stefanst

iTrader: (1)

OK - I'm going to try to answer this seriously.
NO YOU CAN'T!
You need fixtures, tools and gauges and above all knowledge and experience.

What's the worst that could happen you ask? Well, you could actually die. Sorry to be a spoilsport. For example a misalignment could, over time, weaken any component of the drivetrain. And then, at 8500rpm and full boost something fails catastrophically, the clutch shatters and annihilates your legs and *****.

But you saved the couple hundred dollars and didn't have it done by somebody who knows what he's doing...

triple88a

iTrader: (2)

I don't always drink alcoholic beverages

But when I do it's because I'm posting on MT.net

05pearl

iTrader: (4)

Strangely drawn to this thread....

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

This build thread is the cluster.

A dozen trannies work with the bulletproof $599 bellhousing. This was a 3 minute ebay search. Pick your poison:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TREMEC-TKO-600-GM-5-Speed-0-82-MANUAL-TRANSMISSION-/350557908186?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &vxp=mtr&hash=item519ee12cda

http://www.ebay.com/itm/muncie-m-20-4-speed-transmission-corvette-camaro-chevelle-gto-hurst-shifter-/180869636283?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &vxp=mtr&hash=item2a1caba0bb


lol

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jerico-4-Speed-Transmission-NASCAR-/360451542684?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &vxp=mtr&hash=item53ec960e9c

stefanst

iTrader: (1)

I'm still all for the Getrag -OK, i'm a BMW kinda guy...

Here's one for you:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/E28-E24-5-SP...97880c&vxp=mtr

You just need somebody to make you a nice custom bellhousing, re-locate the shifter, weld a new driveshaft, move some of the original bodywork out of the way. But hey you can do that yourself with a sawzall :-)

But something like this may actually be your cheapest option to get a decent shifting transmission that can definitely handle your torque.

triple88a

iTrader: (2)

Relocate the shifter? New drive shaft? Body work?

We'll just move the engine a bit, move the rear end a bit, whatever's cut we'll just cover it up, weld the seat to the appropriate location on the tranny so one never misses a shift and we're back in business.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

It took him 60 hours to install a clutch.

lets just stop this stupid "custom fabricated transmission retrofit" talk and actually give him some valid input

Bryce

iTrader: (24)

Powerglide

chpmnsws6

iTrader: (12)

vehicular

iTrader: (3)

The only fabrication-free option at this point is to buy a complete T2 setup off of somebody or buy the Quaife gear set. Everything else requires work that Fael can't do for himself.

That said, a complete T2 swap, including frame rail braces, trans mount, drive shaft, adapter plate, an a diff mount would really make somebody some money with these cars. It seems ludicrous to me that nobody makes one. Maybe I should...

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Maybe you should.

Maybe its not as easy and cost effective as you think.
Maybe there's a reason why its not common.
Maybe.....

vehicular

iTrader: (3)

What reason would there be for it not to be cost effective or easy? Transmissions are transmissions. People do this swap pretty regularly, in fact there is at least one guy on here with a pretty detailed build thread showing that it isn't a big deal. You'd have to get the diff mount welded on, which most guys would have to outsource, but the rest of the swap could be made completely bolt-in...

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Stuffing a v8 into a miata is also SUPER DUPER EASY.
Reading threads where people accomplish it, seems like a 3 hour project.
Think you should give it a go this weekend if you're bored.

Sean

iTrader: (12)

Ok I am still confused on this whole thing. Have you decided what to do with a trans yet. Here is my input. If a almost 4000 lbs. RX-7 can go 9.90 in the 1/4 on this trans why cant you drive it on the street with your power levels witch are unknow really other than a but dyno.lol Here is what I have to say about it.

Trans you already found one for cheap so buy it.

Clutch disc can be swapped out for $200 consider that price of admission for going fast.

Drive shaft. There is a place in frederick that will make you a brand new drive shaft good for you hp with new U-joints that are replacable for $225 out the door.

Adapter plate for transmission. From what I have read the bolt pattern on the bellhousing is different and the input shaft is 1" longer. So you know one good machinist and one really good machinist and I have a handful of people that can weld aluminum. Solution. Cut off RX-7 bell housing machine flat. Cut off miata bellhousing 1" longer machine flat. Have welded together and install.

I do not see why everyone is busting his ***** so bad. As far as the PPF goes we can always make a crossmember to bolt it to. I read a thread not to long ago and a kid did this swap and used a sawzall and some random ---- to swap one of these in if he can do it then with a little help Fae will have no problems.


Reasons for not liking a tko. The 500 is pretty much junk I do not know one mustang guy that has not put 3+ transmissions in their car, if you buy a tko600 its expensive but will hold up. Me personally I would rather spend the money on a t56 conversion and yes I know it does not exist but I am sure there is a way or go with the easy one of a RX-7 tans. Just my 2 cents please flame away.

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

So the mazda specific 4 bolt companion flange (the end of the driveshaft that attaches to the rear diff) is common enough to find at any ol' local driveshaft shop? Nice. $225 include that rear flange and the front yolk? Double nice! Cause each of those are typically about ~$65 each and are not typically included, at least not from the places I have actually called and asked

Ahh you read that eh, on the internet? Nice. Must be true. No measuring & verifying required then. Cause measuring that ---- is simple.

I know a few really good machinist and a handful of alum. welders. They work for super cheap too! So I am with you so far. A+

But now you would still have to make a fixture to hold both bellhousing parts so that, after welding, the transmission input shaft is pretty dead nuts concentric with the crankshaft. I do not know the actual tolerance required, but it is very very tight. Otherwise bad things happen. Proof? Sorry I don't have it, I'm just another opinion on the internet.

Is that trick fixture cheap? Easy & quick to make?

but there's that guy on the internet that just cut & welded them together like duh and it works fine.



You can take a piece of whatever cheap crap from home depot and glue it to the frame rails and transmission. The PPF will bolt up, in the slight chance it doesn't then just cut & glue it too. Fae's 4" exhaust will clear too.


Dude I know this one mustang guy who broke like 3+ Jericos, those are pretty much junk too. There is a way to install the T56, it's real easy. You just cut a camaro bellhousing 3 inches from the front and weld it to a miata case. I don't see what the problem is.

vehicular

iTrader: (3)

Trolling is not helping. Obviously you're not going to balance the trans on a jack under the car and watch it make Megatron transformer sounds and jump into place. Just as obviously, welding trans mount tabs to a pair of frame rail braces and having an adapter plate machined is not rocket surgery.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

or in Min's case:


I don't always drink alcoholic beverages

But when I do I post on MT.net

TurboTim

iTrader: (9)

I know all 8 rocket surgeons and they all concur; welding trans mount tabs to frame rail braces is, indeed, not rocket surgery. However, 6 said they recommend proper trolling.

vehicular

iTrader: (3)

How do you know all the Rocket Surgeons? I used to work with them here in Huntsville. They made me an honorary Mini Rocket Surgeon before I got laid off and went back to school. They even let me work on Thunderbird 1 once.

Sean

iTrader: (12)

Yes the any ol drive shaft shop can get the Mazda specific mounting flange for the rear. I had my swap drive shaft made there that has the Mazda specific rear flange and a Toyota specific front yoke. All new spicer components so they do have them and my drive shaft was only $210. I had a drive shaft made for my dads 1.8l stock 95 miata when his went bad all new with spicer yoke and mounting flange cost $215 out the door. So this is from personal experience not some punk on the internet. If you want to call and price out a drive shaft for your car call Fleetpride trucking in Frederick MD. (301) 694-6622


Then the trans. Yes I do know some very good machinist and welders whom are my friends and love cars as much as I do. They do work for cheap because we all help each other out. So you can call what you want but between my group of friends we do not charge each other for work we just help because we want to see each others cars done just as much as our own.


As far as the fixture for welding the bellhousing yes you need it yes it will be made and I see no reason the tolerance cannot be held to +- .015". I can build this as well as a few of my friends. Yes we have to buy aluminum and yes it all needs to be measured but I have an extra block with a crank I can mount everything to. This way it can be measured and fit properly. Sorry if I cam off like an idiot. I am not saying this is an easy task just saying that with the right knowledge and having an group of friends with all the right jobs IE machinist, welder, fabricator. It makes things fall together much much easier.


As far as breaking transmissions this as well comes from people I personally know. If they can break transmissions on mildly built 302's or stock ones at that Fae will definitely kill one no questions asked. There are a ton of bullshitters on the internet and you can call me one if you want but this is just the way I see it and after personally riding in Fae's car and seeing how he drives it a tko 500 will die. On the other had a TKO600 I firmly believe will live. Take it for what it is worth but the 500 is junk.


Possibly the easiest solution would just be an adapter plate that bolts to the miata block and bolts to the rx7 trans in the right orientation and spacing and your done. The rest of the parts fall into place.