third gear popped at the track, trans ?'s.
 

Third gear popped on my gsl-se trans a couple weeks ago at the strip. I have been trying to find alternatives and found a 88 N/a 5spd for pretty cheap. From what I have read I can swap the tail housings to retain correct speedo hookup. My question is I noticed the two trans has different gear setups/ratios, but am I just putting a band-aid on a gun shot wound? I have read that I could swap to a hardened aftermarket gearset (seems like they were intended for miata 5spds) but cant seem to find any info on parts availability or swap requirements. Right now the car has the stock flywheel(for ease of getting out of the hole), 6puck kevlar disc, street PP, 205 width street tires and a street port SE motor. Mods to come soon over the winter will be a T04S, front mount intercooler and most likely some DR's and I need something that will hold, TII trans isnt an option for me. Any ideas, suggestions, threads???

Do you have a SA?

Main reason I ask, is that you will have to notch the shifter housing on the car itself. I know of 3 SA transmissions that have gotten stuck in 3rd gear, I am beginning to believe it is a common "bug" so to speak.

As for your plans, I would go ahead and spring for a TII transmission, they can take more abuse and power than any of the NA transmissions. I see them go for about $250 in the 2nd gen section, and you will also need a custom driveshaft fabbed up. That will run generally about the same price, plus you get the added bonus of being able to replace the U-joints, whereas the stock driveshaft you have to replace the whole shebang.

^^he cant have an SA..he said GSL-SE..

buldozr, just buy the correct trans for your car or rebuild your current trans. i wouldnt personally dick around with trying an FC trans, too much work when the FB trans is readily available. you can even swap in a 12A trans form an 81-85 just to get you by until you find the correct trans with the taller 5th gear ration or rebuild your trans.

Thats what I get for reading fast... Thanks!

EDIT: Reason I say to go with the TII is that a Streetported 13b with a T04s will have more power than a first gen can handle, unless you baby it. If he fubar'd 3rd in a naturally aspirated motor, he will be replacing transmissions weekly with his upcoming set up.

This will end up being a "band aid on a gunshot wound".

Links for references:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...&highlight=TII
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...&highlight=TII
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...&highlight=TII

It happens to the best of us!

Agreed with the TII tranny install. It will be cheaper in the long run if you plan on taking the car to the track with a turbo.

thanks for the replys, If I remember right, TII involves TII starter, TII flywheel, TII clutch(I just bought a new clutch), probably a different slave(just a guess), TII shifter(guessing), custom shaft(brand new stock gsl-se lifetime warranty shaft on it right now...), custom crossmember or trans mount(???), jacking with the speedo for it to work correctly.... I would be better off buying a good RUNNING s4 TII before I go through all that damn headache. Any better ideas folks.

PS, dont forget the counterweight......... that would have been fun
gotta hack the tunnel to fit the shifter..... too much stuff gents.

from my reading adventures, gsl-se trans has an inherent flaw in third, they used finer splined gears which are weak and they dont like the abuse of a 6puck.... lets see if the s4 trans can hold more than the gsl-se.

You have the starter already. You do not need the TII starter, as you can swap a 2nd gen starter in a first gen as long as the first gen has the 225mm flywheel. Keep your starter, flywheel, clutch, etc. Swap transmissions and build driveshaft. Make a mount for the trans, and your good to go.

^ I dont have a s4 starter, If I kept S3 flywheel, it would require TII splined disc(they sell it at mazda trix). Too much stuff gents, down south where I am at, rx7's are scarce and good parts are already picked. If I had found TII in the yards, its stripped down to the frame. N/A's are everywhere though.

I will install the s4 and see what happens, I might consider swapping to a lighter steel flywheel to get the revs to come down quicker between shifts. Anyone here anything about hardened mainshafts for the miatas or know where I could get aftmkt internals for this thing?? Thanks.

bumpage?

got the old trans out of the car now and when I went to swap bellhousings I got into a snag. I must be overlooking something regarding the control rod. I started to teardown the s4 trans and when I tried to pull the tailhousing the control rod got stuck(as designed I suppose), I pulled the tiny little inspection plate(four 10mm bolts) to find it full of sludge, before I could clean it out and inspect how to get it apart a neighbor came by so I went ahead and closed down for the night, so my question is how do I get the shift rod out, does it come with the tailhousing or is it supposed to stay with the transmission and slide out of the little tunnel its in? Much thanks guys.