Great post howard, love the detail, i will definately be attempting this mod to my FD

 

"There has to be a way to cast a bell housing that uses the stock manual setup from an FD and mates to a T-56 with a custom Mazda splined tranny input shaft."

there really seems to be confusion on this...


one more time.

the normal manual rear facing starter can not clear the greater width of the T56 case.

either:

the starter must be relocated forward which the auto trans setup does

or

the trans must be spaced backward 4.5 inches to clear the starter and hydraulic clutch servo (longer input shaft... Liberty Gear will make for under $300. the tunnel gets too small to the rear and the shifter is a bit rearward but it can work and has been done))

or

space the manual starter further out from the flywheel using some other gear w a larger diameter.

those are the options

have fun.

hc

 

I was trying to research this. The one's mated with the LS1 engines are said to be of bad quality and so only 5-spd are readily available. So I assumed (I know ***+me) a 6-pd box would be larger then a 5-spd box and I don't know which one you tested.

This sounded like something to do while rebuilding but i'm over my head with this. It would be nice to move up to a 6-spd when replacing the trans. It sounded like this would be cheaper in the long run then swapping it later when the engine is in, especially if I break gears and/or synchro's, but this is more then a brand new JDM FD trans swap price wise. This one looks sweet though http://www.ddperformance.com/magnum.html

 

If I was building a 3 rotor, this is what I'd want backing it up....along with upgraded differential, axles, pp frame, addition of a roll bar, etc....the list goes on

Contrary to what banzai thinks, chassis and powertrain components do fail on these cars right and left above 500 rwhp...unless you drive like a geek

 

I stopped at West Coast Corvette's and noticed the 2003 was a 6-spd. Howard is the T56 you are using a 6-Spd? I saw this sweet shifter and thought i'd post a pic.


Oh and here is my original dream car I wanted to restore ever since I was a kid in my sisters b/f's modified Mustang fast back and we raced a L88 and it blew us away. I've even thought of finding a 69 roller and transferring the suspension and engine over and having a legal fully modified 13B Stingray. Then i'd race me some RX-7 V8's Buawahahaa!

 

6 speed. with a neat Hurst shifter ball and a Lou's Short Stick.... a perfect fit and if NASCAR wasn't running at Road America starting tomorrow (first time in 50 years) it would probably be in my car along w the motor by sunday.

next week.

as to other cars, my lead footed wife has always wanted a Cobra. every now and then i think i might build her a Force Five cobra w a 500 rwhp 13B.

except i would have to get into the suspension to really make it handle like the FD. maybe just graft an FD suspension on it.

by the time i got through it would be an FD w a Cobra body.

she would be in jail real fast.

hmmmmmm

hc

 

Plus about....oh, 800 pounds or so

 

How do I contact Samberg about the subframe? The v8rx7forum doesnt work

I found a Samberg Rod and Custom???

 

Search for no rotors, it's the new v8rx7forum site. He's on there

 

Howard, if I can ask again?

How is the clutch mounted to the auto flex plate? I would love to do this swap.

 

If one was to start with an auto FD, how much easier would it be to put in a T56? I'm looking to convert mine into a manual and a 6-speed would be nice.

 

After leaving 4 messages with Geoff I finally was able to get him to answer the phone. Clutch is $12xx, flywheel is $2xx, and the release bearing is $3xx for a total over $1800. He said you have to send in your flex plate in order for them to make the clutch.

I wonder if we can get the price down??? I suggest working with someone other than Geoff. He doesnt call people back.

 

try Jeff Neal at QM. i met him at Road America 2 weeks ago at the NASCAR race.
847-540-8999 X370. tell him Howard suggested you call.

the clutch i thought was around 8XX retail, the button about 180, release bearing (very neat) is 3XX.

hc

 

i will call back and see if i can get the price down....as of right now the spec is cheaper by $150. if i can get the prices you suggested above i would order yesterday

 

I placed my order today with Dave at extension 310. Very nice guy and tons of help.

 

http://www.kirkhammotorsports.com/

 

warning:

don't go to the link in post 66 unless you have more than an hour and are confident you won't shoot yourself from envy.

but it still needs a CPR rotary...

hc

 

Lets be honest Howard, there's really no better way to spend an hour of your life... haha Pics really don't do their work justice....the alum bodies are still made in Poland and shipped over, they're by far the nicest reproduction/kit car Cobra bodies(and everything else actually) I've ever seen...and I've seen a lot of them. lol Everything else they make in Utah in their new(giant) facility. They rent Miller motor sports park every year for their customers to go out and play, so if you put a rotary in one, please tell me before you go, Id like to take a picture of the Kirkham's brothers faces when you start it.
(anyways, back on topic....lol)

-Kyle


(Edit:Oh and they're comming out with Daytona Coupe Bodies soon, they have the molds for a GT40 Mk1 too but they felt there are too many people already making those.)

 

off topic, but here's the awarded best built replica cobras in the world, built in South Africa! A friend of my Dad's. Tony Martin, won the Indy500 once with Jodi Shektor, Maybe you've heard of him, Howard?

I was reading this thread for the T56 talk, so im not just trollin', i've just finished my V8 convers. with T56 box. Cant wait to drive it, got my T56 out a '96 camaro, and a B&M short throw shifter. Got me thinking about these ratios now...

 

oh wait, here's the link.......
http://backdraftracing.co.za/

 

I'll be selling my driveshaft and torque arm soon from my conversion.
I'm in the middle of getting my 8.8 conversion put together.

 

snapped a few pics... nothing amazing here but am close to rolling down the road..


i just had to have a Hurst shifter. that is a GTO transmission shifter assembly bolted onto the top of my 99 F body (Camaro) trans. F body has the best ratios for road racing. hat optional. my daughter is a professional antique book restorer and works alot w leather. she is making me a custom leather shifter boot. oh, i am running a Lou's Short Stick (google it). it is a bit shorter and has a better angle. seems perfect. i also did not have to touch the stock hole in the tunnel. sharp eyes will note the sandwich plate for my rear trans brace.


Beyond Redline really tuned up my exhaust system to fit the Samberg rear diff subframe and around the trans while keeping it pretty straight..


here's how they dealt w the missing exhaust mount that attached to the missing PPF


close up


the main event. i modded the stock tunnel brace and added a bracket so i can run the stock Mazda pan under the trans. i am really big on nothing hanging down under the car..


bellhousing, thank you Mazda, and IronMdnX


the auto starter is slick and does not get in the way of anything

hopefully it will work

soon

hc

 

Looks great Howard.

 

looks legit!

 

Transmission pics in post #72 look sweet.

I do have a question though, I have an auto FD and want to do this swap. I also want to run a Power FC. So, once I swap transmissions and go to install the PFC do I have to buy an adapter harness for it, or is the plug/pin configuration for both auto and manual ecus the same? I ask this, because I thought reading the whole point auto FD adapter was to retain the auto ecu's transmission control features. Which in the case of this swap is totally unnecessary (unless of course the plug is different as stated above). Thats it, I hope it wasn't to confusingly worded.