mikeric

iTrader: (20)

Trust me, I am tunning a turbo II engine, transmission, clutch, and apparently a GSL-SE tail.

I do not have pictures on me, but the bell housings and sizes are the same. Plus it was installed by KDR (although supplied by me). How would a turbo engine, clutch, and flywheel not nount to a turbo transmission?

However, you have given me a Eureka moment as I realized that my drive shaft is custom so it was probably made using the GSL-SE ends and thus fits in the GSL-SE tail. The dummy cut-off drive shaft that I'm using in my kitchen is a cut one that came from Japan with the Japanese transmission. I will try grabbing the actual drive shaft out of the back of my car and see if it fits.

bad 83

iTrader: (3)

I am running a S4 TII rotating assembly with a S4 NA 225mm flywheel and a S5 NA trans. The S4 flywheel counter wieghts are the same wieght on the series 4. Again, I am not doubting your word, I just know for a fact that you cannot use a NA tail shaft on a TII trans without modifying it. The tail shafts are different sizes.

mikeric

iTrader: (20)

I understand what you are saying. The only thing I know is that these are both turbo transmissions and I although I cannot say for sure what the tail came off of. I purchased the S5 transmission from a Japanese recycler outside NY which I picked up myself. They only made turbo FCs in Japan. In the attached pictures, you can clearly see the difference between the S4 and the S5 transmissions (counter weight on the drive spindle). The last couple pictures show the apove pictured tail mounted on the S5 transmission. This tail was removed from the S4 transmission pictured.

I know it sound a little confusing. Could it be possible that the GSL-SE does fit on the FC transmission without modification? I had read that on this forum--of course that does not make it true. The only modification made to the transmission mount is the holes between the mount and the transmission have been slightly redrilled.

Unevolved

iTrader: (1)

I've heard that before and I would LOVE to have that confirmed or denied.

mikeric

iTrader: (20)

Today, I grabbed my drive shaft and it easily (albeit tight) went into the tail of the transmission. (see photos) It turns by hand, but it is harder than simply turning the transmission without the shaft in it. I don't know if it is simply because of the rear oil seal or if I may have not torqued the correct way etc.

Can anyone verify how hard the transmission should be to turn with the driveshaft installed? Either way, it fits much better than the turbo shaft which I really had to force in.

I included a picture of the original tail that I took off the transmission. The whole thing was that dirty, but I cleaned it up with a wire wheel on a drill

I tried measuring the rear oil seal, but that was the same, so the clearences are inside.

I'm still waiting for someone to say why this transmission setup "does not work" as it was installed in my car by KDR and was running. The reason I took it out was because that transmission had a sever chatter and would not easily go into reverse and would grind. If my transmission setup is going to reverse the laws of nature or create a black hole, I would like to know.

bad 83

iTrader: (3)

I know for a fact that the diameter of the TII output shaft is larger than a NA. The SE tail shaft must have been modified. Check the 2nd gen section. They sold TIIs in the US also BTW. I have never tried using a SE tail shaft on a TII trans, but I will try and find out.

Kentetsu

Mike

That issue (chatter) that caused you to pull the transmission in the first place sounds more like a clutch issue than a tranny issue. So, could you just reinstall the original tranny with a new clutch? Might be an option to get around the fitment issues you are experiencing...

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

the tailshaft housing you have is an S4 T2.

the GSL-SE is totally different.

mikeric

iTrader: (20)

I see you you could have misread my statement. I did not mean that Turbo II were only sold in Japan. What I meant was that the only FC sold in Japan was the turbo II so you can safely assume that all parts from Japan are turbo parts. I was an FC and FD person for years before I got into FBs.

I just got off the phone with Dave at KDR Rotary. My transmission and attached tail is an S4 TII. There are no issues with changing the tail between an S4 and S5 TII. The reason it is harder to turn with the drive shaft attached is because there is a bearing in the tail that supports the weight of the drive shaft so it is normal.

As far as my clutch, it is fine if not too strong. I thought the rattle was from the throw-out bearing because that is what happened to another FC of mine. However, Dave said that it was a bearing in the S4 transmission. I have verified this as the S4 transmission was a rebuild, but it looks like whoever built it did not know what they were doing or forgot a bearing. The shaft that attaches to the clutch had a lot of play compared to the S5 and I could reproduce the noice by grabbing the shaft and shaking it. In addition, when I drained the oil, I got a nice collection of metal shavings.

So to summarize the important lessons that I have learned today:

1.) The tail I'm using is a TII S4 tail, not a first gen.
2.) The TII S4 tail can work with the GSL-SE transmission mount
3.) The S4 tail can be interchanged with the S5 transmission
4.) The harder turn on the driveshaft is normal
5.) Don't believe everything you read on the forum, if somone identifies your tail as a first gen, they may be wrong

Now, waiting for the weekend and my control arms from Re-speed to mount everything and finally drive this baby.

mikeric

iTrader: (20)

Alright, control arms came in, transmission is assembled and sitting on the floor.

I did some prep work that was easier to do with the transmission out, such as turbo blanket and heat wrap my down pipe and the part of my exhaust that runs by the transmission.

This saturday, it is all going in, wich me luck! I hate replacing transmissions.

Kentetsu

Good luck man. You'll be back on the road before you know it....

mikeric

iTrader: (20)

So, control arms are in (thanks Re-Speed). They are beautiful and came preadjusted to the correct length.

My hybrid S4/S5 transmission is in and full of my favorite RP.

Car started up great and at idle clutch out, there are no chatters. Transmission moves soooo buttery through all the gears. I can't drive the car yet though as mother nature dumped 28" of snow on us yesterday. Iseriously doubt that this car has ever seen snow and I not about to do that. I like it it its current rust free condition.

Since I was boxed in the garage, I made some other slight mods and little things that I wanted to do such as using rubber foam around the radiator and intercoolining to better direct air, a heat shield for radient heat for my intake cone. Heat shield was sourced from ebay, but I bought some sticky back heat shield stuff from Summit Racing and applied that to it to make it more functional. I modified the radio surround to fit over my gauges, and 50 other little things.

I can't wait to get this ghing back on the road. Still waiting for another Re-Speed part to arrive, but half the fun with thiese cars is waiting for parts and puting them on. Still, I want to drive arrgh!

Some pics...










Next weekend installing my Re-Speed strut tower brace and cleaning up the engine.

Kentetsu

Respeed is like an addiction, isn't it. lol. "So shiney, must have it"!!!

mikeric

iTrader: (20)

Thankfully, I running out of parts to buy. Last night I dropped $1k on the manual rack with the 15:1. Besides the big break kit, I have everything else.

Next big money will be larger turbo, manifold, wastegate. My engine is setup to run it and it is simply a matter of cost. First I need to learn how to drive what I have though.

mikeric

iTrader: (20)

So, I hit some black ice in my DD/4x4/tow vehicle and slid into a guard rail on my way to work in this nasty weather we have had here on the east coast. No one was hurt and the damage appears to be minimal.

However, my DD is not driving, so I had to pull the RX-7 out of my frineds garage. I am so happy with the transmission. I have had bad experiences buying recycled Japanese engines before as they had to be rebuilt which would take the point out of buying a used transmission. However, this thing is so smooth through all the gears and reverse. So far one of the best things I did was swap out that transmission--like butter! No leaks from my grafting the S4 and S5 transmissions either.

Control arms seem to be holding up too, obviously I am not doing hard launches though. Over all the car is running great--just a little scary with 300 horses on slippery roads. I appreciate all the help you guys gave me sorting this thing out.

Next projects are the race roll bar, seats, back braces, Respeed steering rack and shock tower brace, FD intake manifold and throttle body. All of which are on order and should be going in over the next four to five weeks. Race season is almost here!