Ke55 4age transmission options

[bfhoovey]

Hi, I recently just picked up a rolling shell ke55, and I have plans to buy a 4age to give it a bit more grunt once its running. My biggest problem is sourcing a T50 transmission, as I can only find 1 online and none on marketplace. W series gear boxes also are expensive, needing lots of work and conversion kits for big $$$. Are there any alternatives or ways of sourcing T50 transmissions besides biding time for one to pop on sale? And what drive shaft and differential would I have to use? (I imagine the factory ke55 wont work, I haven't seen much information on it and have limited knowledge about anything connected behind the engine)

Thanks so much for any help

[altezzaclub]

The conversion you're planning is the simplest for a KE70 as that motor/gearbox were in it from the factory. However... they are getting older and older, more worn out, and harder to find.  I'm not sure if doing a KE55 is as simple as a KE70 and I wonder what else you have thought about. Something at least 20years younger would be good!

The 2AZ would be one, and Littleredspirit on here has done that. I think an MX5 would be a replacement when I've ruined my 4AGE, a more modern, similar lightweight 4cyl that comes in RWD with a 6-speed on the back of it, and only 10years old. The 3SGE is getting popular, although that's another tall motor like the 2AZ. At least it takes the J160 6-speed from factory, although you'll be widening the transmission tunnel to fit it in.

Really, I'd love an i30 N-line turbo'd 1.6L in mine, smooth power that blitzes a 4AGE, far more economical too, but turning it 90deg would be a killer.

The diff you have currently will do, and the driveshaft will probably have to be custom made to length anyway. Wiring in the ECU will drive you mad, and ancillaries like radiators, exhaust systems and hydraulic clutches all add to the price. I don't know if the 4AGE will drop straight onto the motor mounts in a KE55 and if the sump has clearance, but you might have just as big a job to fit it as any motor.

Read "How to tackle that engine conversion" and make a list, figure out the pitfalls and let us know what you reckon. You can wait for a T50, but buy the bearing kit first as they are even harder to get hold of! If not, buy an Altezza j160 6-speed and a conversion plate from NZ, and put that on a  4AGE.

 

..and we recently had to replace a V6 in an Isuzu ute, a GM/Commodore motor, and the brand new alloy 3.6L short block with pistons and everything assembled from factory was $800!!  A pair of heads with cams, valves and everything was a similar price!  So we get a factory-new motor for about $2500... imagine another trouble-free 200,00km in your KE55!

Edited July 27, 2025 by altezzaclub

[bfhoovey]

13 hours ago, altezzaclub said:

The conversion you're planning is the simplest for a KE70 as that motor/gearbox were in it from the factory. However... they are getting older and older, more worn out, and harder to find.  I'm not sure if doing a KE55 is as simple as a KE70 and I wonder what else you have thought about. Something at least 20years younger would be good!

The 2AZ would be one, and Littleredspirit on here has done that. I think an MX5 would be a replacement when I've ruined my 4AGE, a more modern, similar lightweight 4cyl that comes in RWD with a 6-speed on the back of it, and only 10years old. The 3SGE is getting popular, although that's another tall motor like the 2AZ. At least it takes the J160 6-speed from factory, although you'll be widening the transmission tunnel to fit it in.

Really, I'd love an i30 N-line turbo'd 1.6L in mine, smooth power that blitzes a 4AGE, far more economical too, but turning it 90deg would be a killer.

The diff you have currently will do, and the driveshaft will probably have to be custom made to length anyway. Wiring in the ECU will drive you mad, and ancillaries like radiators, exhaust systems and hydraulic clutches all add to the price. I don't know if the 4AGE will drop straight onto the motor mounts in a KE55 and if the sump has clearance, but you might have just as big a job to fit it as any motor.

Read "How to tackle that engine conversion" and make a list, figure out the pitfalls and let us know what you reckon. You can wait for a T50, but buy the bearing kit first as they are even harder to get hold of! If not, buy an Altezza j160 6-speed and a conversion plate from NZ, and put that on a  4AGE.

 

..and we recently had to replace a V6 in an Isuzu ute, a GM/Commodore motor, and the brand new alloy 3.6L short block with pistons and everything assembled from factory was $800!!  A pair of heads with cams, valves and everything was a similar price!  So we get a factory-new motor for about $2500... imagine another trouble-free 200,00km in your KE55!

Hey mate, I really appreciate all the suggestions! I will look into the other engines you recommended. The 4AGE just has a pedigree that I love, but that's the tradeoff for an engine with high demand, low supply and whatnot. On a custom drive shaft, Is is the case that you just have the right ends for the end of the transmission and into the diff, then welding the right length pipe to each end? Just figuring out if it could be ajob that I could tackle myself or if it would be less of a headcahe outsourcing that to someone else. Cheers!

[altezzaclub]

Definitely have a driveshaft shop do it. I had mine done in Melbourne by Mr Knox, who does a lot of the Skylines Downunder club's. Yes, get the correct ends and they will weld it to any length you like, and balance it.

I reckon Toyota were just lucky the 4AGE worked as well as it did, they lucked in on a small light motor that revs impressively. Its still got no more torque than any other 1600cc twin-cam, but Initial D made it a cult classic.  There's no modern replacement unfortunately, although some lovely East-West motors with no mounting holes for North-South..

[parrot]

Keep it simple.  I would stick to a late T50 and just expect you will need to wait for something to come up.  They are of course gold plated and parts difficult to get.  Seriously look at perhaps getting one from yahoo Japan.  May in fact be cheaper.  Also for a suitable tailshaft (see below)

You don't need anything stronger, it will bolt up and also fits within the transmission tunnel.

The rear axle is going to require modification no matter what.  Best bet is a 6.7 inch rear end from an early Celica.  Coil sprung so will need modification to leaf springs, and potentially narrowing.  6.7 inch rear is what 4AGE equipped Sprinters used standard and gives you easy access to LSD's. Tailshaft is awkward as you need a front yoke to suit the T50, and a rear to suit the 6.7 inch.  That means ideally an AE86 tailshaft; or an AE71 front and early celica rear.

Read up on T50's as basically there are three versions, and you need the later one.

You are of course a prime target for scammers, and what you need is in demand.  So be careful, if you want it tomorrow you will pay through the nose.  If you can wait and keep a lookout whilst doing other things, you may save some cash.

[bfhoovey]

I think so far the biggest snag I ma running into is finding any transmission suitable for an engine swap. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places but the closest thing I have managed to find is a w56 manual transmission for a decent price, would you know if that would be suitable for a 4AGE or 2AZ? It's hard finding information and determining what will fit. But of course, if a T50 is what will be best then I'll have to keep an eye out. 

[parrot]

The conversion has been done countless times over the years.  We put a 4AGE in a KE55 back in about 1990.  Nothing has changed, except the ease of finding parts.  The w56 (if it can be bolted onto the back of a 4AGE - I don't know), will likely be too big for the tunnel, and heavy.  Whatever you do will require engineering so you will need to be careful what you do.  Have a look at the Rollaclub Rides thread - there will doubtless be examples there.

Craig Foster is likely a good place to start in your search for parts

https://justjdmimports.com/

[parrot]

Here's one on Yahoo Japan just for an example.  There are various options to have things brought from japan.  Costs vary.

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/e1178794730

If you find a T50 without a shift lever, or clutch fork, reverse switch, clutch bearing carrier, be aware these parts can also be hard to find and expensive if sourced separately.

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n1193665501

The donor tailshaft MUST be from a 4AGE equipped AE86.  Lesser specification AE86's had different rear end and thus a smaller yoke at the diff end.

[bfhoovey]

Ok, sweet! thank you so much for the help. Cheers man

[altezzaclub]

..and those three different versions of the T50, make sure  you know which one you have before ordering parts!

The AE85 in Japan, in Aussie the domestic AE86 and AE71, all used the 4AC motor, which had the exhaust on the driver's side. Their T50 has the clutch slave on the passengers side, so putting that g'box on a 4AGE means the exhaust is jammed against the slave cylinder and heats up the rubber hose. Sadly those boxes are the usual one in Aussie of course.

Edited July 28, 2025 by altezzaclub

[parrot]

You will see boxes identified as JDM. Effectively what they are likely saying is that it has a different bellhousing that situates the clutch slave on the drivers side to avoid the exhaust. BUT do check. The bellhousing is a bolt on and may have been swapped. 
 

JDM is a confusing term that supposedly refers to the higher levels of specification with emphasis on the sportier bits. In reality there were a huge variety of specification in Japan from shopping trolleys to high end specification

[bfhoovey]

Cool beans. So if it lists it as a 4age t50, would that indicate that it would be the correct one with the slave cylinder on the correct side? Or would I need to be more specific in identifying which bell housing it has. I'll have to do some more research before commiting to buying one so I don't purchase one that useless and can't make my money back on. 

[parrot]

Not necessarily. Someone may have swapped the bellhousing in the last 40yrs. If the clutch fork is on the right hand side of the car then all is well. If it’s on the passenger side of the car, the hydraulic hose will run close. There are ways to manage this, braided hose, side outlet adaptor. But if you are buying a complete transmission, it won’t add anything to the cost these days. 
 

As an example. There is a transmission on rollaclub Facebook page right now for a $1000. Described as a JDM T50. But the bellhousing has the clutch slave on the passenger side. It also has no shift lever or shifter. So this reinforces that describing a T50 as JDM is meaningless. 
 

Buyer beware. Again I would look at getting something on Yahoo Japan

[bfhoovey]

Hey fellas. I'm just considering and figuring out the costs of potentially using a 4azge instead of a 4age for additional horsepower. Would you guys have any idea if the t50 transmission would be strong enough for a forced induction engine? Barring that, would it be cheaper to just turbo a 4age with a t50 or would the added costs of finding a w58 (and the other necessary parts like the tailsahft and potentially a different diff/rear axle) be cheaper? I just want to test the waters of the idea. Cheers

[parrot]

4AGE's are getting a bit long in the tooth whether you look at turboing a 4AG or fiddling with a 4AGZE.  As I said earlier, have a look through the ride threads.  Someone has always been there before you and dealt with the same issues.

You may want to consider a later model engine, not necessarily from a Toyota.