I am in the market for a CAE shifter for my NA 6 speed transmission. The problem I am having is if you go to their web site there are two different size "gear box joints" , They list 19mm and 22mm. Also Hard Motorsport sells these and they actually say 19mm and 22mm ball size. I have measured both the large fulcrum ball, ~34mm and the small ball that actually does the shifting, ~18mm. I contacted Hard Motorsport and they don't know what to tell me.
I have left messages with CAE but have had no response. I really don't want spend the money on the wrong one.
Anybody know what actually gets measured to verify the size they are talking about?
Any help would greatly appreciated.

 

There's no such thing as an NA 6 speed transmission, but you're going to want to know if you're an early or late 6 speed. Check your VIN. Check the thread below.

https://www.miataturbo.net/suspensio...er-help-75863/

 

A couple of LOL's...
One, this is in 1992 with a BP4W and a 6 speed (don't think VIN will help much), and if you go to CAE's web page they list the shifter as,

CAE Ultra Shifter Mazda MX5 NA/NB 6 Speed.

So does that mean that no 6 speeds were offered in NA's in the US but were ROW? I really don't know.

 

You will need to identify if you have an early or late 6 speed transmission. How you choose to do so is up to you. VIN is the easiest if you have it on the trans somewhere.

 

No 6 speeds were ever offered in a NA anywhere. The ball size that matters is the lower one. Sounds like you have an early NB 6 speed with the smaller ball.

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Thanks, it just worrisome that it doesn't match up with their sizes. The shifter is pretty expensive and probably not returnable.
I really wish that CAE would respond to my question.

 

Vendor isn't clear about fitment.
Vendor doesn't respond to questions.
No returns.

Sounds like this is going to go well.

 

There's a VIN on the 6 speed. Use that to figure out if it's an early or late.

 

There is also a difference in the tail shaft that tells you if its early or late. The late versions have a detent on the the shifter rod (likely to improve shifter feel). There is a internal hex plug on the late tail shaft housings (drive side I think) for this detent that isn't on the early 6spds.

 

Thanks for all of the replies and input. I also found this, https://www.miataturbo.net/suspensio...er-help-75863/, in my searching.
From that it looks like I actually have a later 6 speed.
The bushing is 21.5mm. I will get the car on a lift tomorrow and look for the VIN tag and the check the tail shaft housing.
I am pretty convinced but want to have no doubt.

Thanks again.

 

I'm about to get one of these as well and my thoughts were to buy the one with the smaller shaft tip so that I can use it with either transmission. Problem is this only works if they actually use a stock size shifter bushing and I don't see any bushing in the product photos.

MiataRoadster does this with their short shifters, they only make the smaller tipped shifter and just have two different delrin shifter bushings available depending on which transmission it needs to go in. These are available separately so if the CAE uses a stock small shifter bushing, you could just buy the corresponding bushing depending on early or late 6 speed.

Again if the CAE doesn't actually use a bushing then I guess this idea goes out the window.

 

It would great if CAE actually had customer support.
I do have the shifter from my 5-speed transmission and the ball and bushing are smaller then my 6-speed shifter. Again pretty sure I have a later transmission.

I have only done one track event with the 6-speed. Absolutely loved the gearing, but had a problem with missed shifts. Kind of funny (now), I had just passed another Miata, got slowed down by traffic and attempted a 5th to 4th shift, got 2nd instead. The other guy swore he saw both sides of my car multiple times. Luckily the wheel "locked up" instead of over revving. Exciting!
I have since done 95 durometer motor mounts and diff bushing. Still my plan is to not have that happen again. (-;

P.S. I also found the phantom 7th gear a couple of time.

 

Is this what you were talking about Midtenn as far as the detent?

 

OP, don't overlook the benefits to gearshift accuracy of updating engine mounts. Not knocking a shifter, I have the MR version.

 

Motor and diff mounts done, also strengthened power frame.

 

Yes, that is the shift rod detent.

 

Thanks, all signs point to a later transmission. (:
Good to know I can order the correct shifter with confidence.
I appreciate all of the input. I will post my thoughts after driving.

 

And report back with whether or not it uses a shifter bushing in case I can go through with my plan posted earlier.

 

No CAE yet. I did just do my second track even with the 6-speed this week, Watkins Glen Monday Tuesday.
I did the stiffening mods before doing the second event. I would say it was better, possibly I was better also and more careful. I did find seventh gear a few times , touched reverse once or twice and did miss a couple of shifts early on. I was prepared for it so was not a big deal. With practice I was able to do better shifts and tell if I had gotten the wrong gate prior to letting the clutch out. Still so far not a great track transmission, but do love the ratios. Really hoping the shifter solves most of this!

 

Holy Batman! $1000 shifter. I stiffened the whole drivetrain. Engine mounts AWR. Diff bushings, new shifter metal bushing, new rebuild shifter everything. New reverse gear spring, helped a lot with not going into reverse gate. Clear improvements, But still feels not very precise. I am torn between miata roadster and the GRacing shifter. I have early NB 6 speed.