Toyota Celica 5-Speed Gearbox Overhaul in an EH Holden

This job was a Toyota Celica 5-speed manual gearbox overhaul for another EH Holden, carried out by our Brookvale mechanics. The car drove in with 'hard shifting' and 'jumping out of gear' problems. The gearbox was already fitted to the vehicle, part of a previous conversion to give the old Holden a stronger box and an extra couple of gears.

From factory, the EH only came with a 3-speed column shift, so this set

From factory, the EH only came with a 3-speed column shift, so this setup gives it a 5-speed floor shift and a noticeable improvement in drivability. The gearbox was a Toyota W50, which is a pretty common choice for this type of conversion thanks to its strength and availability.

Overhaul Details

The gearbox was stripped down completely. All shafts were removed, cleaned, and inspected. The synchros were cleaned, and new bearings and seals were fitted throughout. Everything was checked for wear before reassembly.

No fabrication was needed since the gearbox was already properly mounted in the EH. The focus here was just on getting the box mechanically right again; no leaks, no noise, and clean, solid shifts.

It took around 10 hours start to finish, including teardown, cleaning, inspection, and reassembly. Nothing out of the ordinary, just the usual attention to detail that these old boxes need to shift properly again.

Result

Once back together, the gearbox shifted smoothly through all five gears with no jumping out or crunching. The car now has a much tighter and cleaner feel through the shifter, and the extra ratios make the EH nicer to drive overall.

No major drama, just a good, straightforward job that keeps another old Holden out on the road where it belongs.