Finally some sense in here. It is not the same tranny from the mini-vans. Mazda has stated many times it is built stronger.


All the manual guys love to throw that comment around while they stroke thier imaginary "e-penises" in front of the computer.

 

Shut up kid....

lol you called him Junior... thats great, seeing he could be your Dad.... I hope you never have a 7... poor car

 

Can't we play nice? Do a search under jeff's name and see some of what he's accomplished before getting in a pissing match with him

Rich

 

It is not the exact same tranny in the mini-van but it is built on the same platform with some strenthened parts. Looking at the FD auto trans and the MPV mini van autotrans you'll see that it is the same box on the outside, which implies that it can't be a lot different on the inside.

IIRC a similar trans is also used in the Mazda 929 and 240SX or something. None of those vehicles put out the same hp and torque as the FD. When the FD is modified HP wise the auto trans just runs to the end of it's design capabilites.

The 5spd FD tranny is not the end all/be all of trannies. It is a better choice for drag racing than the automatic FD.

 

Jeff are you saying its IMPOSSIBLE or just not smart to make an auto tranny for the FD for drag racing. Could you adapt any other auto trannys that are possibly stronger?

 

What's the recommend on a dog tranny manufacturer for the 3rd gen? Or is it a custom job?

 

I don't think Jeff is saying it's impossible, but it's a better solution to just go with a 5-speed for drag racing (unless you are building some 6 second monster ).

There is a member here on the forum who goes by "weaklink". He has a built auto tranny. However, it's expensive to do.

 

The auto-vs.-manual debate has and will always rage on and on and on.....
Truth is, most of the auto haters are young, dumb and full of ***.....just like I was years ago when I was saying the same **** about automatic trannies.
Those of us with automatic FDs just sort of sit back and nod sagely at the "experts" that bash on the autos, quoting or misquoting information at will.
The hysterical thing about it is that the majority of these bashers don't have a FD, some don't even have RX-7s, and I GUARANTEE you that if you gave them an auto FD they would be worshiping it....lol!
Now, at the end of the day there is the truth that the FD auto tranny is somewhat limited, it is NOT like a Turbo-Hydramatic 350 or 400 that will handle a shitload of hp and torque, so no...it is not a good choice for monster hp single turbo cars for example. But then, neither is a stock 5-speed for that matter.

 

AUTO's SUCK

Give me an auto FD and it won't be an Auto long....

 

ejmack1, when are gonna finish your write-up on how to do the swap?

 

when more people become interested in it...

I dont mean reading it, I mean helping do it. When I did my swap I took no pictures, so I requested pictures from others doing it. I haven't got any pictures or anything.

I'd love to be able to finish it, but school and trying to find a job, come into the picture...

 

I know that the auto nissan 300 zx's have the same transmission to. Does anyone know if their transmission is any stronger, or if its still a straight up swap if someone had one?

 

Sounds like Bajaman has a bad case of denial...

 

Denial? Isn't that the ebonics version of a river in Africa?

 

I am going to be doing it soon. I'll take tons of pictures.

 

a local guy has a cosmo auto tranny on his drag car he has never ran it but it runs on alcohol and sounds like a v8 its a 2nd gen and its held up to all the abbuse of testing it he has a huge supercharger on it off some old v8.

please post some pics or a how to on the swap because im planning on doing the 5speed swap with my single turbo setup

 

I got this friend that knows this guy who once met someone who had a 1200 HP FD with a fully built and gold plated auto tranny... He ran 13.2 at 167 MPH... his media relations assistant said something about how MUCH AUTO FD'S SUCK....

 

i fall asleep driving cars with auto trannies.

 

I've seen numerous cross-references like this, that say the higher powered version of the MPV use the same model number trans as the 7:
http://www.bulkpart.com/vehicle.html


I’d actually expect them to be the same (IMHO). Are there any other identifiable markings on the transmissions beyond this that can differentiate them?

Regardless, many people use the MPV/RX7 auto comparison with a negative connotation, as if the 7 was compromised to accept the MPV’s transmission. Think of it this way guys; maybe the MPV is receiving an “over-engineered” sports-car part.

FWIW, the MPV of that era was RWD in its 2WD version. There was a 4cyl version that used another tranny. The super 185hp (?) V6 version was available in AWD and used the supposed-RX7 part.
[I was looking over them a while back as a potential rock-band equipment transporter ]

 

From what i understood the MPV already had this tranny, and the FD used it because it was already "there"

 

Thanks for foiling my plans to help mediate the argument...

I'm trying to be impartial... hey, I have a 5sp too.

You're right. It did have that tranny in '89, I believe. There's no telling what it was truely designed for though. It may have been originally intended for cross-platform use (most likely), or specifically for the "next RX7" and they decided to use it cross-platform anyway.

 

honestly there is nothing wrong with the auto fd. i own one and still kill comaros and mustangs and vettes. just work up the rear gears to 4.33 or even 4.77. have the tranny taken out and upgraded. and have a tranny brake installed when u do this you will be far faster then any 5spd with the smae or even some extra hp in it. the only problem with the auto fd's are the spooling time. with a 5spd you have your turbo already boosting when you drop the clutch. in the auto fd unless u have the tranny brake you can start at a max of 3500rpm? i believe thats the stall limit. if you have two stock fd at 20 miles an hour rolling and they both got on it the auto will win. its just the first second they have us by. even if you look at the 1/4 mile times. the auto fd is only slower by 7-8/10 of a second. plus the 5spd comes with 4.10 gears to begin with. buddy club makes a ecu just for auto tranny fd's its just like any other computer but allows you to change the shift points in your car. all in all everyone always askes me why i got a auto fd. i have the same response its still a dam fast car and pretty

 

Do you even know what a trans brake does?

 

lol

 

im just giving some advice. i cant stand all the 5spd people who claim their stock fd is soo much faster then a auto version. both cars are very nice and come with nice numbers. i do believe a true fd lover would be respectful towards anyone who owns any fd.