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New thread from Billy's post - $65 transmission

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JPSmit

JPSmit

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Before I say anyhong let me remind all y'all that I am not an engineer so, if this is the dumbest idea ever tell me and I will delete the post.

Billy was challenging Gerard to make a $65 5 speed kit for our cars. The challenge is twofold, size and comparitive rarity of RWD cars. I know that there are increasing numbers of RWD cars put there but, the either have larger (t5 for example) engines or their bell housings are not removeable (Miata for instance) this leaves us scrambling for older transmissions, which, Gerard and others point out are getting rarer.

Is it possible to put a Front Wheel Drive Transmission on a RWD car? They would be small enough and are certainly widely and presumably cheaply available. I know they are more transaxles than transmissions, but, i have seen on the interweb, examples of front wheel drive cars having their diffs welded. Presumably someone could do this so it only runs out one side - and given that most of us are running tens of horsepower rather than hundreds, I can't imagine we would overly strain by running out one side.

any thoughts or am I talking about apples and oranges?
 
Nice out of the box thinking, but I think you are WAY too far out on this one.
 
JPSmit said:
any thoughts or am I talking about apples and oranges?
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More like apples and lima beans. FWD/RWD are completely different arrangements.

I need a trans for my Sprite too. The Datsun is a little too week for the power I'm using. The T-5 is a bit large and really needs a custom tail housing to put the shifter in the right place. I don't want to have to do any significant sheet metal work either.

Don't dismiss RWD transmissions that have integral bell housings as a source of donors. The bell housing can be sawed/milled off and a new one cast to bolt on, either using existing bolt holes that join the bell housing/front bearing plate to the main case, or drilling and tapping new - if possible. The Mazda Miata/B2400/B2600/Ford transmissions falls into the "bolt on" group if you use the B2600 style of bell housing with the thru bolts to the gear carrier case. I've pretty much narrowed my choice down to a Mazda trans or one of the small BMW 5 speeds that seem to be plentiful.

My planned casting wouldn't work with a stock Sprite engine but the same idea could be used.
 
No, I said make a kit that will fit $65 transmissions. There's a BIG difference b/w a used $65 transmission and a $65 kit. :wink:

For those who are wondering, the local P-A-P here sells transmissons for $65 w/ exchange.
 
Some one recently did something with a Mitsubishi Engine and a 5 speed from a Jeep Liberty. Anyone know any more about this swap.
 
If I recall correctly, the Toyota Starlet was a front wheel drive car that had a north/south engine alignment instead of the typical traverse mount. Wonder how that tranny would work?
 
SaxMan said:
If I recall correctly, the Toyota Starlet was a front wheel drive car that had a north/south engine alignment instead of the typical traverse mount. Wonder how that tranny would work?
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Might as well stick to a 210. I've seen one of those in the past 30 years.
 
One thread mentioned a Dodge Mitsubishi Chrysler 420a engine along with a jeep liberty 5 speed that bolts right up. Engine up to 2.4 later with Turbo producing 245 hp. No clue if it would fit but might be available as a JDM engibe$
 
Why not the trans out of a Mitsubishi Starion? I had that car, was a great shifting trans. For that matter, that motor as well. With a large turbo that car ran 13's in the quarter mile.
 
That Starion transmission KM-132 is pretty big. Mitsubishi also used it in some trucks. It is similar to a Dodge D50 from the early days of mini trucks.
 
I actually looked at a FWD trans swap, the problem is the offset of the output shaves. If they were right under the bell housing in line with the input it would be doable. You'd have to lock the "diff" in the trans but it would theoretically work if things lined up better.
 
Maybe the best alternative is the Datsun 63 box, bigger but does fit according to Billm.
 
IMO, If you are going to have to mod the tunnel, then look for a box that is more common.
 
The 420a plus jeep liberty 5 speed someone has already done that swaps mentioned on mgexp but no further info was forthcoming. Time to make a inquiry.
 
I somewhat agree with the "buy a miata" sentiment, but customizing a classic car to make it better suit your desires has merit and is a huge industry for some models.
 
AN5Sprite said:
Buy a Miata. Leave the Sprite as it should be. Everyone's problem solved. Boom! Done.
Click to expand...

Says the man with the modified Sprite (I kid, I kid!) :grin:

The real complication here is that we're dealing with a very small market, and it is a market that already has two viable options (Datsun and Ford T-9). Yes they can be more expensive now, but they're already on the market. Can't imagine either sells in huge numbers.

Spridget owners are not know to be the most, um, profligate spenders either...

Still, I'd love to see other options crop up.
 
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