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Do I need to upgrade to a 6 speed transmission if only aiming for 200 RWHP?

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Old 12-12-2011, 06:03 PM
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Default Do I need to upgrade to a 6 speed transmission if only aiming for 200 RWHP?

Caveat: I did a search on this but didn't see any real answers


Due to unforseen financial issues, I'm down grading my 300hp "do everything properly" build to a 200hp "mostly stock" build ... so my question is:

do I still need to upgrade to a 6 speed?
for 300hp, yessiree ...... but what about 200hp??


All advice welcome
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Old 12-12-2011, 06:06 PM
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If you are planning on tracking the car often I would recommend picking up a spare 5 speed, or go to a 6 speed now. On the track the 5 speed will be on borrowed time.
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Old 12-12-2011, 06:22 PM
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No, not at 200 whp.
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Old 12-12-2011, 06:49 PM
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Originally Posted by shuiend
If you are planning on tracking the car often I would recommend picking up a spare 5 speed, or go to a 6 speed now. On the track the 5 speed will be on borrowed time.
+1 If you drive it to and from the track, consider it a minimum of $500 in your pocket...$200 for the tow truck and $300 for the entry fee.
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Old 12-12-2011, 07:00 PM
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FWIW I blew mine at 215 rwhp and about 130k miles on it.

I sheared a tooth off of a gear when shifting at redline from 1st to 2nd at autox. The car was boosted for about 2 yrs and autoxed quite a bit.

Save up... get a 6 speed when you can.
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Old 12-12-2011, 07:24 PM
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Originally Posted by shuiend
If you are planning on tracking the car often I would recommend picking up a spare 5 speed, or go to a 6 speed now. On the track the 5 speed will be on borrowed time.
The car is a dedicated Spec Miata (non-road legal) race car with full cage ...... so will be only tracked
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Old 12-12-2011, 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by SSMtobeturbo'd
The car is a dedicated Spec Miata (non-road legal) race car with full cage ...... so will be only tracked
Then you would be stupid to not install a 6 speed now. I would not trust a 5 speed at 200hp on the track to do any w2w racing.
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Old 12-12-2011, 10:24 PM
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Originally Posted by SSMtobeturbo'd
The car is a dedicated Spec Miata (non-road legal) race car with full cage ...... so will be only tracked
I didn't think the scca liked turbo cars... Esp. In spec miata.
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Old 12-13-2011, 05:59 AM
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I popped my 5 at 200whp. Stripped 3rd after a fast 2-3 shift.

You can run the 5-speed, shift it slowly, always worry about it, and it will probably last a season. Or, you can do the 6-speed, shift it as fast as you can, and sleep soundly at night. We suggest a 6-speed in every forced-induction build.
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Old 12-13-2011, 09:50 AM
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What rear gear is everyone running with the 6 speed? I've go 4.10s and pretty sure I would loose my mind on the highway with a 6 speed.

I'm new to the miata world and am so suprised there isn't a better option out there for < $2,000.
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Old 12-13-2011, 12:33 PM
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I have a 3.9 with my 6sp and even at just 10 psi of boost 1st gear is uselessly short.
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Old 12-13-2011, 01:04 PM
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I have a 6sp with 4.10, sometimes I start in second gear at traffic lights. 1st is too short, and 2nd is too tall. I cant wait for my 3.636

I would use the five spd. If just doing de events for fun. Just dont beat the **** out of it. I still dont drag launch my 6 spd or bang thru the gears

Last edited by miatauser884; 12-13-2011 at 01:07 PM.
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Old 12-13-2011, 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by djp0623

I have a 6sp with 4.10, sometimes I start in second gear at traffic lights. 1st is too short, and 2nd is too tall. I cant wait for my 3.636
I have the 6speed and 4.10 in my car, I think I can count the number of times I have used 1rst gear on 1 hand. I simply just always start in 2nd and then pretend I am using a 5 speed.
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Old 12-13-2011, 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by shuiend
I have the 6speed and 4.10 in my car, I think I can count the number of times I have used 1rst gear on 1 hand. I simply just always start in 2nd and then pretend I am using a 5 speed.
which sucks, I was reading about the 6-speed and how it was used in other cars, have any people consider using a 6-speed from another car? from skimming the thread on grassroot, a bell housing swap was all thats needed?

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/for...g/18158/page1/
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Old 12-13-2011, 04:10 PM
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Yes, but half way down is the problem. Cost. Someone posted a link to a lakewood adapter. The problem is that the 600 adaptet mates a 2000 trans. I think most on here are looking for a sub 1k solution. We need a popular (ie mass produced and cheap from junkyard) strong transmission that puts the shifter in the right location, and a way to produca an adapter plate on the cheap. Driveshsfts can be alteted fairly cheaply if tailhouding is too long. Then we need all the high hp race guys to endorce said swap so adapter plates become the norm and "everyone" does this swap for reliability.
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Old 12-13-2011, 04:11 PM
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Sorry about spelling, on phone
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Old 12-13-2011, 04:37 PM
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Originally Posted by JasonC SBB
I have a 3.9 with my 6sp and even at just 10 psi of boost 1st gear is uselessly short.
So use 2nd. Making 1st gear usable in a 250+whp Miata is an exercise in futility unless you are going to run drag radials/slicks.

I heard the naturally aspirated guys don't have a problem with an uselessly short 1st gear - maybe that's what we should all do

FYI - the black car will light up 3rd from a 40mph roll. And when I say "light up" I mean "hangs on the rev limiter until the car gets to 80mph". I'll trade 300wtq for a usable 1st gear any day.
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Old 12-13-2011, 05:46 PM
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Spoolin2bars has like 50 track days with his 240whp miata and is only on his second trans which has been in the car for for about 25 of those days. Unlike most of the Cali guys I prefer the wider spread of the gates of the 5spd. I think shock loading is the killer of the 5spd.
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Old 12-13-2011, 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by jacob300zx
Spoolin2bars has like 50 track days with his 240whp miata and is only on his second trans which has been in the car for for about 25 of those days. Unlike most of the Cali guys I prefer the wider spread of the gates of the 5spd. I think shock loading is the killer of the 5spd.
I agree completely. Just set your boost target at the track to hit more gradual. This is probably a good idea for anyone actually.
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Old 12-13-2011, 08:48 PM
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Damn you MS people.

Any adapter plates out there for a T56?
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