cueball1

iTrader: (13)

OK. 6 speeds are where it's at strength wise or the turbo II rx7 unit. Unfortunately there are no easy swap parts available for the RX7 unit and the 6 speeds are hard to find under $600.

For those of us looking for a cheap easy solution are any of the 5 speeds better than others? Kinda like you want an 01 or newer 6 speed. Were there any special editions or certain years known to have stronger gears?

Anyone looked at the 06 and newer MX-5 tranny for fitment? It's been talked about before but I don't know if anyone ever tried the RX8 unit for fitment.

Looking for a more affordable + easier to find option to the 6 speed.


I know I really need that dead horse av but I haven't seen definitive answers to these ignorant questions.

Jeff_Ciesielski

iTrader: (10)

I've heard it told that the 01+ 5 speeds are stronger and have some changes in the case design. I can't verify that at all so I could be talking out my ***.

wayne_curr

iTrader: (8)

The 06+ engines spin the other way dont they? So that would give you 5 or 6 reverse gears and one crappy forward

I've been more and more seriously considering a TII swap. The challenge sounds fun and I think it has better gear ratios than the miata 6 speed. If/When I do it i'm going to analyze the ways that a bolt on kit could be made.

cueball1

iTrader: (13)

I'm sure you could sell boatloads of bolt on kits for the TII tranny. This is if you have an extremely tiny boat! Sure seems like a kit/part/guide someone should be making.

wayne_curr

iTrader: (8)

Check out the mighty mouse build thread for some of the details. The biggest thing I think that makes it not worth while is the adapter plate. That hunk of aluminum on its own is atleast 200 bucks. The tranny mounts could easily be made a semi bolt on piece in which case the end user would have to drill holes in the floor much like a roll bar or frame rail install.

The more I think about it the more I think it would just end up costing as much as a 6 speed :(

cueball1

iTrader: (13)

That's what I was afraid of. I'm really hoping not to have to spend $700. Was really hoping someone knew if there was a year (or special edition) the 5 speed was stronger than the rest.

levnubhin

iTrader: (30)

How much power are you making/plan to make? What do you plan to do with the car?
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gospeed81

iTrader: (51)

Over 9000.

Troll for youngun's...I mean get groceries.




Are you still on the 5spd? Holding up to your street antics?

levnubhin

iTrader: (30)

I'm still on my 1992 5 speed with 208k on it.
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stranges12712

iTrader: (1)

Is 900$ a good price for a 6 speed from 2002 with 25,000km on it?

dustinb

I would buy a kit to mount a TII transmission. Would love to have it.

magnamx-5

iTrader: (7)

that is kinda high but you pay for proximity and timming 99% of the time.

cueball1

iTrader: (13)

My 94 car has been my daily driver and track day thrasher for 3 years now. I now have 35K miles since turbo'ing it two years ago. Currently running the stock 5 speed and 12psi/ around 250 rwhp. Finishing up an engine build and would like to turn up the boost. 15-17psi and 300hp.

If it was a 2nd car or track toy only I wouldn't be too worried. Also one of the tracks I drive regularly is 3 hours away in the middle of nowhere. Breaking a tranny there wouldn't be fun.

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

I also agree one of the many vendors/builders on here needs to fill the need for a T2 swap kit. Surely it wouldn't be that much of a task to put one together, and I'm sure they would sell like hotcakes (what ever that means). Since I'm considering the turbo route again, I'm back to stressing over the 5 speed. I hate that some people run fine with a 200k mile 5 speed, and others blow through 3 a year at lower power levels. Maybe I'll just buy a spare 5 speed or two and keep them around for a quick weekend swap if and when it blows. I'd love a 6 speed, but **** is it hard to track them down, and they are always expensive.

dustinb

I have 3 spare transmissions in my garage, and have been beating the hell out of my 5 speed for the past ... 8 years. It's still holding up just fine. Stupid thing.

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

See, I hear stuff like this, but now watch, now that you said this, within a week or two someone will blow one up at a track event or on the street, running fairly low power, not beating on it too much. I guess I might just find a cheap spare and keep it in case, for comfort. Can't really justify the cost of a 6 speed, then the cost of getting the rear end rebuilt with lower gears to make it livable. Pretty sure I'm going to do 3.6 anyway, I HATE driving on the interstate in this car, running 4000rpm at 80 cruising. Probably sounds like I have an extra gear that I forgot about to other people on the road.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

There is a rule: 5 speeds are weak and break anywhere between 200whp-300whp (and that's being generous)
There are exceptions to the rule: a few guys I know running over 300 still on the 5 speed.

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

Those rules suck though. "WARNING: May destruct anywhere from 200hp-300hp, but may also be reliable from 200hp-500hp. Flip a coin." My luck sucks, so I will for sure have a spare.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Doubt the 5 speed will hold up anywhere even close to 500. maybe for a dyno pull or 2.

yeah lol, its a shitty rule. gotta pay to play.

I absolutely hate the gearing on my 6 speed + 4.10 torsen. way too short. at least I won't blow up tho

NA6C-Guy

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, that 6 speed and 4.1 would drive me ******* crazy! I would watch Sav's videos on Youtube and freak out over how short the gears were. I hate the gearing on the 5 speed and 3.9 (I think it's 3.9 anyway, I forget) so I KNOW 4.1's and closer gears would make me pull my hair out. Even the 3.6 with the 6 speed I didn't much care for. Still closer gears 1-5. If I could get any setup I wanted, it would be the 6 speed with the mystical 3.3

Realistically, how much added stress do you get by dropping the rear from 3.9 to 3.6 gear? Surely not much.