5 spd transmission blown...is it safe to drive to another state
 

So, I took the miata out for a whirl and ended up blowing the tranny... problem is... I won't be able to order a 6 spd from Planet Miata/wherever or have the time to install it before I leave for my job next week... I have to move out immediately after I come back into the states next month though...

3rd gear went bye-bye.... and I can hear something bouncing around in the shifter fork assembly near the driveshaft (correct me if I'm wrong please) area of the transmission.... but it still drives in all the rest of the gears

Now my question is.... is it safe to drive ~400 miles to the next state (where I will have an entire month off work to perform the repairs) with someone else driving my Ranger up with me?

I've also considered renting a u-haul tow dolly and lifting up all four wheels when I do it... but I've heard the stores can be a pain in the a$$ when it comes to that....

Any suggestions on how to handle this would be much appreciated...
O and I'm in the Houston area (not sure if that matters in the response)

Thanks in advance!

if one of those chunks that broke make it between any other gears, you're done.

That's what I figured.... which is why she's been parked and isn't moving.... I don't want it to bounce around and grab into another gear and then who knows what could happen if I was moving at 60-80 mph and in traffic....

Next question then, what's the best way to get this miata up there?

u-haul flatbed?

Alright, I'll give it a shot.... won't happen till the end of July... just not wanting to tear into the body by going up/down the steep inclines of the uhaul flatbed..... but guess that's my only option at this point

Pull the driveshaft and tow it behind the uhaul with a car dolly

Think I like that idea better... gonna have to take it off anyways to change the tranny so might as well do it now right? haha

buy a cheap 5 speed, plop it in the trunk.... drive it there... if it breaks down on the way, roadside tranny swap.......... Like a Bawss... lol

I would definitely haul it behind the Uhaul... It will save lots of Time, Money, Headaches, and anxiety from wondering when its gonna go crunch. lol
Get there safely and quickly, and prepare for 6 speed GLORY!!!!

Just curious, how much power are you making and how long have you been turbo'd?

I've driven a few hundred miles after braking ether second or third in the five speed. A chunk can easily take out another gear but it usually doesn't. Probably draining out the as much of the chunks as you can and putting fresh cheap fluid in would help reduce the risk. But my guess is it will work for a bit if baybied. The ones I broke where the input drive gear goes are undrivable because the only thing that sort of works to provide drive is 4th when you do that and it will crunch like crazy even there.

I vote pull the shaft.

If it were me i'd probably get another 5 speed or 6 speed lined up. Most likely a 5 speed because people practically give them away. I am also confident I could swap a transmission in a coupe hours If I was pressed for time and had a friends extra hands. If I were to do it on my weekend It would probably take me 4 hours and a 6 pack.

after you're done, wash your hands and remove the driveshaft from your car

If you get a big enough metal chunk between two meshed gears you could lock up the rear wheels, that would be bad. But just using only 4th gear all the way there, even off the line you should be fine.

Pushing 200 whp and have been running it like this since about 2005. It was inevitable on this transmission, the car has seen some serious track usage as well from both me and the previous owner. From reading the multiple posts on this site, it seems like anywhere in the 200 and up range of whp 5 speeds become very common to replace.... so I'm just going to solve the problem at the source and throw a 6 speed on there so I don't have to worry about swapping out yet another tranny down the road.
It is the base model 96' so she still has the 4.1 open diff in her as well.... I know it's going to be swapped but obviously I need to change the tranny out first.. Trying to find a 3.6 or a 3.9 LSD to swap in and maybe do it all at the same time(future plans for the car is to make it hit ~250whp)

I don't see how it matters what gear is engaged. The counter shaft and all of the gears are rotating all of the time. Even in neutral, if the car is rolling and you jamb any of the gears you're going to have a bad day.

Might want to get on houstonmiataclub.com someone mihgt help you install one and/or check out SR Enterprises in Sealy; they'll have one - 5 or 6. I have a spare 5 spd in my garage if that helps $250?

I second this suggestion. Wasn't even particularly careful when I did it, as it was a parts car. Though, no damage occurred.

Plus, Uhaul was great to work with. It was a huge help to have someone there to get me hooked up, as it was my first time towing and had just got the truck.

Rent U-Haul and park the car in it. Screw the trailer. The adventure is finding a place to load it/ unload it.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1402612171

I lost all of 3rd gear and honestly, was fine driving the car. I just didn't do anything that would throw broken teeth into the assemblies.

You still have that 5 spd? Would be awesome if you did! I'll be back in Houston the 28th - 31st of July before I drive up to Arkansas, maybe can swing by and pick it up off ya depending on the condition.

How many miles on it and was it driven naturally aspirated or turbo'd before removal?