Those groovy engine dampers
 

I'm kind of annoyed at not being able to do the 2/3 shift, Anyone know of a decent engine damper that will work with a turbocharged miata? I know there were some on ebay, but I cant find the link.

I used the homedepot method, only 14 bucks!

But it wasn't a damper, it was solid.

I am assuming you already have the Mazdaspeed engine and differential mounts?
Try and score some RS Aizawa rear diff mount spacers or maybe a Beatrush rear platform brace.

what do those aizawa spacers do?

They fill in the gap between the actual diff mounts and the "Snubbers"

I thinking of making one using a sway bar end link. They sell universal end links at autozone with poly bushings for bigger cars and it looks like a good fit with some brackets fab'd up.

I'm just gonna get an ebay one and make it fit around the turbo. If it doesnt work, I can move on to progressively more expensive and complicated solutions.

My hunch is that putting a brace directly opposed to the engine's movement at the place of greatest angular momentum will have the greatest likelihood of fixing the problem. All the other solutions seem to offer marginal improvements in stiffness that are very close to the axis of rotation.

If the ebay brace doesnt work, I will probably do the MS mounts next, followed by the okayama tranny brace and then the FM chassis brace.

The Okuyama tranny brace helps a bit...but not like doing the Beatrush rear brace will.
If you replaced the soft rubber mounts on the Okuyama with something of a higher durometer you would probably be in good shape.

Ooh I never never heard of the beat rush brace before. I might give that a try then. Know of any places that have them in stock?

http://www.metromotorsports.com/prod...sp?pProdID=162

Sounds like it may be sold out for now.

Here is the Okuyama front lower.
http://www.metromotorsports.com/prod...sp?PprodID=146


These guys ship really fast. I would hold off on both of these until you do the Mazdaspeed mounts though.

Here is the engine mounts.
http://corksport.com/store/index.php...0&j=1165100378
Diff Mounts
http://corksport.com/store/index.php3?cmd=checkout

Are the mazdaspeed mounts really that worthwhile?

Yes. They make a nice difference on their own. Even better when paired with the diff mounts. You won't get that shifter to stay in one place though untill you eliminate the powerplant frame and hard mount the tranny. The Mazdaspeed mounts are a great compromise.

You could look into these too.
http://www.function-7.com/a0-f7mx05mt.html

I have never heard of anyone actually having a set though. Kinda expensive

I've got MS engine and diff. mounts as well as the Okuyama single slot brace that connects the tranny, and I still miss the 2-3 shift :(

Do any of you guys run a short shifter? It was one of my first mods I did for my Miata and I never had much trouble with the 2-3 shift.

How much power are you making? I never really missed shifts below 12 psi.

I was making nowhere the power that you are. Rob at Flipside had the same issue once he got near the 200 whp mark and ended up eliminating the power plant frame altogether and building a front mount for the rear diff and hard mounted the transmission. It is the best shifting Miata I have ever driven. Its pretty loud with all the gear noise being transmitted right into the cabin.

Alright, I'll let you guys know what works as I try it.

i must shift really slow.

12 psi on a 1.6L is less torque and hp than on a 1.8 with a 99 head. You've got less bore and slightly less stroke riding on the same transmission and similar motor mounts.

never had a 2-3 problem.... but at redline, the 1-2 shift is a PITA..... even with my mazdaspeed mounts and short shifter

is it good having all these hard mounts? i would think it would eventually break somthing down the road? if not i am about to go buy 24 ft of 1 inch tubing haha

Since the engine and transmission are as one unit and the twisting of the ppf should have nothing to do with the meshing of gears, is the problem strictly the changing position of the shift knob in relation to the driver's hand?

^ thats what i was thinking

ingalls is allegedly working on a "stiffy" for the miata
http://www.ingallseng.com/parts/ETD/ETD-Specs.htm

wow, that's about the most diplomatic way of saying "driver error" I've ever heard. :bowdown:

The 2/3 problem i have is when i try to quickly shift from 2 to 3 while under heavy acceleration, it grinds. Is this what you guys are talkin about? If so, i was not aware there was a solution! I guess i need to read up. I have this problem almost every time i try to shift under heavy acceleration, and i hate it, sounds like im gonna rip out the tranny.

My 2-3 used to grind actually. But after some new turrent oil and redline fluid, no more.

really?

whats turrent oil?

2-3 grind from a quick shift wouldnt that be worn snynchro and your shifting faster than it can snych? So more or less your forcing over the dog teeth and thats the grindin sound ya hear?

If things work out there will be a solution for this problem in the "near" future ;)

Ok, got a 60 dollar ebay brace on the way, I'll see if that holds the engine in place. It looks like the 160 dollar weapon-R brace, only it costs 100 dollars less. If it falls short, I can always modify it with hammers.

Hmm, I had to drill on it a little to get it to work, but it does appear to work. It comes very close to hitting the brake lines but just barely clears it. 2/3 shifts appear to be a lot smoother. I need to test it more once the weather warms up.

Only mods are worn stock motor mounts and the ebay brace.

My homedepot solid brace (before turbo, turbo and homedepot brace can't co-exist )

Attachment 217159
Attachment 217160

Kotomile: I like how that integrates into your MC brace. Good looking piece. The only downer is that bolts being single shear. single shear = bad. Still more than adequate for the application though.

My Miata's become progressively more difficult to make the 2-3 shift as it's gained power. It's not the tranny fluid, as that's changed regularly.

Worn syncros are, however, the cause of the 1-2 shift grind I get when really huffing it.

Uh, this is a fresh tranny with fresh synthetic fluid. I'm telling you it is due to the engine flopping around under the hood and causing the transmission to shift around.