2005 Scion XB, Didn't make it a month... before first mod

[Sleepy1]

Greetings!

I picked up a used 2005 Scion XB with 92,000 miles to use as my daily driver and long term airport parking lot car (I travel a lot for work).

The Box has everything I wanted in a daily driver. Small exterior size, power features, and great interior space to fit my two large dogs, luggage, and misc gear. I do a mix of freeway (70mph) and city driving. Over the last 6 tanks of gas I've averaged no less than 36mpg. Not bad for a stock brick-shaped car with moderate driving.

As a gearhead, I tend to leave nothing stock... In the case of the Scion XB, I tried very hard not to modify this car, but succumbed to my bad habit of catering my vehicles to fit my needs. In the case of the scion... its reliability and MPGs. I only made it three weeks before the Scion got its first big MOD on 4/28/2015.

MODS:
Week 1- LRR Tires; Week 2- Cruise Control (Only for long drives); Week 3- New Clutch with a modified Corolla transaxle with 3.722 Final Drive vs. the original 4.310.

Installing the new transaxle was not a small undertaking. This was def a big change to the scion, and I'll be doing a small writeup on this. I will repeat... it wasn't a simple bolt-in.

More to come in the success stories section. Still trying to drive out the first tank of gas.

-Michael

[NeilBlanchard]

Your title confused me a bit - you still have the xB in working order?

I am jealous of the clutch final drive - I would have loved to have had than in my xA. That is THE thing I would change first.

Oh, and welcome to EM!

[Fat Charlie]

That's going to be an interesting writeup. Welcome!

[Sleepy1]

Good catch, I've corrected it.

Thank you

[spacemanspif]

Is the XB not the same subframe/powertrain as the TC? Friends of mine used to turbo TCs all the time and swap to the Corolla trans because the added power made better use of the taller gears.

Any plans for a boat tail or wheel skirts? Or staying stock looking?

[Sleepy1]

Potentially on the 2nd Gen, but on the first Gen Scion XBs, the platform is shared with the Toyota Echo and the Scion XA. These are 1.5l vehicles. This necessitates machining a transmount to use the corolla trans. More akin to the Tercels/Paseos than the corollas.

My plans are to stay stock looking on the outside and keep the engine stock. No need to attract any attention while its sitting in the airport parking lot.

I used the corolla transaxle since they are plentiful/cheap at a Pick-n-Pull, and stronger than the C150 series.

[Daox]

Interesting. There must be some design changes over the years. I know a lot of the Tercel and Paseo guys who've bolted up C5Xs to their bellhousings, drill & tap a few mounting holes for the engine mounts and you're done.

[Sleepy1]

Its very true. The mods done to the Scion are very similar. Drilling/tapping isn't what I would consider bolt-in, and I've found scares off most folks. Beyond the mounting holes, there is the disassembly of the shift fork selector arm mechanism to allow the same positioning and use of the stock shifter cables/mounts/arm. They had made several key changes to the mechanism. Unfortunately, these were not swapable as well as the case series were machined out differently (Not noticeable at initial glance, but will not boltin fully and binds).

[2009Toyotoad]

Originally Posted by Sleepy1

Potentially on the 2nd Gen, but on the first Gen Scion XBs, the platform is shared with the Toyota Echo and the Scion XA. These are 1.5l vehicles. This necessitates machining a transmount to use the corolla trans. More akin to the Tercels/Paseos than the corollas.

My plans are to stay stock looking on the outside and keep the engine stock. No need to attract any attention while its sitting in the airport parking lot.

I used the corolla transaxle since they are plentiful/cheap at a Pick-n-Pull, and stronger than the C150 series.

Actually the C50 tranny case should take the 5th gear (drive and driven) from the C150. But my question is how will it take the hills.

Just tracked down the Toyota parts numbers. 33428-12060 or 33428-12100.
33036-20060 or 33036-12120.

[2009Toyotoad]

I just thought of something else on your Scion. Toyota issued a TSB for the required motor oil, changing it from 5W-30 to 5W-20 Semi-Synthetic. Most API ILSAC GF5 rated oil are in fact Semi-Synthetic, but as always read the label. It was good for one additional MPG on my 1NZ-FE Yaris. I'll find the TSB number if you need it.