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AW70 died in my '93, now the car is sitting at the shop awaiting Monday morning. When I get the car back, I want the transmission to give me no trouble ever again. What is my best chance: Rebuild or replace?
A generous T'Bricker nearby has offered me an AW71 for free that has something like 230k miles on it, I believe. I could get back on the road in a day and pay only a few hours labor, likely.
However, as I love this car and don't intend to get rid of it for many years, I want the best. The car is sitting in front of the shop of one of the better transmission guys in the area. I'm sure he can rebuild it, and I assume he'll guarantee his work. But it comes with a price.
A LOT of RWD guys say, "Don't waste your money on a rebuild, just swap it." But...anything I find is going to have served at least half of it's useful life already, and I intend to keep this car until...well, until it's beyond help and I send it to the great boneyard in the sky. Surely a good rebuild would last longer?
There is another possibility: Given the symtoms of my tranny's death, it may have been just the pump that died. Until the day of it's demise, I still had a pretty strong pull when the gear actually engaged, indicating that the clutches may be fine (I've never seen a lot of fibers in the fluid either). If the pump is the only problem, can that be replaced alone, thus saving money on the rebuild?
Thanks guys,
Sean
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Thanks guys!
Among the options suggested, I think I'll replace mine with the aw71 I was offered and then rebuild mine as I have time.
Manual swap? No. As Ryan said, if you deal with stop-and-go traffic a stick can be a drag. Well, the Washington DC metro area has been, by some reckonings, rated the 2nd worst traffic in the country. I think I'll keep the autobox. I actually have never had a problem with the auto tranny in 240's, you know, as long as they're working properly.
Lockup? Would be nice, and maybe I'll look for a good deal on one, but right now I'm stuck borrowing a car and I HATE driving someone else's car; no matter how nice it may be, it never fits. I don't have time to seek out an aw71-L.
If the tranny guy thinks it's just the pump, I may tell him to go ahead and replace the pump, but otherwise I think I'll go pick up an aw71 Monday and have it swapped.
Thanks guys, I appreciate the voice(s) of experience.
--
'93 244: 'A' cam 4 deg. advanced, 25/22 sways, custom heim endlinks, poly bushings, and a lot more styling customization than I care to recount.
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Hi Sean,
Definitely replace not rebuild... especially by one of the chains. My daughter's 1st car ('90 740) was purchased very inexpensively with a problem tranny. As it turns out that one was a rebuild and still had a warrantee on it so i gave it back to Aamco to be covered under warrantee. They did it again with much hemming and hawing and my getting corporate involved. Long story short... this one lasted about 2 months. I ended up getting a used one from a local yard and never had a problem again.
Dan
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Honestly.... and research this slightly... get a AW7X-L trans from a late 740 or 940. The "L" stands for "love".... no, "lockup" torque converter. The car will be quieter and more fuel efficient on the highway, as the lock-up provides all to the benefits of a manual transmission above 45mph. Should be a direct swap. At most you'll need to swap the tailshaft in some cases. If you've never driven a 740/940 with the lock-up, you'll be surprised by the difference it makes.
Or you could do the M47 swap... which is nice if your commute is more "go" than "stop n' go"... but if you're in traffic most of the time, the stick is a a bit of a drag... as is finding a late model M47 flywheel. Plus if you're having a shop do the work, forget it.
Don't forget the rear main seal while the trans is off. Might as well!
Good luck!
-Ryan
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Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 314k, Dog-mobile
1990 245 DL 134k M47, E-codes, GT Sway Bars
1991 745 GL 295k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars
Buckeye Volvo Club
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If you were looking for the "lock-up" automatic transmission from a late 740 or 940, how could you tell what transmission is in the car? I don't think the transmission is detailed in the VIN code. Is it specified on a sticker somewhere, or did all models have them after a certain date?
Thanks very much!
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The rule of thumb is that all non-turbo 740/940's have the lock up AW, the turbo's do not. May be exceptions... but here in the US, the rule should hold up 99% of the time.
To be sure, the transmission should have the info on the ID plate. An "L" in the model number denotes the lock-up. It may be coded in the VIN as well. I know the dealership can tell with the VIN.
-Ryan
--
Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 314k, Dog-mobile
1990 245 DL 134k M47, E-codes, GT Sway Bars
1991 745 GL 295k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars
Buckeye Volvo Club
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My suggestion would be take the trans you are being offered and fit it taking the one you have off and rebuild that yourself. People put a huge mystique around auto boxes but it is all simple stuff if you have the full manual and work slowly and methodically changing all wear items you end up with an as new box AND you know it has been rebuilt properly with the right quality bits. If you have the other trans on there is no time pressure to do it in one weekend.
Regards,
Checkpoint Charlie
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posted by
someone claiming to be stick boy
on
Fri Nov 23 18:10 CST 2007 [ RELATED]
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Stick is the way to go. Are you going to put another peddle to the metal or are you going to "stick" with the same ol "cwap" and complain for the rest of your 240's existance?
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1) you can get an adapter in order to install a 200, 350, 400, 700r4 chevy tranny. bit o' skill & even better tool kit is required to complete the swap but it can definitely be done.
2) manual swap as suggested. dont forget with the manual tranny you'll need the rear (different gear ratio) too.
3) junk yard aw70-71 pickens. maybe find a late model one with a lock up converter -so you get a little mpg & performance too.
4) rebuild. it can be done. the parts (clutches, bands, pumps, etc) are available on toyota websites. shit is expensive compared to chevy trannies but you did say you loved your car.
if you go to turbobricks.com & do a good, long, hard search (i have recently read several threads in the TB archives by people who have rebuilt aw trannies), there are a couple of good "polishing a turd" threads.
--
(http://drevilspinazzz.ytmnd.com)
'Be who you are and say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter.' - Dr.Seuss
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Sean:
Don't mess with a rebuild at a local shop. This isn't folkore, but for some dang reason the local trans shops have a hard time getting the right parts, or assembling them correctly.
My recommendation it so find one on the bone yard where the fluid is still kinda red. It will serve you far better than a rebuild.
jorrell
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92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!
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