AbeFM

iTrader: (3)

Er, last night I discovered what it feels like to rip 3rd gear out of your car. It's what you'd expect. :-P

I was thinking, while on the way home, listening to the chucks banging around in there, maybe I could get a third gear out of another destroyed tranny, and make one reasonable 5 speed out of the two, just to have something to drive while I finish my more detailed 6 speed build. Does this seem reasonable? Does anyone in socal have a 5 speed with a possibly good 3rd gear, or the gears out of their tranny and want to sell one cheap?

Just thinking. And it figures I mailed my bike computer away that morning.
-Abe.

Toddcod

iTrader: (8)

Do they not have any complete used ones in Craigs list. What are you doing to a six speed. can you just throw the six speed in?

AbeFM

iTrader: (3)

Er, the 6 speed was pretty ruined, throwing $700 in mazdacomp discounted parts at it, and it should be like new - all the gears either perfect or replaced, same with the synchros. It should be an awesome tranny, all in all ~800-900 invested. I feel good about it.

Anyway, I don't want a good five speed, it's not worth to me what it would have to be worth to the guy selling it. But if it was one of those "someday I'll fix this" things, maybe someone just wants it out of their garage, what the hell?

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Did it go out on a 3rd gear pull, or a 2nd to 3rd shift?

Either way, gl.

AbeFM

iTrader: (3)

A shift, I mean, I thought I was done with it, but I'd hit a dip so I kinda double clutched? I'm sure driven with more care it would have been ok. Sucks, too, since there wasn't anything wrong with it, I was hoping to sell it.

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

I'm so doing an automatic swap this summer. Aint' spending ~1k on a 6 speed I DON'T want. Sucks shifting this much with the 5 speed. FWIW, I've been babying my transmission now that I'm boosted.

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

Oh, and yeah, you can swap parts around and make a good transmission if you have enough parts to do so.

AbeFM

iTrader: (3)

I was kinda wondering if there were issues with which year the parts came out of - the tranny's a 99.

Either way you want lower gearing. 5 speed with 3.9 or 6 with 3.6. I think 3.3 would be ideal, but you'll spend more on that set of gears than on a tranny.

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

Gears should all be the same. Only differences was syncros through the years. Just put the ones from the 99' transmission.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

i have a spare auto driveshaft if you want it. Just pay for shipping.

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

I heard they're the same as the standard, just a different part number and they have a "added weight" for some reason. But people have done the manual to auto swap and reused the driveshaft.

mikef85

iTrader: (7)

Automatic is the way to go on a turbo car.

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

I know. Maybe I'll just throw a glide in it....

mikef85

iTrader: (7)

Need more torque

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

Yeah. I think I'll just build an automatic and run it. Would like to tear one apart just to see how it's built, find the weak links, etc. I bet the auto would take 350whp fine if I up the head pressures, new performance bands and clutches, work the valve body, and put a huge cooler on it. Who knows, but auto turbo FTW.

mikef85

iTrader: (7)

Don't forget how important the converter is. I wonder who you could get to rework it.

I don't know many people that have pushed the limits with the automatics, it would be interesting to see your results from it.

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

There's some company out there that does miata transmissions, but everything they do cost a lot of $$$. They do custom converters though. Probably put a 2500 in it or so. Dunno. But I've wanted an auto for a while, and now that I'm turbo, I really want an auto.

AbeFM

iTrader: (3)

I don't get it? Even the thrill of ripping out your gears is more fun in a manual. :-)

Just drive around on cruise control for a while with a turbo and find out how little you want it.

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

Ever drive a car with an automatic that's turbo? Or an automatic with a fully manual valve body? One word: Fun.

Plus I'd rather rip gears and know I can do so safely, predictably, not miss a gear, etc. And i don't like shifting either. And base model, so no cruise.

cardriverx

iTrader: (12)

im thinkin a little higher for the stall, something like 3250. I do bleaive a fully manual valve bodyed auto would be fun with these turbo miatas for drag and prowlin the streets.