Caldina Auto to Manual Conversion

[Norton]

Hi All,

I am the happy owner of a 1997 Caldina GTT Auto with some basic mods (FMIC, Dump & Exhaust, Boost Controller, Ultimate Emanage Piggyback)

I have been lucky enough to secure a manual conversion kit for a great price and will be installing this myself. I am ok with all of the remove and install (Done quite a few engine/box remove and refits) but I need a bit of advise regarding the electrics.

Can I use the Auto ECU? What will need to be done to allow the manual conversion to work? I am concerned with the VSC and Auto computer....

Any assistance would be appreciated.

[fivebob]

From the number of people who have transplanted ST215 engines in MR2s there don't appear to be issues getting the Auto ECU to run the engine with a manual gearbox. The only issue that comes to mind is the neutral start switch, but that's easy to overcome.

However you could potentially run into problems with the interface to the ABS/TRC/VSC computer. It may throw an error on the Yaw Rate sensor which relies on the gear position indicator to validate the sensor input. I don't think this will put the engine into limp mode, but it may disable the VSC.

The only other difference between a manual and Auto ST215 is that the manual has a LSD and the Auto is an open diff, but has VSC possibly to make up for the lack of LSD.

[Norton]

Thanks Fivebob. From what I have read the end result will be deactivated VSC.....Not a big issue as I will be installing the LSD rear diff.

Any advise or comments from from members who have succesfully completed this conversion?

I will start a thread covering the conversion, hopefully if all goes well it will assist other members in future conversion attempts (even if it turns to s**t it will at least tell you what NOT to do ).

[Lac]

What sort of power you pulling with those mods? What dump have you got?

Cheers'

[Norton]

Last dyno run showed 183kw at all 4 wheels running 17psi but this was pre FMIC (Was running W2A Intercooler but this proved to be a little too restrictive). Also ran it at 15psi and managed 170kw (This is where I run it day to day).

I run a 3" dump from Driven Performance (NZ). Does cause a bit of boost spike with a full 3" exhaust (in between gear changes).