I am getting a GSL-SE soon, and I want to know if this is possible. The tranny was my favorite part (other than looks and suspension) of the RX-8 I drove couple times. Any help would be good.

 

It has been said that the 8 trans does not have a speed O output like a normal trans.

 

it's a stronger tranny, 6 speed, bolts up to motor but do not know if length or shifter location is comparable to 1st gen.

 

its not stronger its a piece of crap ,i broke one in a friends car autocrossing,the GSL-SE is much stronger i run one on my GSL-SE with 437rwhp and i only broke it once.or just go with a t2 trans with 93 guts ,that will take just about anything.

 

I agree I have only heard bad things about the strength of the 8 tranny. Go with a TII tranny. More than enough. What is wrong with the SE tranny?

 

To sum it up there were a lot of threads about this when the Rx-8 came out... The #1 failure on the Rx-8 has been the tranny, some people were blowing them when they were autocrossing and MAZDA refused to honor the WARRANTEE!!! I would look into a Miata 6-speed tranny and fab in the rear end..

 

the turbo II tranny and the GSL-SE are the ones i'd recomend the turbo two being the heaviest and the depending on the combo you're using you may need a custom drveshaft and in that case Mazdatrix is whom i recomend

 

Cool. Thanks for the advise.

 

I don't blame mazda for not honouring the warrantee. Think about it, why should mazda replace something that was used in a way not advised by mazda. Should they replace a tranny that broke from use of sticky tires on a drag strip? I think not. Its the same as with insurance. Insurance doesn't cover dick all if you crash your car during any kind of race.

 

hahaha a rx8 at a drag strip, thats funny.

 

Hey don't laugh they are faster then some of our cars...

 

The guy in our club that blew his tranny autoxing was GIVEN his SCCA membership BY THE DEALER!!! as a part of his purchase... Zoom ZOOM my ***, they advertise them as a round about sports car and give out autocrossing memberships then don't honor the warr... Ok that's fair :}

 

^^ There was a giant controversy over that same subject when Subaru gave out free SCCA memberships with the WRX.

Its common practice for a roundabout way to void the contract.

 

I agree with you. I can usually understand how a company would not warr a tranny, but if they gave him a SCCA membership that is their mistake. At that point as a business you are just asking for it...

 

Judge Ito Broke 2 trans and 1 rear in his Rx8 at the Strip.

 

Judge Ito is a boost and nitrous *****, but still one of the best examples of how crappy they are.

I would personally get a Miata 6 speed and swap in some Turbo II internals like final drive. I think fc3s.org has a good writeup and comparison of Miata to FC trannies.

 

I did not know this. I don't personally know anyone that has an RX-8, nor have I heard about this anywhere. Either way, was that membership authorized by MAZDA itself? If not, then its up to the dealer to take care of the broken transmission.

It wasn't only subaru that was making a fuss about this kinda stuff. Mitsubishi almost went under because of all the **** they started with not fulfilling warrantees with the Evo.

On another note, just because the tranny is a new design doesn't make it stronger. Just the fact that its a 6 speed makes it a weaker tranny. I would think that to fit another gear into the same tranny case, you would have to make things smaller to fit. Making things smaller generally makes them weaker.

 

As an owner/driver of a Mazdaspeed Rx-8 Challenge Cup Car, I can tell you that the achilles heel in this car is the transmission. Mazda won't allow me or any other sponsered drivers to enter any Endurance races for this very fact. Stick to a turbo II.

 

the miata 6 speed is the same tranny in the rx8, its just as weak. The 5 speed miata trannys are stronger than the 6 speeds

 

Yep Mazda and Subaru were giving out SCCA memberships with purchase and voiding warrienties for people who races. Subaru actually hierd people to go to scca events and record people who were racing cars and their warrienties for anything was voided. Including things that were not broken from racing...

 

umm your theory on the 6th gear is wrong. for example cars where the R is next to 1st gear have an empty ole right after 5th gear just waiting for a 6th gear. Just ask the A1 and A2 VW guys!

 

so i guess a 6 speed from a ford tranny will do

 

i second the motion

 

i wonder how much for the ford trannies and where can i get a adapter plate for it for my gsl-se

 

oh, didn't know they had *that many* failures. ouch. one would think a higher output engine would get a trans that can take more oomph.