S4 Trans Swap into SA clarification
 

Doing some searching and found a lot of threads on swapping TII trans into FB's, NA trans into FB's, etc. But not finding much of anything on swapping into a SA.

From what I have read in:

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...on-fb-1012259/

All NA rotary transmissions are swappable.

Would I be able to get a FB/FC NA transmission, and swap the rear tail housing so I can retain the SA shifter location and mounts? How about the shifter rods?

Would the stock SA driveshaft still bolt up?

I know if I swap a FC trans in, I would have to swap the speedo gear to the original speedo gear.

There are two different SA transmissions. You need to start with the one manufactured after March 1980, as that is the one that uses rollpins to hold the shift fingers to the rods.

When you swap tailhousing between SA and FB, the shift fingers need to change over as well since they are all different.

Why you askin' SA questions Stu? You got sumethin new we don't know about?

The car is a 79, doubt it has the later transmission. Would the earlier trans have bolts instead?

Gots me a new SA :-D

I have a 79' as well but with a four speed manual. I'd like to put a five speed in but I'm thinking to find one off a FB or maybe FC instead of putting a SA five speed in. I'm just not sure what route to take?

Installing an FB transmission in a SA can be accomplished, but the location of the shift lever is a few inches or so different. In short, it causes problems with the interior center console / shift surround. These pieces do not just bolt up and interchange btw SA and FB's and you will end up doing some custom fabrication on the interior.

Heres some helpful links Stu, looks like that 79 tranny tail can't be swapped but who knows.

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...moval-1070940/

1980 RX-7 Transmission Swap [Archive] - Improved Touring Racing Forums

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...ans-sa-612876/

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...stion-1039998/

btw, will late 80' sa tranny's fit a 79? Cause I thought I read something different on a late model SA as far as the transmission. Don't want to do any mods so just want to make sure if I come across a late sa tranny I don't run into problems. Thanks!

Yes

Yes, BTDT.

Actually it's kind of funny. I had a FB with a trans that was HOWLING (the vent was plugged, so when it got hot it blew all the fluid out, which the bearings do not appreciate) and I had my SA trans from my dead '80, I swapped the FB tailhousing onto the SA trans and kept truckin'. Later a friend bought a four speed '79 and we converted it to 5-speed with an FB trans that we put my SA tailhousing on.

Allen, get an 81-91 tranny so we can shorten it to fit your SA.

You can't "shorten" it, the shifter position is a lot lower in the trans too. That is why the shift fingers need to be addressed, the main shift rod is in a completely different location.

not sure what youre referring to but we have been shortening the remote shifters to fit a SA as well as old school rx's. in fact i have a shortened Gslse in my SA and a S5 in my RX3.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...c77863a2d3.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...740e27fb51.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...c3d5873846.jpg
1st pix Gslse in SA
2ns pix S5 in RX3
3rd pix S4 Tii going to SA for T2 conversion

Interesting. Have you thought of relocating the locator dowel so you can use the SA shifter instead of the stubby FB piece of junk?

thats a good idea...i will try that since i have plenty of parts here

Cool man thanks! Will have to look into this.

How did you go about shortening it?

I believe I saw a thread with a video, guy cut the "shifter housing" (unsure of the correct term) up, I believe something like 50mm or so? Ended up with 2 bolts instead of 4 to hold it down. Kind of what I think you did on the 3rd pic you posted?

yes there are several DIY threads in the old school section. thats how i did my gslse. for the rx3, turbodave shortened my S5 tranny 6.125" sunce the shifter is further back and it requires welding mounting ears on the side of the S5 shifter housing. you need to be careful when drilling/tap new hole for shifter cup. it need to line up with the orig hole. otherwise you wont be able to shift as it will jamb like my first attempt

that's exactly what i did back in the 90s when converting a 75 808 to rotary with engine and tranny from an 83 gsl. shortened the shifter housing to that second set of bolt holes. a crazy idea back then that worked out great first try.