First Generation Question-Transmissions.
 

Hey, my friend just recently aquired a 1983 Rx7 GSL. The car is in damn good shape everywhere but the Transmission. There is a heavy ratchetting noise and it is lacking power. He has a 1979 LM Rx7 with a good transmission. I found that the rear end of the transmission and the shift lever are set up differently...Could someone help me figure out how to make this work?! I need serious help before Sunday the 25th.

http://members.ij.net/mrmazda/interc...html#TRANUSAGE

This says you would have to swap the tail housing and shift mechanism from the '83 transmission to the earlier transmission. (As long as they are both 5 speed gearboxes)

That works for 1980 transmission, not 100% sure about 1979 because it doesn't specifically say '79, it says late '80. Its not hard to unbolt a tail housing, I took one off the tranny in my garage. The bolts are a little tight, but don't use extra muscle, they are long and skinny bolts and could break easily if they are corroded.

It only works for SA's of VIN number 606775 and later are an easy swap, as noted on my page http://www.geocities.com/izzmus/trans/trans.html. 606775 was in March or April of 1980, forget which. Last few months of '80 production, anyway.

Earlier trannies *might* be useable, *if* you also swap out the shift rods, possibly the shift forks.