Auto to Manual: A Family Yaris Becomes a Track Car

[@chriskev3033]

I came from the new show on Donut, and since you mentioned something about Yaris track car in the video, I gotta check it out lmao. Honestly I'm so impressed by the quality of this video, kept my eyes glued to the screen for 16 minutes. Kind of encouraged me a little to work on my car too, since an auto Yaris is my first car lol. Please continue the Yaris build, I love it! Cheers from Indonesia!

[@ronaldentrekin4106]

Thank God for KZbin videos and the folks that took the time do show the rest of us . . . thanks Joey. Understand the pain, frustration and near euphoria on start up.

[@carrot7143]

I'm seriously impressed by the quality of this video, great job guys! Thank you for putting so much effort into this video and clearly documenting this procedure for idiots like me. Maybe one day my 07' Yaris Hatch can become a track car lol. Keep it up! I really hope to see more content from you!

[@RassoolRacing]

Hey thanks! Hopefully I can do more updates soon. We are putting in a new steering rack and short throw shifter next.

[@GraemeRobinson]

Interesting video, thanks for making the effort to post. I recently changed the clutch on my 2002 Echo manual, which is a very similar motor and layout. I did it by myself having never done a front wheel drive car clutch before and it took me a week and a half. It was a great learning experience and very satisfying to complete, as I'm sure you found with your more ambitious project of auto to manual conversion. Subbed.

[@FjordWindstar]

I love how well done and honest this is. Great work! Subbed!

[@sakitulia2284]

Loved the swap guys, enjoyed it at the end when you took the Yaris out with a MT🤙🤙

[@someguy3999]

Great job. There is a mid point in these projects where you just want to give up and junk the car, but the end is worth it.

[@spiralinglight]

Its how you know your about halfway done 😆😆 pretty much every car project

[@Hypersonik]

Well done guys! This is what cars and track driving is about!

[@anotherstar8125]

just subbed after watching a few of your vids... bro im happy for y9ou completing the AT to MT swap. I have looked as many "underdog" project cars. I like the JDM Kei sports cars too. After asking around on forums back in the day, people would just tell me to buy an MT car vs doing the swap.

[@TikTok-fs4se]

Really impressed & inspired, I have the same car but 1.4 diesel in white colour which I bought as a project, I don't know anything about cars but want to increase the power on it with lowest budget possible. Wish me luck!

[@AdventuresEveryday1]

My Yaris is a 2011 1.5L with a manual, it’s the 4dr hatchback in white like yours just 2 extra doors . I had a hell of a time finding a manual Yaris in my area, they kinda rare car , I think most folks went to the dealer and may have had the Yaris in mind but the salesman would push the Corolla, just a little more cash but they would get much more. I guess 🤷🏽 I’m enjoying your videos, your giving me ideas lol Thanks ✊

[@derpsmash9741]

My first car was an 08 Yaris hatchback. Hit a deer and sold it to a coworker who fixed it up and eventually moved to another state. Trying to locate him now 7 years later to see if he'll sell it back to me so I can have my first car back and rebuild it into something more fun, including a manual swap. Super interesting video!

[@RassoolRacing]

Good luck finding it!

[@derpsmash9741]

@@RassoolRacing thanks!

[@JaydenET]

I like the channel! This gives off a very Gears & Gasoline vibe. I will manual swap my Corolla one day, so this is going in the "for future reference" playlist. Did you use the auto harness? Where did you get the shifter, linkages, and pedal assy from? I plan on pulling it from the top since the Corolla has a giant engine bay and hood, and did so for my motor replacement.

[@marchaws]

Joey, I watched all your Versus videos and saw you on BtB with Jeremiah. Man I gotta say, you’re an amazing cinematographer seem like a hard worker and a great dude. Keep up the good work man!!!👌

[@marchaws]

And I’m very glad to say I subscribed to your channel now!

[@Billy57650]

Who’s here from Donut?

[@mertvak]

Iam!

[@5staranis800]

Me

[@lionelt.9124]

Ddddddd List!

[@arvin_arn]

Awesome video! This is what I need to do to my 08 Yaris so I can have more fun at the track and during my drives to work.

[@kasbien4485]

Thank you for taking the time to document this journey! I'm considering doing the same thing with my family's forever-yaris as well. I'm taking notes and doing lot's of homework first. A couple questions for you @Joey Rassool if you're still around: 1) Did you end up swapping starter motors? I see Rock Auto has separate part numbers for A/T vs M/T. 2) Was any additional wiring needed for the addition of the Clutch Neutral Safety Switch or for the M/T ECU? 3) Did you swap gauge clusters? 4) Did you have to drill holes for mounting the clutch pedal assembly?

[@RassoolRacing]

Hi Kellen, I used the same starter and haven't had any issues If you want to wire in the clutch neutral safety switch you'd, have to add that. Might be easier to just use an MT harness. I ended up swapping gauge clusters later, but it's still not working perfectly. The holes for the clutch pedal are part of mounting the clutch master cylinder.

[@kasbien4485]

@@RassoolRacing oh hey! Thanks for replying! 1) Good to know. That saves some coin. 2) So you kept jumper wire in place then for bypassing the safety switch? Does that compromise on anything else other than being able to start the car in gear if you weren't paying attention? 3) So it's not imperative to change clusters when you swap ECU's? I ask because my automatic has one of the "nicer" looking clusters of the few that exist. Would be cool to keep it. 4) Sorry, I should have been more specific. Did you have to drill holes into the firewall for mounting the clutch master cylinder?

[@RassoolRacing]

@@kasbien4485 1) 👍 2) I pulled two wires that were part of the plug going to the PRNDL selector, and twisted them together. 3) cluster isnt needed, but mine was a speedometer only. I switched to a tacho/speedo one, but it pulls speed from the abs sensor and my car didn't have abs. 4) yes. 4)

[@kasbien4485]

@@RassoolRacing Awesome. These answers help fill in the last few blanks for me. Last one: did the ECU from the M/T car plug right into your existing A/T harness or did you have to change some plugs/the wiring harness around?

[@RassoolRacing]

@@kasbien4485 the MT ECU fits an AT harness, yes

[@Joe_DeSantis]

I have a factory 5 speed MT yaris hatch 08. Out of all the issues this car has with becoming a track car by far the worst part is the gas pedal, and ultra delay. The suspension, which you addressed, is horrid from stock, but even that pals in comparison to how terrible the pedal is. I did a quick search and couldn't find much information other than border line unsafe hacks to rectify the problem. Super interested to hear more about each individual modification you did to your yaris. I was also looking into a rear disc break conversion, but that also looked like a royal pain. Love the videos, start filming all of the mods you do. I would have loved to see the suspension work.

[@RassoolRacing]

Suspension work coming soon cus my balance sucks right now. Injen makes a throttle response adjuster and I ran it when I was AT, but with the MT I unplugged it. To be honest I think it just moves the scale of acceleration, but doesn't help with delay. I think of all things, but cold air intake is making the biggest difference on throttle response. One of the strengths of a light FWD drive car is that you can squeeze the power on early on corner exit, but if you loose momentum, that throttle response is a pain.

[@Monstermayham]

I can't wait to see you guys driving the manual set up🤙🤙

[@willhaney96]

Totally Forgot that this is a FWD car... was wondering why you were dissembling the front end. It all makes sense now.

[@polloloci21]

Cool. Want to do this with my matrix. Not sure if I still want to - primarily a use I don’t have tons of free time.

[@K3NnY_G]

Great stuff, love the content you guys did a great job. Did the lightweight pullies on the engine make a noticeable difference? I was kinda surprised you went with an OEM flywheel as opposed to a lightweight option.

[@RassoolRacing]

Hey thanks! The crank pulley made a noticable difference. The other two were mainly asthetic I guess. Lightweight flywheel would have been great but it was 4 times the price of the OEM one. Also I've heard that having both a lightweight flywheel and a lightweight pulley can cause a harmonic imbalance in the crankshaft. I've also heard people disagree with that, but I figured it was one variable too many.

[@K3NnY_G]

Totally fair, and yeah those lightweight flywheels are costly; I'm for sure gonna track down a lightweight crank pulley when my Echo hatch makes the transition to track car.

[@osborney1951]

It is also my understanding that your engine (especially small engines) will wear out faster due to imbalances in the stroke cycle, if you want to install lighter parts, you need to have your engine blueprinted at a machine shop- basically have the engine re-designed for lighter components

[@spiralinglight]

Good on you just getting started. Enjoy

[@jurjankolthof8946]

Sick car and good video! You deserved my sub 100% my man

[@ianluisdiaztorres00]

Are you the guy from the new Donut show?

[@RassoolRacing]

Yep. Versus will be airing on Donut's KZbin channel every Saturday

[@5staranis800]

Yep

[@MinecraftableMan]

Thank goodness it doesn't anymore

[@nigglefiggle]

@@RassoolRacing How did you become part of Donut?

[@RassoolRacing]

@@nigglefiggle i submitted the Host/Writers packet that's available on their site. donut.media/pages/join-team-donut

[@bugatti1710]

man you deserve more subscibers

[@NM-jo3fi]

it's good to know you only need one new mount and nothing else

[@vctrsone]

I just got a trd Yaris 2006 1.5 came with full trd springs, shocks and bushes, exhuast and intake with 127k on the clock! I just put the vitz rs speedo in ! it has a propper tacho! you want to do that next!. you will have to extend the wires 35cm and reverse the wiring but its worth it for the dope jdm guages! Did you guys also do a throttle body upgrade from a larger toyota engine?

[@TwamZ]

Yo one of your neighbors is a new subscriber lol

[@ALE5six1]

20yr garage mechanic, I'm cheap w tools, but def recommend a decent Impact wrench/driver. Will save u so much time, effort and headaches.

[@RassoolRacing]

Not sure what you're saying. I have a torque wrench. Are you talking about an impact driver?

[@ALE5six1]

@RassoolRacing ah yes my bad, impact is what I meant 🤪 (will update) Bc you had to lower and take the vehicle off stands again to loosen bolts/nuts. With impact will save you that time.

[@李偉論]

I dont have a garage here in Hong Kong, if I have one I will do the same thing like you

[@mann_idonotreadreplies]

You can still track a Yaris auto 🤘

[@danillofrancisco872]

Great job! Do you know if a 3zr engine would retrofit a C series manual transmission too?

[@nidaldajani728]

Perhaps step #1 should be: Make sure you have a second car so you can go and fetch whatever you may need 😊

[@Am0rTorresss]

Hey hey I have a Toyota yaris (2012) I’ve been looking for a repair manual so I can transform my Yaris, but I haven’t had any luck looking for the book. Any suggestions?

[@lukehorning3404]

Interesting but painful to watch some of it but hope you guys do well with it

[@theedge508]

Thank you. long live the stick shift

[@koolone3791]

You need a 3S-GTE swap. You will have over 230hp and add disc brakes to the rear and slam it to the ground. Then we have a pocket rocket.

[@oscarespinosa3259]

Where you got the manual transmission ECU? I need to replace it for my 2007 manual yaris. Thanks a lot

[@RassoolRacing]

eBay

[@joeyhillers9460]

I’m tempted to keep my Echo beater, which is very similar to the Yaris. My plan would obviously be to Manual Edit: Found an echo with 300k miles, swap time baby

[@DesriqTV]

Hello, which two wires did you splice for a neutral safety switch? Thank you.

[@silkcutliveryjaguarxjr-9929]

Why did you stop doing versus on Donut :( I liked it. Edit: this is actually good lol

[@jam-oneintlsound8994]

Hi I have a question which two wire you use to bypass the safety switch

[@RassoolRacing]

I believe it was the brown and white wires plugged into the PRNDL selector on the original auto trans

[@nocap2462]

So the c53 gearbox works back on 1nzfe engine ? If so.. what axles and clutch kit needed .. im buying a complete 1nzfe engine without trans to swap into an ae92 coupe .. curious abt manual boxes that can work right back

[@RassoolRacing]

I'm not sure if the c53 works, mine was a c54. I since realized they might not be as plug and play as I thought (so it's lucky I got the right one).

[@jefabian86]

Can you give the details on your wheel and tire setup? I love the look.

[@RassoolRacing]

Konig Helium's 15x7 with Toyo R1Rs

[@jefabian86]

Joey Rassool tire size?

[@RassoolRacing]

@@jefabian86 205

[@motamark]

Hey, do hope you guys fitted a spigot bearing for gearbox input shaft ....pretty sure it needs one ...i could be wrong !

[@RassoolRacing]

Pilot bearing? I thought so too, but apparently the yaris doesn't have one 🤷

[@cristianportillo9834]

damn bro i think my yaris wants a stick and a clutch as well is getting tired of havig to shift by it self

[@_crg_]

those look like winter tyres

[@bondjoy6893]

Hey! Nice video) what engine is in your Yaris 1.3 or 1.5? Sorry for my English, I'm from russia)))

[@RassoolRacing]

1.5L

[@bondjoy6893]

Joey Rassool , Have you done any engine modifications?

[@RassoolRacing]

@@bondjoy6893 not really yet. Pulleys and an intake, but that's it. I have a Blitz supercharger ready to go on but Covid put my work on it to a halt since I was borrowing the garage. Hopefully I can get started again soon.

[@bondjoy6893]

Joey Rassool I understand you, I have the same Yaris, but with a 1.3L engine, so I am interested in your video. I like to tinker with my car, I made a good sound system, complete soundproofing of the body and now I think how to increase the engine power))))

[@RassoolRacing]

@@bondjoy6893 easiest power increase especially with a 1.3L, would be a 2ZR swap. Almost double the power and it's all bolt on.

[@KCDrives]

That's the first time I ever saw someone remove a crossmember to get an axle out on a Yaris.

[@RassoolRacing]

Not sure I "needed to" but i would have had to remove it anyway since it braces the trans.

[@KCDrives]

@@RassoolRacing You did a great job either way my dude.

[@ajanieproctor3848]

What wires did you splice

[@RassoolRacing]

Neutral switch to power. If I remember correctly, there the white and gray wires headed to the PRNDL plug that doesn't plug into the manual transmission

[@MillerEngineeringInc]

Which chasis are you using

[@RassoolRacing]

Ncp91

[@gilangyasodaputra4495]

I'm sorry. I'm just wondering if selling this yaris and get a manual yaris instead in the first place is cheaper. I'm from South East Asia by the way.

[@RassoolRacing]

Manuals are very uncommon in the US

[@gilangyasodaputra4495]

@@RassoolRacing I'm very sorry to hear that.

[@mrwooflew8891]

How much did it run you to full manual swap it

[@RassoolRacing]

Probably spent about $2,000 in total. But part of that was that I was buying upgraded parts like the clutch, and I was getting everything piecemeal. It would be much cheaper if you were pulling parts from the junkyard

[@abnermaldonado6665]

Which two wires did u cross ?

[@RassoolRacing]

Two from the connector that use to go into the auto gear selector. White and grey if I remember correctly

[@soehlaing6072]

mission impossible

[@coilstreeservice9398]

Wondering if it would've been easier to just pull the engine?🤔

[@RassoolRacing]

depends on what the goal is.

[@mertvak]

Donut brought me here!

[@turquemusic]

Hi bro! Can you send me the links where you read the wiring bypass please? Have the same car and same intentions haha

[@RassoolRacing]

I posted it about it in this Facebook group and someone helped me out I can't find the thread anymore but here's the link to the group. facebook.com/groups/107950166576753/?ref=share

[@WTFrabia]

How do you bypass the neutral safety?

[@RassoolRacing]

These the two wires that would go to the switch that you just have to splice. Couldn't tell you which ones, this swap was about a year ago.

[@kruiseorbruise]

Anybody know if it would also work to just swap a whole new yaris engine that’s already manual with the manual transmission, instead of just the transmission I figured it would work?

[@RassoolRacing]

Yes. But there are no differences in the engine from the automatic to the manual, so unless the engine is bad, there's no reason to do all that extra work

[@scoobygms210]

That’s ALOT of work without air tools lol

[@umar6962]

Bro whens the next video

[@RassoolRacing]

Literally making the thumbnail now :). Sorry, I took a brake from the yaris for a while, but now I'm back!

[@umar6962]

Cant wait 😅

[@RassoolRacing]

@@umar6962 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKDMkpWFpt-qh68

[@RGV2300]

I don't wanna brag out, but i take off that auto tranny in like 3-4 hrs? No need to drop the crossmember.

[@North49191]

just go buy a 5 spd, they are cheap

[@RassoolRacing]

cheaper than $1k of parts? plus then i would have had to swap over the coilovers, seats, chassis bracing, pulleys, intake, and then strip a second interior. ...and then i would still have had an Auto yaris sitting around.

[@ptgsdr589]

I'm new to this so please forgive me if I sound stupid but isn't an automatic transmission preferred over manual? Trying also to figure out what the appeal for wanting it to be a track car? Or what is even a track car

[@RassoolRacing]

Welcome! In general, most car enthusiasts will say that they prefer manual because it lets them stay more in tune with what the car is actually doing. The benefit on track is that a manual transmission uses direct connection from engine to wheel through gearing, while an automatic uses a fluid power exchange called a torque converter. The fluid in the torque converter is slower to accelerate than directly connected gears (like a propeller in water) and it also contributes a parasitic loss of power as heat. This is less common in modern sports cars but economy cars still have a lot of that loss in favor of smoothness. Also the car has an optimum rev range for peak power. With a manual you can make sure you're in that rev range BEFORE you ask for power (like downshifting before a corner) in an automatic, it doesn't know what gear you need to be in until you put your foot down and with cars that aren't sporty to begin with, it can take a long time for the automatic to find the right gear.