I have accumulated all the parts and have taken pictures of them all for a documentation of my transformation. I cleaned up the tranny ( a 95 model with 35k miles ) and opened it up to change the 5th gear syncro. Good thing I did because it was cracked. I replace the shifter spindle also, although it had the heavy duty style in there. Changed front and rear seals and checked all other syncros. I mounted a new slave cylinder and rx7 store braided line. Waiting on a new release fork from Ray now.

Also mounted the new Brake and Clutch pedals, along with a new clutch master cylinder and hard line. Grounded the clutch switch wire and ran a jumper over to 1Q on the ECU. Not going to use the starter relay swithch, hardwiring it straight.

Draining out all the tranny fluid on the automatic now, waiting for a warm day to roll it out onto the ramps.

I'll keep you posted on the developments.

 

GL man

 

keep me posted. I'm buying the rx-7 soon and I will be doing that right away as soon as I get all the parts.

If you know of any place to get parts from that would help me out alot also

good luck man.

 

check out fritz flynn on the forum and also rotary experiment seven. you can pm both of those guys and see what they have. i had a good experience with both.

 

I am glade to see you going to a manual. I don't think they should have ever made a sports car with an automatic. What is the point, if you can't drive a stick learn or buy a minivan.

 

GL young grasshopper, may the force be with you.... Take pics of your progress and keep us posted!

 

I am now to the point of installing the transmission. Hopefully this weekend. I am taking my time and doing everything right. The car is on walk under ramps right now waiting for the clutch install - then the tranny. Maybe this weekend. Here is what I've done since the auto tranny was dropped...

1. Torqued the tension bolts.
2. Pulled the pass side MM and resealed the bolt holes - had a very small oil leak there.
3. MAde up a custom harness using the existing auto wires. There are 24 auto wires - you use 7 of them for the manual. I stripped out all the rest. This harness is really nice. disconnects near the manual fill hole. I used the auto tranny 8 wire connector.
4. Installed the pilot bearing and seal
5. Installed the rear companion flange.
6. Redid the started cable harness with some red loom
7. Plumbed up the tranny cooler to an series oil cooler like the R1 using -10an ss flex hose...really nice. I used the existing oem fittings and bought -10an steel fittings, cut them and welded then to the stockers. The auto tranny cooler makes a great second engine oil cooler.
8. Cleaned and painted all the fasteners involved with the project and other cosmetic work.

I'm ready for a tranny...

Also took lots of pics..

Tom

 

Two weeks ago my wife and I installed the manual Transmission and all I can say is WOW !!. The car started first time, no leaks, and going thru the gears was, well -different. I like it. Lots more power to the wheels.

Notes -

1. Remove the BU switch from the unit before install - I did.
2. Remove the slave, slave hose and clip on side before install - I had to.
3. Tranny will go into the splines and stop there - 3/4" from full mating due to Pilot bearing aligning. Just use longer bolts on both side of the housing to hold the tranny straight - Not to pull it in place- and use a gentle up/down and it will slide right into place.
4. I use the Auto tranny wiring harness ( 25 original wires - stripped out 18 of them and used 7 ). I used the auto tranny grey 8 wire connectors. It was a very nice feeling to hear the "click" of the harness going together.

Results/Myths/suggestions -

1. You do not need a Manual harness of any type. It's all there at the Auto tranny and stock ECU wiring harness. Now I also installed the PFC, which may matter. I ripped out a 5 gallon bucket of auto tranny wires.

2. I turned my old Auto tranny cooler up front into a second "R1" style engine oil cooler. USed -10an hose and special -10an to stock adapters that I made.

3. You do not need the Manual gauge cluster. I can not see any indications of PDRNL etc on my cluster at all - no hold, nothing. And my mileage stays. No ripping the dash apart.

4. It is best to order the SR Clutch kit minus counter balance ( PN# MZ-011 ), slave, master, lines, SS flex hose, shifter boot, shifter boot flange, Clutch fork, 5th gear syncro, F/R seals, detent spring, all new from Ray at MAzda.

5. You will need - Tranny with bolts to engine, Drive shaft, starter, shifter, rear comp flange, both pedals, various small clips, bolts, nuts.


I have ALL pics of the install start to finish, of my custom harness, and all the parts. This project took me three months. My car is not a daily driver, so there was never a rush, and my opinion is that it cannot be done correctly in a rush, especially the wiring. Also my opinion - If you don't have a manual or cannot understand the wiring schematic in the book, don't attempt this, allow someone that does do it for you.

Tom

 

Congrats! I should be picking up my conversion this weekend.