Corolla Liftback Transmission & Differential Questions

[skipper28]

Before I start, Id like to say hello from newb here and I must say this site is such an informative site for car enthusiast.

I have a question about my 81' 2door corolla liftback w/c I think some things may not be right with this car. I bought the car 2 years ago from the proceeds when I sold my 1.4 lancer box type 84mod. I think the transmission or probably the differential are not the original anymore.

The car comes with the standard 2T engine, with 5speed trans. The width of my rear differential is a lot shorter than the front width of the wheels. Width in front is 62ins, while rear measures 61ins with spacers already installed. If I take off the rear spacers width would then become a shorter. Could my differential be coming from another make? Weird isnt it?

2nd, the car has so much power (yes I can feel it) even in full seating capacity, but barely has no kick in between gear shifts and has difficulty in making regular dash, pick-up speeds, say from 2nd to 3rd then to 4th. Its quite slow but you can sense theres power in it somewhere. Could the trasmission come also from a different car make? A low speed transmission probably, or the transmission does not match the differential gears? My previous 1400cc box type was a lot more powerful, I believe. Able to pass cars uphill and even overtake on 4th gears. But sadly I had to let go of it.

How do I know if my transmission and differential are the right type for the said engine? I hate to think there could be something wrong with the engine, this engine is ultra reliable and have never given me so far any problem.

Would appreciate everyones expert advice.

Thanks and be safe everyone.

[wildthing]

malamang tama ang tranny mo pero baka sliding ang clutch....

[Hayward]

Welcome to Tsikot bro!
IMHO, your tranny and the differential are not matched (high speed transmission with a low speed differential gear ratio.) Better have it checked by an expert.

[skipper28]

wildthing; couldnt be. my pressure plate, clutch lining, release bearing are all brand new and just over a little year old. this car is a city car and nothing more. i could not be damaging the lining, the pressure plate with my casual driving. i can still screech-burn the tires if i want to. what it lacks is the extra ooomph in changing between gears. it lacks the responsiveness so to speak.

Hayward; yan rin supetsa ko. but i could not find someone here in davao that is good with transmission and differentials. how can we tell anyway if the tranny is high speed or low speed? same with the differential!!???

[wildthing]

in that case the diffential you have is probably a donor differential and not the original....kailangan mong ipabukas ang differential and count the teeth of the ring and pinion gears.

[skipper28]

wildthing; your probably right also. kasi when i measured the width of the differential from tire to tire shorter sya compared sa front. rear is just 61ins with 2 spacers na. while the front measures 62 ins. with one spacer.

if i have the differential opened and count the teeth of the ring and pinion gears what would it tell me ba? does a fewer teeth ring suggest low gear differential? if it has more teeth ring does it mean high speed differential ba sya? please enlighten. also, can i possibly change differential gears while retaining the whole of the differential itself?

thanks.