I'm looking at buying a 76 rx4 right now... But it's automatic. Does anyone have any experience with converting these cars to manual? Is it worth it or should I just look for a manual (I want a 74 anyways). I also have zero experience working in cars so keep that in mind. This would be my first project.

 

The hard part is finding an RX-4. You've done that so I say buy it. Converting to a manual to really easy. Just need to find or fab a clutch pedal. The brake pedal width of the auto one can be made smaller if you can't find one. The rest is pretty easy. i.e. Clutch Master, Clutch Slave, trans, trans cross member, etc.

 

I figured that would end up being the solution lol. Do you have any recommended manuals/videos? Something specific I should look at?

 

I may have a pedal set for an rx4, will have to check... PM me if your interested

 

Thank you. PM'd

 

My recommendation is buy this RX4 pedal setup , it will save you a HUGE amount of time and headache . All the older Mazda's were pretty much configured to be built either auto or manual equipped so you will probably find a block off plate where the clutch master will bolt to.
With the original Clutch pedal set up , it will likely attach to the under dash bracket but you will need to mod existing brake pedal if you don't have one from a manual car. All my RX-4's were manual so I can't verify the size of the trans shifter hole in the tunnel , but with the RX-3's
the auto trans cars hole was a bit smaller and required trimming to accommodate the manual trans ( either 4 or 5 speed ). And don't forget to measure up driveline length ; could be the same or different ? Not sure ... anyone else know ? A source for parts could be the piston
engine version too ... the 929.
Hope this helps .

 

I swapped my '74 RX4 coupe over to manual, but it was a long time ago and my memory is a bit fuzzy but I think I used an SA transmission with the RX4 lower mount IIRC
Also, there's already a provision for mounting a clutch master on the firewall
I think I had to jumper a lockout switch under the dash as well
sorry so vague, but it was like 15 years ago

I used to post here under the name Wankelguy- I may have posted a thread on it at the time but don't have time to search for it right now

 

hey! i remember that name. welcome back. maybe an admin can get u back under that ID.

 

Like others have said it shouldn't be that hard to swap it over. You will need a pedal assembly from a manual rx4, clutch slave, master cylinder, flex hose, flywheel, clutch, trans, crossmember, trans wiring harness, and the shifter surround. You can use a sa 5 speed trans it bolts right up you just have to use a different set of holes on the floor which are already there. As for the driveshaft length, I have spare auto and manual rx4 transmissions I could measure them for you and see if they are the same length or not. I have pretty much all of the key parts you would need for the swap.

 

I'd have to go through my wiring diagrams, but I would assume the auto car would have had some sort of neutral safety switch that would have to be bypassed.