Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain discuss the wondrous effects of boost and your miata...
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

How much RWHP can a 6 speed tranny handle?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-10-2011, 10:16 PM
  #1  
Newb
Thread Starter
 
Buzz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 32
Total Cats: 0
Default How much RWHP can a 6 speed tranny handle?

I am completing my build for a road race only miata. I purchased a 6 speed (non MSM) tranny and rebuilt it. I am planning on my car having 350 to 400 RWHP and after searching around it seems like the 6 speed tranny is questionable at those power levels. Should I sell my 6 speed (while it is still good) and get a 5 speed with Quaife gears? or is that a waist of money and run the speed? Thanks
Buzz is offline  
Old 12-10-2011, 11:21 PM
  #2  
Elite Member
iTrader: (11)
 
chicksdigmiatas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Texas, 'Murica
Posts: 2,497
Total Cats: 0
Default

Run the speed. Honestly, as far as the 6 speed, no one has a definitive number on them. 350-400 is the general consensus. I have seen one crap out as low as 280 (whp) btw. That being said, My car at 18psi handled a 5 speed. When you are at that power level, you should expect breakage. Although, I finally gave up on my saab 900 when I changed my 4th transmission in about a year an a half. God that was the worst trans set up.
chicksdigmiatas is offline  
Old 12-10-2011, 11:39 PM
  #3  
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
 
hustler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
Default

Where are you and how much for the 6-speed if local?
hustler is offline  
Old 12-10-2011, 11:45 PM
  #4  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Faeflora's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 8,682
Total Cats: 130
Default

run the six speed and pray to jebus
Faeflora is offline  
Old 12-10-2011, 11:58 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
iTrader: (10)
 
TURNS101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 715
Total Cats: 5
Default

If you can be mechanically empathetic it can handle 400rwhpfor a while. Its really the ftlbs you need to worry about. I have 398/357. I finally blew 4th gear after 4 events My other lasted 4 also, but I didnt shred a gear,the syncros are just fugged to ****.

I am personally interested in the queef 5 speed sets myself.
TURNS101 is offline  
Old 12-11-2011, 12:11 PM
  #6  
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
 
Savington's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,099
Default

Unless you have $3k for a Quaife box for $3500-4000 for a TKO600 setup the 6-speed is your only option.
Savington is offline  
Old 12-12-2011, 12:45 AM
  #7  
Elite Member
 
jacob300zx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 3,201
Total Cats: 145
Default

I think the real question is how do you plan on making 400whp? Better have a good plan with good parts.
jacob300zx is offline  
Old 12-12-2011, 10:44 PM
  #8  
Newb
Thread Starter
 
Buzz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 32
Total Cats: 0
Default

Fully built 1.9 liter with 3071 GTX turbo on E85 should be close to 400 whp. The problem is I cannot find any Quaife gear sets. Does any one know where I can find one as I have had no luck. What is the TKO600 set up and where can I find it? Thanks for your help with this!
Buzz is offline  
Old 12-12-2011, 10:56 PM
  #9  
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
 
Savington's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,099
Default

AFAIK nobody's done the TKO swap yet. The basic breakdown:

Lakewood bellhousing: $650
TKO600R: $2100
resplined clutch disc & altered pilot bearing: $???
V8R framerails and crossmember: $~600
custom front diff mount: $??
custom driveshaft: ~$300-350

$4k into the car. The rest of the drivetrain will cost you $10-14k depending on your intended usage, so in the long run it isn't all that expensive - just hurts to shell it all out at once.
Savington is offline  
Old 12-12-2011, 11:17 PM
  #10  
Newb
Thread Starter
 
Buzz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 32
Total Cats: 0
Default

Are you just going to run the 6 speed and break it if it is a sure thing. Are you going with the six speed again or are you going to take on this project? I would be interested in doing this with you if you are going to engineer some of the parts. Thanks again!
Buzz is offline  
Old 12-12-2011, 11:27 PM
  #11  
Elite Member
iTrader: (12)
 
chpmnsws6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Springfield IL
Posts: 2,712
Total Cats: 25
Default

Originally Posted by Savington
AFAIK nobody's done the TKO swap yet. The basic breakdown:

Lakewood bellhousing: $650
TKO600R: $2100
resplined clutch disc & altered pilot bearing: $???
V8R framerails and crossmember: $~600
custom front diff mount: $??
custom driveshaft: ~$300-350

$4k into the car. The rest of the drivetrain will cost you $10-14k depending on your intended usage, so in the long run it isn't all that expensive - just hurts to shell it all out at once.
What about a t5z? Should be able to handle the 400rwhp. Our local brake and clutch can make a clutch combo with whatever hub you like, so I'm sure you have the same locally.
chpmnsws6 is offline  
Old 12-13-2011, 12:04 AM
  #12  
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Dparks7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 76
Total Cats: 0
Default

http://www.jegs.com/i/G-Force-Transm...ductId=1343711

this with an adapter plate, maybe 3k total if someone stepped up to the plate. Could handle just as much as a TKO but for about the same without then need for a pricey bell housing or the rest of the drive line to be tampered with
Dparks7 is offline  
Old 12-13-2011, 02:38 AM
  #13  
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
 
Savington's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,099
Default

Originally Posted by chpmnsws6
What about a t5z? Should be able to handle the 400rwhp. Our local brake and clutch can make a clutch combo with whatever hub you like, so I'm sure you have the same locally.
T5z is just a WCT5 - only rated for 300wtq. And the gearing is crap - .63 5th is way, way, way too tall. The TKO600R's 2nd is too short (1.89) but 3-5 are the same as the 4-6 split in the OEM 6-speed.

I will have new clutch discs done for my 949 twindisc, or I'll have the current discs resplined (if that's even possible). I haven't gotten that far down the road.

Originally Posted by Dparks7
http://www.jegs.com/i/G-Force-Transm...ductId=1343711

this with an adapter plate, maybe 3k total if someone stepped up to the plate. Could handle just as much as a TKO but for about the same without then need for a pricey bell housing or the rest of the drive line to be tampered with
I have absolutely no idea how you came to those conclusions. The G-Force box is $400 more expensive, still doesn't come with a bellhousing, and you still have to have a trans/diff mount made, respline the clutch disc(s), and have a custom driveshaft made. You cannot just have an adapter plate made, because neither Miata box came with a removable bellhousing. Unless you own a machine shop, get free materials, and value your time at $0/hr, there is absolutely no way you are putting a $2600 T5-based gearbox into a Miata for under $3k.

The easy way to do this is exactly what I said above - Lakewood bellhousing, TKO600, and everything else will be custom. The TKO600R box has a crap 2nd gear (1.89) so if I actually moved forward with this I would seriously look into having a custom 2nd gear made to drop that ratio down into the 1.59-1.65 range. I want the same 3-4-5-6 split as I have now, and the TKO600R box has the right 3-4-5 ratios to make that work.
Savington is offline  
Old 12-13-2011, 02:48 AM
  #14  
Elite Member
 
jacob300zx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 3,201
Total Cats: 145
Default

Originally Posted by Buzz
Fully built 1.9 liter with 3071 GTX turbo on E85 should be close to 400 whp. The problem is I cannot find any Quaife gear sets. Does any one know where I can find one as I have had no luck. What is the TKO600 set up and where can I find it? Thanks for your help with this!
Who's manifold and downpipe are you using? Who is building the motor? What ECU are you running? What manifold are you using?
jacob300zx is offline  
Old 12-13-2011, 08:57 AM
  #15  
Elite Member
iTrader: (9)
 
TurboTim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chesterfield, NJ
Posts: 6,893
Total Cats: 399
Default

Originally Posted by Savington
T5z is just a WCT5 - only rated for 300wtq. And the gearing is crap - .63 5th is way, way, way too tall.
I think it's 300 engine torque, not wheel, but I may be wrong. But the factor of safety has to be high...I know of a few of these that survive drag slick clutch dumps on 3600lb mustangs that make waaayyyy more than 300ftlbs. They don't last forever in that application but they don't grenade instantly either. I'm hoping in a lighter car and more forgiving torque curve, my T5z will survive. We'll see...but then the TKO's will swap in with a clutch disk swap and new driveshaft yolk...and maybe some hammering to the tunnel.

As far as gearing, I'm looking forward to the lower rpms of 5th. I'm even leaning towards the 3.42 GM rear, which will cut off 1000rpm at 75mph in 5th compared to what I have now. For the track guys who actually use/need 5th on the track, I can see that being a big issue.

The TKO600R's 2nd is too short (1.89) but 3-5 are the same as the 4-6 split in the OEM 6-speed.
T5 is 1.94, TKO is 1.9, and 5speed is 1.89? This is too short? I like my second with the 3.90 torsen. First is useless.

I have absolutely no idea how you came to those conclusions. The G-Force box is $400 more expensive, still doesn't come with a bellhousing, and you still have to have a trans/diff mount made, respline the clutch disc(s), and have a custom driveshaft made. You cannot just have an adapter plate made, because neither Miata box came with a removable bellhousing. Unless you own a machine shop, get free materials, and value your time at $0/hr, there is absolutely no way you are putting a $2600 T5-based gearbox into a Miata for under $3k.
New T5z retails for 1370 but you can get them cheaper. Plus you need a bellhousing and all that other stuff. I see no way to do it under $3k.

I decided to use the mustang bellhousing, flywheel, starter, clutch, etc because I have none of the OEM equivalents anyway on my V6 build, but that route should also work on the BP. Would it be the cheapest or best idea? Probably not. Most of us already have fancy flywheels & pressure plates that work with the miata starter. There should be a way to adapt some bellhousing to the BP pattern and having a T5 (or TKO) splined clutch disk made. Then it's a matter of correctly spacing the flywheel if it's in the wrong place with respect to the trans input shaft. I have both the miata 5 speed and T5z/mustang bellhousing in solidworks, but don't have the miata flywheel modeled. I think I gave away my old flywheels so I can't model that. The T5's pilot bearing is in the crank, not the flywheel.

The easy way to do this is exactly what I said above - Lakewood bellhousing, TKO600, and everything else will be custom. The TKO600R box has a crap 2nd gear (1.89) so if I actually moved forward with this I would seriously look into having a custom 2nd gear made to drop that ratio down into the 1.59-1.65 range. I want the same 3-4-5-6 split as I have now, and the TKO600R box has the right 3-4-5 ratios to make that work.
Why a lakewood bellhousing? For safety reasons?
TurboTim is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
StratoBlue1109
Miata parts for sale/trade
21
09-30-2018 01:09 PM
tazswing
Race Prep
20
10-03-2015 11:04 AM
zephyrusaurai
Meet and Greet
2
09-28-2015 10:59 PM
ScrapinMX5
Meet and Greet
8
09-28-2015 01:04 PM



Quick Reply: How much RWHP can a 6 speed tranny handle?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:55 PM.