How To: T50 Electronic Speed Sensor

[Bazooka]

I have been looking for an alternative to the screw on electronic speed sensor for a T50
gearbox. This is mainly due to the fact that I did not have enough room in the transmission tunnel to mount this item. Currently I am running this with a 90 degree bend from an MX83 but not entirely happy with how it sits or the cleanliness of the whole install.
While searching I came across this which some of you may be familiar with;

http://www.clubmansqld.org/Tips/T50_Speedo.pdf

While a good write up I do not possess a lathe and/or milling machine to perform such a task. Surely there had to be a better and easier option out there?
What I found after looking through just about every gearbox I could is an electronic speed sensor from a 3VZ auto gearbox. Well it had 3VZ written on it! This unit has the exact same diameter as the T50 drive as well as the exact same bolt mount spacing meaning that it could be installed and mounted looking like it should be there from factory. Now the only kicker is that this is a whole lot longer in the body than the T50 unit.
Pulling down and measuring up both drives I found that they share similar dimensions meaning that modification started to look easier. Below is a picture of the T50 and 3VZ housings side by side showing what I am referring to.



The blue line here is the key. This is the groove for the clip that holds the shaft into the body. Notice how it is the exact same distance from the mount surface (green line) on both units. What needs to be done is have the 3VZ unit cut at the red line giving it the same length as the T50 body. This is the only modification needed here.

Moving onto the gears we see below the differences and similarities. The 3VZ on the left, T50 on the right.



Again the blue line is our start point. From here we need to cut the T50 drive at the yellow line and add an 8mm groove to the end to mimic the 3VZ shaft.
All now that is needed is to insert the modified T50 shaft into the 3VZ housing and inserting the clip to hold in in place. That's it!!
Now this can be inserted into the T50 gearbox and mounted as per factory.

There you go, an electronic speed sensor that looks factory and gives more room within the transmission tunnel than using the screw on adapters. For anyone that plans on using an electronic speedo and cares about a clean install this works perfectly.

[Bazooka]

As the gearbox I found was of unknown origins (Jap import) I did some digging around to come up with sources for others that may be looking to find these speed sensors.

The Toyota part number is 83181-12040
This seems most common on overseas models and surprisingly mostly on LHD vehicles.
They also only seem to be found on auto transmissions. Some vehicles to try are listed below but I cannot guarantee our local models to all have this.

NCP12 Yaris/Echo
ZZE112 Corolla
ACV36 Camry
ACR30 Tarago
ST204 Celica
MCV10 Camry
MCX10 Avalon

This part also seems to be available aftermarket through the following suppliers. Included are their part numbers.

STANDARD # SC149
AIRTEX # 5S4647
WELLS # SU5634
AC DELCO # 213-2597

Hopefully this will help in sourcing.

[oldcorollas]

good stuff mate

so.. pretty much any reasonably modern yota has something that can be modded?
RHD are different?

[Bazooka]

good stuff mate

so.. pretty much any reasonably modern yota has something that can be modded?
RHD are different?

Well when I punched the part number into the EPC it specified LHD which I thought strange. I don't know why RHD would be any different but that's just what came up.

[Bazooka]

And here are the rest of the pictures.
Below shows the cut and slotted T50 shaft.....



.....how it fits into the cut down body......



......and how it fits into the T50 gearbox.





All I needed was an angle grinder and hand file to finish it off. You can't get any easier than that.
Some of you may be wondering about the wiring plug. I found this to be quite common amongst Toyota electric speed sensors so plugs from many other gearboxes will fit. This also makes it easier to source.

[Golberg]

Wow that is a nice job great stuff.

[wagonist]

Nice research.
Is the gear removable? Because it looks like the T50 has a helical gear, whereas the 3VZ is straight. Is this a problem with meshing with the worm gear inside the box?

[WDE_BDY]

Wagonist, he is using the T50 shaft and gear with the 3VZ outer so no meshing issues.

Callum

[wagonist]

Whoops, didn't read that in.

Seems to be one of the more elegant solutions. Plus looks like you could do all of the work at home, making it very cheap.

[ddeane]

Great job, a well thought out solution. Also if my memory serves me correctly the speedo drive from a w58 is the same as a t50. The GA70 came with an electronic speedo and should therefore the drive in the gearbox should also fit into a t50.

Cheers Craig

[oldeskewltoy]

NICE!!!!

For folks looking to go the reverse route... driving a mechanical speedo by an electronic output.........
http://www.abbott-tach.com/cablex.htm



you can determine the output to the mechanical speedo.....- it is adjustable for axle ratio changes or any gear or tire change.........

Got old sckool gauges... this might be the way to go.......

speedo discussion reminded me

[Bazooka]

Great job, a well thought out solution. Also if my memory serves me correctly the speedo drive from a w58 is the same as a t50. The GA70 came with an electronic speedo and should therefore the drive in the gearbox should also fit into a t50.

Cheers Craig

Been there done that. The W series sensor DOES NOT FIT into the T50, it is much too big.
This one is the only electronic type I found that has the diameter the same as the T50. There was another type I found that looked close but is just still a little too large.

[Chrisso]

Top job. I'll have to keep an eye out at the wreckers for one of these.

[greenmac80]

i've done this.... have yet to test it in car but the mods seriously took about 5 minutes!!
although it took about 2 months on club4ag to find one!!

[dougTA22]

Great write up! Just one question - does the T series T50 and the T50 you find behind 4a's use the same sensor? Which box was it that you were using here?

Cheers,
Doug