How to Manual Swap a GS300 Using a W58
I bought this GS300 with intentions to throw a spare W58 I had laying around. This is my biggest project yet. I had learned all my mechanical skill from YouTube and friends. The biggest task I have done by myself was doing the timing belt on my IS300. I wanted to tackle this strategically and install as many parts as I can while the car is still drivable and save the removal and install of the transmission at the end. For the step by step video, please check out our How-to Guides.
The first thing I did was relocate the the parking brake to a pull hand brake using Heat Lightning Speed Adapter. It uses a SC300/400 handbrake and mounts it in an OEM looking location. Next I installed a clutch using the Heat Lightning Speed remote reservoir clutch kit. This kit allows you to install a clutch with out drilling any holes and uses factory points to mount the clutch. Now I had the clutch in place and ready for the manual transmission.
The next step was to remove the automatic transmission. This required to remove the exhaust manifold all the way back to the mufflers. Remove the drive shaft and drain the transmission. Then remove the cover on the bell housing to remove the bolts on the torque converter. Remove the shifter from the interior and loosen the motor mounts to help tilt the transmission to remove the bellhousing bolts. Remove the transmission crossmember and begin to take out all the bolts around the bellhousing. Remove any wiring attached and then pull out the transmission.
The next step is to prep the W58 for the swap. The shifter on the transmission needs to be extended. I extended mine about 3 inches. This requires you to extended the housing and the rod inside the transmission. Next you can install the clutch and flywheel. I used a flywheel from an SC300 and a OEM SC300 Clutch Kit. This is the best time to change your rear main seal. Install the transmission and use the Xcessive Manufacturing crossmember and Transmission Mount. You will need a custom drive shaft which I ordered from Drift Motion. You will also need to cut out the transmission tunnel slightly for the shifter to sit centered.
After the transmission is in, you can now connect the Clutch Master to the Slave using the line the Heat Lightning provides in their kit. Fill up the fluids and transmission. Next you will need to jump the neutral safety to allow the car to start or you can install the AT EMU . This will allow the car to start as well and allow full use of VVTI. Now your car should be able to start and drive one everything is back together.