auto versus stick
 

Should I switch my automatic trans to a 5 speed or leave as is. Pickup is slow but car is fast.

Re: auto versus stick
 

yes.

Why, tell me more. What will I really get from it?

a hell of a lot of more fun is what you will get..
nothing beats a good manual tranny.

Has anyone ever switched over before?

You will get better acceleration, better gas milage, and better top end.

You will also get to change clutches regularly, have a biggger/stronger left leg in traffic, and no more opportunities to keep you hand on your GF's lap all the time.

Seriously, drive a stick Rex first, and make up your mind.

I already have the automatic in perfect condition. I will never find a 5 speed in this good of shape.

i know that someone on this board has done the swap before. serzy maybe.
i would definatly try to find one that you can borrow , to try out, if you are not sure..

Thanks

At first I would tell you to switch it cause stick is far superior not only for acceleration etc, but for the fun factror, I mean this is a sports car not a family sedan. But on second thought auto FB's are pretty damn rare so you might want to keep it auto and then buy another one that is stick. Your car, your call, but rareness is cool. :)

I switched from auto to 5 speed 2 yrs ago. The 3 speed auto's suck -

1 - they rev way to high on the highway without the overdrive
2- you can't red line them
3- brutal gas milage, especially on the highway
4- no guts off the line
5- Expensive to repair (and the torque converters are the first to go)
6- Not nearly as much fun to drive
7- Civics will beat you to death
8- Mod's are a waste of time / money (and good parts)
9- Defeats the purpose of the "Sports Car"
10- They stopped making them after '83 for good reason

That's a few reasons to switch - no offence to your auto but if you can get your hands on a used 5 speed, go for it - the switch is not that difficult - in the '83 it's the same drive shaft and you need to move the tranny support cross member back a little - other than that, tranny, clutch, flywheel, slave, blah, blah and you're set

I switched from auto to 5 speed 2 yrs ago. The 3 speed auto's suck -

1 - they rev way to high on the highway without the overdrive
2- you can't red line them
3- brutal gas milage, especially on the highway
4- no guts off the line
5- Expensive to repair (and the torque converters are the first to go)
6- Not nearly as much fun to drive
7- Civics will beat you to death
8- Mod's are a waste of time / money (and good parts)
9- Defeats the purpose of the "Sports Car"
10- They stopped making them after '83 for good reason

That's a few reasons to switch - no offence to your auto but if you can get your hands on a used 5 speed, go for it - the switch is not that difficult - in the '83 it's the same drive shaft and you need to move the tranny support cross member back a little - other than that, tranny, clutch, flywheel, slave, blah, blah and you're set

Not that I like the Automatics on 7's.. But I just want to get facts straight.

Automatics where offered in 84/85 models as well,
With an improved 4 Speed Automatic overdrive.

http://www.monmouth.com/~rothe/85-09.jpg

This is from the 85 Mazda Rx-7 Brochure..:D

Directfreak's right - I was thinking of the 84/85 GSL-SE which did not offer the auto (correct me if I'm wrong) - 9 of of 10 ain't bad

do a search!
me personally? the work is worth the rewards.

what you will need:
driveshaft
shifter and boot
clutch assembly (grab the extra pieces under there from the doner car, ya never know what you're gonna drop, break or lose)
clutch cly
flywheel
front counter weight

the auto trans mount is 4" back from the manual. you'll have to weld an extension onto your exsisting mount. to keep it from appling a moment to the mount, i made a support in the front out of the rear swaybar end links. i bolted the end link mounts to the trans tunnel. not very difficult and works prefect.

A friend of mine has a zx-2 with the automatic tranny and he said that after intake and exhaust he is running a 19 second quarter mile. The zx-2 with the manual tranny runs a 17 sec. quater mile completely stock. Stick shift is way faster, way better on gas, and way funner in my opinion. It seems like a tough job to swap trannies, but once you just suck it up and dig in, it isn't so bad. ( and pretty fun)

uuumm for the no auto after 83' that is a lie! my car is an 1985 gsl auto! i challenge you to a duel non mazda knower!

I would say that 5 spd does have it's avantages over auto and i would personally go with the 5 spd, but then again you don't see too many autos around, they're hard to find. No matter what, it is still an RX7!

Get a stick, there are a lot of other things that you cant do, push start, (easier) burnmouts, get a jump on the other guy, lot more things trick-wise (espacally in autocross) etc. plus, you look coorinated to chick when driving a stick. :cool: the only bad thing in the 84 gs i have there is nowhere to put your drink, oh, and in houston, getting stuck in I-10 traffic sux with stick even more:D

Snake Eyes<l><l>

RX-7girl - Dual's on !! - check my second post, I errored... I was thinking of the 84/85 GSL-SE which did not come with the auto

Exactly... There was a 4 speed Auto option on all 84/85's 'cept the GSL-SE:D

Mine is a 1985 GS 4 speed auto with overdrive

Do the swap, you will love it..

Switch it! Switch it!

85rx7gs your car looks like mine and im in Jersey too. check out my ride on---- my7.rx7.org/