Rx7's as an automatic?
10-02-02, 08:41 PM
#26
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Well when I drive manual cars I cant pay attention to engine, and to just like test drive a car. Its just that I pay more attention to changing gears and rpm that I cant just relax and test the car out. Thats why I want automatic. But when I drove automatic 300zx and manual 300zx seemed to be very similar. Its only that automatic one was little slower. I though thats the same thing with rx7 but here its like automatic rx7 is a honda civic. lol. Its same as manual except transmission!!!
10-02-02, 09:08 PM
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http://clubb5.stealthx32.com/Assen-bmwSTW.wmv
I meant to include that in my post for the sports cars cant be automatics crowd.
I meant to include that in my post for the sports cars cant be automatics crowd.
10-02-02, 09:14 PM
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not only does the auto tranny share many parts with the MPV, it IS the SAME tranny as the MPV. Yes Mazda dropped the ball. Most 5 speeds have been ragged. I don't think it is any harder to sell a clean low miles auto fd than a ragged out, 3rd engine, ripped seats, 5 speed. Anyway, I have a single turbo automatic that would smoke a lot of these 5 speed naysayers. Yes the tranny's been rebuilt with level 10 components.
Originally posted by daiSho
my FD was originally an automatic, and i liked it... then the tranny blew at 40k miles. not under warranty, i was quoted $3200 to fix it, which sounded just insanely high to me, especially after i was told the auto tranny shares many components w/ the mazda MPV minivan (is this true? anyone know?)... so, i got a quote to convert the car to 5sp, and that was only $1800... much more attractive option. and, i can tell you honestly, it was like getting a whole new car. i had never had so much fun driving my FD as i did when it became a 5sp, hands down. another thing to consider, automatic FD's are a *lot* harder to resell, almost all potential FD buyers are going to want a 5sp, something to keep in mind. lastly, when my first 5sp tranny got chewed up, i had it rebuilt (bench-job) for $450... i think that speaks for itself when you look at how muc auto tranny's cost to work on in comparison... just my experience/opinion, hope this helps..
my FD was originally an automatic, and i liked it... then the tranny blew at 40k miles. not under warranty, i was quoted $3200 to fix it, which sounded just insanely high to me, especially after i was told the auto tranny shares many components w/ the mazda MPV minivan (is this true? anyone know?)... so, i got a quote to convert the car to 5sp, and that was only $1800... much more attractive option. and, i can tell you honestly, it was like getting a whole new car. i had never had so much fun driving my FD as i did when it became a 5sp, hands down. another thing to consider, automatic FD's are a *lot* harder to resell, almost all potential FD buyers are going to want a 5sp, something to keep in mind. lastly, when my first 5sp tranny got chewed up, i had it rebuilt (bench-job) for $450... i think that speaks for itself when you look at how muc auto tranny's cost to work on in comparison... just my experience/opinion, hope this helps..
10-03-02, 05:18 AM
#31
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I've completed an auto-5spd swap and noticed the following:
1) the auto tranny is heavier
2) the auto tranny takes up one side of the front bumper for the oil cooler, hence there won't be space to mount a second engine oil cooler.
3) my auto ratios dictated that I had slow pick-up in first. Partly due to my enlarged 18" rims. A 4.3 rear diff should help in this department
4) The auto requires 8.9L of ATF and that's too much for me to spend.
5) The auto rebuild kit was way way too expensive
6) I believe that a ring and pinion swap to 4.3 should help heaps in low end power
Hope the above points help.
1) the auto tranny is heavier
2) the auto tranny takes up one side of the front bumper for the oil cooler, hence there won't be space to mount a second engine oil cooler.
3) my auto ratios dictated that I had slow pick-up in first. Partly due to my enlarged 18" rims. A 4.3 rear diff should help in this department
4) The auto requires 8.9L of ATF and that's too much for me to spend.
5) The auto rebuild kit was way way too expensive
6) I believe that a ring and pinion swap to 4.3 should help heaps in low end power
Hope the above points help.
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10-03-02, 07:16 AM
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Buying my auto trans FD , got a good deal on a beautiful car... not thrashed!! Lots of power in daily driving.....more to come.... Yes, i understand the 4:30 rear end is a great way to pick up accell...also, possibly convert to 6 speed auto in feature...Ummmmm......Carter
10-03-02, 08:25 PM
#33
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Originally posted by cartervs
Buying my auto trans FD , got a good deal on a beautiful car... not thrashed!! Lots of power in daily driving.....more to come.... Yes, i understand the 4:30 rear end is a great way to pick up accell...also, possibly convert to 6 speed auto in feature...Ummmmm......Carter
Buying my auto trans FD , got a good deal on a beautiful car... not thrashed!! Lots of power in daily driving.....more to come.... Yes, i understand the 4:30 rear end is a great way to pick up accell...also, possibly convert to 6 speed auto in feature...Ummmmm......Carter
10-03-02, 09:07 PM
#34
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Originally posted by weaklink
not only does the auto tranny share many parts with the MPV, it IS the SAME tranny as the MPV. Yes Mazda dropped the ball. Most 5 speeds have been ragged. I don't think it is any harder to sell a clean low miles auto fd than a ragged out, 3rd engine, ripped seats, 5 speed. Anyway, I have a single turbo automatic that would smoke a lot of these 5 speed naysayers. Yes the tranny's been rebuilt with level 10 components.
not only does the auto tranny share many parts with the MPV, it IS the SAME tranny as the MPV. Yes Mazda dropped the ball. Most 5 speeds have been ragged. I don't think it is any harder to sell a clean low miles auto fd than a ragged out, 3rd engine, ripped seats, 5 speed. Anyway, I have a single turbo automatic that would smoke a lot of these 5 speed naysayers. Yes the tranny's been rebuilt with level 10 components.
I drove a friend's MPV a couple of years ago and did not notice the "hold" feature like what the FD has.
What's up with that?
10-04-02, 01:19 AM
#35
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It's the exact same tranny. When I blew mine last year the guys at rotary performance (aka rx7.com) offered to install a new MPV tranny. It's the same! Don't know about the hold feature-probably a different ecu.
10-04-02, 05:37 AM
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Model designations of the auto trannies
RX-7: RB4A-EL
MPV: R4AX-EL
929: R4A-EL
If anyone out there has the Yamaguchi book, you'll notice that when the auto tranny is referred to, it is called the R4A-EL.
The '91 RX-7 also carried the RB4A-EL in automatic form - the difference between it and the third gen's being the ECU has the capability to change between normal and sport modes automatically in the FD.
That said, I'm sure the MPV tranny does work and bolt up fine, Mazda shared many parts along their vehicle lines just like most auto manufacturers - I think it would be more accurate to call the 929 tranny the same and the MPV as similar however.
Hey weaklink - haven't heard anything since you went single turbo, been to the dyno yet?
RX-7: RB4A-EL
MPV: R4AX-EL
929: R4A-EL
If anyone out there has the Yamaguchi book, you'll notice that when the auto tranny is referred to, it is called the R4A-EL.
The '91 RX-7 also carried the RB4A-EL in automatic form - the difference between it and the third gen's being the ECU has the capability to change between normal and sport modes automatically in the FD.
That said, I'm sure the MPV tranny does work and bolt up fine, Mazda shared many parts along their vehicle lines just like most auto manufacturers - I think it would be more accurate to call the 929 tranny the same and the MPV as similar however.
Hey weaklink - haven't heard anything since you went single turbo, been to the dyno yet?
10-04-02, 12:51 PM
#38
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I don't like driving auto's at all.....I don't think that they should have even made them. That's why Toyota Supras won't ever be owned by me...cause most of them are autos
10-04-02, 02:31 PM
#39
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The auto vs manual thing is about fun and control. An auto FD may be modded to becoming a very quick car, but the driver will never have the tactile enjoyment of rowing the gears or the satisfaction of perfecting heel-and-toe shifting technique. It's also about control.
I did a trackday recently in my E36 M3 auto. It was decently fast on the straight and handled very well, but I always had a sneaking fear that the auto box would shift gears on the approach to the apex of a wot turn. Suddenly engaging a higher gear in the middle of the corner could momentarily shift weight off the rear tires and potentially cause a spin.
Autos are great for relaxed street driving, not so great for a roadcourse or a Sunday morining fun drive in the twisties.
I did a trackday recently in my E36 M3 auto. It was decently fast on the straight and handled very well, but I always had a sneaking fear that the auto box would shift gears on the approach to the apex of a wot turn. Suddenly engaging a higher gear in the middle of the corner could momentarily shift weight off the rear tires and potentially cause a spin.
Autos are great for relaxed street driving, not so great for a roadcourse or a Sunday morining fun drive in the twisties.
10-04-02, 09:04 PM
#41
5yr member, joined 2001
Originally posted by Haris
so basically your saying that if u aint shifting gears, the car sucks?
so basically your saying that if u aint shifting gears, the car sucks?
10-04-02, 09:26 PM
#42
Constant threat
Wow....I just checked out my friend's MPV and it has the 'hold' feature too.....nice to know that one could use the MPV tranny if one had to. I am gonna do a test someday, call some salvage yards and price an RX-7 automatic and a MPV automatic and see how bad they try to gouge me on the RX7 one.....
As for the whole debate, which had been addressed many, many, MANY times....it is all about what you want as an individual. All the talk about control and ten-tenths driving....blah blah blah....are encountered so very seldom in everday life. At the end of the day the fact remains that it is easier to find a much nicer car in better shape ON THE AVERAGE if you will "settle" for an automatic, as most of the available 5 speeds have been thrashed and trashed. Believe me, I looked at about 11 different cars and saw some real dogs...time bombs waiting to happen for the most part when I was on my search for a FD. When I found my car, it was a no-brainer to purchase it since it was in such pristine conditon. And everyday I am justified more and more when I haven't had to spend ONE THIN DIME on it other than mods and such that I WANTED to do....
As for the whole debate, which had been addressed many, many, MANY times....it is all about what you want as an individual. All the talk about control and ten-tenths driving....blah blah blah....are encountered so very seldom in everday life. At the end of the day the fact remains that it is easier to find a much nicer car in better shape ON THE AVERAGE if you will "settle" for an automatic, as most of the available 5 speeds have been thrashed and trashed. Believe me, I looked at about 11 different cars and saw some real dogs...time bombs waiting to happen for the most part when I was on my search for a FD. When I found my car, it was a no-brainer to purchase it since it was in such pristine conditon. And everyday I am justified more and more when I haven't had to spend ONE THIN DIME on it other than mods and such that I WANTED to do....
10-04-02, 09:41 PM
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No, haven't been to the dyno yet. Don Marvel wanted me to put 2K on the new motor. I have 1.7k . Think I blew the motor today though. Local guy says it's just an exhaust leak at the turbo, but I have the fluctuating idle and some smoke. There is an exhaust leak too, though. Car is running hotter than normal too, less power-sucks!
Originally posted by Viper jr
Model designations of the auto trannies
RX-7: RB4A-EL
MPV: R4AX-EL
929: R4A-EL
If anyone out there has the Yamaguchi book, you'll notice that when the auto tranny is referred to, it is called the R4A-EL.
The '91 RX-7 also carried the RB4A-EL in automatic form - the difference between it and the third gen's being the ECU has the capability to change between normal and sport modes automatically in the FD.
That said, I'm sure the MPV tranny does work and bolt up fine, Mazda shared many parts along their vehicle lines just like most auto manufacturers - I think it would be more accurate to call the 929 tranny the same and the MPV as similar however.
Hey weaklink - haven't heard anything since you went single turbo, been to the dyno yet?
Model designations of the auto trannies
RX-7: RB4A-EL
MPV: R4AX-EL
929: R4A-EL
If anyone out there has the Yamaguchi book, you'll notice that when the auto tranny is referred to, it is called the R4A-EL.
The '91 RX-7 also carried the RB4A-EL in automatic form - the difference between it and the third gen's being the ECU has the capability to change between normal and sport modes automatically in the FD.
That said, I'm sure the MPV tranny does work and bolt up fine, Mazda shared many parts along their vehicle lines just like most auto manufacturers - I think it would be more accurate to call the 929 tranny the same and the MPV as similar however.
Hey weaklink - haven't heard anything since you went single turbo, been to the dyno yet?
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