transmission issues

[blutroop]

I've read a few places that these transmissions or transaxles? are only good for about 100 hp, and that they are starting to get scarce. Due to my very limited alaska internet I cant search as much as Id like or watch any tech vids. My main question is.. What usually fails on these trannies? Is there a common weak link or is it just hard finding syncros bearings and hard parts? Could things like heat treating gears make these boxes capable of more hp? Also is the front ring gear the same as the rear or is it a totally different style?

[xirdneh]

internet at the library is how i watch videos cause i am on dial-up at home
i have heard the trannys are not strong enough for more powerful engines
most of the trannies gone bad that i have messed with did so cause gear oil was too low
seals go bad but go un-noticed and the oil slowly drips away
the inner input shaft bearing goes bad now and then, the way to tell is noise while idleing stops when clutch pedal is pressed down
there are two large bearings in front of tranny, largest one on main idler gearset and one slightly smaller on output shaft
when they start to go bad you will hear the growling all the time while driving, if you get the tranny out before the bearing totally goes out, the tranny can be fixed. if you wait till bearing blows out the pieces will wipe out a bunch of gears.
new synchros are almost impossible to find, have to find good used ones. any tercel 83-88 2wd or 4wd with inline motor will have interchangable parts. i grab any 2wd tranny i can get for spare synchros

[irowiki]

Technically the 80-82 manual tercels will have a compatible transmission too.