well, its about $1500 for a manual box for the ka24e. but that is 2nd hand, from the wrecker, sold as is. so if it fucks up, its your loss.
i thought i'd save the $1000 and take a chance on the 2nd hand box from the wrecker. i drove to brisbane a week later, and by the time i got there, there was no oil left in the box. so i took it to my mechanic up there and it cost me another $1200 to get the box reco'd. so i should've just spent the ectra $1000 in the first place, as i would of saved myself $200. i also missed a week and a half of work waiting for the parts to come in for the reco, so i lost that week & a half in wages too.
otherwise, if you can wait 28 days, a brand new gearbox can be purchased from japan & installed for the same $2500 that you can get the reco box supplied & fitted for. i needed my car by the end of the week, so i couldnt wait for the new box to come from japan, as it was close to christmas (end of november) and i was told that, because of the holidays the box wouldnt get to melbourne until the first week in february.
oh, and nizgirl... i just realised that you could probably pick up a gearbox for you're ca20e for around the $800-1000 mark, as you dont have an lsd. a non-lsd ka24e gearbox can be picked up for about $800-1200 depending where you go.