Hi guys,

Just joined the boards recently. I was planning on purchasing this automatic FD RX7 I found. the problem is that I have no idea how much a conversion and what I need to do so. What is the cost of doing so? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

you need :

Manual tranny
Clutch Pedal
Clutch master cilinder
ECU

i thinks, its more better buy a car with Manual tranny!

 

The conversion can get pricey real quick. Best thing is to read the threads in the 3rd Gen FAQ for reference and costs.

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...l-links-68640/

 

Don't buy it, I just spent a fortune converting my 94, and since there were so many problems with connecting the harmesses, I bought used ring, engine, and dash harnesses and changed them all. I also got a used manual ecu. Now the only things that will work are the starter, the headlights, and the wipers. If I can't get some help in the forum on what to do next, I guess I'll be parting it out.

 

to much work

 

So i'm better off buying a manual then... thanks everyone =)

 

It is very hard looking for a nice one thats manual. I found some clean Automatics. I was over at JRX rotary at Juni said that I would like need a POWER FC. He can take care of the rest. Looking at about 3k to do the whole swap. Is it worth it? I plan on putting on 20B in the near future anyways. Thanks for the input guys!

 

Yes.

 

I have done it before its not that bad. Depends on the price and condition of the auto car.

 

im in the same boat def want an fd but if its auto i would like to swap it out, ive seen many posts on here about the work involved.

 

Auto FDs are inexpensive for a reason. It's a costly PITA to swap them. If you want a manual FD, buy one.

 

Jim you crack me up buddy. But solid point to be made.

 

not worth it to convert

 

So about 3k to swap then?

 

I've got about that in mine so far, and it's not running right due to apparent incompatabilities between the various used harnesses and ecu. I'm hoping to get it fixed by getting an Apexi ecu. That's another grand! It would be an easy project if it was just the mechanical stuff!

Your time is worth somthing too!

 

according to a local rotary expert yes... but I am still patiently waiting for one to come my way

 

I did mine it was fine. Its pretty easy in my opinion . Just make sure you have the auto engine harness and a manual ecu or power fc.

 

1. you have to jumper the one plug on the auto harness to bypass the starter switch.
2. use your auto engine harness
3. use manual ecu
4. manual drive shaft and manual rear diff or change the companion flange on the auto diff.
5.manual 5 speed and starter.

 

A little off-topic, but I 'accumulated' a relatively low-mileage auto diff from a local guy who was moving and couldn't take it with him. I noticed the different flange and wondered how hard it is to change. I've had a couple people interested in buying it, but I told them the flange was different and didn't want to sell it without knowing what was involved in changing it out. Any info/tips on swapping it?

 

swap isnt so bad, need a trans, clutch assembly, clutch pedal assembly

 

If you had the money it would be a fun project to do but if you dont easier to buy a rx7 with a manuel tranny in it.

 

And 5 spd ECU, and 5 spd differential, and 5 spd engine harness, and (IIRC) 5 spd drive shaft, and a clutch fork, and a throw-out bearing, and a flywheel, and a pilot bearing.....and you have to source many parts used, so when you finally find them, your hoping they're in good shape. And you're paying to buy them and paying to have all of them shipped. Many are heavy and oversized. And if your smart, you'll budget for components that are worn, broken or not exactly as advertised. A 5 spd transmission with the 5th gear grind or an ECU that's been in a flood.
And since an FD auto transmission isn't worth anything, you won't recover much of the costs from the metal recycler.

 

Just found this updated swap thread. I've read all of the old ones and I'm right in the middle of my swap. I plan on posting a very detailed "how to" guide when I'm done taking the old instructions and adding new parts that explain the sections that I thought were missing or glossed over.

I've purchased all of the parts and I've removed everything and 'm installing the tranny right now.



Does anyone have a "tip" on how to mate the tranny bell housing to the engine. I spent 4 hours last night (doing everything by myself) trying to get the tranny to allign perfectly to the engine. I built a cradle out of wood to hold my tranny and put that on top of my jack.



Either I need to get the rear of the tranny jacked up about an 1" higher than it currently is or I need to somehow get the top of the engine to slightly tilt to the rear.

Not sure if I'm missing a step here.

I just went through the Mazda manual and it just says connect the 6 bell housing bolts. (Sounds simple)

I did notice that in the manual, the stick shift is removed as well as the clutch slave assembly. ( I currently have both of mine installed).

Shortly I'll remove both and see if that helps.

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Again, any tips on how to get the bell housing portion of the tranny and the engine to mate would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,
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In all of my searching I have not found A true answer to the wire harness needs for the FD auto to manual swap. If one were to do this swap and wanted the cruse and all to work what harness assemblies would need be changed and which ones if any could remain. looks to be A need for the engine harness. But what about the body harness is any of it pin for pin the same as where the engine harness plugs to the body harness. Also looks like the dash harness as well needs upgraded as well and will it plug into the body harness like to the fuse box inside and so on such as rear lights harness and all that. There leaves the air bags harness and abs as well is it the same. Hope someone out there will know the answer on how much is needed for the swap electrical needs.

Here is what I have Collected for my swap at the moment

Pedals assembly, 5 speed rear, tranny, drive shaft, clutch and press plate flywheel, starter,
gauges cluster, engine harness, 5 speed ecu, throttle body from 5 speed, and slave and master assembly. Basic mechenical parts are there for the swap.

 

I thought the auto rear iron was different than the manual.

When u do the swap are you supposed to use the auto's bell housing on the manual transmission (if that's possible)?

Or does the manual bell housing bolt up to the auto rear iron?