are different since there cars are right hand drive? Also, in the future is it easier to change the rear end out or just change the gears?

If the trans you end up with has the diff on it...you can just take it off and mate the trans to your current front diff.

Post by **Petros** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:56 am

to change the rear diff, the easiest thing is to replace the whole center carrier assembly with the diff in it. That way you will not change the gear lash adjustment. Swapping out the gears you have get the clearances and the lash correct by using shims between the carrier and the diff bearings. A lot of work and if you do not get them set properly you can trash the diff.

I have not done it, but the front diff and its housing I think can be unbolted from the trans as a unit, and you can swap that out without having to reset the front lash either.

Good luck.

My84terc · Post by **My84terc** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:36 pm

Well, I found the correct transmission at a wrecking yard yesterday, had it put in today, and it seems to run good. Hopefully it will do so for a while, right before Christmas I had to replace the engine, then last week the trans went! Rough month or two. By the way, if you need to tell the difference between the 83-84 and the 85-88 trannys, look at the gear for the speedometer that is in the transmission, the early ones have a "20" on the gear, the later ones have a "22" on it.

Shannon · Post by **Shannon** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:42 am

When using the method of jacking up the car to determine the gear ratio. The back is a free differential, meaning that the tires do not turn together. Therefore, you must turn the back tire 2 revolutions while counting the drive axle revolutions. If the back tired were to turn together it would be one revolution. Sorry, I did not make this clear in my last posting.

My84terc · Post by **My84terc** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:34 pm

I finally found a tranny at a junkyard. Seems okay. The 4wd works fine. Only trouble I can see is when I'm going uphill and need to downshift from 5th to 4th, I can't go directly into 4th. Have to go up to 3rd then down to 4th. Is this bad or just an inconvenience?

Post by **Petros** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:22 pm

It sounds like the shift linkage bushings might be worn out, or perhaps you are low on trans gear lube. Make sure the oil level is topped up. The bushings are little plastic inserts that are easy to get to from inside the car. You remove the center console and then lift out the snap ring. The shift lever should yank out, the plastic bush will be on the end of the shift lever. If you still have your old trans (or shift lever) you can swap it out, or replace the it with a new one from the dealer. I understand they do not cost much. There is another one I think that is harder to reach under the top cover, but I would try that one first. Also sometimes the ball on the shift lever gets worn and beat up and acts like that, if your old one is was good try swapping out the shift lever.

Good luck.

Tercel4WD.com

How do I tell the correct tranny replacement?

How do I tell the correct tranny replacement?

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