redlightrich

iTrader: (1)

Hello all, in hunting up the parts to convert my SA auto to a manual, I bought a trans with 80000 miles ( or so I am told). It was a dismantler, so I doubt they would lie. At any rate, is there any rule of thumb as to how they last? I have the ability to rebuild it if I buy a kit, but I don't have a lot of extra time.
I would leave it alone if there was a reasonable way to determine if it is good without taking it apart. I feel that once I take it apart, I may as well do the job.

The fluid was already drained for shipping, so I don't have the benefit of looking at the condition of the fluid and whether or not any metal came out with it.

Any ideas will be greatly appreciated!!!

Rich

7aull

iTrader: (2)

Rich - speaking for my 3- SA ownership, the 5spd (unique to SA as you may know) seems pretty durable if not abused. 2nd gear usually the first to go, tho any syncro can be an issue if someone was clumsy. My current SA is prob close to 100K and it shifts flawlessly. I have certainly heard of these gearboxes getting up well over that, tho others can attest to that directly from their experience. Its obv a crap-shoot with a tranny that just shows up at your door!

As to rebuild kits for parts, these can be bought HERE at a pretty fair price:

Mazda Built 4 and 5 speed manual transmission parts, and overhaul kits - Drivetrain

One point here is the FRONT BEARING SEAL assy (which is the seal and its cover that the input shaft goes thru) is NLA
(PN 8086-17-326 if you want to get the Word from your Dealer). and these can be leak prone if someone was sloppy pulling the tranny, or just from age. This is a unique-to-SA part (of course).

As to fluids, lots of opinions here, but REDLINE synth is popular.
AND - you might want to be sure the supplier includes the rubber SHIFT boots (set of 3) as a couple of these are also now NLA and again, "Unique to SA" - sorry.
AND - there IS a "shift kit" (aka "bush set, change" in MAZDA-speak) that is a set of bits and bushings that the shift lever fits into on the tails haft - nice to refresh. PN 0305-99-178
AND - there is a nylon bushing the BALL of the shift lever rests in that is a smart refresh too
PN 0398-17-462A
These all tighten up the shift action nicely, and are quite cheap. And, hey! AVAILABLE!
-New speedo oil and O-ring seals ( one each of 1011-17-443; & 9958-60-8166 or 9958-61-0207 for O-ring, depending on chassis manuf date of tranny) and driveshaft seals (one each: 0437-17-335) would be a smart refurb too.


Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

spin the shafts around in gear, they should be smooth, and it should shift through all 6 gears on the floor.

i like 50/50% ATF and regular gear oil in a street car, its cheap, and works just as well as the synthetics.

there really isn't much more you can do to tell if its good or not on the floor. it has a lot to do with the previous owners too, as i've seen original transmissions with 230+k miles on em, and i've also seen some that were rebuilt under warranty

redlightrich

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I guess it all depends on if I feel lucky enough to just install it as is.

I did run it thru the gears while rotating the input shaft and all seems well there, but there is no load on it at the moment. Of the 3 rubber boots, 2 are not good, so now I need to hunt those up too!!!

I was indeed going to change the bushings in the shifter that are available to tighten that up.

I guess if I install it and there is an issue, it will be easier to remove and install the second time.

Thank you again

Rich

larryjax77

all I know is I had 2 1984 rx7s, 1 had a mild street port, I cant say I dogged it all the time but a few hard red light to red light grand prix. never had any problems at all .

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

There's come excellent advice above. I usually see transmissions last well over 150k miles if they're not abused. I am running one with about 150k in my 85 and its been perfect. No noise, no grinding. Works perfectly.

DreamInRotary

iTrader: (49)

I think the only times I've heard of where a first gen transmission fails is when someone's pushing high horsepower and beats on the transmission really hard with Hulk-style shifting. I've never had one fail on me to this point. Even the TII transmission (the best ones IIRC) I had was plagued with the 5th gear synchro problem, (again, probably from being beat on by the PO) whereas the FB transmission's I've had so far were all flawless.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

most of the 12A cars i've had have had noisy bearings. the quiet ones usually have been pulled apart and had the bearings changed.

the Turbo trans usually grinds into 5th, and sometimes they are noisy too. weirdly when you start to make power, the turbo trans works well for a lower revving turbo, but a P port will shred it.