hello i just turned 18 and i dont know much about these cars. so all the help is appreciated. i have a 83 gsl 5speed and my syncros are shot and i have no 4th gear. so i took the tranny out and tried my other tranny which is from a 79 rx7 that i use as a parts car. it has a good tranny. i tried using the 79 tranny in my 83 but the shifter is not back far enuf. what can i do? do i have to find a 5speed tranny from another 83 rx7? or does anyone have one? let me know. thanks guys.

 

Not sure why that doesn't match up-- Any tranny from an '83-'85 with a 12A should certainly work.
I would have thought that the '79 would have worked too, but that's why I'm not a rotary genius, I suppose

 

It should work. There is no reason it shouldn't. As far as I know, All the 1st gen trannies are the same length/width/hight. The shifters are all in the same position too. Hell, even the non-turbo 2nd gens have the same tranny dimentions.

 

Oh my goodness.

 

well the shifter on the trannys are not the same length from the engine. the 79 is shorter. so that means i need a different tranny. could it be that it is a gsl? know anyone who has a tranny? my two trannys side by side look different.

 

got one in a parts car , its an 84 gsl

 

"For the RX-7 in 1979, Mazda introduced what we refer to as a "Smooth Case" in 4 or 5-speed configuration. These transmissions have virtually no ribbing on the outside, the bellhousing is integral with the main case, and the removable inspection plate is gone. These transmissions, with adequate maintenance and very little abuse, seem to work quite fine. They do wear out eventually and should be replaced when necessary (see Transmission/Differential Trouble Shooting).

For 1981 thru 83 the shifter was made "Remote" and moved back approximately two inches. There were internal changes made also, and we seem to have fewer complaints about these. (But remember they are at least 2 years newer than any 79 or 80). They will bolt into earlier cars, but the tunnel shifter hole needs to be trimmed back, and you're on your own for fitting shifter boots and consoles.

1984 thru 1985 were essentially the same as above except a vent was cast into the right side of the bellhousing. "

If you understood what you just read then you now know why the 79 tranny did not exactly fit. If you want to use it you will have to cut some metal to make it fit. If you do not want to do that, I have a tranny out of an 81 that WILL fit without any modifications and was in good working order when the car was parked to be dismantled. I will sell it for $80 + shipping.

 

Thank you tmking66, I went nuts after reading what those other guys said. I dont like my shifter at all, i wouldnt suggest using a 79-80. I frequently miss second gear because you CANNOT **** fast enough, its almost like the pre-7 rotary vehicles which have shifters like a pickup. By the way, buy that tranny from tmking66, its worth it.

 

thats some good info. ill think about overnight and see what im going to do.