Looking for a little help, I have a 1982 RX7 GS. I am trying to get my car to shift like my Miata and read somewhere a shifter from a NA Miata will work with a little modification. It looks like I have to sand the bushing down some because of height differences.

Some concerns of mine though, because of the longer pivot point, the ball doesn't truly rest on the lower machined in bushing in the transmission. I am thinking of making my own bushing spacer, thoughts?

The other concern is the opening to keep it straight, one is wider than the other as you can see in the picture. This means the shift lever can twist a bit.

Has anyone else had these issues? What have you done about it? Or do you just get use to it? Love the short shifting. Want to make this work.








Another person recomended a shifter kit off of ebay from a 86 to 91 RX-7. It looks like it would have a shorter throw based on the length from the pivot to transmission contact. Has anyone had experience with this one?





It just seems like this is so close on working. It doesn't seem worth the $200 pricetag of the Mazdatrix. I am sure it is a quality product but there is money better spent elsewhere on the car.

 

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-gen-arch...riteup-445801/
This goes through what additional parts you will need and how to install in a 13b trans. I did a similar install using this for my 83 fb with a 12a. Handy to have a drill around to improvise a lathe and use a hard flat surface on which to evenly sand down the bushing. Did it years ago with an ebay cheapo kit, works well enough. As a bonus, it removed the phantom gear between first and third. I removed the plastic vertical guide, my **** rotates more than normal, you get used to it. Only downside is mine rattles at higher rpm (might just be my car though). Fun to click it back and forth waiting for traffic, lights, etc.

A word of warning about the lower ball, the cheap kits have cylindrical sleeves instead of the stock sphere. When removing the shifter the cylinder catches on the return spring and breaks it very easily. On the plus side, if you get it right the first time, the upper part of the shifter unscrewing means you dont have to take the lower part out often, if not, never again.

Another thread talking the install over:
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-arch...lation-651036/

To get the stock miata one to work, you will have to measure the height difference of the *****, get a thicker bushing (or use two) and sand the thickness down until you get the preload on the ball you want. Good luck, takes a bit of trial and error.

 

Miatas shift better because the ratios are closer together and the 2nd-gear synchro (the biggest drop) is a double cone arrangement. The synchros have a much easier life in the Miata trans so they shift a lot more smoothly.

If you put a Miata shifter in an RX-7, the shifts will get a lot more difficult and notchy feeling. You need a longer throw for that nice light shift feel. Or a Miata gearset.

 

Thanks for the advice! I changed my mind on using a Miata shifter and going to go with a short throw shifter and see how that works. Will post results and reviews.

 

For those that have never driven a Miata, how much better is the shifter feel? I've always heard good things about the shifter feel on those cars, alone win pretty much everything else haha. I actually like the stock shifter feel, the throw is pretty long and gated feeling, but I like it. Curious to see how this turns out for you.

 

disregard

 

I own and daily drive/track a 92 NA6 and I road race a 79 SA22C. The Miata's stock throws are short and gear changes are super quick. The SA22C shifts like a bus with very long throws.