Mykl

...this may be a silly question, but will these peices bolt right into my car?

I imagine I'll have no problems with the transmission, from what I understand the housing is the exact same as any other n/a FC, just has a different fifth gear.

I'm unsure of what it's going to take to install the differential though. Will I need the entire differential housing or just the differential unit itself? I've never changed a differential before, so I'm not sure what needs to be done.

Thanks.

fc3s.org

Didn't you post this already?

Tranny is the same, and yes just different 5th gear ratio as I think I wrote in the last thread on this (just messing with ya) Driveshaft is the same. Diff is the same, just LSD instead of a one legger. Do you have the whole diff, or just the internal diff? Swapping the whole diff as a whole is a better idea IMHO. Mounts are the same for N/A and TII (location wise)

Just remove the 4 bolts that hold up the rear subframe, and swap out the diff, then reinstall. You will have to remove the exhaust if it is stock.

Mykl

Yeah, I posted this a couple nights ago, different question though. Then I was wondering about the gearing and what it would take to match it with my speedometer.

I am/was almost positive that the transmissions were the same, I just threw that into the post anyway.

My main concern is the differential. The problem is that I have to get them from Colorado to Alabama, and I didn't want to have to pay for shipping on the entire thing if the internals could be swapped easily.

I guess I was wondering how difficult it would be to remove the diff cover, pull out the internals, and install the GTUs unit. If it's not possible I'll bite the bullet with the shipping, but if it isn't too much more difficult to yank the internals in the housing I have and install different ones I'd rather do that.

Sorry if you feel like you've typed the same thing twice. I thought I was asking a different question, I guess I wasn't specific enough.

fc3s.org

Well, I just flipped through my FSM, and it looks like a total PITA. I mean, there are bearings to set correctly, sealan to reapply, pinion height to reset. I think you are way better off just bitting the bullet on the shipping here my friend Take a look through the FSM if you have one, or go to my site, and look through the one online.

BTW, it's not a waste of time. It's called copy/paste hehe

Mykl

haha, copy/paste eh? lol

Well, then methinks I'll either deal with the shipping or drive my happy *** all the way up there and pick the pieces up.

I'd have to drive the Metro though, 3000 miles does not sound like a good time in that thing. At least the radio works.

Thanks again for the help man, I appreciate it.

I'm just a little antsy about getting a good gearbox in my car, I'm tired of shifting like a granny to second gear because my syncros are shot. That and it's gonna be really nice to have those lower gears. Too bad I have to wait a month to get it all here.

Felix Wankel

Road trip!

Mykl

Yeah, and I'm getting the parts from Ryan95. He said if I drive up there we can go tear up some mountain roads in his new toy (FD).

But four days on the road in the Metro...

Felix Wankel

A ride in an FD would be worth the trouble.

Or, drive the Metro to my house and we can take my FB to Colorado :p

Only one of us could ride in the FD at a time though

Mykl

If he told me I could drive it I think the decision would be made.

I made a comment to that went "my car is the best handling car I've ever driven", his response was "drive up here and pick up your ****, we can go tear up some mountain roads in my replacement".

If you think we could fit a differential and a transmission in your FB I'd be all about that.

rx7_ragtop

Personally, I would drive up there, swap the differential (the entire rear subframe is the easy way) and drive back. Make a vacation out of it- Colorado ROCKS this time of year- GREAT weather, lots of fun stuff to do. Stick the tranny in the trunk, and leave your old diff there for him to sell to someone else.

You could just swap the differential itself, but honestly, doing the entire subframe is EASY- I dropped one out of a TII in about 45 minutes by myself.

Here is what you have to do: Drop the exhaust, unbolt driveshaft (4 bolts) remove rear calipers (2 bolts per side) and fasten them up out of the way. Remove the lower strut/spring mount (1 nut on each side)

Unbolt the bottom of the camber rod (1 bolt)

From this point on, you need to support it...

Unbolt the 2 rear differential mounts (1 nut per side)

Unbolt the 2 front subframe mounts (2 nuts + 2 other bracket-things with nuts/bolts, I don't remember which on those- 1 of each per side.)

It's out! Installation is the reverse of removal. 2 guys should be able to do this in 1.5 hours or so without any stress.

Drive the FC out there, swap the diff, and bring the tranny home to swap. (Or swap the tranny while you are there- that isn't too bad either.) Everthing should bolt straight in- although I think the wires for the reverse lights and stuff hook up a little different.

As for the speedometer gears, as long as you use the transmission and differential from the same car, the gear that is in the transmission should be the correct one to keep your speedo right.

Good luck on the swap!

Brad

Mykl

Brad, you sir are my hero.

I've swapped transmissions before so I have an idea of how big they are, but are you sure that I could fit the thing in my trunk? Obviously the lid won't shut all the way and I'd have to tie it down, but width and length wise it will fit?

I'm overdue for a vacation anyway. I've got 45 days saved up and I've never been to Colorado.

Felix Wankel

I think it'd fit in your trunk. I know a diff and tranny will fit in my hatch.

I could fit a lot of stuff inthe RX2, but I don't wanna drive it any more than I have to. Especially being a 4 speed. Yuck.

go_speed_go

A tranny will definately fit in your trunk. I've done exactly that with a '90 Convertible.

As a matter of fact, the working tranny that was replacing the bad one was out of a '90 GTUs.

Just make sure you bag & tie off anything that could leak oil into your trunk.

rx7_ragtop

I've never tried it, but it LOOKS like it will.

Brad

rx7_ragtop

p.s. WHILE you have it out, change the front differential mount. Better now than later, after it's all installed.

Brad

Mykl

I'll get out a tape measure the next time I get the car on a lift just to make sure. If I actually do drive up there and it won't fit it isn't like the bellhousing can't come off and ride inside the car with me if need be. Something could be arranged.

Thanks for the tip on the diff mount, I'll make sure to order one sometime before I get the stuff in.